Overview
The Schanfigg is a nice valley in eastern Switzerland. You can reach it by train or car from Chur, the capital of the Grisons. Accomodation is easy. You can stay in Arosa or in one of the mountain huts in Medergen.
Birds
Birding season starts in late May or early June, depending on the snow situation. Check carefully the conditions in spring. It can still snow in June!
Easy to see: Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Common Cuckoo, Black Woodpecker, Eurasian Crag Martin, Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Alpine Accentor (from 2000 m on), Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat, Bonelli's Warbler (at least easy to hear), Goldcrest and Common Firecrest, Willow Tit (race montanus), Crested Tit, Spotted Nutcracker, Alpine Chough, Citril Finch (watch out at the treeline), Eurasian Siskin, Lesser Redpoll
Other species are harder to find. If you go high up you might find White-winged Snowfinch and Rock Ptarmigan. Early in the morning Black Grouse are quite easy to find (around Medergen). Hazel Grouse can be heard in the forests. Pygmy Owl and Tengmalm's Owl both occur in the forests. So does Three-toed Woodpecker and (very rare and elusive) White-backed Woodpecker. On sunny, southern slopes you may find Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting. At the Alteiner Waterfalls (east of Arosa) you may search the cliff for one of the alpine gems: Wallcreeper.
Rarities
The very rare and elusive White-backed Woodpecker has been recorded here. If you happen to observe one of this beautiful birds, please report it (with exact location) to the Swiss Ornithological Institut in Sempach.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Hazel Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Western Capercaillie (very rare), Rock Partridge, Common Cuckoo, Pygmy Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker (rare), Three-toed Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, 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, 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, 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, Rock Bunting
Other Wildlife
Red Squirrel is common around Arosa and they are sometimes very tame. Around the treeline and above Chamois and Ibex can be found. In the forests Roe Deer is common, Red Deer occurs also. Above the treeline Marmots can be found. Usually you hear them first whistling!
Site Information
History and Use
Arosa is a settlement of the Walser, founded in the Middle Ages. Nowadays Arosa is a very touristic place, in winter and summer. The rest of the Valley is much quieter and less touristic. Beside tourisme agriculture still plays an important part here.
Areas of Interest
Birds are everywhere but the slope on the eastern side between Langwies and Arosa seems to be the best area. There are a lot of hiking trails. You can start in Langwies and walk up to Medergen, from where you continue to Tschuggen, pass through the forest to Gruenseeli, Iselwald and then down to Arosa. Buy a map of the area (1:25'000) not to get lost.
At the little artifical lake beneath Arosa Waders can be seen sometimes. At the railway station several species of Ducks can be found. They all descend from introduced birds.
If you spend two or three days in the area you should find at least some of the harder to find species.
Access and Facilities
The valley can be reached by train or by car from Chur. There are some cablecars in Arosa, but they don't lead to ornithological interesting places. So you will have to walk to get to good forests and alpine meadows. Accomodation is plentiful in Arosa and there are also some huts higher up, where you can stay overnight (eg in Medergen).
