Overview
Rapperswil-Jona lies at the upper end of the Lake of Zürich, near Zurich in eastern Switzerland. Together with other areas around the Obersee (Upper Lake) it's a good area for wintering waterfowl, breeding terns and gulls and migrating waders and passerines.
Birds
Notable Species
Breeding waterfowl includes good numbers of Red-crested Pochard, Common Eider and some Mandarin Ducks. In winter more species are present, including Velvet Scoter. Common Terns are breeding in several places and it's also the most reliable site for breeding Mediterranean Gulls, although usually just one or two pairs are breeding. Eurasian Curlew can be seen year round and may even breed from time to time. During migration many species can turn up, regulary Great White Egret, Black Tern, many waders, gulls and other tern species.
Rarities
In the last years Gull-billed Tern, White-tailed Eagle and Grey Phalarope
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver (rare), Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, White Stork, Great Bittern, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Common Teal,Northern Shoveler, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Velvet Scoter, Common Eider, Goosander, Black Kite, Red Kite, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, Ruddy Turnstone (rare), Dunlin, Little Stint, Ruff, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Common Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, Common Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Sand Martin, Eurasian Crag Martin (mainly March), White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Common Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Common Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Starling, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling (winter), Hawfinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Red Crossbill, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
Roe Deer can be seen sometimes.
Site Information
History and Use
Rapperswil is a historic town and played an important role in the Middle Ages. Today it's a nice and charming little town (with some traffic problems). The lakeshore is very popular with the locals. Especially on weekends, hundreds of people are walking on the boardwalk from Rapperswil to Hurden. It's impossible to look through the scope then.
Areas of Interest
Jonamündung
Where the river Jona joins the lake you have a good view over most of the Obersee. There is also a small island, attracting waders and herons. Go to the harbour, called Stampf, pass it and keep left. You reach a good viewpoint over the island and the small river delta. Next bus stop is Grünfeld.
Most rarities and waders have been seen here.
Holzsteg Rapperswil-Hurden
This boardwalk from Rapperswil to Hurden is the reconstruction of a historical one. It starts at Rapperswil, close to the railway station and it's well signed. Look out for ducks. After some minutes you see a small island between the boardwalk and the road. Terns and Gulls are breeding there and waders can be found too.
Frauwinkel
If you follow the signed path over the broadwalk in direction to Pfäffikon SZ, you will overview the Frauwinkel, a big swamp area and the last breeding place of Eurasian Curlew in Switzerland. It's difficult to birdwatch here, but some nice observations can be possible.
Rapperswil
In the historic town itself Alpine Swifts are breeding and Eurasian Jackdaws. The harbour host also ducks and from the northern end of it you can overview a bay of the Lake of Zürich. Divers can be found here in winter.
Access and Facilities
All areas can be easily reached by public transport. If you start at Jonamündung you can walk to Rapperswil and Pfäffikon. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this (birding included). Accomodation is possible in Rapperswil or nearby Zürich.
