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Excenevex Beach and Bay

Haute-Savoie  >  France

Small beach that is good for waders, rare shorebirds, and waterfowl, especially during spring and autumn migration, but also in winter.

Added* by Peter Wittemann
Most recent update 17 січня 2025
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Description

The Excenevex beach (1) is one of the few larger sandy beaches of the Lake Geneva and therefore of special interest for waders, shorebirds, and waterfowl, especially from the end of August through to mid-May.

The most common wader is Побережник чорногрудий, but Коловодник болотяний, Коловодник чорний, Пісочник малий, Пісочник великий, Набережник палеарктичний, Коловодник великий, Коловодник звичайний, Побережник малий, and also rarer waders like Побережник ісландський, Сивка морська, Побережник білий, Пісочник морський, Грицик великий, and especially Крем’яшник звичайний are sometimes observed. The best chances for most waders are in April and May, whereas the Побережник чорногрудий is most abundant in September-October, and the Крем’яшник звичайний is most likely to be observed during winter. The beach is freely accessible, and as some of the waders are not shy - especially the first-years in autumn - and approach patient observers on their own, excellent observations can be made.

The beach also offers a good opportunity to search a big part of the lake with a scope. The Крячок річковий is present from late April to September. Мартин середземноморський, Рибалочка блакитний, and Галагаз євразійський, which are present year-round, can be seen. In April and May, chances are best for observing Клуша and, with luck, Крячок рябодзьобий and Крячок каспійський. From late summer to autumn, rare guests like Плавунець плоскодзьобий, Поморник короткохвостий, Поморник довгохвостий, and Поморник середній can be seen with a scope and lots of luck.

From autumn to winter, interesting waterfowl stays in the bay, like Шилохвіст, Свищ євразійський, Гоголь зеленоголовий, Широконіска північна, and - again, with luck - Чернь морська, Крех середній, Синьга, Турпан, Гагара чорношия, Гагара червоношия, Гагара полярна, and Пірникоза сірощока. Especially the divers are present through to April.

You might also come across a Орлан-білохвіст, but most likely it will have been raised in captivity: The station of the reintroduction programme „Les Aigles du Leman“ is situated close by.

Near the beach, in Sciez, a small wetland can be visited (2). It is most interesting during spring migration. Пастушок, Соловейко західний, Сорокопуд терновий, Вивільга звичайна, Горлиця звичайна, and Жовна чорна are breeding here, Баранець звичайний, Щеврик лучний, and Лунь польовий are sometimes present in winter.

Rarities found at the Excenevex beach include Мартин трипалий, Мартин тонкодзьобий, Мухоловка білошия, Крячок чорнодзьобий, Мартин морський, one Поморник великий in 1999 and even one Сула атлантична in 2003.

Details

Access

Excenevex beach is located on the south bank of Lake Geneva. There is a public parking close by the beach (click on the P in the map). Public transport is unfortunately scarce. There is a hourly bus connecting Yvoire and Thonon that stops close by; leave at La Pinède.

The paths are easily accessible, and the beach is usually empty in the winter, spring and late autumn, except for a few dogwalkers.

Terrain and Habitat

Lake , Beach , Scattered trees and bushes , Wetland

Conditions

Flat , Sandy

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Winter

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

If possible, choose a day that is not too windy, as it can be difficult to search the waters of the lake when there are many waves.

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Map

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