Description
The northern end of the lake is a good option for bird enthusiasts visiting the city. The Utoquai is especially recommended in the early part of the day for scanning the water with binoculars.
There are always very common species around, such as sinisorsa , kyhmyjoutsen , nokikana , merimetso , tukkasotka, and isokoskelo. Sometimes exotic escapees or tricky hybrids provide some excitement.
For beginners looking to learn about different species, and for those simply seeking a relaxed opportunity to go birding, this could be a great spot.
In winter, rarer species are regularly spotted here. While waterfowl such as the lapasotka and tukkakoskelo can be more reliably observed at the well-known, more southerly locations on the lake, the selkälokki overwinters quite regularly; recently, the harmaalokki has also been observed. Surprisingly, härkälintu can often be viewed up close.
During migration periods, the punakylkirastas is a regular visitor in early spring, and the kalatiira in late summer. Thanks to the high density of observers, rarities are frequently reported—such as a lapintiira in 2007, a tiiralokki in 2011, and a kashmirinuunilintu in 2019.
Details
Access
This spot is best visited when you’re already out and about in the city. In Zurich, everything is well connected by the tram network.
