Overview
The section between Romanshorn and Kreuzlingen of the Lake Constance (Bodensee) is commonly named Seetaucherstrecke because it is the best place to see Divers in Switzerland. Lake Constance lies in the northeast of Switzerland and marks the boarder to Germany and Austria. To see the mentioned birds a visit between mid October and mid April is best, in summer there are fewer species and fewer birds. A scope is an absolute must.
Birds
Notable Species
Wintering waterfowl including Black-throated Diver, Red-crested Pochard, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander. Sometimes rare species like Ferruginous Pochard or Great Northern Diver. There are many Yellow-legged Gulls, including Caspian Gulls. They are found side by side and allow good comparison.
Rarities
All four European Divers are recorded here, including White-billed Diver. Black-legged Kittiwake, Bohemian Waxwing and Purple Sandpiper are recent rarities.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, White Stork, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider Goosander, Black Kite, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Eurasian Hobby, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, Dunlin, Little Stint, Ruff, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Yellow-legged Gull,Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Redstart, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Common Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Common Firecrest, European Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Penduline Tit, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Starling, Common Jay, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Hawfinch, European Serin, Eurasian Siskin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
Red Squirrels can be seen in the woods.
Site Information
History and Use
Lake Constance is a popular place. On a sunny summer day thousands of people will spend their weekend on or at the lake. However most birds are there in winter and birdwatchers will have the lake for themselves, especially on a cold and windy day.
Areas of Interest
Romanshorn Harbour
Interesting birds can be found in the harbour itself or just outside on the lake. It's also worth to walk a short distance to the west, passing the marina. Grebes and divers can be found here. Also check the small park for passerines. On the tower of the church a Peregrine has its lookout.
Ferry Romanshorn - Friedrichshafen
Can be interesting in October or November, especially after storm. Skuas, Kittiwakes or Sabine's Gull have been seen from the ferry.
Uttwil and Kesswil
Usually the best stretch. Black-throated Divers are almost guaranteed. Walk down to the shore and follow the path along it. Check the lake with the scope but also look out for passerines in the trees and gardens. The small harbour in Kesswil is usually very rewarding and some species are seen close to the shore.
Güttingen
The next village after Kesswil. The path is partly behind a small forest and you need to walk a bit to get more lookouts to the lake. The small harbour is a good viewpoint and sometimes Ferruginous Ducks are wintering in it.
Münsterlingen
Further down the lake. Best to reach with the train. A good spot for Great Northern Diver in the past few years.
Kreuzlingen Seepark
A small harbour and park near Kreuzlingen with its own train station. Good for ducks and migrating passerines.
Access and Facilities
A path along the shore gives excellent opportunities to watch the birds. Between Romanshorn and Uttwil private houses make it difficult to see something, so this strech may be done better by train.
Trains run along the lake every half hour. A good possibility is to take a train to Romanshorn and look out there in the harbour first. After an hour take a train to Uttwil. From there walk to Kesswil (this strech is usually the best) and maybe continue to Güttingen, from where you can take the train back to Romanshorn or further down to Kreuzlingen or Triboltinger Becken or even Stein am Rhein.
Accomodation can be found in Romanshorn or Kreuzlingen, but the area is also in easy reach from Zürich or other cities like St. Gallen or Winterthur. There are some restaurants but most of them will be closed in winter.
It can be very cold at the lake, especially when the wind comes from the east. Check also the weather forecast for fog which can be very thick.
