Birdwatching at Lake Scharmützelsee

The Scharmützelsee in facts:

• 1200 hectares in size
• 30 meters deep
• 10 kilometers long
• 1.5 kilometers wide

Bad Saarow in the north of Lake Scharmützelsee is worth an ornithological excursion in itself.

In summer, the oriole sings in the beautiful spa gardens and many other songbirds such as blackbirds, song thrushes and hooded crows - yes, they are songbirds too - can be observed at close range. If you are out and about at night, it is not unusual to hear the eerie call of the tawny owl.

On the footbridge on the promenade, the reed warbler creaks out its harsh song. This characteristic summer bird of the lake district is easy to observe here. In winter, the view of the water is particularly attractive: goldeneyes and goosanders often stay close to the shore; you don't even need binoculars. It is also hard to miss the coots, which can be seen in their hundreds on the lake.

Tip 1

A QR code from "ornitho.de" is attached to the footbridge. Simply scan the QR code and an up-to-date list of the most recently observed bird species will appear.

On the western shore of Lake Scharmützel, opposite the Kleiner Werl, an island in the lake, there is another good observation point for ornithologically interested visitors. Cormorants can be observed particularly well from here.

Tip 2

Another good observation point for water birds in winter is the shore near Diensdorf-Radlow on the eastern shore of Lake Scharmützel.

Further south at Wendisch Rietz, a canal branches off in a north-westerly direction, connecting the Scharmützelsee with the Großer Storkower See. The surrounding canal meadows, a Natura 2000 and nature reserve with a marshy meltwater channel and the foothills of an inland dune system, are clearly visible from the moor footbridge to the south-east of the Großer Storkower See.

There are numerous places to stop for refreshments in both Bad Saarow and Wendisch Rietz. On a short detour to Storkow, you should not miss Storkow Castle and the Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park visitor center.

A look at the surrounding area

The best way to explore the entire observation area is by bike on the 46-kilometre "Eagle meets zander" circular tour. The start and finish are at Bad Saarow and Storkow railroad stations.