Marais de Sionnet is the most important birding hotspot of Geneva state in Switzerland. The most famous one, and for sure my personal favorite. I have been birding there since 2007 and I cannot get enough of it.

First, the landscape is stunning. It gives you a great insight of what Geneva’s country looks like. Located between the villages of Meinier and Choulex, you can see all the most important mountains of the region from there : the Alps with the Mont-Blanc, the Salève, the Voirons and the Jura. Birding with the Mont-Blanc right in front of you is quite an experience.

Second, the peaceful atmosphere, especially early in the morning, is truly magical. Finally, the birdlife is amazing! If you are a birder visiting Geneva for a few days, you have to go for a walk at Marais de Sionnet.

How to reach Marais de Sionnet?

When to visit Marais de Sionnet?

What time of the day?

My advice is to go birding at Marais de Sionnet whenever you can! I personally love to go early in the morning, ideally arriving a bit before sunrise. It is quiet and peaceful, the mood is serene, light is often extraordinary, and it is a fantastic time to see wildlife.

But you can see a lot of birds at any hour of the day, so you should still go even if you can only go at midday!

What day of the week?

If you can, try avoiding the weekend. Marais de Sionnet is very popular for joggers, cyclists, families, people walking their dog, etc. Even though birds are incredibly tame there (probably partly or mainly because hunting is forbidden in Geneva state since 1974), it is even more enjoyable to go birding when you can be alone in nature, immersing yourself totally in the present moment.

What month of the year?

Whenever you go you will see many resident species. The most common ones (Eurasian Jay, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Blue Tit, European Greenfinch, Common Kestrel, Great Tit, etc etc.) as well as less obvious ones, such as :

Rook : you can see often see several birds at Marais de Sionnet, most of the time feeding on a field with Carrion Crows.
Eurasian Jackdaw : very easily recognizable thanks to their unique call, there are often a few Eurasian Jackdaws mixed with the flocks of Carrion Crows and Rooks.
Stock Dove : much more rare than the Common Wood-pigeon or the Rock Dove, Marais de Sionnet is one of the best places to see Stock Doves in the region. Look for them in the fields, feeding on the ground, and walk by the small woodlands trying to hear their beautiful and unique call.
Reed Bunting : wherever you are when near the reed beds, you will hear and/or a Reed Bunting. It is very easy to see them at Marais de Sionnet.
Common Stonechat : a very symbolic species of Marais de Sionnet, which is now in my opinion the best place to see the species in Geneva state.

Then of course, each season will bring different species, vegetation and light conditions. There is always something to see!

WINTER

The year starts with crisp light and frost or even snow. Winter is my second favorite time of the year to visit Marais de Sionnet.

With no leaves on the trees and not much food, birds are more visible than ever. The star is the Great White Egret. A truly magnificent bird, striking for its elegance and grace. Spending the night by the reed beds where humans cannot access, they usually start their day with the first rays of sun and go look for food in the ponds and in the nearby fields. You can often see one searching for food, 10 meters away, standing on the boardwalk. Bird photography at its best!

Winter is also great for wintering ducks :

Some years you can also see a great flock of Bramblings, mixing with European Goldfinches, European Greenfinches, Common Linnets and Common Chaffinches, giving us fantastic photo opportunities. They like to feed on sunflower fields.

February usually brings a small flock of Eurasian Siskins, feeding on the small alders located on the path from Chemin de la Motte to the boardwalk. This is also when you can see most of the Red Kites in migration. Another winter highlight is the very elusive Eurasian Bittern. You can potentially spot it from the boardwalk, as it hides and feeds by the reeds.

Finally, the end of winter means the return of the Black Kites, which is always a great news for me. Geneva state has a very high density of Black Kites, so you can easily see 10 or 20 flying over Marais de Sionnet.

SPRING

My absolute favorite time of the year. More breeding birds arrive, all flying back from Africa : Black Redstarts, followed by Great Reed-warblers, Common Reed-warblers…Common Reed-warblers are a great highlight because you can hear, see and photograph them in incredible conditions from the boardwalk. The reed beds are full of birds and if you are patient you will see them singing really close to you.

Common Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

With spring migration peaking between mid March and mid April, it is then possible to see more than 50 bird species in a day! Highlights include shorebirds (Northern Lapwings, different species of sandpipers, etc..), a few Garganeys, Bluethroat, Eurasian Penduline-tit, White Stork, Western Marsh-harrier.

And at the end of spring, you will have the opportunity to listen to the Common Nightingale and the Common Cuckoo.

Rarities in spring could include Little Crake, Short-eared Owl, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret and more. As always when you go out birding, you have to expect the unexpected!

SUMMER

Summer is beautiful at Marais de Sionnet. In July and August, even though I find light less interesting and there are more people around, there are great common species to admire. You can especially enjoy the mesmerizing ballet of Barn Swallows, Common Swifts and Common House-Martins. These species do not nest at Marais de Sionnet but in the villages nearby.

There can also be fantastic rarities like the Savi’s Warbler or the Common Quail. Mid-august is usually when Black Kites start to leave to go back to their wintering grounds in Africa.

FALL

Fall colors light the whole area and vineyards on the hill turn gold. Fall migration is a great time to go birdwatching at Marais de Sionnet. Migrating species include Northern Wheatear, Song Thrush, several species of pipits, etc. My favorite sight at that season are the Starling murmurations! There are other places in Geneva state where you can see a murmurations with many more birds, but seeing flocks of Common Starlings “dancing” over a firy sunset at Marais de Sionnet is truly mind blowing.

As you can see, there are a lot of amazing birds to see at Marais de Sionnet. Overall, it is one of the best places ever to see some stunning birds like Common Teal, Common Stonechat, Common Kestrel, Great White Egret, Common Reed-warbler, Reed Bunting and more.

I invite you to check this incredible birding hotspot on eBird to see all the latest sightings.

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2758150

At the time I write this article there has been 169 species spotted at Marais de Sionnet, which makes it the most important birding hotspot in Geneva state by far. On top of birds, it is a great place to see some other animals : insects, amphibians, and mammals. Red fox and Hare are a regular sight, and if you are very lucky, you might see a Weasel, Wild boar, Roe Deer and even Red Deer.

If you want to know more about this wonderful place, or if you are interested in doing a visit, feel free to contact me today! I would happily guide you there. You can also check Salva Fauna’s website and book the birding excursion to Marais de Sionnet.

Love Nature.
Jonathan

Birding in Geneva, Switzerland : Marais de Sionnet