jforgham
Birding for fun
A 3 day camping excursion to the Marne department of France and an opportunity to visit Lac Du Der. Not a birding trip. just camping and wandering with my partner, but managed to fit in a few hours scoping the lake and always keeping an eye open for all birds whilst in transit. En route across the channel on 07.08, managed to observe gannets from the deck of speedferries but nothing else of note. Usual gulls loafing around the harbour, both Dover and Boulogne, with several yellow legged at the latter.
The drive down towards Reims, stopping at Cambrai was fairly uneventful apart from good views of a hen harrier quartering the fields near Cambrai and several common buzzards and kestrels seen from the motorway.
Upon arriving at the campsite at Chatillon - Sur - Broue, the weather curtailed any ideas of a wander along the shoreline of the massive man made lake: continual thunderstorms and torrential rain. Off for supplies where black headed gulls, grey herons and lapwings were noted roosting in fields. Back at the campsite several nuthatches were heard and observed in the oaks along with both short toed and common treecreepers. All were happily celebrating the sun appearing and a rapid rise in the temperature.
The following morning began with loud calling of black woodpeckers and more of the same weather: heavy storms followed by warm sunshine. Opportunities to visit the shoreline were snatched, whereupon great white egrets, black, common and whiskered terns were noted along with regular waterfowl and plenty of successfully bred great crested grebes. Searches for night herons proved fruitless,but little egrets and black kites were registered. On one particular walk back black redstarts were photographed, a family of 5. Spotted flycatchers fed from nearby trees as brilliant emerald dragonflies and ruddy darters flew past. Several migrant hawkers also appeared in the sunshine.
In woods around the campsite green, lesser spotted and greater spotted woodpeckers were heard and seen and house and sand martins, along with swallows swooped low as we sat outside the tent. A solitary chiffchaff was heard in the hedgerow.
On a final visit to the lake, for an hour, a common sandpiper, pied and white wagtails were seen along with expected tit and finches. Large numbers of starlings rose from the fields populated by cows. Sunday and the tent packed, we began the journey home. Plenty of time to pop to Cap Griz and Blanc Nez for a spot of seawatching. However, force 8 gales prevented me from staying long at Blanc Nez, with a single fulmar and great black backed gulls being the only additions to the list. At Cap Griz Nez several stonechats clung to the fence and a quick scan for dartford warblers proved successful as 2 were seen, also clinging to vegetation in desperation against the westerlies. The crossing on the channel looked to be rough and so it proved. An hour delay meant we didn't disembark until 2.00 am. The return drive failed to give up an owl or 2, but 66 species in all for a non birding weekend (is there such a thing?) was pleasing.
The Lac Du der is an internationally recognised site for common crane migration and looks a worthwhile place visit in October/ November time, when winter duck etc will be present in what I have been informed will be large numbers. Also, along with the thousands of cranes, white tailed eagles visit.
Further details: http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/English/e_lac_du_der.htm
The drive down towards Reims, stopping at Cambrai was fairly uneventful apart from good views of a hen harrier quartering the fields near Cambrai and several common buzzards and kestrels seen from the motorway.
Upon arriving at the campsite at Chatillon - Sur - Broue, the weather curtailed any ideas of a wander along the shoreline of the massive man made lake: continual thunderstorms and torrential rain. Off for supplies where black headed gulls, grey herons and lapwings were noted roosting in fields. Back at the campsite several nuthatches were heard and observed in the oaks along with both short toed and common treecreepers. All were happily celebrating the sun appearing and a rapid rise in the temperature.
The following morning began with loud calling of black woodpeckers and more of the same weather: heavy storms followed by warm sunshine. Opportunities to visit the shoreline were snatched, whereupon great white egrets, black, common and whiskered terns were noted along with regular waterfowl and plenty of successfully bred great crested grebes. Searches for night herons proved fruitless,but little egrets and black kites were registered. On one particular walk back black redstarts were photographed, a family of 5. Spotted flycatchers fed from nearby trees as brilliant emerald dragonflies and ruddy darters flew past. Several migrant hawkers also appeared in the sunshine.
In woods around the campsite green, lesser spotted and greater spotted woodpeckers were heard and seen and house and sand martins, along with swallows swooped low as we sat outside the tent. A solitary chiffchaff was heard in the hedgerow.
On a final visit to the lake, for an hour, a common sandpiper, pied and white wagtails were seen along with expected tit and finches. Large numbers of starlings rose from the fields populated by cows. Sunday and the tent packed, we began the journey home. Plenty of time to pop to Cap Griz and Blanc Nez for a spot of seawatching. However, force 8 gales prevented me from staying long at Blanc Nez, with a single fulmar and great black backed gulls being the only additions to the list. At Cap Griz Nez several stonechats clung to the fence and a quick scan for dartford warblers proved successful as 2 were seen, also clinging to vegetation in desperation against the westerlies. The crossing on the channel looked to be rough and so it proved. An hour delay meant we didn't disembark until 2.00 am. The return drive failed to give up an owl or 2, but 66 species in all for a non birding weekend (is there such a thing?) was pleasing.
The Lac Du der is an internationally recognised site for common crane migration and looks a worthwhile place visit in October/ November time, when winter duck etc will be present in what I have been informed will be large numbers. Also, along with the thousands of cranes, white tailed eagles visit.
Further details: http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/English/e_lac_du_der.htm
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