RuT3 near Greimerath - A visit to the whinchat

A discovery tour in search of the whinchat in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. Along our 6.7 km route through the Greimerath basin, we enjoy magnificent views.

With a bit of luck, we might spot the whinchat on this 6.7 km hike around Greimerath, as the wet meadows of the Panzbruch provide ideal breeding conditions. It hunts insects in the open meadows and builds its nest on or close to the ground, hidden among grasses and herbs – so it's worth taking a closer look!

As a migratory bird, it only stays in our region during the spring and summer months. However, you can watch the Taurus cattle grazing year-round, as they are used to keep the wet meadows open, thus providing ideal breeding and living conditions for otherwise endangered meadow bird species such as the whinchat, snipe, and meadow pipit.

From the parking lot in Greimerath, the path continues past the church towards the edge of the village. We cross the Eselsbach stream on the right and reach the first extensive wet and marshy meadows. Every spring, the whinchat returns here to breed. The whinchat's territory is approximately 2.5 hectares, so there are about a dozen pairs of whinchats in the Greimerath area.

Our path continues along the edge of the forest, and we reach the information panel after about 4.3 km. A little further on, we have a good view of the Panzbruch. This shallow moorland, located at the lowest point of the Greimerath Basin, has been a nature reserve since 1983. The aim here is to preserve the mosaic of sedge and purple moor grass meadows, rush marshes, willow thickets, and swamp forests. Heading back towards Greimerath, we watch the Taurus cattle grazing and then arrive back at our starting point.

Parking lot at the bridge in Greimerath

From the A1 motorway: Take the Reinsfeld exit towards Zerf, after Hirschfelder Hof head towards Greimerath, in Greimerath cross the bridge, parking lot on the left.

From Trier: via Zerf towards Losheim am See, turn left towards Greimerath, parking lot before the bridge on the right-hand side.

Sturdy footwear and comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

The whinchat is only about the size of a sparrow, but it is a migratory bird. Therefore, it only stays with us in spring and summer!