You’ll be amazed at how many different bird species can be spotted in the mystical land of Lake Cerknica.
Lake Cerknica is a hotspot for ornithologists and birdwatchers alike: more than 300 species have been recorded here — over half of all bird species found in Europe. Around 100 species also nest at the lake. Among them are the white-tailed eagle, bittern, red-necked grebe, ferruginous duck, scarlet rosefinch, black stork, yellow wagtail, great reed warbler, and reed bunting.
This rich diversity of birdlife is thanks to the lake’s unique intermittent nature. Across an area of 20 km², the lake creates a mosaic of habitats: reedbeds, marshes, wet and dry meadows, shrublands, open water, and surrounding forests.
How to Observe Birds Successfully?
Successful birdwatching requires above all patience and knowing a few basic rules — to minimize disturbance for the birds while satisfying your curiosity:
- Best time: just before sunrise and 2–3 hours after, as well as just before sunset.
- Essential gear: binoculars, field guide and notebook, suitable footwear, spotting scope, and inconspicuous clothing.
Which Birds Can Be Seen in Each Season?
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Apus apus), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Gadwall (Mareca strepera), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Corn Crake (Crex crex), Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), European Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Garganey (Spatula querquedula), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina), Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica), Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Ruff (Calidris pugnax), Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Great Tit (Parus major), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Common Crane (Grus grus), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope).
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), European Serin (Serinus serinus), Common Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Common Swift (Apus apus), Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Corn crake (Crex crex), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina), Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica), European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Great Tit (Parus major), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra), Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia).
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Eurasian Diskin (Spinus spinus), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Gadwall (Mareca strepera), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Greater Scaup (Aythya marila), Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena), Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), Dunnock (Prunella modularis), Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), Common Gull (Larus canus), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Rock Dove (Columba livia), Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica), Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Great Tit (Parus major), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor), Redwing (Turdus iliacus), Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope).
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), Northern pintail (Anas acuta), Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula), Gadwall (Mareca strepera), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Smew (Mergellus albellus), Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greater Scaup (Aythya marila), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), Common Gull (Larus canus), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica), Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Great Tit (Parus major), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope).
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