Mainaue Augsfeld

The river Main is an important inland waterway and so the river was regulated. Thereupon the once rich floodplains were declining and most of the breeders disappeared. Almost 15 years ago an ambitious project had been started to restore the nature in the valley of the river Main. Many quarry ponds were reformed, hides and observation towers built. Since seven years the result can be seen in this section of the river: Bluethroat, Black Kite and many more have returned to their former breeding areas.

Target Species:

This shallow lake is situated close to the town of Haßfurt and provides often the best birding in the region. While it is rather uninteresting in the winter, migration seasons offer a great variety of birds. Birds of prey, geese and Lapwings (sometimes accompanied by Golden Plovers) favour the large open area nearby. At the same time often good numbers of resting waterfowl can be observed on the lake.

In the spring and early summer the most breeders arrive, which include Bluethroat, Little Bittern, Great Reed Warbler and Corn Buntings in the close-by water protection area.

Access:

From the nearby observation tower you´ll get a good overview of the reed belts with a good chance to see Little Bitterns in the summer. For a closer look on the lake “Großer Wörth” stay on the path, which forks soon afterwards (2). From this point on a circuit walk is running around the lake. There are here and there gaps in the vegetation, for example at (3), which will allow you to look on the lake. Waders prefer the sandbanks of the opposite shore (viewed from the observation tower). Be careful, since the path runs very close to the shore and especially sensible species may be flushed, if you´re not sensitive.

The open area around the lake is very often also worth a look, especially during migration when many migrants are resting on the fields and in the bushes. As the situation is then unpredictable I can´t give detailed tips. However, in the most cases the best strategy is to drive (or walk) on the various lanes between Haßfurt and Augsfeld.

For observing the above mentioned Corn Buntings follow the lane in the direction of Haßfurt until you come to a trail on your right hand side (4), from which the buntings can often be heard singing.

GPS-coordinates:

Around the village of the Sand a. Main you´ll find three interesting lakes which are worth a visit all around the year. The westernmost lake the "Hochreinsee" and the neighbouring "Sander Baggersee West" are good during migration and breeding seasons, whereby the "Sander Baggersee Ost" on the other side of Sand provides reasonable gatherings of waterfowl in the winter half-year.

Access:

Hochreinsee: Along the connection road between "Sand a. Main" and "Knetzgau" there are two different lanes which lead to a parking ground at the lake. Despite both are generally suitable, I focus in this description on the way which is closest to Sand a. Main.

Leave therefore the road a few hundred after the village exit in the direction of the "Life-Natur-Erlebnisweg" (5), be careful because the sign post can easily be overlooked. Always following these signs you´ll finally come to the mentioned parking ground after a few minutes.

Next to the parking ground there is an observation hill (6), from where you have a good overview of the middle part of the lake. Following the trail eastwards you´ll soon come across a small sign post on your left hand side which directs you to a very often profitable hide (7), though the view is similar to (6). Afterwards the path soon splits up into a trail leading you through a riparian forest and one leading you around the latter. In any case you pass a former stream at (8) after a while and come afterwards to a T-junction. Turn here left and follow the path northwards until (9), where you can look once again on the lake.

Sander Baggersee West: When following this path further on you´ll come soon after that to another junction, where you turn right and shortly after that again right. Now the "Sander Baggersee West" should already be visible through the forest. From a nearby peninsula (10) you have a very good overview of the main part.

However, especially during breeding season it can also be profitable to visit the eastern part of the lake which cannot be seen from there. Drive for this back to Sand a. Main and turn there left in the direction of "Zeil a. Main". After leaving the village turn again left into the second path. Here you´ll find an open area where you can park. Recommendable are the small circuit walk around the small pond south of the "parking ground" and the peninsula at (11).

Sander Baggersee Ost: This quarry pond usually offers the most waterfowl in the winter and is - despite of this - certainly underwatched. Additionally, in the spring several territories of Bluethroats can be found along the shoreline and from April onwards Black Kites can regularly be seen soaring over the site. The best starting point is a parking ground at the oxbow lake "Alter Main" which is situated on your right hand side when driving from the main road (Eltmann - Sand - Knetzgau) in the direction of Zeil.

Follow at first the subsequent path along the riparian forest for a few hundred meters. When always keeping left you should soon come to the shore of the mentioned lake. Especially, its western part can nicely be seen from the path. However, you only have a overview of both parts on the peninsula at (12). Good habitat for Bluethroats and Reed Buntings can be found on the stretch until (13), from where also the most water birds should be seen. Generally it's possible to take the path on the eastern shore, though there are no more good insights on the lake.

GPS-coordinates:

Sources:

http://www.hassberge.de/fileadmin/data/OEPNV/2015/Haltestellenverzeichnis.pdf (23.07.15)