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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 Mjallhegri as well as the Dílaskarfur and Gráhegri, which are there all year round along with a surprising number of Bláþyrill.
From mid-to-late autumn until the spring, you can find large numbers of Gargönd, accompanied at different times by groups of Skutulönd and/or Skúfönd and, to a lesser extent, Rauðhöfðaönd. Towards the back of the pond there should also be several Dverggoði and perhaps some Toppgoði.
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. Förufálki, Turnfálki, Músvákur and Sparrhaukur are all realistic possibilities, and a Gáshaukur has been known to frequent the far side of the pond.
Corvids - mainly Svartkráka, Bláhrafn and Hrafn - congregate nearby in winter and will pass over the pond at various points during the day without necessarily hanging around. There are several Barrspæta in the vicinity. Svartspæta can also be found, though not as easily as in the past.
Passerines that you have a good chance of encountering include Flotmeisa, Blámeisa, Laufmeisa, Hnotigða and Barrfinka. In winter, you'll probably hear Mistilþröstur and Gráþröstur 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.