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Overview
Within easy reach of the Channel Ports this reserve is often visited by British birders and can easily be covered in a day trip.
The area consists of several large lakes originally dug for peat extraction, surrounded by reedbeds, wet grazing land and woodlands. The area is important for waterfowl on passage and in winter and has a good range of breeding wetland birds in summer.
Birds
Notable Species
Breeding Bluethroat is a major attraction for visiting British birders as are Short-toed Treecreeper and Savi's Warbler and sometimes Little Bittern. Great Reed Warbler was once regular but has declined in recent years and is now rare. In addition there are other warblers present in summer including, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler and Sedge Warbler as well as Nightingale and Golden Oriole in the woodlands.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Kestrel are resident and both Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier are seen on passage along with the occasional Osprey, European Honey Buzzard is present in summer.
Other passage species seen here include Black Tern and ducks such as Common Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveler and waders including Snipe and Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper.
In winter the woods have Long-eared Owl and a Great Bittern will sometimes visit the reedbeds.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Grey Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Northern Hobby, Common Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black Tern, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Swift, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Bluethroat, Common Nightingale, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Common Jay, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Common Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
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Site Information
History and Use
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Areas of Interest
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Access and Facilities
The reserve is situated close to St-Omer about 40km southeast of Calais, taking the A26 then N42 to St-Omer. From St-Omer head northeastwards towards Clairmarais[2] and the reserve is signposted from St Bernard's Church.
There is a visitor centre open at weekends all year and on weekdays in summer, and a series of hides along a nature trail.
Contact Details
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External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
