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 Чепура велика as well as the Баклан великий and Чапля сіра, which are there all year round along with a surprising number of Рибалочка блакитний.
From mid-to-late autumn until the spring, you can find large numbers of Нерозень, accompanied at different times by groups of Попелюх звичайний and/or Чернь чубата and, to a lesser extent, Свищ євразійський. Towards the back of the pond there should also be several Пірникоза мала and perhaps some Пірникоза велика.
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. Сапсан, Боривітер звичайний, Канюк звичайний and Яструб малий are all realistic possibilities, and a Яструб великий has been known to frequent the far side of the pond.
Corvids - mainly Ворона чорна, Грак and Крук звичайний - congregate nearby in winter and will pass over the pond at various points during the day without necessarily hanging around. There are several Дятел звичайний in the vicinity. Жовна чорна can also be found, though not as easily as in the past.
Passerines that you have a good chance of encountering include Велика синиця, Синиця блакитна, Гаїчка болотяна, Повзик звичайний and Чиж лісовий. In winter, you'll probably hear Дрізд-омелюх and Чикотень 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.


