Birds of Lake Neuchâtel / Private tour with Hanna & Jordan

We arrive early at Lake Neuchâtel, we are in the Champ-Pittet car park and birds are already singing at the top of their voices. Hanna and Jordan are excited for the day ahead!

It is 8am, we begin our approach to the lake. Crossing the wooded area that still separates from the reedbed, our ears linger on a group of Eurasian Siskins at the treetops. This is an opportunity to observe some common birds quite closely, with a lively Wren, a few Great and Blue Tits and Blackbirds enjoying the ivy berries still high up while a good part is on the ground after the storm in early March.

Upon reaching the reed bed, the Thrushes are heard, a few Fieldfares and above all a limpid concerto by a Song Thrush welcome us! The first ducks fly over us, we go to the big observatory!

Once perched, the entire gradient of the lake shores offers us varied conditions to enrich the landscape. There is a Great Egret and a Water Rail in the nearest marsh. Further offshore, Red-crested Pochard mingle with Great Crested Grebes, a few Northern Pintails and Arctic Loons can be seen through the telescope.

Photo Loris Bono

We choose to get moving after a good moment of observation and sketching (Jordan has a nice pencil stroke;)) to warm up, and head for the observatory at the water's edge to immerse ourselves again more in the reed bed. We will have the chance to observe a Common Snipe, first close but covered with vegetation then finally very well exposed at a more than reasonable distance, a pleasure for the eyes! A few Little Grebes, with plumage already ready for breeding, are heckling just in front of the observatory.

Photo Loris Bono

The day is already well advanced, we leave for the other end of the lake, at Fanel, to regain our strength and continue our observations.

So we walk along the Canal de la Broye observing the comings and goings of Mute Swans that make the air vibrate. We hear our first whisker Bearded Reedlings on our way to the end of the dyke.

Photo Loris Bono

From there, we will take advantage of the telescope to observe at least two Whooper Swans, the Eurasian Curlews, a Beaver which was playing it floating dead branch which will not have deceived Jordan's vigilance, and the White-tailed Eagle which seems to settle at the Fanel.

The day ended in the sun, with good sightings of Bearded Reedlings on the way back and a nice arrival of curlews in a field.

Loris
Guide Salva Fauna