m (→Other Wildlife) |
|||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
==Other Wildlife== | ==Other Wildlife== | ||
| − | [[European Hare]] | + | [[European Hare]] is quite common in the fields. [[Roe Deer]] can be seen sometimes. |
==Site Information== | ==Site Information== | ||
Revision as of 05:01, 21 August 2007
Overview
This was once the biggest marsh area in Switzerland. Today it's an agricultural area, but still with good birding sites. The Grosses Moos is close to Fanel - Chablais de Cudrefin (Switzerland) and both areas complement one another.
Birds
Notable Species
Since some years, the Biotopverbund Grosses Moos creates a net of hedges, ponds and meadows. A lot of birds increased their populations, notably Corn Bunting, Whitethroat and Red-backed Shrike. Quails are also breeding, but are hard to see. Most species are just passing through. Depending on the weather conditions in April, Mai and September a full day of birding here can produce many species. After heavy rainfall a lot of fields are awashed and are ideal for Waders. You can expect Great White Egret, Red-footed Falcon, different waders, gulls, ducks and passerines like Yellow Wagtail, Bluethroat and Ortolan Bunting. In winter Merlin and Hen Harrier can be seen.
Rarities
Many nice species like Egyptian Vulture, Booted Eagle, Sociable Plover, Olive-backed Pipit, Citrine Wagtail or Rosy Starling,
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Mute Swan, Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Osprey, Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Common Quail, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Common Crane, Stone Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Dotterel, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Snipe, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Kingfisher, Wryneck, Black Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Greater Short-toed Lark, Wood Lark, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (mainly flava, cinereocapilla and thunbergi), White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Nightingale, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Penduline Tit, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Starling, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling (winter), Hawfinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting
Other Wildlife
European Hare is quite common in the fields. Roe Deer can be seen sometimes.
Site Information
History and Use
The area was once the biggest marsh area in Switzerland. It was used by farmers from the villages around and by the city of Bern and Fribourg as a remote place for their prisons. After some big floods the rivers got controlled and the lake levels were lowered. The Grosses Moos was cultivated and the marshland disappeard. This process was completed in 1891. Still after heavy rain a lot of fields are awashed. Since 1996 the Biotopverbund Grosses Moos tries to reclaim some fields for nature, planting hedges, creating marshland and natural meadows.
There are some bicycle paths going through the area, but in large it's very undisturbed.
Areas of Interest
Krümmi
Bellechasse - Pré au Boeuf
Birkenhof
Fields between La Sauge and Cudrefin
Access and Facilities
Most places like Krümmi or Birkenhof can be reached by car but a much better way to explore the area is a bicycle. You can hire bicycles at the railway stations of Ins or Kerzers. Like that you will find much more birds and places. Best is to buy a map and just cycle through the area, making sure not to miss out the mentioned spots. Going out by feet may be worthwile, but takes a lot of time.
Especially in spring and autumn it's worth to stay more than a day here and link the Grosses Moos with Fanel - Chablais de Cudrefin (Switzerland). There are several hotels in Kerzers, Ins or at La Sauge. It's also possible to stay in Berne or Neuchâtel, you will need about 25 minutes to reach the area by train.
