Central France Campervan Trip (1 Viewer)

[Woodchat]

Thanks for the info Richard.

Another unexpected find was on 14/06 near Ecretteville-les-Baons, Normandy. On an evening walk, I was alerted by begging calls coming from a small clump of trees. As dusk approached, I was amazed to see 3 Long-eared Owls flying around and giving great views - there were 2 well-grown fledglings and an adult.

The next morning, we returned to the same clump and managed to see them perched - photo taken below (phone through bins) taken at distance in order to avoid any possible disturbance.

 

[Woodchat]

Municipal Camping in La Brenne.

Probably my favourite campsite of all is 'Les Millots' just outside the village of Rosnay in the heart of La Brenne. This is a wonderful place for a variety of reasons - the facilities are very good, well maintained and clean, the rates are excellent (much cheaper than UK) - we paid just €10.40 per night for 2 people with 1 campervan (electric hookup is extra but we have solar) and, most importantly, the wildlife is right there literally in front of you. Around the campsite there were Nightingales, Turtle Doves, Hoopoes, Golden Orioles, Nightjars, Cirl Buntings, Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Black Kites, Spotted Flycatcher, Night Heron, Cattle Egrets, Purple Heron, Cuckoos, Black Redstart and Melodious Warblers. Just a few steps up the road we saw Red-backed Shrikes, Dartford Warblers, Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle, Woodlark, Blue-headed Wagtail, Stonechats, heard Quail and Grasshopper Warbler and had a close encounter with 15 Wild Boars. Foucault Lakes is walkable from here and has Black-winged Stilt, LRP's, more herons and Egrets, Zitting Cisticolas, Corn Buntings, Red-crested Pochards, Tree Pipit, Whiskered Terns, GW Egret, Common Terns and other good stuff. We even found a pub in Rosnay - an amazing characterful old place which the owner said dated back to the 1200's. There are also Tongued Orchids growing in the campsite itself - see pic below.

We also tried the other municipal campsite at Migne - this is much quieter (we were the only ones there) and the facilities not quite as good but, with the rates the same at €10.40, you can't really complain. A family party of Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers were seen in the campsite and a pair of Red-backed Shrikes were just a few yards away. The village had Serins and Black Redstarts and I had my best views of Golden Orioles in the vicinity with at least 5 present. Woodlarks, Nightingales, Melodious Warblers and Cirl Buntings were nearby. Some of the lakes in the area had restricted access but we managed to view a couple and saw a decent array of Egrets, Herons and wildfowl (eg. Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pochard). Definitely worth staying here for a night.

You get a great feeling in La Brenne that literally anything could turn up around the next corner. It would be great to spend a couple of months here during peak passage times.

 

[Woodchat]

Forgot to mention the Barn Owl we saw twice from the campsite at Rosnay 'Les Millots'.

Saw a decent array of insects too - including Purple Emperor butterfly (Etang Duris near Luant) plus Southern White Admirals, various Fritillary sp., Small Heaths, Scarce Chasers, various large moths, Crickets and other things.

 

[Woodchat]

Another unexpected find occurred on 12/06 at the Reserve Ornithologique de Grande Noë near Val de Reuil, Normandy. This is a great area for water birds, including Red-crested Pochards, other ducks, Mediterranean Gulls, Common Terns, Egrets, grebes, etc. as well as Black Kites, Nightingales and Marsh Warblers (at a nearby site). What I wasn't expecting here was a Black Woodpecker. Initially heard (very vocal, giving a variety of distinctive wild calls), it was eventually glimpsed as it flew from a dead tree. Not really the type of habitat I'd expect to find one (all the others I've seen have been in more thickly forested areas). Also, I wasn't sure of their current status in Normandy, though I have read they've been spreading towards the north west of their range.

 

[Richard Prior]

Another unexpected find occurred on 12/06 at the Reserve Ornithologique de Grande Noë near Val de Reuil, Normandy. This is a great area for water birds, including Red-crested Pochards, other ducks, Mediterranean Gulls, Common Terns, Egrets, grebes, etc. as well as Black Kites, Nightingales and Marsh Warblers (at a nearby site). What I wasn't expecting here was a Black Woodpecker. Initially heard (very vocal, giving a variety of distinctive wild calls), it was eventually glimpsed as it flew from a dead tree. Not really the type of habitat I'd expect to find one (all the others I've seen have been in more thickly forested areas). Also, I wasn't sure of their current status in Normandy, though I have read they've been spreading towards the north west of their range.

They seem well established there nowadays, in all of the départements of Normandy if the check I just did for last month is anything to go by: Résultat de la recherche - www.faune-aura.org
An exciting by-product of the species‘ spread is that Tengmalm’s Owl is colonizing some new areas where the Black Woodpecker has settled in!

 

[Woodchat]

Riverside Hayfields north of Angers

On 1st and 2nd June we stayed at the (free) municipal 'Aire' at Briollay. This lies next to the river Sarthe and is flanked by ecologically-rich hayfields that are managed sympathetically for their specialist wildlife. Whinchats, Corn Buntings and Blue-headed Wagtails are found in abundance in these fields but the real stars are the Corncrakes. For UK birders it offers a glimpse of how our hayfields may once have been - with more exotic additions, such as Zitting Cisticolas. A warm evening walk accompanied by the 'Crex crex' calls and reeling Grasshopper Warblers is hard to beat. This year there were White Storks (10+) is the area as well as lots of Cattle Egrets, Black Kites, great views of Honey Buzzard, Cirl Bunting, Golden Oriole, Tree Pipits, 1 Night Heron, Stonechats, Spotted Flycatchers, Melodious Warblers, Garden Warblers, Short-toed Treecreepers, Yellowhammers and a family party of Firecrests.

 

[Woodchat]

Notable sightings from this years trip in the camper (14th May to 7th June):

Briollay - the riverside meadows were completely flooded, meaning no chance of Corncrakes in this area this year, unfortunately. Some compensation in the form of 2 Ospreys together there on the morning of 16th May. Also, 1 Greenshank, 14 Whiskered Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Curlews, 4 Night Herons and 2 Great White Egrets. Whinchats etc mostly displaced to drier parts.

Another Osprey seen near Chateau Ussé on 17th May.

11 Bee-eaters seen around Tournon Saint Martin on 18th May. Further birds at Chaillac (3) and Oulches later in the trip.

Garganey drake seen at Etang de Montiacre, North of Rosnay (La Brenne) on 19th May. Savi's Warblers singing in the area.

A pale phase Booted Eagle near Bellac (Haute Vienne, Limousin) on 22nd May. Short-toed Eagle also seen in the area.

Black Woodpeckers - one at Etang Duris (La Brenne) near Luant on 25th May. Great views of another near Bardouville (Normandy) on 1st June.

A (Great) Bittern seen in flight at Etang de Bellebouche on 27th May.

2 Stone Curlews near Nouans Les Fontaines on 28th May.

3 Crested Tits in trees at the campsite at Saint Maurice les Charencey (Normandy) on 31st May.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker at Bardouville on 1st June.

5 Black-winged Stilts near Quillebeuf sur Seine (Normandy) on 2nd June (none seen at Faucault lakes, La Brenne this year possibly due to flooding/ too much water there).

Great views of White-Spotted Bluethroats near Quillebeuf also.

A male Red-backed Shrike at Quillebeuf sur Seine was my first for north Normandy. They're locally common further south in Pays de Loire, La Brenne and Limousin (25+ seen in total).

Lesser Whitethroat at Quillebeuf

2 Long-eared Owls near Ecretteville les Baons (Normandy)

2 singing Marsh Warblers in bushes near the ferry port at Dieppe. Others seen in areas I've seen them previously (La Vaudreuil and Quillebeuf).

Many of the usual birds seen that are scarce or rare in the UK, such as Purple Herons, Golden Orioles, Black Kites, Black Redstarts (abundant), Melodious Warblers (abundant), Black Storks, Short Toed Treecreepers, Honey Buzzards, Short Toed Eagles, Red Crested Pochards, Hoopoes, Hawfinches (many seen in various places), White Storks, Turtle Doves, Serins, Zitting Cisticolas, Firecrests, Woodlarks, Nightingales, Little Terns, Whiskered Terns, Cirl Buntings, Nighjar, Quail, etc.

Butterflies included Swallowtails and Scarce Swallowtails.

A good selection of Orchids, especially around La Brenne, including:

Loose Flowered Orchids
Tongue Orchids
Bee Orchids
Bunt Tip Orchids
Fly Orchids
Early Spider Orchids
Monkey Orchids
Lizard Orchids
White Helleborine

 

[Woodchat]

Saw this beast at Etag Duris near Luant - a Mole Cricket.

We also saw lots of Stag Beetles - in flight they look amazingly large. There seemed to be lots of half-eaten ones on the paths and trails - probably eaten by Shrikes and Black Kites.