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Description
You probably wouldn't go out of your way to visit but if you're in Strasbourg anyway, you may find Étang du Karpfenloch a pleasant place to spend a few moments birdwatching, especially in winter when the ducks and other waterbirds have arrived. The big plus aside from its proximity to a big city is the glorious afternoon light on a sunny winter's day.
There will be quite a few walkers passing by. They'll mainly be interested in the Velika Bijela Čaplja as well as the Veliki Vranac and Siva Čaplja, which are there all year round along with a surprising number of Vodomar.
From mid-to-late autumn until the spring, you can find large numbers of Patka Kreketaljka, accompanied at different times by groups of Glavata Patka and/or Krunata Patka and, to a lesser extent, Zviždara. Towards the back of the pond there should also be several Mali Gnjurac and perhaps some Ćubasti Gnjurac.
If you stick around for an hour or more, you have a good chance of seeing the raptors that pass semi-regularly but usually briefly. Sivi Sokol, Vjetruša, Škanjac and Kobac are all realistic possibilities, and a Jastreb has been known to frequent the far side of the pond.
Corvids - mainly Crna vrana, Gačac and Gavran - congregate nearby in winter and will pass over the pond at various points during the day without necessarily hanging around. There are several Veliki Djetlić in the vicinity. Crna žuna can also be found, though not as easily as in the past.
Passerines that you have a good chance of encountering include Velika Sjenica, Plavetna Sjenica, Crnoglava sjenica, Brgljez and Čižak. In winter, you'll probably hear Drozd Imelaš and Drozd Bravenjak too.
Details
Access
Étang du Karpfenloch is about 6 km northeast of the city center of Strasbourg. The pond is right next to a car park that shouldn't ever be full (there's more space on the road if necessary). Press P on the map for directions. You can also cycle here quite easily, but there's no public transport. If you're already in Robertsau then it's not too far to walk here from Parc de Pourtales.