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Donaustau at Greifenstein

Niederösterreich  >  Austria

Danube side arm with reservoir. 220 recorded species, most of them wintering birds.

Ajouté* par Peter Wittemann
Dernière actualisation 24 novembre 2025
Cette zone d'observation n'a pas encore été évaluée. Soyez le premier à noter de 1 à 5 étoiles

Description

The area at the Danube reservoir at Greifenstein consists of a roughly 2.5-kilometre peninsula (1) that separates the Danube (2) from an old southern side arm (3). Around 220 species have already been recorded in the area. Most interesting are gulls, ducks, geese, and divers which stay from mid-October until early spring.

The side arm (3) is best explored on foot or by bike from the southern path “Am Damm.” Afterwards, it is worth walking across the “Die Schwelle” bridge to the Danube lock. Along the way you pass several small islets that are also worth checking. From dam on the lock, only the eastern part of the Danube is visible, where gulls and cormorants rest. As early as late summer and autumn, the Mouette mélanocéphale is occasionally sighted, followed somewhat later by the Goéland argenté. More common are Goéland leucophée, Goéland pontique, and Mouette rieuse. The Mouette pygmée has been recorded especially in November. Four sightings of the Goéland marin and three of the Mouette tridactyle also come from the cold season. Records of the heuglini subspecies of Goéland brun ("Heuglin's gull") and Goéland bourgmestre are rare but confirm the site’s potential. Among cormorants, the Atlantic subspecies P. c. carbo is regularly observed.

The island (1) is covered with a strip of alluvial and deciduous forest. Noteworthy among the probable breeding birds are Gobemouche à collier, Pic mar, and on the islets the Chevalier guignette. Most surveys in the area, however, take place outside the breeding season; in the summer, the side arm is frequented by swimmers and water sports enthusiasts. Of particular interest are the winter gatherings of waterbirds either on the side arm or on the impounded Danube itself (2), which reach their peak in January. They can be viewed from the northern path, which is heavily used by cyclists.

Among the ducks, the Fuligule morillon is the most numerous. A regular guest between November and January is the very similar Fuligule milouinan. Less frequently at the same time, the Macreuse brune, Grèbe esclavon and Grèbe jougris are recorded, and even more rarely the Harelde boréale. Those not lucky with rarities can expect Harle bièvre, Garrot à oeil d'or, and Goéland brun. The food-rich area also regularly attracts the Pygargue à queue blanche.

Détails

Accès

The Danube side arm and reservoir are located in Greifenstein, about 25 km north of Vienna. While parking is possible (click on "P" on the map to get directions), the area is best reached by public transport or bicycle. The paths are wheelchair accessible.

Terrain et Habitat

Forêt , Rivière , Ville/village

Conditions

Plat

Boucle

Oui

Avez-vous besoin d'une longue-vue?

Oui

Saison idéale pour observer

Printemps , Hiver

Meilleure période pour une visite

Hiver

Itinéraire

Route pavée , Sentier large

Niveau de difficulté de l'itinéraire

Facile

Accessible via

A pied , Vélo , Fauteuil roulant

Observatoire/hutte d'observation

Non

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