Birdwatching at Bislicher Insel in winter

Between 2019 and 2024, my wife and I visited the Bislicher Insel nature reserve about fifteen times for birdwatching. Each visit offered a different mix of species, depending on the season and weather conditions.

In the following sections, I would like to introduce some of the birds we observed throughout the year. Let’s continue with winter.

Winter

In winter, Bislicher Insel reveals a special kind of beauty. Mist often hangs over the fields and water, softening the scenery and offering perfect conditions for atmospheric photos.

Despite the winter chill, the waterways stay full of life — many birds linger here, feeding and resting along the edges. Among the winter visitors are great crested grebes, common merganders and smews, along with Northern shovelers, gadwalls and and white wagtails feeding along the shore.

The trees are alive with movement — great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, and Eurasian jays flit among the branches in search of food.

As ever, the common buzzard and the common kestrel occupy their familiar perches, keeping a steady watch over the quiet winter landscape.

White storks and Eurasian skylarks pass over the meadows, while below, common pheasants and hares sit quietly among the grass.

In the next post, we will turn to the birds and wildlife of spring.

<- Autumn

-> Spring