Overview
The Kaltbrunner Riet is a marsh area in Eastern Switzerland. It's a great site for migrating birds and one of the best places in Switzerland to see Bluethroats in spring. A watchtower, a hide and an information centre make birding here easy.
The area is totally protected and carefully managed by Pro Natura.
Birds
Notable Species
In winter the area can be quite birdless. Long-eared Owls are wintering in the trees, Rock Pipits can be found and occasionaly Northern Shrikes.
In spring the Kaltbrunner Riet hosts many passage migrants. Harriers, Red-footed Falcon, Osprey, Black Stork, Common Crane, Waders, Terns are all possible. From late March to early April Bluethroats are almost garanteed. Watch out on the path near the watchtower.
In summer birds are breeding. Red-crested Pochard is found regularly, Spotted Crake and Savi's Warbler are two more breeders worth mentioning.
In autumn the same species may turn up as in spring. As the waterlevel is lowered more waders can be expected.
Rarities
Most rarities turn up in April, May or in September. Among them are Great Snipe, Pallid Harrier, Baillon's Crake and many more.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Little Bittern,Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Black Stork,Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Tufted Duck, European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite Western Marsh-Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Baillon's Crake, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Common Cuckoo, Common Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Bluethroat, European Stonechat, Savi's Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Northern Shrike, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
Site Information
History and Use
The plain of the river Linth was once a big marsh area. In the early 19th century the plain was dried up and the free floating rivers were transformed into canals. The land got cultivated and only small patches of the former marsh were left, the biggest one the Kaltbrunner Riet. 1939 the society Pro Natura bought the Riet and established a sanctuary. The sanctuary is carefully managed to protect the typical plants and animals of it.
Areas of Interest
Access and Facilities
Contact Details
Geschäftsstelle Kaltbrunner Riet
c/o Robin Habitat AG
Ernetschwilerstrasse 34
CH-8730 Uznach
Tel. +41 55 285 30 50; Fax +41 55 285 30 51
