Waasen - Hanság, Kommassantenwiesen and Einser-Kanal

Burgenland > Austria

Famous area for Outarde barbue and Hibou des marais and for the diversity of raptors.

Ajouté* par Benjamin Knes
Dernière actualisation 16 septembre 2021

Description

The Waasen or Hanság (in Hungarian) is a 460 km2-large fen area south-east of the Seewinkel, the larger part of which lies in Hungary – only around 70 km2 are Austrian territory. Once part of the Lake Neusiedl area and described as an impassable water wilderness, the area’s valuable semi-aquatic habitats were massively impacted through numerous human interventions. As late as the late 18th century, Tadten, Andau, Wallern, and Pamhagen had still been fishing villages! Today, the Austrian part of the Hanság is known – at best – as a temporarily inundated arid habitat with huge agricultural areas. Nevertheless, part of the Hanság is still the most bird species-diverse meadow area in Austria – Busard cendré, Bécassine des marais, Courlis cendré, Vanneau huppé, Chevalier gambette, Râle des genêts, Marouette ponctuée, Hibou des marais, Bergeronnette printanière, Tarier des prés, Tarier pâtre, Locustelle tachetée, Pie-grièche écorcheur and Bruant proyer all breed here. The formerly occurring Barge à queue noire is the only typical meadow-breeding bird missing today from this species array. But the breeding populations of some of these species fluctuate strongly depending on the meadows’ and fallows’ water supply.

Some of the species are exceedingly sensitive to disturbance, so visitors must strictly remain on the paths at all times to not jeopardise breeding success.

Détails

Accès

Two embanked roads lead south-east to the Einser-Kanal (the main regulation channel), one from Tadten and the other from Andau. The most important observation points can easily be combined on this circuit. Due to the distances and the risk of disturbing certain species, driving is the recommended means of transport here. In the meadow area itself, it is best to get out of one’s car only at the points described here. Starting onto Dammweg at Tadten, after about 3 km of driving through agricultural fields, one reaches the meadows known as the Kommassantenwiesen. There is an observation tower at a slight kink in the road, which offers a good overview of the meadow area. Facing east to the embanked road from Andau, between early April and mid-May one should be able to make out the displaying Outarde barbue males resembling “cotton wool balls”. Also keep an eye open for Courlis cendré, Vanneau huppé, Chevalier gambette, and Bécassine des marais, which all breed here in varying populations sizes each year. Meanwhile, passerines such as Bergeronnette printanière, Phragmite des joncs, Rousserolle verderolle, Locustelle luscinioïde (in mature reed stands), Pie-grièche écorcheur and (rarely) Gorgebleue à miroir can also be seen here. Raptor fans should remember to scan the sky for Pygargue à queue blanche, Aigle impérial, Busard des roseaux, and Busard cendré – and with a little luck one might even discover a migrating or temporarily stationary Faucon kobez in May.

The long, straight road continues past meadows and cattle pastures to the Einser-Kanal. The northern base of the embankment (not the middle of the channel) marks the border to Hungary. Turning left, the route continues on the rather rough road to Andauer Dammstraße. The bushes beside the road and the forests on the Hungarian side are home to Tourterelle des bois, Pic vert, Pic noir, Fauvette épervière, Rossignol philomèle, Locustelle fluviatile, and Bruant jaune. The skies should be scanned here regularly, especially for Cigogne noire and various raptors. During migration, rare raptors like Circaète Jean-le-Blanc and Aigle botté occasionally appear here, demanding careful identification and documentation. At the intersection with Andauer Dammstraße, the historic “bridge at Andau” leads across the Einser-Kanal to Hungary (remember to take a passport or ID card!). The Osli-Hany and Király-tó in the Hungarian Hanság can easily be explored by bicycle from here. The bridge itself is a good place to spot Cormoran pygmée, Grand Cormoran, Fuligule nyroca, Sterne pierregarin, Martin-pêcheur d'Europe, (on migration), Rousserolle turdoïde, Phragmite des joncs and Grand Corbeau. In spring and early summer, Locustelle tachetée is heard from the nearby meadow-like fallows. The route returns along Andauer Dammstraße. About half-way, make sure to stop at the spacious observation platform, where the Outarde barbue sometimes come quite close to the road (particularly in the early mornings). Courlis cendré, Busard cendré, Faucon hobereau, Bergeronnette printanière, Tarier des prés, Tarier pâtre, and Pie-grièche écorcheur can also be seen west of the road. And in some years Râle des genêts can be heard here quite well, calling from the Kommassantenwiesen at late dusk.

Terrain et Habitat

Zone humide , Prairie

Conditions

Plat , Paysage ouvert

Boucle

Oui

Avez-vous besoin d'une longue-vue?

Peut être utile

Saison idéale pour observer

Toute l'année

Meilleure période pour une visite

Eté , Printemps

Itinéraire

Route pavée , Sentier large

Niveau de difficulté de l'itinéraire

Facile

Accessible via

A pied , Voiture , Vélo

Observatoire/hutte d'observation

Oui

Informations supplémentaires

The bridge at Andau. The original bridge was used by local farmers to reach their fields, some of which were on the other side of the channel. After the Hungarian revolution had been suppressed and around 70,000 Hungarians had fled to Austria at this point alone, the bridge was blasted by Soviet troops on 21 November 1956. 40 years later, the “New Bridge at Andau” was erected by Hungarian and Austrian soldiers working together, and was ceremonially opened. The 9 km-long road to Andau, known as the “Road to Freedom” is lined by around 90 sculptures by international artists commemorating the events of November 1956.

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