Niederhorn

Photo by Wintibird
View from Gemmenalphorn

Overview

The Niederhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. It's easy reachable and a good place for many mountain species, especially Citril Finch.

Birds

Photo by Wintibird
View from Niederhorn to Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau

Birding season starts in mid or late May, depending on the snow situation. Check carefully the conditions in spring. It can still snow in June!

Easy to see: Black Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan (Gemmenalphron), Common Kestrel, Common Cuckoo, Black Woodpecker, Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Alpine Accentor (Gemmenalphorn), Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat, Western Bonelli's Warbler (at least easy to hear), Goldcrest and Common Firecrest, Willow Tit (race montanus), Crested Tit, Spotted Nutcracker, Alpine Chough, Citril Finch, Eurasian Siskin

Other species need some more luck or patience. Hazel Grouse can be heard in the forests. Pygmy Owl and Tengmalm's Owl both occur in the forests. So do Three-toed Woodpecker and Capercaillie. However both species are very hard to see.
Wallcreeper is regularly observed, often close to Gemmenalphorn. In some years Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush can be found on sunny, southern slopes.

Rarities

In the last few yearsEurasian Griffon Vultures are often seen circling around in June and early July.

Check-list

Photo by Wintibird
Alpine Ibex

Birds you can see here include:

Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Hazel Grouse (very difficult to see), Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Western Capercaillie (very rare), Rock Partridge (rare), Common Cuckoo, Pygmy Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Hedge Accentor, Alpine Accentor, European Robin, Black Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Common Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Eurasian Treecreeper, Spotted Nutcracker, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Yellow-billed Chough, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, White-winged Snowfinch, Chaffinch, Citril Finch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Eurasian Bullfinch, Yellowhammer

Other Wildlife

Alpine Ibex is easily seen on the ridge and some of the animals are almost tame. Chamois are also often around, Marmots siffle everywhere and can also be seen.

Site Information

Photo by Wintibird
Gemmenalphorn, view to Burgfeldstand

History and Use

The Niederhorn is a touristic place and famous for its panoramic views. Most of the area is protected and especially in the forest you should not leave the marked paths.

Areas of Interest

Beatenbucht (572m)

Red-crested Pochard can be seen on the lake and Western Bonelli's Warbler sings near the station.

Beatenberg (1121m)

In the forests around Beatenberg lowland and mountain species start to mix. Red Kite is regularly seen here.

Vorsäss (1580m)

Here you can board or leave the cable car. Citril Finch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet and Spotted Nutcracker are easy to find here.

Niederhorn (1934m)

Just around the summit you might find Ring Ouzel, Citril Finch, Chamois and Alpine Ibex. Best time is early in the morning. Either spend the night up here or take the very first cable car up. Black Grouse can be seen from the restaurant in early morning.

Ridge from Niederhorn to Gemmenalphorn (2061m)

A good path leads along this ridge. Rock Ptarmigan lives here, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush in some years and Alpine Accentor are usually around Gemmenalphorn. After Burgfeldstand the path gets narrow at some places and you need good walking boots and should not be afraid of heights! In spring, snow sometimes blocks the path. Watch out for Wallcreeper in the cliffs!

Burgfeld forest

The forests below the ridge are the habitat of Capercaillie, Pygmy Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker and Hazel Grouse. However, all these species are difficult to find and only rarely seen. It is not allowed to leave the paths!

St. Beatus Höhlen

At these caves near the lake Wallcreeper is sometimes seen around the entrance and in the cliffs above the caves.

Access and Facilities

The journey up to the Niederhorn starts at Beatenbucht. You can reach Beatenbucht by bus (Nr 21) from Thun or Interlaken. Thun and Interlaken are well connected to the Swiss Railway system. Alternatively you can reach Beatenbucht by boat from Thun but you will need more time for this. Beatenberg is reached by cable car from Beatenbucht or by bus from Interlaken.
On the top of the Niederhorn the Berghaus Niederhorn offers some accomodation and food. More hotels are found in Beatenberg and of course in Thun and Interlaken.
A one day excursion would be to go to the top early in the morning, spend some time around the Berggasthaus, then follow the path along the ridge to the Gemmenalphorn. From there you can go down to Oberberg and Chüematte and walk back to the Niederhorn or Vorsäss through the forest.

External Links

• Official Website of Niederhorn
• Railway timetable
• Niederhorn on Swiss Map
• Niederhorn on Google Maps