Schilthorn

Overview

The Schilthorn is a mountain in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. On 2970m many alpine species can be seen and it's easily reachable by cable car.

Birds

Snowfinch can be seen all year, usually just around the station. In July and August when they are breeding they may be a little bit more difficult (unless they breed somewhere on the building). Alpine Accentor occurs too and can be very tame especially in winter.
Lammergeier is often seen from the top, circling around and sometimes coming very close, often together with Golden Eagle.
Alpine Chough is abundant and often very tame.

In and around Mürren in spring and early summer you can see Common Cuckoo, Black Woodpecker, Eurasian Crag Martin, Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat, Bonelli's Warbler, Goldcrest and Common Firecrest, Willow Tit (race montanus), Crested Tit, Spotted Nutcracker, Citril Finch (watch out at the treeline) and Common Crossbill.
Pygmy Owl and Tengmalm's Owl both breed in the forests but are hard to see. In late winter and early spring they can be heard. Wallcreeper is breeding in the cliffs but there is no regular site to recommend. Just scan the cliffs.

Rarities

Griffon Vultures have been seen from the Schilthorn.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Bearded Vulture, Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Hazel Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Common Cuckoo, Pygmy Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker (rare), 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, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (rare), 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, Eurasian Jay, 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

Ibex, Chamois and Marmots can be seen, sometimes from the cable car.
In the forests Red Squirrel is common.

Site Information

History and Use

Mürren is a famous tourist destination and popular for skiing and hiking.
The Schilthorn is known from a James Bond film (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) and the name Piz Gloria from the film is still in use.

Areas of Interest

For high alpine species the top is the place to be. Lammergeier may show up around noon or later.
A path leads down to Mürren and can be quite good for birding. However, do only use it with proper equipment (good shoes, food, water, clothing)! The path from Birg is also high alpine.
Numerous trails and paths are found around Mürren. The Sefinental south of Mürren is not so crowded and holds some good forest.

Access and Facilities

Mürren can not be reached by car. You have to leave your car in Stechelberg from where a first cable car goes up to Mürren.
Trains go to Lauterbrunnen (from Interlaken and Bern). From there a bus links to Stechelberg where you change to the cable car. From Berne you need about 2.5hrs (to the top), from Zürich 3.5 hrs.
The trip from the valley (Stechelberg) up to the top is expensive (2014: 99 Swiss francs, reductions with Swiss Pass or Swiss half fare card).

Accomodation in Mürren is plentiful and there is something for every budget (although still Swiss prices).

External Links

• Official website of Mürren tourist board
• Schilthorn/Piz Gloria website
• Railway timetable