Rothsee
Although being the smallest of the three lakes which form the "Fränkisches Seenland" it shouldn't be underestimated. More than 240 species are so far recorded with stunning eight (!) species of terns, which is really extraordinary for a site so far in the inland. Over the last years the Rothsee has proven to be an excellent site for rarities that are rather untypical for the inland such as coastal waders or the already mentioned terns.
Generally it is best in the winter and during migration times, when about 3000 thousand water birds are resting on the lake.
Checklist:
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Passage:
Arctic Tern, Black-necked Grebe, Black Tern, Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Eurasian Hobby, Little Gull, Pintail, Red-crested Pochard, Red-necked
Grebe, Shoveler, Waders (depending on the water level)
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Winter:
Caspian Gull, Common Gull, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-crested Pochard, White-tailed Eagle, Yellow-legged
Gull
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Access:
By Car: Leave the motorway A 9 at the exit 55 "Allersberg" and follow the signposts towards "Hilpoltstein". Shortly afterwards you come to a roundabout, take here the third exit. After another 3 kilometers you reach the junction to "Kronmühle". For approaching the first car park turn here right.
A second car park is situated 2 km south of that junction and is signed as "Seezentrum". Generally, all car parks are just in the winter for free.
By Public Transport: The next railway stations are in "Hiltpoltstein" and "Allersberg", from both the distance to the lake is about 2 kilometers. Furthermore, the lake can easily be accessed from the station "Allersberg" by the bus line 633.
Itinerary
Normally, it's not necessary to walk around the whole lake but to focus on the best spots. The area is divided in two parts: The "Vorsperre" can be well seen from the trail that runs northwards from the car park "Kronmühle", especially at (1). Another option is the dam between the latter and the "Hauptsperre" (2). The light is here usually best in the afternoon.
For exploring the second part, the "Hauptsperre", it is advisable to walk along the southwestern shore up to (3), where you can find both a pavilion and a observation platform. From there you have a good overview of the sandbanks, in the case of a low water level. Furthermore, it's possible to gain a limited view on the nature reserve which can't be accessed. However, normally there is little of note there.
GPS-coordinates
(1) [49°13'46.27"N 11°12'1.86"E]
(2) [49°13'35.00"N 11°11'45.63"E]
(3) [49°13'2.23"N 11°10'30.66"E]
P "Kronmühle" [49°13'34.96"N 11°11'47.34"E]
P "Seezentrum" [49°12'33.28"N 11°11'14.21"E]
References:
- Christian Wagner and Christoph Moning: Vögel beobachten in Süddeutschland, Stuttgart 2012.
- https://www.landratsamt-roth.de/Portaldata/1/Resources/www.landratsamt_roth.de/freizeit_und_tourismus/download/dokumente/608_Rothsee.pdf (21.02.16)