Introduction
The vast Lake Neuchatel in western Switzerland is one of the most important ornithological areas in the country and holds large numbers of diving ducks in winter. Part is a Ramsar site and there are several nature reserves but much of the shoreline is built-up. One of the best areas for birders is the Fanel Nature Reserve and neighbouring Chablais de Cudrefin in the north-east corner of the lake, here the shore has marshes and reedbeds, islands and sandbanks, and an area of deciduous woodland. Wintering waterfowl are of great interest here but there is also an excellent range of breeding birds and a wide variety of birds on passage including many rarities.
Access
The next train station is at Ins. Every half hour trains from Berne or Neuchatel stop there. It's possible to hire bicycles there (reservations phone 032 313 15 29). With a bicycle you can reach the reserve in 30 minutes and you can see additional species on the way. Timetable to Ins: http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?
In summer La Sauge can be reached by ship on the route Neuchatel - Murten. Timetable: http://www.dreiseenschifffahrt.ch/fahrplan.php
With the car from Ins follow the road to Witzwil / Cudrefin. If coming from Neuchatel turn right in Gampelen to Cudrefin. The road crosses the Broye Canal and before the canal on the left you will find a car-park. Another car-park is just after the bridge at La Sauge, but it's sometimes difficult to find space here, especially on weekend.
In the reserve
The most popular route starts at the Nature Centre La Sauge. Go to the Broye canal and turn left, following the canal to the lake. On the canal Red-breasted Merganser and Common Kingfisher can be seen. To your left is woodland, holding Eurasian Golden Oriole, Common Nightingale, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Short-toed Treecreeper. After about 20 minutes you reach the embankement. On the left are sometimes big sand banks, holding an interesting range of waders. On the right you can see the two artifical islands, holding waders as well and a big colony of Cormorants and Yellow-legged Gull. Look out for Ducks, Gulls and Terns. It's worth to spend several hours here. On the way back you can take the first path to the right, which leads you through the Chablais de Cudrefin. Follow this path until a crossing, where you go left and you reach La Sauge again.
Another route goes out along the Broye Canal on the other side. Follow the canal until you have to go right and you will reach a small hillock with a hide. From here you have an excellent view over the two islands and good chances for Great Reed Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Bearded Parrotbill (Bearded Tit) and Purple Heron. The nearby tower is only accessible for members of Nos Oiseaux. Go back the same way you came.
The third route allows you to reach the Bernese Tower, which is only open for members of the Berner Ala. You follow the Canal on the right side and turn right at the first crossing. Turn left again in the wood and you reach a small house. Go up to the enbankement and left again. Soon you will reach the tower. It allows good views over the colony of Common Tern and the reedbeeds with breeding Purple Heron.
The Centre nature La Sauge is also worth a visit, open daily in summer except Mondays. There is an interesting exhibition and three hides. One is excellent for Kingfisher, the other for waders, although it can be quite birdless sometimes.
Accomodation
At la Sauge you can also book rooms (for up to four people). Otherwise the area holds some campsites and hotel accommodation is plentiful in local towns and villages. Check http://www.auberge-lasauge.ch/
Time
The reserve is good all year around, except in cold winters, when the lagoon freezes.
Winter
Wintering waterfowl like Whooper Swan, Bean Goose, Greylag Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard and Tufted Duck. Usually some Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser and sometimes Smew. Occasionally Red-throated Diver. Northern Shrike can be found in the Chablais de Cudrefin. Dozens of Great Egret and some Great Bittern. Merlin can be found as well.
Spring
Less waterfowl, but many different species of Waders, Egrets, Warblers, Terns and Gulls. Anything can be possible. March and April are good for woodpeckers (eg Lesser Spotted and Grey-headed). In April and May Great Reed and Savi's Warbler are arriving and are easy to see. The numbers of Waders differ according to the water level and the weather. Rarities in the last years: Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Greater Flamingo, Collared Pratincole, Broad-billed Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Great Skua, Gull-billed Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Aquatic Warbler and Collared Flycatcher.
Summer
Breeding birds, including Red-crested Pochard, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Cormorant and Common Tern. The reedbeds host Little Bittern and Purple Heron, Bearded Parrotbill (aka Bearded Tit), and Savi's, Sedge, Reed and Great Reed Warblers. In the nearby woodlands, Black Kite, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Crested Tit nest.
Autumn
As spring, in recent years better for waders (more sand banks).
The rare and restricted European Beaver Castor fiber can sometimes be seen at Fanel, other mammals include Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, and deer.
Informations about the latest sightings
As the Fanel / Chablais de Cudrefin is often visitied by birders you can get recent informations about the birds seen on this two websites. Chablais de Cudrefin is often abbreviated CdC.
http://www.ornitho.ch/index.php?m_id=1&logout=1&langu=en
Information about the nature centre can be found here:
http://www.birdlife.ch/d/home_e.html
Birds
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Black Stork, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Tundra Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Eider, (rare in Su), Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Smew, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Western Honey-Buzzard, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Northern Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, (scarce in Su), Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Common Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Bluethroat, Whinchat, Stonechat, Savi's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Bearded Parrotbill, Long-tailed Tit, Crested Tit, Penduline Tit, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Northern Shrike, Rook, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting (mainly Sp), Reed Bunting
Content originally posted by Steve, edited and updated by Wintibird
