Birds of Lake Neuchâtel / Excursion January 2021

In the early morning of January 16, we meet our guests at the Pro Natura Center in Champ-Pittet in perfect winter conditions. The outside temperature fluctuates between -2 and -4 ° C and the weather is cloudy. For this day devoted to the observation and photography of the birds of Lake Neuchâtel, the conditions are promising. The cloud cover provides soft, diffused light, and the lake is home to one of the most important wintering bird varieties in Switzerland throughout the winter.

On the way to the observatory, we stop in front of a pretty group of Eurasian Siskins, a small yellow and green bird. True to their name, they feed on an alder tree. We give some techniques to our participants for successful backlit shots.

We then spend the first part of the morning in the observatory which overlooks a small piece of water surrounded by a very large reed bed. Despite a pair of Common Mergansers and a few Great Egrets passing by, the place is very calm, and only a Gray Heron disturbs the tranquility of the marsh. After an hour and a half of waiting, two reeds near the observatory suddenly start to move. The king of the place makes his entrance, the mythical Great Bittern! This bird is part of the heron family Ardeidae. Usually so rare to observe, it does us the honor of its presence.

At the edge of the reed bed, it is perfectly mimetic, especially when it lifts its head in the "reed" position.

Luckily, the Great Bittern decides to venture out into the open in search of prey. He is only a few meters from us!

Everyone holds their breath, the sighting is magical! After 10 minutes, the bird disappears into the vegetation, only to make a final appearance a few minutes later, before disappearing permanently into the reed bed.

This beautiful encounter is followed by the observation of a Water Pipit by the water's edge.

After some pictures, we leave the scene for the observation tower which offers a more aerial view of the marsh and allows us to see the lake. On two occasions, we observe two Common Kingfishers perching on the edge of the reed bed and Great Egrets hunting in the pond.

In the distance on the lake, we spot a nice group of Red-crested Pochards and an Arctic Loon, probably coming from northern Europe. Finally, on the way back, a European Sparrowhawk comes to perch in a tree. So many encounters! We could almost forget the freezing cold. The lunch break on site feels great, with a good warm and friendly meal to regain our strength.

We then set off for the other end of the lake, stopping along the way in the hope of meeting the Bearded Reedling which is sometimes seen at this site. These small, highly photogenic passerines, along with the Great Bittern, constitute real “jewels” of the reed beds both for their striking beauty and the difficulty of observing them in good conditions. Unfortunately, after spending an hour walking the boardwalk winding through the phragmites, we only hear them call in the distance, without being able to observe them, as it is often the case.

We still meet several classic species of alpine lakes, such as Great Cormorants, a Gadwall in the middle of Mallards, or a discreet Reed Bunting. A European Robin also makes us happy perching near or feasting on berries, sometimes within easy reach of our group. Enough to make nice images!

Around 3 p.m., we reach the Center Nature BirdLife de La Sauge in Cudrefin, where we will end our excursion. At this end of the lake, a long canal crosses two huge reed beds to flow into the lake. We decide to take the left bank of the canal which is almost a kilometer long. Along the way, we again cross the road of a beautiful group of Eurasian Siskins on an alder! Particularly not shy, they come to feed on the rocks of the canal within a meter from us. This is the perfect opportunity to share some composition and framing tips in situ with our guests.

We've been walking the canal for about twenty minutes towards the lake, accompanied by Mute Swans and Common Mergansers, with a small group of Greylag Geese flying over. We are then surprised to see two White Storks in flight in the distance.

Suddenly, as we enter the second half of the canal, birds bustling in the phragmites immediately stop us from walking. As soon as we put them in the binoculars, the diagnosis is clear: Bearded Reedlings! One, two, three, it's eight Bearded Reedlings in total that feed peacefully in the reed bed. We advance very slowly, then we stop on the path.

We stay still and the birds gradually come closer, until they are just 2 meters from the group! Amazing, it's our lucky day.

These usually stealthy birds, only climbing to the top of the phragmites for a few moments, are this time completely calm and within reach. Everyone exchange radiant smiles, aware that this is a memorable moment in nature!

The feather balls offer dreamlike scenes ranging sometimes from the top of a phragmite, sometimes down, sometimes males and females coming together on the same strand, while other individuals perform a few acrobatics to reach seeds. The encounter is exceptional and great pictures are being made, as the birds are calm and cooperative.

After an hour and a half of observation, the light dimmed. Reluctantly, we turn back, leaving the group of Bearded Reedlings exactly where we met them. We end this excursion with a smile on our face, with fantastic memories.

During the day, we have observed 37 species of birds. This excursion is one of our most popular excursions in Switzerland, attracting naturalists and wildlife photographers. This new edition has been a real joy for the guests as for the guides :) Lake Neuchâtel has kept its promises and remains definitely a must-see place for bird watching and photography.

Lucas
Guide Salva Fauna