Birding in Geneva - Report of the GOBG Excursion on 11.12.16
Fog and cold. Awful conditions many would say, but I realize that any weather is good for me. Thick fog creates a beautiful moody ambiance, and cold bring the crisp light that I love so much.
Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) flying in front of the lighthouse on Lake Geneva.
Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) resting on rock on Lake Geneva.
This excursion organized by the GOBG (Groupe Ornithologique du Bassin Genevois) aimed to be an initiation to bird counts, focusing on water related species such as ducks, swans, geese, gulls etc...
Waterfowl wintering on Lake Geneva.
Thousands of birds are spending winter on the western end of Lake Geneva, including a group of Ferruginous Ducks that is making Geneva more and more famous in the ornithological world.
Male Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) on Lake Geneva.
Here is the list of all the species we have seen today, by alphabetical order:
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Common Coot (Fulica atra)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
Flock of Common Woodpigeons (Columba palumbus) in flight above the lake.
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Mew Gull (Larus canus)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) landing on Lake Geneva.
Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) in flight above Lake Geneva.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans) resting with one leg hidden in its plumage to minimize heat loss.
We also spotted 3 hybrid Ferruginous Duck x Common Pochard!
If you are interested in bird watching in Geneva, feel free to contact me so we can enjoy our local birds together!
Love Nature.
Jonathan
