walwyn
Monday 15th September 2003, 01:23
Just got back from a week in Brittany. The main purpose was to spend a week in Dinard with AM's father, who is 89, and perhaps do some birdwatching too.
Nothing here goes much to plan - mainly because I only take a cursory interest in the future - so it was late on Friday 5th that I discovered that the Ferry tickets were for the 13th - 20th not the 6th to 20th. Of course it was too late to get anyone from P&O on the phone. The cat sitter arrived from Ireland and was given last minute instructons on feeding the cat that had just undergone some major surgery, and at 0130 we set off for Portsmouth.
The wrong date on the tickets caused a minor kerfuffle at the check-in but a £15 bung seemed to do the trick and by 1430 we were in France. For some reason, I can't recall what, we had booked the crossing to Le Havre, which meant a 170 mile drive through Normandy to Dinard.
We decided to stop at Mont St Michel and arrived at about 1700 the tide was out so there was vast expanses of mud and sand with nothing but the usual suspects Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls hanging about around the causeway. In the middle distance was a white bird that took off and flew into the plodders about 200 yards away from us, unmistakable a Little Egret. With nothing else about and still needing to drive another hour to Dinard we left.
Sunday was spent fetching AM's father from Laval some 300km of driving (providing you don't get lost) interspersed with a lunch ot wild duck (species unknown).
Monday was pretty miserable, we had lunch in a typical workingman's restaurant just down the road from the apartment, 3 courses, plentiful with wine and 10 euro each. It was raining in the afternoon and whilst AM and her father stayed in the apartment, I took a drive out to Taden which is the narrow part of the Rance just before Dinan. Again the usual suspects Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls perched on the bouys, along with a few Cormorant. There were also a couple of large groups of Mallards and a smattering of Coots. By the carpark there is a fairly large expanse of water which no doubt fills up with other wildfowl later in the autumn and winter. The water narrows into a channel about three canal widths in size and a path leads along the edge.
Tuesday morning we spent in the Grand Aquarium at St Malo and drove back to Dinard for lunch. I made to stop at the same place as on Monday and there were howls of protest from AM's dad. Apparently it was not up to scratch and a more salubrious eatery was required, preferably one that at least served the supporting cast from the Grand Aquarium. Afterwards I took a drive out to Lancieux Bay to discover the tide out and usual suspects Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 4 Little Egret. With nothing else on offer I decide to drive on to Cap Frehel, picking up a tide timetable on the way.
Parking the car at Cap Frehel and there was a Meadow Pipit running about much as you'd see a Stariling in a UK carpark. Very tame and only flying a few feet away when in danger of being stepped on. I made my way towards the headland and watched a few of the usual suspects (Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls) flying around the cliffs and out to sea. Scanning the cliff edges there was a Shag perched on one of the ledges and after a few minutes of braving the biting wind, I decided to try and get to the promatory a few hundred yards off to the west.
The paths are roped off at the moment to allow the vegetation to recover, in places it looks rather threadbare, and the direct routes from one area to another are outofbounds. Whilst walking along the designated paths there were 3 Kestrals working the gorse bushes. As I approached the promatory I noticed some movement on top of the bushes nearest the edge. Bins revealed two Stonechats which moved from bush to bush for a minute or so before disappearing over the edge and out of sight.
In the evening AM and I decided to go back to Lancieux Bay to see if we could see anything. We got there at about 2030 which was pretty useless as the light was failing, only the usual suspects in plain view, but through the gloom we could just make out a large group of Gulls with some largish dark waders moving about between them. Decided to check back in the morning before high tide.
Wednesday 0740 back at Lancieux Bay, the usual suspects and the dark waders are still there, these turn out to be 15 - 20 Godwits frantically scurrying about 150 yards from the road as the tide comes in. As the tide rises and the birds are pushed within a 100 yards of the bank they are off - Bar tailed. Little Egret are in the trees on the right hand side of the bay and in the marshes on the left I counted 11 in all. Running along the edge of the water line 2 White (Pied) Wagtails. A Carrion Crow turned up for a few minutes before flying off towards St Jacut. Just as I'm about to leave one of the Egrets decides to fly over and land about 50 yards away on top of a tussock.
The rest of the day is spent eating and looking around St Malo old town and walking the town walls.
Thursday and we take AM's dad to Lancieux Bay to see the Egrets, and along with the usual suspects there are a pair of Oystercatchers which disappear shortly after we arrive. Then up to Pointe du Chevet to watch the Common Terns. Whilst there a flock of House Sparrows and a flock Starlings are blown onto the headland.
After lunch we decide to go to Cap Frehel. The wind of the morning has died down and its is surprisingly calm and warm. The Meadow Pipit is still hopping around and is quite approachable to within 6 feet. A large group of Shag are on the rocks off shore, and four pigeons which might be Rock Dove flying around under the cliffs.
We made our way to the cafe and from the cafe window there is an extremely fat Dunnock it was amazing the thing could move let alone fly. On the the rock stack some 50 yards away I spot a small shape, charcoal grey and as it flies up and drops back down a flash of red on its tail. The Black Redstart flitted around the rock edges for about 5 minutes before flying off only to be replaced by a Rock Pipit. After finishing our coffee we started to walk towards the scrub, but AM's father decided he's had enough and wanted to go back. As we came back to the Cafe area a Wheatear landed on the bare roped off area and ran about over the stones and soil. Approaching the carpark we had got a little ahead of AM's father, and whilst waiting for him to catch up scanned the scrub picking up a Winchat sat on top of one of the gorse bushes.
Friday we had to take AM's father back home and half way there AM decided she'd like to visit her sister who lives about 60 miles south east of Tour. A round trip of 480 miles. Got back at 0220 in the morning so just 6 hours sleep before we needed to get ready to leave and drive back to Le Havre.
I ought to mention that around the apartment we were staying at were: Robin, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Magpie, Crested Tit, Starling, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Blackbird and Songthrush.
Arriving back at Le Havre we drove to Tancarville Bridge the intention was to take a look around the estuary there but I missed the turning. Still the Marsh Harrier on the approach to the bridge was a nice bonus. Changing plans we drove on to the reserve next to the Pont de Normandie bridge. On getting out of the car we saw a pair of Brown Hawker dragonflies joined together, the first dragonflies we'd seen during our trip. Looking over the reeds there were a pair of Little Egrets by the nearst pools. We then walked along the path that runs next to the road watching more Brown Hawkers paired up and a couple of Common Darters. Reaching the end, just before the bridge we walked under the road to the other side to see more of the usual suspects, and a group of Avocets, a pair of Little Egrets dropped in front of us about 30 feet away, the closest we'd been to these birds and excellent views. Satiated we made our way back to the car and made our way to the ferry.
I'm sort of overtired from the journey, the odometer in the car reads 896 miles since friday morning, but having notched up Black Redstart, Shag, Bar tailed Godwit, Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Winchat, Avocet, the usual suspects, a pletora of Little Egrets, Robin, Great Tit, Meadow Pipit, Kestral, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rock Dove, Dunnock, Crested Tit, Common Tern, Cormorant, Woodpigeon, Mallard, House Sparrow, Starling, Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Songthrush, White Wagtail, Oystercatcher, and Marsh Harrier it was a fruitful trip.
Nothing here goes much to plan - mainly because I only take a cursory interest in the future - so it was late on Friday 5th that I discovered that the Ferry tickets were for the 13th - 20th not the 6th to 20th. Of course it was too late to get anyone from P&O on the phone. The cat sitter arrived from Ireland and was given last minute instructons on feeding the cat that had just undergone some major surgery, and at 0130 we set off for Portsmouth.
The wrong date on the tickets caused a minor kerfuffle at the check-in but a £15 bung seemed to do the trick and by 1430 we were in France. For some reason, I can't recall what, we had booked the crossing to Le Havre, which meant a 170 mile drive through Normandy to Dinard.
We decided to stop at Mont St Michel and arrived at about 1700 the tide was out so there was vast expanses of mud and sand with nothing but the usual suspects Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls hanging about around the causeway. In the middle distance was a white bird that took off and flew into the plodders about 200 yards away from us, unmistakable a Little Egret. With nothing else about and still needing to drive another hour to Dinard we left.
Sunday was spent fetching AM's father from Laval some 300km of driving (providing you don't get lost) interspersed with a lunch ot wild duck (species unknown).
Monday was pretty miserable, we had lunch in a typical workingman's restaurant just down the road from the apartment, 3 courses, plentiful with wine and 10 euro each. It was raining in the afternoon and whilst AM and her father stayed in the apartment, I took a drive out to Taden which is the narrow part of the Rance just before Dinan. Again the usual suspects Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls perched on the bouys, along with a few Cormorant. There were also a couple of large groups of Mallards and a smattering of Coots. By the carpark there is a fairly large expanse of water which no doubt fills up with other wildfowl later in the autumn and winter. The water narrows into a channel about three canal widths in size and a path leads along the edge.
Tuesday morning we spent in the Grand Aquarium at St Malo and drove back to Dinard for lunch. I made to stop at the same place as on Monday and there were howls of protest from AM's dad. Apparently it was not up to scratch and a more salubrious eatery was required, preferably one that at least served the supporting cast from the Grand Aquarium. Afterwards I took a drive out to Lancieux Bay to discover the tide out and usual suspects Black Headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 4 Little Egret. With nothing else on offer I decide to drive on to Cap Frehel, picking up a tide timetable on the way.
Parking the car at Cap Frehel and there was a Meadow Pipit running about much as you'd see a Stariling in a UK carpark. Very tame and only flying a few feet away when in danger of being stepped on. I made my way towards the headland and watched a few of the usual suspects (Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls) flying around the cliffs and out to sea. Scanning the cliff edges there was a Shag perched on one of the ledges and after a few minutes of braving the biting wind, I decided to try and get to the promatory a few hundred yards off to the west.
The paths are roped off at the moment to allow the vegetation to recover, in places it looks rather threadbare, and the direct routes from one area to another are outofbounds. Whilst walking along the designated paths there were 3 Kestrals working the gorse bushes. As I approached the promatory I noticed some movement on top of the bushes nearest the edge. Bins revealed two Stonechats which moved from bush to bush for a minute or so before disappearing over the edge and out of sight.
In the evening AM and I decided to go back to Lancieux Bay to see if we could see anything. We got there at about 2030 which was pretty useless as the light was failing, only the usual suspects in plain view, but through the gloom we could just make out a large group of Gulls with some largish dark waders moving about between them. Decided to check back in the morning before high tide.
Wednesday 0740 back at Lancieux Bay, the usual suspects and the dark waders are still there, these turn out to be 15 - 20 Godwits frantically scurrying about 150 yards from the road as the tide comes in. As the tide rises and the birds are pushed within a 100 yards of the bank they are off - Bar tailed. Little Egret are in the trees on the right hand side of the bay and in the marshes on the left I counted 11 in all. Running along the edge of the water line 2 White (Pied) Wagtails. A Carrion Crow turned up for a few minutes before flying off towards St Jacut. Just as I'm about to leave one of the Egrets decides to fly over and land about 50 yards away on top of a tussock.
The rest of the day is spent eating and looking around St Malo old town and walking the town walls.
Thursday and we take AM's dad to Lancieux Bay to see the Egrets, and along with the usual suspects there are a pair of Oystercatchers which disappear shortly after we arrive. Then up to Pointe du Chevet to watch the Common Terns. Whilst there a flock of House Sparrows and a flock Starlings are blown onto the headland.
After lunch we decide to go to Cap Frehel. The wind of the morning has died down and its is surprisingly calm and warm. The Meadow Pipit is still hopping around and is quite approachable to within 6 feet. A large group of Shag are on the rocks off shore, and four pigeons which might be Rock Dove flying around under the cliffs.
We made our way to the cafe and from the cafe window there is an extremely fat Dunnock it was amazing the thing could move let alone fly. On the the rock stack some 50 yards away I spot a small shape, charcoal grey and as it flies up and drops back down a flash of red on its tail. The Black Redstart flitted around the rock edges for about 5 minutes before flying off only to be replaced by a Rock Pipit. After finishing our coffee we started to walk towards the scrub, but AM's father decided he's had enough and wanted to go back. As we came back to the Cafe area a Wheatear landed on the bare roped off area and ran about over the stones and soil. Approaching the carpark we had got a little ahead of AM's father, and whilst waiting for him to catch up scanned the scrub picking up a Winchat sat on top of one of the gorse bushes.
Friday we had to take AM's father back home and half way there AM decided she'd like to visit her sister who lives about 60 miles south east of Tour. A round trip of 480 miles. Got back at 0220 in the morning so just 6 hours sleep before we needed to get ready to leave and drive back to Le Havre.
I ought to mention that around the apartment we were staying at were: Robin, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Magpie, Crested Tit, Starling, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Blackbird and Songthrush.
Arriving back at Le Havre we drove to Tancarville Bridge the intention was to take a look around the estuary there but I missed the turning. Still the Marsh Harrier on the approach to the bridge was a nice bonus. Changing plans we drove on to the reserve next to the Pont de Normandie bridge. On getting out of the car we saw a pair of Brown Hawker dragonflies joined together, the first dragonflies we'd seen during our trip. Looking over the reeds there were a pair of Little Egrets by the nearst pools. We then walked along the path that runs next to the road watching more Brown Hawkers paired up and a couple of Common Darters. Reaching the end, just before the bridge we walked under the road to the other side to see more of the usual suspects, and a group of Avocets, a pair of Little Egrets dropped in front of us about 30 feet away, the closest we'd been to these birds and excellent views. Satiated we made our way back to the car and made our way to the ferry.
I'm sort of overtired from the journey, the odometer in the car reads 896 miles since friday morning, but having notched up Black Redstart, Shag, Bar tailed Godwit, Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Winchat, Avocet, the usual suspects, a pletora of Little Egrets, Robin, Great Tit, Meadow Pipit, Kestral, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rock Dove, Dunnock, Crested Tit, Common Tern, Cormorant, Woodpigeon, Mallard, House Sparrow, Starling, Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Songthrush, White Wagtail, Oystercatcher, and Marsh Harrier it was a fruitful trip.