La Sauge Fanel Chablais de Cudrefin
The Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin Reserve lies at the Northwest end of Lake Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee), at the mouth of the Broye Canal. The site is situated at the easternmost extremity of the Grande Cariçaie, the largest areas of reeds and swamp in Switzerland. At La Sauge you find one of the two SVS / BirdLife Switzerland information centres.
Habitat: The lake is extremely interesting for birds because of its variety of habitats: islands with gull and tern colonies, the sandbanks needed by waders, the shallows, the pools, the huge reedbed, the bordering woodland, and the fields of the hinterland.
Birds & wildlife: One of the most important and interesting sites for bird protection and birdwatching in Switzerland. In spring and autumn, many migrants stop here to rest and feed. Many interesting birds can be found in the reeds, with a large gull colony on the islands and rafts for nesting Common Terns in the lagoon.
During the winter there are divers (occasionally), Little, Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes, Bittern, Cormorant, Great White Egret, Whooper Swan, Bean, White-fronted and Greylag Geese, various dabbling ducks, up to several thousand Red-crested Pochard; Eider and Goldeneye; Red Breasted Merganser and Goosander, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Peregrine, Water Rail, Lapwing, Curlew; Snipe, Common and Yellow-legged Gulls, Kingfisher, Meadow and Water pipits, Grey Wagtail, Bearded Tit and Great Grey Shrike.
During spring and autumn there are Little Grebe, Cormorant, Night Heron, Little and Great White Egrets, Grey and Purple Herons; various dabbling ducks, Red-crested Pochard, Honey Buzzard (mainly autumn), Black Kite, Marsh and Hen Harriers, Osprey, Hobby and Peregrine, Water Rail. Little Ringed and Ringer Plovers. Lapwing; Turnstone; various sandpipers (calidris), Ruff, Whimbrel and Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Tringa species, Snipe, Mediterranean, Little, Common, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged gulls. Common Tern; Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Kingfisher, occasionally Hoopoe and Wryneck; Swallow; House and Sand Martins, Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Bluethroat and Whitethroat, Bearded and Penduline Tits, Red-backed Shrike and Golden Oriole.
Visiting & access: The SVS – BirdLife Switzerland visitor centre in La Sauge, at the entrance of the site offers many exceptional facilities: interactive expositions, video and multimedia shows, a path through different habitats including two ponds and three hides. Most paths are easily accessible to wheelchair-users.
Situated directly at the lake, the observation platform 'Chablais' and the observation pavilion 'Fanel' provide excellent views into the huge reserve. A bike is the best way to get around this site. Bicycles can be rented in Ins. The boat service from Nauchâtel to Murten, a second possibility to reach the reserve, stops at La Sauge (May to October only; check timetable).
Reduced entrance fee to the centre for all members of the global BirdLife Partnership, having a membership card with the BirdLife logo.
To visit the reserve's web site, click here...
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