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Description
The city of Lucerne has adapted a small section of its otherwise artificial lakeshore to provide opportunities for waterfowl, gulls, and birdwatching. Ufschötti, a park along Lake Lucerne, is marked by expansive lawns and minimal infrastructure (1). Nearby, between Ufschötti and the marina, are two small breeding islands (2). While it is disheartening that these are the bay’s only semi-natural spaces, it is this limitation that allows them to host a concentrated diversity of waterbirds. Established in the 1980s, the islands are slated for restoration and expansion in winter 2024/5. The marina pier, accessible to visitors, provides excellent views of the lake (3). Nearly 200 bird species have been recorded in the area.
Breeding birds are relatively scarce. A flock of Greylag Goose at Ufschötti has been a fixture for some years; they are the offspring of escapees. Little Grebe, Water Rail, Great Crested Grebe (with their spectacular mating ritual), and Goosander nest in the area. In the park's hedges, Common Redstart can be seen from spring to autumn, alongside Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, and Black Redstart. During autumn migration, the Greater Whitethroat is a notable visitor.
More interesting are the gulls and waterfowl. Among seasonal guests, the Lesser Black-backed Gull is frequently observed from April through July. Autumn brings the Common Sandpiper and the Common Kingfisher, which remains through winter. He is then joined by the Common Gull and the Ferruginous Duck. This particularly noteworthy species can regularly be seen alongside a few Northern Shoveler and thousands of Tufted Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, and Gadwall, that spend the winter in the bay (with a few breeding couples staying here). With non-native algae and mussles colonizing the bay since the 1980s, numbers of wintering ducks have been increasing. It is worth scanning those: In some years, Eurasian Wigeon also appears, and Greater Scaup has been observed. The Common Snipe might be seen on the islands. Winter visitors that are rare in Switzerland but more commonly seen here include European Herring Gull and Caspian Gull, but they are not always easy to tell apart from the more numerous Yellow-legged Gull.
Significant rarities recorded in the area, but dating back to the 1970s, are Snow Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, White-winged Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Kentish Plover. More recent exceptional observations include Laughing Gull, Spotted Sandpiper, Red Knot, Caspian Tern, and Avocet. A cooperative Red Phalarope drew some attention from birdwatchers in 2022. With restoration of the Brutinseln planned for 2025, the area is poised to attract exciting species in the future.
Details
Access
The Ufschötti and Brutinseln area is some ten minutes by foot from Lucern, Central station. There is a parking right in front of (1) (click P on the map for directions). Everything is wheelchair accessible.