TRIP REPORT TO LA BRENNE

29TH MAY – 9TH JUNE 2013

 

Observers: Mike and Anne Passman and Graham and Daphne Daw

 

Departed from Plymouth at 21.15 on 29th May arriving in Roscoff at 08.00 on 30th May, driving 360 miles direct to La Confiance at Martizay where we had 7 nights excellent accommodation with Chris anad Sue who provided Breakfast, 6 Course Dinners with wine and a packed lunch.

 

All the Etangs (lakes) visited are within 15 miles of where we stayed many with hides.

 

The information centre at Maison de la Nature is the first site to visit where you can obtain information on what has been reported at various Etangs.

Having an extra pair of eyes certainly helped particularly when I was driving.   Total species recorded this year was 129 compared with 118 last year.

A synopsis of the daily visits and highlighted birds recorded follows:-

 

Friday 30th May – Roscoff to La Brenne

Managed to pick up a few birds coming into Roscoff – 11 SANDWICH TERNS, 1 FULMAR, CORMORANT, HERRING GULL.

During the 6 hour drive to La Confiance the main birds seen were 2 GREY PARTRIDGE, 1 male HEN HARRIER, HOBBY, LITTLE TERN, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

A quick visit to LES BERGERAUX at 16.30 produced a female MARSH HARRIER, TURTLE DOVE, 2 CUCKOO.

By the river at Martizay a male SERIN.

Around the gardens at La Confiance, pair of BLACK REDSTART, BLACKCAP, GARDEN WARBLER, NIGHTINGALE.

 

Sat 1st June

Woke up (every morning) to the sight and song of both NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Driving through Martizay a RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE walked across the road, CATTLE EGRET flew by, CORN BUNTING and a male HEN HARRIER in the fields.

Just before the Information site a SHORT TOED EAGLE flew over and first PURPLE HERON seen.

Visit to CISTUDE Hide where we found this had been drained, however 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, SEDGE WARBLER, MARSH HARRIER, HOBBY, BLACK KITE all seen.

Next stop RICOT where we found GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, CETTIS WARBLER, 2 SHORT TOED EAGLE, 10 WHISKERED TERN.

Picnic lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE, 20+ WHISKERED TERN, 4 BLACK TERN, 60+ RED CRESTED POCHARD, 250+ MUTE SWAN, 2 COMMON TERN, YELLOW LEGGED GULL, CIRL BUNTING.

At Etang ESSARTS car park both MELODIOUS WARBLER and a YELLOWHAMMER.

A quick visit to Etang LINGE added 6 GADWALL, then drove on to TOURNON-ST-MARTIN where 2 BEE EATER at the known site plus GREEN WOODPECKER.

Stopped by the river at YUR-SUR-CREUSE where a GREYLAG GOOSE sat on the bank, our first male RED BACKED SHRIKE in a hedge.

Another quick visit to LES BERGEAUX found 2 SAND MARTIN and a male HEN HARRIER.

Finally whilst having Dinner a pair of HOOPOE visited the garden also a HARE.

 

Sun 2nd June

Additions to the garden list by 9.00a.m. 2 CIRL BUNTING, 1 CUCKOO, 1 TURTLE DOVE.

At ST.MICHEL-EN-BRENNE some local fish ponds produced PURPLE HERON, NIGHT HERON and a HONEY BUZZARD over, 3 HOOPOE.

A couple of hours at Etang SOUS proved very productive as it produced our only sighting of a LITTLE BITTERN – male,   GREAT REED WARBLER, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, CATTLE EGRET, 2 PURPLE HERON, LITTLE GREBE, BLACK-NECKED GREBE.

Lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE found a CANADA GOOSE amongst the MUTE SWAN, 7 BLACK KITE, 3 PURPLE HERON.

First afternoon stop was Etang ESSARTS – 2 WHITETHROATS, male RED BACKED SHRIKE, 5 NIGHTINGALE, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET, large breeding BLACK –HEADED GULL colony, 2 BLACK-WINGED STILT, 1 LAPWING, MISTLE THRUSH and a calling BLACK WOODPECKER.

Returning through the farm fields we had a male MONTAGUES HARRIER and 2 LINNET.

 

Mon 3rd June

A mostly driving and sightseeing day which still brought some surprises.

At ANGLES ANGULIN, 2m 2f BLACK REDSTART, at Mergigny a male REDSTART singing from a TV Aerial.

Lunch stop at RUFFAC LAKE a KINGFISHER and BLACK WOODPECKER visiting young at a nest.

Driving through the lanes several RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Stopped at Etang MARE ROUGE and found a pair of WIGEON, NIGHT HERON, WHISKERED TERN and heard a male GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Afternoon visit to Etang GABRIERRE produced 5 BLACK KITE, MARSH HARRIER and the only BITTERN of the trip.

 

Tues 4th June

Driving to the main forest area several RED BACKED SHRIKE, 2 CATTLE EGRET, 4 CANADA GOOSE (+ young) 2 CATTLE EGRET.   A brief stop by a clearing we found 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, 1          m 1f REDSTART, 1 CRESTED TIT and a LONG TAILED TIT.

An afternoon visit to Etang PURAIS gave us the sight of 200+ WHISKERED TERN, 40+ BLACK NECKED GREBE – many pairs with very young chicks, including pairs feeding only

15 feet in front of the hide.   GADWALL and other duck present.   Raptors flying over MARSH HARRIER, BLACK KITE, KESTREL, HOBBY, BUZZARD and SPARROW HAWK.

A Etang MASSE there were around 30 CORMORANT nests with more than 40 birds.

A nearby Etang BLIZON, 4 NIGHT HERON, 2 MARSH HARRIER.

Driving back through the lanes where farmers were silage cutting produced 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 BLACK KITE, 2 LITTLE EGRET, 3 CATTLE EGRET, RED BACKED SHRIKE and 2 CURLEW.

 

 

 

Wed 5th June

A visit to LOCHES about 25Km north produced for me the bird of the trip – A BLACK STORK thermalling at a height of 30-50 feet managed to pull off the main road and spent 10 mins having superb views.   According to the local birders there are very few of these birds that summer in the region.

Anne and Daphne enjoyed a good walk round a huge local market.

Picnic lunch in LOCHES Park provided us with good view of our only SHORT TOED TREECREEPER, male SERIN with over 60 SWIFT around the city.

An afternoon visit to the Chateau gardens at AZAY-LE-FERRON we found NUTHATCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, ROBIN, FIRECREST.

Each evening we drove round the farm fields near to MARTIZAY, today 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 RED BACKED SHRIKE, PHEASANT and 2 RED LEGGED PARTRDIGE.

 

Thurs 6th June

Last full day in the Brenne started off well with good views of NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.   Found a male BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL sat on top of a hay bale collecting food.

Driving towards ST MICHEL-EN-BRENNE 10 CATTLE EGRET in one field.

Return visit to Etang ESSARTS was more productive, 2 ad MEDITERRANEAN GULL amongst the BLACK HEADED GULL colony, 4 GREAT WHITE EGRET, 10 BLACK WINGED STILT, 2 TURTLE DOVE, CETTIS WARBLER and a fly over BOOTED EAGLE.

Lunch at LA GABRIERRE provided great views again of their resident birds and then on to

Etang FOUCOULT and ROSNEY area.   Great views of a HONEY BUZZARD, 6 LAPWING male SHOVELER, 2 BLACK WINGED STILT, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, 2 CATTLE EGRET, LITTLE EGRET, 4 HERON, 3 PURPLE HERON, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET.

A return visit to Etang PURAIS found 55+ BLACK NECKED GREBE (plus many young)

300+ WHISKERED TERN, 14+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE.

Graham and I did a final drive round the farm fields which produced 2m 1f MONTAGUES HARRIER, BUZZARD, 4 CORN BUNTING, RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Over dinner we discussed how good the birding had been, birds that had been recorded by other people we met (not many) were WATER RAIL and WOODCHAT SHRIKE.

An excellent area to visit particularly with the first class hospitality at La Confiance.

 

Friday 7th June

Stopped by River Loire (in full flood) at MONTSEREAU – only one small sandbank under the main road bridge – this contained 100+ YELLOW LEGGED GULL, 2 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 2 COMMON GULL, 8 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 100+ COMMON TERN, 80+ LITTLE TERN whilst a flock of 20 MEDITERRANEAN GULL flew downstream.

Whilst driving to MONTSEREAU two interesting birds – on a post by a lake, Graham had an OSPREY and when slowly going through a village 2 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

 

Sat 8th June

Drive from SAMAUR to Angers was not very productive as there were very few sandbanks – numbers of breeding birds will be well down this year, however we still managed to find a REDSHANK, 10 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 7 LAPWING, plenty of COMMON and LITTLE TERN, 2 m CIRL BUNTING, BLACK REDSTART and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Lunch stop was at Etang DE MARCILLE-ROBERT where we had superb views of a fishing OSPREY, 2 SONG THRUSH and in a nearby recently harvested field a total of 18 BUZZARD.

 

Sun 9th June

On our crossing to Plymouth we managed to add SHAG, GANNET, KITTIWAKE and one that I missed a STORM PETREL

 

Remaining birds which we saw, mostly relatively common:-

 

MALLARD                 TUFTED DUCK                     POCHARD                 MOORHEN

COOT                         GREATER B.B.GULL           FERAL PIGEON        WOOD PIGEON

COLLARD DOVE      SWIFT                                                SWALLOW                HOUSE MARTIN

MAGPIE                     JAY                                         JACKDAW                 ROOK

CARRION CROW     BLUE TIT                               GREAT TIT                SKYLARK

CHIFFCHAFF                        BLACKCAP                           SEDGE WARBLER   REED WARBLER

WREN                         STARLING                             BLACKBIRD              STONECHAT

DUNNOCK                 HOUSE SPARROW              WHITE WAGTAIL     CHAFFINCH

GREENFINCH           GOLDFINCH                          LINNET         

 

We also managed to see the following mammals:-

RED SQUIRREL, HARE, RED DEER, COYPU and at Etang MESSE 4 BEAVERS.

 

If you are looking for a fairly relaxing birding holiday in a quiet part of France with very good hospitality then a visit to LA BRENNE staying at LA CONFIANCEis well recommended.

TRIP REPORT TO LA BRENNE

29TH MAY – 9TH JUNE 2013

 

Observers: Mike and Anne Passman and Graham and Daphne Daw

 

Departed from Plymouth at 21.15 on 29th May arriving in Roscoff at 08.00 on 30th May, driving 360 miles direct to La Confiance at Martizay where we had 7 nights excellent accommodation with Chris anad Sue who provided Breakfast, 6 Course Dinners with wine and a packed lunch.

 

All the Etangs (lakes) visited are within 15 miles of where we stayed many with hides.

 

The information centre at Maison de la Nature is the first site to visit where you can obtain information on what has been reported at various Etangs.

Having an extra pair of eyes certainly helped particularly when I was driving.   Total species recorded this year was 129 compared with 118 last year.

A synopsis of the daily visits and highlighted birds recorded follows:-

 

Friday 30th May – Roscoff to La Brenne

Managed to pick up a few birds coming into Roscoff – 11 SANDWICH TERNS, 1 FULMAR, CORMORANT, HERRING GULL.

During the 6 hour drive to La Confiance the main birds seen were 2 GREY PARTRIDGE, 1 male HEN HARRIER, HOBBY, LITTLE TERN, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

A quick visit to LES BERGERAUX at 16.30 produced a female MARSH HARRIER, TURTLE DOVE, 2 CUCKOO.

By the river at Martizay a male SERIN.

Around the gardens at La Confiance, pair of BLACK REDSTART, BLACKCAP, GARDEN WARBLER, NIGHTINGALE.

 

Sat 1st June

Woke up (every morning) to the sight and song of both NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Driving through Martizay a RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE walked across the road, CATTLE EGRET flew by, CORN BUNTING and a male HEN HARRIER in the fields.

Just before the Information site a SHORT TOED EAGLE flew over and first PURPLE HERON seen.

Visit to CISTUDE Hide where we found this had been drained, however 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, SEDGE WARBLER, MARSH HARRIER, HOBBY, BLACK KITE all seen.

Next stop RICOT where we found GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, CETTIS WARBLER, 2 SHORT TOED EAGLE, 10 WHISKERED TERN.

Picnic lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE, 20+ WHISKERED TERN, 4 BLACK TERN, 60+ RED CRESTED POCHARD, 250+ MUTE SWAN, 2 COMMON TERN, YELLOW LEGGED GULL, CIRL BUNTING.

At Etang ESSARTS car park both MELODIOUS WARBLER and a YELLOWHAMMER.

A quick visit to Etang LINGE added 6 GADWALL, then drove on to TOURNON-ST-MARTIN where 2 BEE EATER at the known site plus GREEN WOODPECKER.

Stopped by the river at YUR-SUR-CREUSE where a GREYLAG GOOSE sat on the bank, our first male RED BACKED SHRIKE in a hedge.

Another quick visit to LES BERGEAUX found 2 SAND MARTIN and a male HEN HARRIER.

Finally whilst having Dinner a pair of HOOPOE visited the garden also a HARE.

 

Sun 2nd June

Additions to the garden list by 9.00a.m. 2 CIRL BUNTING, 1 CUCKOO, 1 TURTLE DOVE.

At ST.MICHEL-EN-BRENNE some local fish ponds produced PURPLE HERON, NIGHT HERON and a HONEY BUZZARD over, 3 HOOPOE.

A couple of hours at Etang SOUS proved very productive as it produced our only sighting of a LITTLE BITTERN – male,   GREAT REED WARBLER, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, CATTLE EGRET, 2 PURPLE HERON, LITTLE GREBE, BLACK-NECKED GREBE.

Lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE found a CANADA GOOSE amongst the MUTE SWAN, 7 BLACK KITE, 3 PURPLE HERON.

First afternoon stop was Etang ESSARTS – 2 WHITETHROATS, male RED BACKED SHRIKE, 5 NIGHTINGALE, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET, large breeding BLACK –HEADED GULL colony, 2 BLACK-WINGED STILT, 1 LAPWING, MISTLE THRUSH and a calling BLACK WOODPECKER.

Returning through the farm fields we had a male MONTAGUES HARRIER and 2 LINNET.

 

Mon 3rd June

A mostly driving and sightseeing day which still brought some surprises.

At ANGLES ANGULIN, 2m 2f BLACK REDSTART, at Mergigny a male REDSTART singing from a TV Aerial.

Lunch stop at RUFFAC LAKE a KINGFISHER and BLACK WOODPECKER visiting young at a nest.

Driving through the lanes several RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Stopped at Etang MARE ROUGE and found a pair of WIGEON, NIGHT HERON, WHISKERED TERN and heard a male GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Afternoon visit to Etang GABRIERRE produced 5 BLACK KITE, MARSH HARRIER and the only BITTERN of the trip.

 

Tues 4th June

Driving to the main forest area several RED BACKED SHRIKE, 2 CATTLE EGRET, 4 CANADA GOOSE (+ young) 2 CATTLE EGRET.   A brief stop by a clearing we found 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, 1          m 1f REDSTART, 1 CRESTED TIT and a LONG TAILED TIT.

An afternoon visit to Etang PURAIS gave us the sight of 200+ WHISKERED TERN, 40+ BLACK NECKED GREBE – many pairs with very young chicks, including pairs feeding only

15 feet in front of the hide.   GADWALL and other duck present.   Raptors flying over MARSH HARRIER, BLACK KITE, KESTREL, HOBBY, BUZZARD and SPARROW HAWK.

A Etang MASSE there were around 30 CORMORANT nests with more than 40 birds.

A nearby Etang BLIZON, 4 NIGHT HERON, 2 MARSH HARRIER.

Driving back through the lanes where farmers were silage cutting produced 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 BLACK KITE, 2 LITTLE EGRET, 3 CATTLE EGRET, RED BACKED SHRIKE and 2 CURLEW.

 

 

 

Wed 5th June

A visit to LOCHES about 25Km north produced for me the bird of the trip – A BLACK STORK thermalling at a height of 30-50 feet managed to pull off the main road and spent 10 mins having superb views.   According to the local birders there are very few of these birds that summer in the region.

Anne and Daphne enjoyed a good walk round a huge local market.

Picnic lunch in LOCHES Park provided us with good view of our only SHORT TOED TREECREEPER, male SERIN with over 60 SWIFT around the city.

An afternoon visit to the Chateau gardens at AZAY-LE-FERRON we found NUTHATCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, ROBIN, FIRECREST.

Each evening we drove round the farm fields near to MARTIZAY, today 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 RED BACKED SHRIKE, PHEASANT and 2 RED LEGGED PARTRDIGE.

 

Thurs 6th June

Last full day in the Brenne started off well with good views of NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.   Found a male BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL sat on top of a hay bale collecting food.

Driving towards ST MICHEL-EN-BRENNE 10 CATTLE EGRET in one field.

Return visit to Etang ESSARTS was more productive, 2 ad MEDITERRANEAN GULL amongst the BLACK HEADED GULL colony, 4 GREAT WHITE EGRET, 10 BLACK WINGED STILT, 2 TURTLE DOVE, CETTIS WARBLER and a fly over BOOTED EAGLE.

Lunch at LA GABRIERRE provided great views again of their resident birds and then on to

Etang FOUCOULT and ROSNEY area.   Great views of a HONEY BUZZARD, 6 LAPWING male SHOVELER, 2 BLACK WINGED STILT, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, 2 CATTLE EGRET, LITTLE EGRET, 4 HERON, 3 PURPLE HERON, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET.

A return visit to Etang PURAIS found 55+ BLACK NECKED GREBE (plus many young)

300+ WHISKERED TERN, 14+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE.

Graham and I did a final drive round the farm fields which produced 2m 1f MONTAGUES HARRIER, BUZZARD, 4 CORN BUNTING, RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Over dinner we discussed how good the birding had been, birds that had been recorded by other people we met (not many) were WATER RAIL and WOODCHAT SHRIKE.

An excellent area to visit particularly with the first class hospitality at La Confiance.

 

Friday 7th June

Stopped by River Loire (in full flood) at MONTSEREAU – only one small sandbank under the main road bridge – this contained 100+ YELLOW LEGGED GULL, 2 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 2 COMMON GULL, 8 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 100+ COMMON TERN, 80+ LITTLE TERN whilst a flock of 20 MEDITERRANEAN GULL flew downstream.

Whilst driving to MONTSEREAU two interesting birds – on a post by a lake, Graham had an OSPREY and when slowly going through a village 2 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

 

Sat 8th June

Drive from SAMAUR to Angers was not very productive as there were very few sandbanks – numbers of breeding birds will be well down this year, however we still managed to find a REDSHANK, 10 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 7 LAPWING, plenty of COMMON and LITTLE TERN, 2 m CIRL BUNTING, BLACK REDSTART and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Lunch stop was at Etang DE MARCILLE-ROBERT where we had superb views of a fishing OSPREY, 2 SONG THRUSH and in a nearby recently harvested field a total of 18 BUZZARD.

 

Sun 9th June

On our crossing to Plymouth we managed to add SHAG, GANNET, KITTIWAKE and one that I missed a STORM PETREL

 

Remaining birds which we saw, mostly relatively common:-

 

MALLARD                 TUFTED DUCK                     POCHARD                 MOORHEN

COOT                         GREATER B.B.GULL           FERAL PIGEON        WOOD PIGEON

COLLARD DOVE      SWIFT                                                SWALLOW                HOUSE MARTIN

MAGPIE                     JAY                                         JACKDAW                 ROOK

CARRION CROW     BLUE TIT                               GREAT TIT                SKYLARK

CHIFFCHAFF                        BLACKCAP                           SEDGE WARBLER   REED WARBLER

WREN                         STARLING                             BLACKBIRD              STONECHAT

DUNNOCK                 HOUSE SPARROW              WHITE WAGTAIL     CHAFFINCH

GREENFINCH           GOLDFINCH                          LINNET         

 

We also managed to see the following mammals:-

RED SQUIRREL, HARE, RED DEER, COYPU and at Etang MESSE 4 BEAVERS.

 

If you are looking for a fairly relaxing birding holiday in a quiet part of France with very good hospitality then a visit to LA BRENNE staying at LA CONFIANCEis well recommended.

TRIP REPORT TO LA BRENNE

29TH MAY – 9TH JUNE 2013

 

Observers: Mike and Anne Passman and Graham and Daphne Daw

 

Departed from Plymouth at 21.15 on 29th May arriving in Roscoff at 08.00 on 30th May, driving 360 miles direct to La Confiance at Martizay where we had 7 nights excellent accommodation with Chris anad Sue who provided Breakfast, 6 Course Dinners with wine and a packed lunch.

 

All the Etangs (lakes) visited are within 15 miles of where we stayed many with hides.

 

The information centre at Maison de la Nature is the first site to visit where you can obtain information on what has been reported at various Etangs.

Having an extra pair of eyes certainly helped particularly when I was driving.   Total species recorded this year was 129 compared with 118 last year.

A synopsis of the daily visits and highlighted birds recorded follows:-

 

Friday 30th May – Roscoff to La Brenne

Managed to pick up a few birds coming into Roscoff – 11 SANDWICH TERNS, 1 FULMAR, CORMORANT, HERRING GULL.

During the 6 hour drive to La Confiance the main birds seen were 2 GREY PARTRIDGE, 1 male HEN HARRIER, HOBBY, LITTLE TERN, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

A quick visit to LES BERGERAUX at 16.30 produced a female MARSH HARRIER, TURTLE DOVE, 2 CUCKOO.

By the river at Martizay a male SERIN.

Around the gardens at La Confiance, pair of BLACK REDSTART, BLACKCAP, GARDEN WARBLER, NIGHTINGALE.

 

Sat 1st June

Woke up (every morning) to the sight and song of both NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Driving through Martizay a RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE walked across the road, CATTLE EGRET flew by, CORN BUNTING and a male HEN HARRIER in the fields.

Just before the Information site a SHORT TOED EAGLE flew over and first PURPLE HERON seen.

Visit to CISTUDE Hide where we found this had been drained, however 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, SEDGE WARBLER, MARSH HARRIER, HOBBY, BLACK KITE all seen.

Next stop RICOT where we found GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, CETTIS WARBLER, 2 SHORT TOED EAGLE, 10 WHISKERED TERN.

Picnic lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE, 20+ WHISKERED TERN, 4 BLACK TERN, 60+ RED CRESTED POCHARD, 250+ MUTE SWAN, 2 COMMON TERN, YELLOW LEGGED GULL, CIRL BUNTING.

At Etang ESSARTS car park both MELODIOUS WARBLER and a YELLOWHAMMER.

A quick visit to Etang LINGE added 6 GADWALL, then drove on to TOURNON-ST-MARTIN where 2 BEE EATER at the known site plus GREEN WOODPECKER.

Stopped by the river at YUR-SUR-CREUSE where a GREYLAG GOOSE sat on the bank, our first male RED BACKED SHRIKE in a hedge.

Another quick visit to LES BERGEAUX found 2 SAND MARTIN and a male HEN HARRIER.

Finally whilst having Dinner a pair of HOOPOE visited the garden also a HARE.

 

Sun 2nd June

Additions to the garden list by 9.00a.m. 2 CIRL BUNTING, 1 CUCKOO, 1 TURTLE DOVE.

At ST.MICHEL-EN-BRENNE some local fish ponds produced PURPLE HERON, NIGHT HERON and a HONEY BUZZARD over, 3 HOOPOE.

A couple of hours at Etang SOUS proved very productive as it produced our only sighting of a LITTLE BITTERN – male,   GREAT REED WARBLER, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, CATTLE EGRET, 2 PURPLE HERON, LITTLE GREBE, BLACK-NECKED GREBE.

Lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE found a CANADA GOOSE amongst the MUTE SWAN, 7 BLACK KITE, 3 PURPLE HERON.

First afternoon stop was Etang ESSARTS – 2 WHITETHROATS, male RED BACKED SHRIKE, 5 NIGHTINGALE, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET, large breeding BLACK –HEADED GULL colony, 2 BLACK-WINGED STILT, 1 LAPWING, MISTLE THRUSH and a calling BLACK WOODPECKER.

Returning through the farm fields we had a male MONTAGUES HARRIER and 2 LINNET.

 

Mon 3rd June

A mostly driving and sightseeing day which still brought some surprises.

At ANGLES ANGULIN, 2m 2f BLACK REDSTART, at Mergigny a male REDSTART singing from a TV Aerial.

Lunch stop at RUFFAC LAKE a KINGFISHER and BLACK WOODPECKER visiting young at a nest.

Driving through the lanes several RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Stopped at Etang MARE ROUGE and found a pair of WIGEON, NIGHT HERON, WHISKERED TERN and heard a male GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Afternoon visit to Etang GABRIERRE produced 5 BLACK KITE, MARSH HARRIER and the only BITTERN of the trip.

 

Tues 4th June

Driving to the main forest area several RED BACKED SHRIKE, 2 CATTLE EGRET, 4 CANADA GOOSE (+ young) 2 CATTLE EGRET.   A brief stop by a clearing we found 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, 1          m 1f REDSTART, 1 CRESTED TIT and a LONG TAILED TIT.

An afternoon visit to Etang PURAIS gave us the sight of 200+ WHISKERED TERN, 40+ BLACK NECKED GREBE – many pairs with very young chicks, including pairs feeding only

15 feet in front of the hide.   GADWALL and other duck present.   Raptors flying over MARSH HARRIER, BLACK KITE, KESTREL, HOBBY, BUZZARD and SPARROW HAWK.

A Etang MASSE there were around 30 CORMORANT nests with more than 40 birds.

A nearby Etang BLIZON, 4 NIGHT HERON, 2 MARSH HARRIER.

Driving back through the lanes where farmers were silage cutting produced 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 BLACK KITE, 2 LITTLE EGRET, 3 CATTLE EGRET, RED BACKED SHRIKE and 2 CURLEW.

 

 

 

Wed 5th June

A visit to LOCHES about 25Km north produced for me the bird of the trip – A BLACK STORK thermalling at a height of 30-50 feet managed to pull off the main road and spent 10 mins having superb views.   According to the local birders there are very few of these birds that summer in the region.

Anne and Daphne enjoyed a good walk round a huge local market.

Picnic lunch in LOCHES Park provided us with good view of our only SHORT TOED TREECREEPER, male SERIN with over 60 SWIFT around the city.

An afternoon visit to the Chateau gardens at AZAY-LE-FERRON we found NUTHATCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, ROBIN, FIRECREST.

Each evening we drove round the farm fields near to MARTIZAY, today 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 RED BACKED SHRIKE, PHEASANT and 2 RED LEGGED PARTRDIGE.

 

Thurs 6th June

Last full day in the Brenne started off well with good views of NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.   Found a male BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL sat on top of a hay bale collecting food.

Driving towards ST MICHEL-EN-BRENNE 10 CATTLE EGRET in one field.

Return visit to Etang ESSARTS was more productive, 2 ad MEDITERRANEAN GULL amongst the BLACK HEADED GULL colony, 4 GREAT WHITE EGRET, 10 BLACK WINGED STILT, 2 TURTLE DOVE, CETTIS WARBLER and a fly over BOOTED EAGLE.

Lunch at LA GABRIERRE provided great views again of their resident birds and then on to

Etang FOUCOULT and ROSNEY area.   Great views of a HONEY BUZZARD, 6 LAPWING male SHOVELER, 2 BLACK WINGED STILT, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, 2 CATTLE EGRET, LITTLE EGRET, 4 HERON, 3 PURPLE HERON, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET.

A return visit to Etang PURAIS found 55+ BLACK NECKED GREBE (plus many young)

300+ WHISKERED TERN, 14+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE.

Graham and I did a final drive round the farm fields which produced 2m 1f MONTAGUES HARRIER, BUZZARD, 4 CORN BUNTING, RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Over dinner we discussed how good the birding had been, birds that had been recorded by other people we met (not many) were WATER RAIL and WOODCHAT SHRIKE.

An excellent area to visit particularly with the first class hospitality at La Confiance.

 

Friday 7th June

Stopped by River Loire (in full flood) at MONTSEREAU – only one small sandbank under the main road bridge – this contained 100+ YELLOW LEGGED GULL, 2 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 2 COMMON GULL, 8 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 100+ COMMON TERN, 80+ LITTLE TERN whilst a flock of 20 MEDITERRANEAN GULL flew downstream.

Whilst driving to MONTSEREAU two interesting birds – on a post by a lake, Graham had an OSPREY and when slowly going through a village 2 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

 

Sat 8th June

Drive from SAMAUR to Angers was not very productive as there were very few sandbanks – numbers of breeding birds will be well down this year, however we still managed to find a REDSHANK, 10 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 7 LAPWING, plenty of COMMON and LITTLE TERN, 2 m CIRL BUNTING, BLACK REDSTART and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Lunch stop was at Etang DE MARCILLE-ROBERT where we had superb views of a fishing OSPREY, 2 SONG THRUSH and in a nearby recently harvested field a total of 18 BUZZARD.

 

Sun 9th June

On our crossing to Plymouth we managed to add SHAG, GANNET, KITTIWAKE and one that I missed a STORM PETREL

 

Remaining birds which we saw, mostly relatively common:-

 

MALLARD                 TUFTED DUCK                     POCHARD                 MOORHEN

COOT                         GREATER B.B.GULL           FERAL PIGEON        WOOD PIGEON

COLLARD DOVE      SWIFT                                                SWALLOW                HOUSE MARTIN

MAGPIE                     JAY                                         JACKDAW                 ROOK

CARRION CROW     BLUE TIT                               GREAT TIT                SKYLARK

CHIFFCHAFF                        BLACKCAP                           SEDGE WARBLER   REED WARBLER

WREN                         STARLING                             BLACKBIRD              STONECHAT

DUNNOCK                 HOUSE SPARROW              WHITE WAGTAIL     CHAFFINCH

GREENFINCH           GOLDFINCH                          LINNET         

 

We also managed to see the following mammals:-

RED SQUIRREL, HARE, RED DEER, COYPU and at Etang MESSE 4 BEAVERS.

 

If you are looking for a fairly relaxing birding holiday in a quiet part of France with very good hospitality then a visit to LA BRENNE staying at LA CONFIANCEis well recommended.

TRIP REPORT TO LA BRENNE

29TH MAY – 9TH JUNE 2013

 

Observers: Mike and Anne Passman and Graham and Daphne Daw

 

Departed from Plymouth at 21.15 on 29th May arriving in Roscoff at 08.00 on 30th May, driving 360 miles direct to La Confiance at Martizay where we had 7 nights excellent accommodation with Chris anad Sue who provided Breakfast, 6 Course Dinners with wine and a packed lunch.

 

All the Etangs (lakes) visited are within 15 miles of where we stayed many with hides.

 

The information centre at Maison de la Nature is the first site to visit where you can obtain information on what has been reported at various Etangs.

Having an extra pair of eyes certainly helped particularly when I was driving.   Total species recorded this year was 129 compared with 118 last year.

A synopsis of the daily visits and highlighted birds recorded follows:-

 

Friday 30th May – Roscoff to La Brenne

Managed to pick up a few birds coming into Roscoff – 11 SANDWICH TERNS, 1 FULMAR, CORMORANT, HERRING GULL.

During the 6 hour drive to La Confiance the main birds seen were 2 GREY PARTRIDGE, 1 male HEN HARRIER, HOBBY, LITTLE TERN, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

A quick visit to LES BERGERAUX at 16.30 produced a female MARSH HARRIER, TURTLE DOVE, 2 CUCKOO.

By the river at Martizay a male SERIN.

Around the gardens at La Confiance, pair of BLACK REDSTART, BLACKCAP, GARDEN WARBLER, NIGHTINGALE.

 

Sat 1st June

Woke up (every morning) to the sight and song of both NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Driving through Martizay a RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE walked across the road, CATTLE EGRET flew by, CORN BUNTING and a male HEN HARRIER in the fields.

Just before the Information site a SHORT TOED EAGLE flew over and first PURPLE HERON seen.

Visit to CISTUDE Hide where we found this had been drained, however 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, SEDGE WARBLER, MARSH HARRIER, HOBBY, BLACK KITE all seen.

Next stop RICOT where we found GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, CETTIS WARBLER, 2 SHORT TOED EAGLE, 10 WHISKERED TERN.

Picnic lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE, 20+ WHISKERED TERN, 4 BLACK TERN, 60+ RED CRESTED POCHARD, 250+ MUTE SWAN, 2 COMMON TERN, YELLOW LEGGED GULL, CIRL BUNTING.

At Etang ESSARTS car park both MELODIOUS WARBLER and a YELLOWHAMMER.

A quick visit to Etang LINGE added 6 GADWALL, then drove on to TOURNON-ST-MARTIN where 2 BEE EATER at the known site plus GREEN WOODPECKER.

Stopped by the river at YUR-SUR-CREUSE where a GREYLAG GOOSE sat on the bank, our first male RED BACKED SHRIKE in a hedge.

Another quick visit to LES BERGEAUX found 2 SAND MARTIN and a male HEN HARRIER.

Finally whilst having Dinner a pair of HOOPOE visited the garden also a HARE.

 

Sun 2nd June

Additions to the garden list by 9.00a.m. 2 CIRL BUNTING, 1 CUCKOO, 1 TURTLE DOVE.

At ST.MICHEL-EN-BRENNE some local fish ponds produced PURPLE HERON, NIGHT HERON and a HONEY BUZZARD over, 3 HOOPOE.

A couple of hours at Etang SOUS proved very productive as it produced our only sighting of a LITTLE BITTERN – male,   GREAT REED WARBLER, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, CATTLE EGRET, 2 PURPLE HERON, LITTLE GREBE, BLACK-NECKED GREBE.

Lunch stop at Etang GABRIERRE found a CANADA GOOSE amongst the MUTE SWAN, 7 BLACK KITE, 3 PURPLE HERON.

First afternoon stop was Etang ESSARTS – 2 WHITETHROATS, male RED BACKED SHRIKE, 5 NIGHTINGALE, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET, large breeding BLACK –HEADED GULL colony, 2 BLACK-WINGED STILT, 1 LAPWING, MISTLE THRUSH and a calling BLACK WOODPECKER.

Returning through the farm fields we had a male MONTAGUES HARRIER and 2 LINNET.

 

Mon 3rd June

A mostly driving and sightseeing day which still brought some surprises.

At ANGLES ANGULIN, 2m 2f BLACK REDSTART, at Mergigny a male REDSTART singing from a TV Aerial.

Lunch stop at RUFFAC LAKE a KINGFISHER and BLACK WOODPECKER visiting young at a nest.

Driving through the lanes several RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Stopped at Etang MARE ROUGE and found a pair of WIGEON, NIGHT HERON, WHISKERED TERN and heard a male GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Afternoon visit to Etang GABRIERRE produced 5 BLACK KITE, MARSH HARRIER and the only BITTERN of the trip.

 

Tues 4th June

Driving to the main forest area several RED BACKED SHRIKE, 2 CATTLE EGRET, 4 CANADA GOOSE (+ young) 2 CATTLE EGRET.   A brief stop by a clearing we found 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, 1          m 1f REDSTART, 1 CRESTED TIT and a LONG TAILED TIT.

An afternoon visit to Etang PURAIS gave us the sight of 200+ WHISKERED TERN, 40+ BLACK NECKED GREBE – many pairs with very young chicks, including pairs feeding only

15 feet in front of the hide.   GADWALL and other duck present.   Raptors flying over MARSH HARRIER, BLACK KITE, KESTREL, HOBBY, BUZZARD and SPARROW HAWK.

A Etang MASSE there were around 30 CORMORANT nests with more than 40 birds.

A nearby Etang BLIZON, 4 NIGHT HERON, 2 MARSH HARRIER.

Driving back through the lanes where farmers were silage cutting produced 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 BLACK KITE, 2 LITTLE EGRET, 3 CATTLE EGRET, RED BACKED SHRIKE and 2 CURLEW.

 

 

 

Wed 5th June

A visit to LOCHES about 25Km north produced for me the bird of the trip – A BLACK STORK thermalling at a height of 30-50 feet managed to pull off the main road and spent 10 mins having superb views.   According to the local birders there are very few of these birds that summer in the region.

Anne and Daphne enjoyed a good walk round a huge local market.

Picnic lunch in LOCHES Park provided us with good view of our only SHORT TOED TREECREEPER, male SERIN with over 60 SWIFT around the city.

An afternoon visit to the Chateau gardens at AZAY-LE-FERRON we found NUTHATCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, ROBIN, FIRECREST.

Each evening we drove round the farm fields near to MARTIZAY, today 1f HEN HARRIER, 2 RED BACKED SHRIKE, PHEASANT and 2 RED LEGGED PARTRDIGE.

 

Thurs 6th June

Last full day in the Brenne started off well with good views of NIGHTINGALE and MELODIOUS WARBLER.   Found a male BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL sat on top of a hay bale collecting food.

Driving towards ST MICHEL-EN-BRENNE 10 CATTLE EGRET in one field.

Return visit to Etang ESSARTS was more productive, 2 ad MEDITERRANEAN GULL amongst the BLACK HEADED GULL colony, 4 GREAT WHITE EGRET, 10 BLACK WINGED STILT, 2 TURTLE DOVE, CETTIS WARBLER and a fly over BOOTED EAGLE.

Lunch at LA GABRIERRE provided great views again of their resident birds and then on to

Etang FOUCOULT and ROSNEY area.   Great views of a HONEY BUZZARD, 6 LAPWING male SHOVELER, 2 BLACK WINGED STILT, 30+ WHISKERED TERN, 2 CATTLE EGRET, LITTLE EGRET, 4 HERON, 3 PURPLE HERON, 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET.

A return visit to Etang PURAIS found 55+ BLACK NECKED GREBE (plus many young)

300+ WHISKERED TERN, 14+ GREAT CRESTED GREBE.

Graham and I did a final drive round the farm fields which produced 2m 1f MONTAGUES HARRIER, BUZZARD, 4 CORN BUNTING, RED BACKED SHRIKE.

Over dinner we discussed how good the birding had been, birds that had been recorded by other people we met (not many) were WATER RAIL and WOODCHAT SHRIKE.

An excellent area to visit particularly with the first class hospitality at La Confiance.

 

Friday 7th June

Stopped by River Loire (in full flood) at MONTSEREAU – only one small sandbank under the main road bridge – this contained 100+ YELLOW LEGGED GULL, 2 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 2 COMMON GULL, 8 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 100+ COMMON TERN, 80+ LITTLE TERN whilst a flock of 20 MEDITERRANEAN GULL flew downstream.

Whilst driving to MONTSEREAU two interesting birds – on a post by a lake, Graham had an OSPREY and when slowly going through a village 2 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

 

Sat 8th June

Drive from SAMAUR to Angers was not very productive as there were very few sandbanks – numbers of breeding birds will be well down this year, however we still managed to find a REDSHANK, 10 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 7 LAPWING, plenty of COMMON and LITTLE TERN, 2 m CIRL BUNTING, BLACK REDSTART and MELODIOUS WARBLER.

Lunch stop was at Etang DE MARCILLE-ROBERT where we had superb views of a fishing OSPREY, 2 SONG THRUSH and in a nearby recently harvested field a total of 18 BUZZARD.

 

Sun 9th June

On our crossing to Plymouth we managed to add SHAG, GANNET, KITTIWAKE and one that I missed a STORM PETREL

 

Remaining birds which we saw, mostly relatively common:-

 

MALLARD                 TUFTED DUCK                     POCHARD                 MOORHEN

COOT                         GREATER B.B.GULL           FERAL PIGEON        WOOD PIGEON

COLLARD DOVE      SWIFT                                                SWALLOW                HOUSE MARTIN

MAGPIE                     JAY                                         JACKDAW                 ROOK

CARRION CROW     BLUE TIT                               GREAT TIT                SKYLARK

CHIFFCHAFF                        BLACKCAP                           SEDGE WARBLER   REED WARBLER

WREN                         STARLING                             BLACKBIRD              STONECHAT

DUNNOCK                 HOUSE SPARROW              WHITE WAGTAIL     CHAFFINCH

GREENFINCH           GOLDFINCH                          LINNET         

 

We also managed to see the following mammals:-

RED SQUIRREL, HARE, RED DEER, COYPU and at Etang MESSE 4 BEAVERS.

 

If you are looking for a fairly relaxing birding holiday in a quiet part of France with very good hospitality then a visit to LA BRENNE staying at LA CONFIANCE is well recommended.