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Overview
Situated in the north-east of Germany, the low-lying Mecklenburg area consists of numerous shallow lakes around the large Lake Muritz which now forms part of a national park.
There are more than 100 lakes in this area, many with extensive reedbeds, surrounded by mixed pine and beech forest, pasture and cultivated land. In some areas there are juniper heaths and dunes.
The mixture of habitats has led to a diverse avifauna and close to 150 bird species breed in the area.
Birds
Notable Species
Birds present in summer include such scarce species as Red-necked Grebe, both bitterns and both storks, and Red-crested Pochard. Raptors are much in evidence with breeding White-tailed Eagle and Osprey, both kites and three harriers, Eurasian Goshawk and Lesser Spotted Eagle amongst others. In addition Common Crane can be seen in summer as well as Spotted Crake, Green Sandpiper and Black Tern.
The reedbeds have a range of warblers including Savi's Warbler and River Warbler, Marsh Warbler and Great Reed Warbler as well as Penduline Tit and Bearded Tit.
The rich and varied woodland birdlife includes Black Woodpecker and Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Thrush Nightingale, Barred Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch. The farmland and woodland edges are home to Wood Lark, Red-backed Shrike and Great Grey Shrike.
The area is just as important out of the breeding season with an autumn gathering of Common Crane and the arrival of many thousands of wintering geese. Caspian Tern and Little Gull are both regular in autumn.
Whooper Swan and Bewick's Swan winter on the lakes and Short-eared Owl, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Merlin hunt over the area in winter.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Grey Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Whooper Swan, Bewick's Swan, Tundra Bean Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Smew, European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rough-legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Northern Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Common Crane, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Little Gull, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Short-eared Owl, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Common Wren, Dunnock, Bohemian Waxwing, Thrush Nightingale, Eurasian Robin, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Icterine Warbler, Eurasian River Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Barred Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Penduline Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Common Jay, Common Magpie, Spotted Nutcracker, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Rosefinch
Other Wildlife
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Site Information
History and Use
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Areas of Interest
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Access and Facilities
The Mecklenburg Lakes lie between the A19 Berlin to Rostock road and the Route 96 between Berlin and Neubrandenburg. It is best reached from the A24, turning onto the A19 just west of Wittstock.
The Muritz National Park has its headquarters at Waren at the northern end of the lake and this town makes an excellent base from which to explore the area.
There are hostels and pensions in the town and campsites close to the lake. Bicycle hire is available in Waren and this can be a good way to explore the forest trails and the lakes, some of which have observation towers.
Contact Details
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External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
