The Lampertheimer Altrhein
By Christoph Moning
This area is particularly worth to visit during winter and migration periods. Approximately 90 species are breeding while 245 species have been recorded in the area. The Lampertheimer Altrhein is a good example of an alluvial landscape close to natural conditions like it was once typical for the whole Rhine Valley before the numerous adjustment measures have been realized.
Requirements:
Equipment: Binoculars (and a Scope)
Accessibility of the area: easy walks
Interesting species:
Purple Herons are rare but regular migrants between July and August. Great White Egrets can be observed with up to 10 individuals nearly all year round. Grey Herons are breeding and occasionally very numerous (maximum: 250 birds). Black-crowned Night Herons are rare guests in September. Since some years there is a large colony of Cormorants with over 200 pairs. The Greylag Goose can be observed very often (up to 830 birds). Shelducks are however rarer guests. Other duck species are Gadwall, Common Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Garganey and Northern Pintail. Goosanders are to be found mainly in winter. The alluvial forest is inhabited by no less than 6 species of woodpeckers. Among them are Lesser and Middle Spotted Woodpecker (2-3 breeding pairs), Green -, Grey-headed and Black Woodpecker (1-2 breeding pairs). More than 10 pairs of the Black Kite can be found in the area. Reed dwelling species are a few Savi's Warblers, Reed Warblers (250-500 breeding pairs) and approximately a dozen pairs of Great Reed Warblers as well as Water Rails and many Bluethroats (10-30 breeding pairs). Penduline Tit, Stock Dove, Long-eared Owl and Tawny Owl occur likewise. Nightingale and Golden Oriole are frequently encountered breeding birds. Osprey, Western Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Honey Buzzard, Hobby, White and Black Stork, Cuckoo and Common Tern may be observed on passage. Black Tern and Little Gull are mainly observed in May as well as in August/September. Mediterranean Gulls are rare migrants in August. On the mud flats waders like Green and Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Knot (rare), Little and Common Ringed Plover can be discovered as well as the Bar-tailed Godwit (rare). During late summer look out for Spotted Crakes at the edges of the reed beds. Among the rarer winter guests are Slavonian Grebe, Bittern, White-fronted and Bean Goose, Smew, Ferruginous Duck, Merlin and Bearded Tit. Rare species included Squacco Heron, Black-winged Stilt (in each case 3 observation in the area) and Red-footed Falcon in the past.
Habitats:
Covering 525 hectares this protected area is beside the Kuehkopf the most important wetland of Hesse. It consists of large reed beds, remnant alluvial forests and several dead anabranches of the Rhine (covering 40 hectares). When the water level is low enough mud flats are uncovered.
How to get there:
You can reach the area, that is situated west of Lampertheim via the B 44. From the B 44 in Lampertheim take the Biedensandstrasse (strasse=road), which will lead You to the parking lot at the bridge over the Lampertheimer Altrhein ( P1 ). At the bridge, there is a plate giving You an overview of the protected area.
Birdwatching:
You can walk through the area by using the trails that are marked red in the map. There are good observation possibilities on the platforms at the Welsches Loch and at the Rallengraben (black points).