Natural surroundings of the watchpoint

Côte de Fréconrupt is located in the valley of la Bruche, oriented NNE/SSW in the sandstoned Vosges. The valley starts from Molsheim and ends on a shallow mountain pass (550 m). The watchpoint is on the hillside to the hamlet of Fréconrupt along the D126 arriving from Schirmeck. Mid-slope, a tall statue of the Virgin Mary with open arms indicates the watchpoint. The site can only be reached on foot; park at the second hairpin turn along the D126 or preferably shortly before if you want a better view (arriving from Schmirneck, take the forest road to the Virgin)  The landscape includes mixed forests on the summits, semi-wooded pastures on the slopes and hay pastures and woodland at the bottom of the valley where several villages can be found. From the vantage point, the view extends way to the entrance of the valley. As the valley is wide and rather flat most migratory birds spread over a wide front between the summit of Schneeberg-Donon (1008 m) in the WNW and Champ de Feu (1099) in the ESE.

History of the survey and environmental issues

The first migratory bird counts date back to 1976 with a simultaneous count on most cols in the Vosges. Despite its importance for raptor migration, the site has never been surveyed systematically. Irregular counts are available from 1992 onward by three local observers and occasional visitors from Strasbourg. Like the vast majority of the migration watchpoints in the Vosges Mountains, it is not hunted. To keep land open, there is some grazingby sheep.

Ornithological interest, target species

The site is only interesting during autumn migration. Part of the migrants that follow the Rhine valley enter the wide valley and converge as they continue their flight. As the valley is rather wide, there is no pronounced bottleneck effect. This is one of the best sites in the Vosges Mountains for Red Kite and Common Buzzard. It is also one of the top localities in the Vosges for Woodpigeon migration.

Migration calendar

So far, there have only been counts in September and October. September migration is diluted with passerine migration over a wide front (swallows, pipits, wagtails, thrushes, …). After mid September, the first Red Kites make their appearance with a peak at the end of the month – early October. After that, Busards, Woodpigeons and finches (mainly Chaffinches) take over. In October, thrushes often stop in the nearby woodland or meadows. Nutcrackers fly hence and forth as they collect Hazelnuts in the valley and store them in the forests on the upper slopes.  

Visitors

There is no birding accommodation.

How to get there ?

The site can be reached by the former N420, either from Molsheim in Bas-Rhin or Saint-Dié in the Vosges.

Where to stay and where to eat?

There are many shops, restaurants and hotels in the town of Schirmeck and in the villages in the valley.

Contact

If you have any observations from this watchpoint, please contact Gunter De Smet mailto:gunter.desmet@lpo.fr(you can always send your observations to LPO Alsace : mailto:alsace.conservation@lpo.fr)

Author of the text

Christian Dronneau (mailto:dronneau@club-internet.fr)