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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 merihanhi at Ufschötti has been a fixture for some years; they are the offspring of escapees. pikku-uikku, Luhtakana, silkkiuikku (with their spectacular mating ritual), and isokoskelo nest in the area. In the park's hedges, leppälintu can be seen from spring to autumn, alongside kirjosieppo, harmaasieppo, and mustaleppälintu. During autumn migration, the pensaskerttu is a notable visitor.
More interesting are the gulls and waterfowl. Among seasonal guests, the selkälokki is frequently observed from April through July. Autumn brings the rantasipi and the kuningaskalastaja, which remains through winter. He is then joined by the kalalokki and the ruskosotka. This particularly noteworthy species can regularly be seen alongside a few Lapasorsa and thousands of tukkasotka, punapäänarsku, punasotka, and harmaasorsa, 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, haapana also appears, and lapasotka has been observed. The taivaanvuohi might be seen on the islands. Winter visitors that are rare in Switzerland but more commonly seen here include harmaalokki and aroharmaalokki, but they are not always easy to tell apart from the more numerous etelänharmaalokki.
Significant rarities recorded in the area, but dating back to the 1970s, are pulmunen, punapäälepinkäinen, valkosiipitiira, punakuiri, and mustajalkatylli. More recent exceptional observations include nokisiipilokki, amerikansipi, isosirri, räyskä, and avosetti. A cooperative isovesipääsky 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.