Bernese Oberland June/July 2010 (Switzerland)

Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald

During the latter part of June and early July, we did a walking trip in Switzerland. The weather was on our side and even a little too hot at times but the scenery certainly made up for that. During the walks I managed to cast my eye in the direction of a few birds and/or find a few in the villages where we stayed. I didn't come home with a massive list but managed to get a few good species for my list like Lammergeier over Mannlichen and Alpine Accentor on the Bachalpsee trail. The rest of this trip's photos can be viewed in my Flickr "Switzerland" album.

Eurasian Swift

The walk from Wilderswil to Murren probably chalked up the most birds with Kestrel, Swifts (many everywhere), Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Common Redstart, Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Willow Tit up to the half-way mark. From there I added Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel and Nutcracker - 3 lifers in a row! The area around the Hotel Alpenruh produced quite a few birds as well with Bullfinch, Greenfich, Goldfinch, Alpine Chough (also at Schilthorn and Kleine Scheidegg), Coal Tit, Sisken and White Wagtail. On our visit to Schilthorn we saw Chamois (antelope) from the gondola/cable-car.

Alpine Chough

On the walk from Wengen to Grindelwald via Wengernalp and Alpiglen, I added Tawny Pipit and an adult male Fieldfare with great sightings of the dark morph Red Squirrel which was way too quick for photos. Grindelwald and our walks there produced more notables like Green (2 adults & 2 immatures) and Medium Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Cuckoo (which we heard along some of the walks to Grindelwald too). The walk from First via Bachalpsee to Faulhorn was great with White-winged Snowfinches, Fieldfare and Alpine Accentor with Alpine Marmots and a very large and furry Red Fox adding to the mammal list.

Bachalpsee (between First & Faulhorn)

White-winged Snowfinch (juvenile)

Interlaken on the last day was a surprise with Great Crested Grebe, Common Moorhen, Tufted Duck and Goosander, I'd not been expecting to be anywhere for waterfowl and managed a couple of good shots here.

Great Crested Grebe

Goosander