Fertőújlak (Mexikopuszta)

Sopron > Hungary

Beside vast meadow and pasture areas with sheep, water buffalo, and Hungarian Grey cattle, it is the restored wetland areas that draw in so many bird species.

Ajouté* par Benjamin Knes
Dernière actualisation 24 septembre 2021

Description

In the flood year of 1996, the ring dyke protecting the grazed lakeshore area from floods was breached. Thousands of birds quickly discovered the new wetland as a foraging and breeding area, and hydraulic management of the area has since been adapted to suit the birds’ requirements. The easily accessed observation tower on the eastern shore of the Borsodi-dűlő is a particularly good spot to observe a wide variety of waterbirds. Raptors worth noting here are Pygargue à queue blanche, Aigle impérial, Buse variable, Busard des roseaux, Faucon crécerelle, Faucon hobereau, and Faucon kobez, all of which breed in the area, while Busard Saint-Martin, Faucon pèlerin, Faucon sacre and Faucon émerillon occur regularly in winter and autumn.

The evening arrival of thousands of wintering geese in long lines, the so-called “Gänsestrich” is a sight worth seeing, as is the increasing number of Grue cendrée resting here on migration. One must stay on the walkways in the whole area!

Détails

Accès

Though it is not even 7 km along a bike path from Apetlon, the majority of visitors reaches the area by car from the direction of Fertőd. There is also a bus line that stops at the route’s most important points. Time permitting, one should definitely stop at the Egret cottage on the northern edge of Sarród – the Hungarian National Park centre. Plenty of information material can be picked up in this architecturally striking building, which also houses a little shop and regular exhibitions, and is also the starting point for excursions into the National Park. After crossing the railway line, a large pasture area soon opens up to the west, which is best viewed from beside an information board about Aigle impérial. Aside from this species, Busard cendré and Faucon kobez can be seen here with a little luck, while one can safely rely on seeing Alouette des champs, Tarier pâtre, and Bruant proyer. The shepherds’ museum in Lászlómajor keeps a number of traditional animal breeds, and also features information on the history of shepherding, fishing, and farming, and of the National Park in general. The windbreak to the north of the museum is home to a number of species, including Faucon crécerelle, Hibou moyen-duc, Hypolaïs ictérine, Mésange à longue queue, Fauvette grisette, Fauvette à tête noire and Loriot d'Europe, as well as (occasionally) Grand Corbeau. There is a good parking opportunity after the regulation weir for the Einser-Kanal, at which point the Borsodi-dűlő opens up ahead. Before going there, the route first heads back south across the weir and then west. The large stable building is private property and cannot be accessed! From a distance one can nevertheless see Tourterelle turque, Grèbe huppé, Bergeronnette grise, Moineau domestique and Moineau friquet breeding in and around the stable. The songs of Phragmite des joncs, Rousserolle turdoïde and Bruant des roseaux can be heard along the Einser-Kanal, while Blongios nain, Grande Aigrette and Héron pourpré are mostly seen when they take flight. The cattle pasture south of the canal is a breeding site for Vanneau huppé, Bergeronnette printanière and Bruant proyer, and Combattant varié can be seen here in large numbers in wet springs.

The route follows the path as far as the observation tower on the Nyéki-szállás, where a variety of herons, geese, ducks, waders, and terns can be seen at good water levels. A rather large colony of gulls breeds here in wet years. Activity can vary considerably here, because the area is not inundated every year, depending on water management. In dry years, the meadows to the south should be scanned for Courlis cendré in spring, and geese and hunting Faucon pèlerin in winter. Back at the weir on the Einser-Kanal, the route now continues along the Borsodi-dűlő to the observation tower on its eastern shore. This is the best place to observe a wide variety of waterbirds. It certainly pays to bring a spotting scope for the more distant parts of this huge expanse of water. Râle d'eau, Sarcelle d'été, Fuligule milouin, Sarcelle d'hiver, Sterne pierregarin, Avocette élégante, and Échasse blanche breed here alongside many other species, while a number of migrants and foraging guests can also be encountered here. The meadows around the tower are a popular place for Oie cendrée to raise their young. In April and May, one should take a close look at the flocks of curlew. Up to 100 Courlis corlieu can be seen alongside approx. 150 Courlis cendré at this time of year. Provided the area hasn’t frozen over or is completely covered in snow, between autumn and spring a number of nordic geese (including rare species!) frequent the area to sleep and drink. The geese’s return from their (often distant) foraging grounds at midday and in the evening – known locally as the “Gänsestrich” – can be seen especially well from here. A large autumn roosting site for migrating Grue cendrée has become established on the Borsodi-dűlő in recent years. The meadows and pastures leading up to the town of Fertőújlak are hunting grounds for Busard Saint-Martin, Faucon pèlerin, Pie-grièche grise, and sometimes Faucon sacre in winter. At the bend in the road, one is just 200 m away from the “Sandeck – Neudegg” conservation zone on Austrian territory. The formerly large ground squirrel population on the higher-lying meadows north of the Borsodi-dűlő has unfortunately decreased significantly in recent years. Apart from the National Park information centre on the right hand side as one enters the little town, Fertőújlak also boasts abundant birdlife: breeding species include Effraie des clochers, Pic syriaque, and Gobemouche gris, to name but a few, while up to 50 Hibou moyen-duc share communal roosts during the day in winter. The bike path leading from the eastern edge of town to the Austrian border offers good vantage points from which to scan the flocks of geese and Grue cendrée at the right time of year.

Terrain et Habitat

Zone humide , Arbres et buissons disséminés , Prairie , Steppe

Conditions

Plat , Paysage ouvert

Boucle

Non

Avez-vous besoin d'une longue-vue?

Peut être utile

Saison idéale pour observer

Toute l'année

Meilleure période pour une visite

Eté , Automne

Itinéraire

Route pavée , Route non pavée

Niveau de difficulté de l'itinéraire

Facile

Accessible via

A pied , Vélo , Voiture

Observatoire/hutte d'observation

Oui

Informations supplémentaires

Egret cottage: After a series of drainage measures, the shore of Lake Neusiedl is now a long way from Sarród, which used to be a fishing village. The National Park centre of the Fertő-Hanság Nemzeti Park, the so-called “Egret cottage”, was built in the former harbour area of Sarród and mimics a fishing village of the Pecheneg people. The entrance gate symbolises the raised wings of two Grande Aigrette facing each other. Seen from above, the building – the largest in Hungary covered in reed thatch – is reminiscent of a Grande Aigrette spread wing. What is more, the gable wall of each individual “house” matches one town on the lake. The Egret cottage houses the National Park administra- tion, an information centre, exhibition space, and also offers accommodation.

Liens