Bristol Ornithological Club trip to La Brenne
29 May–7 June 2003

Itinerary

This was a private trip organised by Ken Hall for the Bristol Ornithological Club, of which he is a long-standing member. We hired a minivan in Bristol, travelled via Brittany Ferries, and stayed at the Domaine de l'Etape hotel, just outside Le Blanc. The following list outlines the route and gives a selection of the birds we saw each day, compiled from notes made by Ken Hall and Robin Prytherch. The full communal checklist, day-by-day, exists as a PDF document.

Participants

Ken Hall (leader), Robin Prytherch (co-driver & navigator), Nick Ayers, Judy Copeland, Roy Curber, Phyl Dykes, Lys Hall, Geoff Harris, Colin Morris, Andrew Payne, Susan Sayers, Margaret Searle, Charles Stapleton, David Wilson

29.5.03 (Thurs) Left Bristol Temple Meads at 3.45pm to drive via Bath to Portsmouth, to catch 8.30pm crossing on the Bretagne for St Malo.

30.5.03 (Fri) Smooth crossing to St Malo, and off the boat at 8.30am French time. Warm and sunny all day.

• Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, Shag, seen from ship near St Malo

Drove to Rennes, then towards Angers, stopping at village of Bel Air for drinks and to buy sandwiches.

• First Serin of trip seen well

Off main road at Lion d'Angers and took minor roads to Briollay, on River Loir, arriving by midday. Lunch here then walked into floodmeadows just to the south of village.

• Short-toed Treecreeper, White Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker near churchyard
• 2 distant Black Kites, also Buzzards, Cuckoo, Blue-headed Wagtails, Corn Bunting
• Corncrake: 3 or 4 heard, then one SEEN crossing one of the tracks by about half the group
• Whinchats very numerous in long grass, Fan-tailed Warbler heard singing
• Golden Orioles heard calling from poplars, and briefly seen in flight

Skirted Angers, then stopped in Champagne de Méron area just beyond Montreuil-Bellay for short walk through arable/set-aside fields.

• Turtle Doves, Nightingale, Whitethroat, White Wagtail, Stonechat
• Little Bustard: one in flight, then good views of a male on the ground. Also heard one calling unseen from long grass
• Short-toed Eagle: one seen hovering in the distance

Comfort stop at Aire de la Briande, south of Loudun.

• Montagu's Harrier: excellent views of a hunting male here

Arrived at Domaine de l'Etape at 7pm. Message that Charles Stapleton's father had died while we were travelling, but Charles decided to stay for the night.

Domaine de l'Etape (Photo by David Wilson)

31.5.03 (Sat) Warm and sunny all day. Ken & Lys took Charles to Poitiers station, while RJP led rest of group round etangs and fields near hotel. Warm and sunny all day.

• Short-toed Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Firecrest all near hotel. These species were seen or heard almost every morning.
• Peregrine seen by some on pre-breakfast walk.
• The morning's exploration produced Turtle Dove, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Little Egret, Reed, Melodious and Fan-tailed Warblers, Red-backed Shrike, Yellowhammer, Honey Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle and Mallard

Had picnic lunch at the hotel.

In afternoon drove to visitor centre (Maison du Parc) at le Bouchet via bridge at Ruffec, stopping by roadside in a few places.

• 3 Red-backed Shrikes, 2 Honey Buzzards in flight, Black Kite
• 4 or 5 Cattle Egrets, Whiskered Tern, Cirl Bunting, Tree Pipit heard
• Hawfinch seen in flight (but only by KJH!)

On to Etang at le Temple.

• Moorhen, Cattle Egret, Honey Buzzard (seen well, circling up high), Grey Heron, Little Egret, Tufted Duck

Stopped by Etang de la Gabrière.

• sev Black-necked Grebes, distant Lapwing, distant Black Kite, Great Crested Grebes
• Whiskered Terns, one Black Tern, Purple Heron, Gadwall, Pochard, Moorhen

Back to hotel, where Tawny Owl flew past terrace while we were having evening meal.

1.6.03 (Sun) Very hot and sunny all day.

Dropped group off at Le Blanc's old station while provisions being bought.

• Black Redstart, Crested Lark, Melodious Warbler, Serin, Cirl Bunting, Nightingales (seen well for once), Cuckoo over, Linnet, Spotted Flycatcher

Drove via Douadic to west end of Etang de Beauregard (les Grands Etangs), and walked east to the etang, past bushy fields before reaching etang itself.

• Nightjar heard churring not far from carpark, but not seen
• Cetti's Warbler, Nightingales, Turtle Dove, sev Red-backed Shrikes
• Yellowhammer singing, Tree Pipit seen and heard, Whitethroat, Skylark, Melodious Warbler
• Fan-tailed Warbler heard and seen, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Reed Bunting
• Excellent views of Purple Heron in tree-top, also Golden Oriole seen here
• Buzzard (very pale) at nest with chicks (others seen in flight)
• Pochard, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Mute Swans, Mallard

Purple Heron at Etang de Beauregard (Photo David Wilson)

On to Mézières-en-Brenne for a drink, then to Maison de la Nature (Etang Cistude) near Chérine. Watching from carpark was more comfortable than from rather airless centre, although staff were helpful and displays interesting.

• Cormorants, Little Egrets, 3 Little Ringed Plovers
• 2 Black-winged Stilts, sev Whiskered Terns, Melodious Warbler, Stonechat
• Night Heron flew over
• Common Tern flew over

Drove to carpark near Chérine farm, stopping to remove a terrapin from the middle of the road. Walked to the two hides which overlooked shallow lakes (one dry) here.

• Whiskered Tern colony, plus at least 2 Black Terns, Black-winged Stilt
• Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall
• 6 Little Ringed Plovers, Grey Heron caught and swallowed huge fish
• sev Red-backed Shrikes, Purple Heron over, Cattle Egrets, Black Kite & Buzzard, Stonechat, Whitethroat

Stopped to scan Etang de l'Ardouine, but looking into sun made viewing difficult.

• Whiskered Tern, Honey Buzzard, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron

Back to hotel via Ruffec.

• Woodlark singing near hotel at dusk (in fact this Woodlark was seen and/or heard here every day, and even during the hours of darkness)

2.6.03 (Mon) Overcast and cool at first, but warmer later, though mostly cloudy. Again dropped group off at railway station first thing while daily provisions bought.

• Crested Lark, Melodious Warbler, Cirl Bunting, Black Redstart, Greenfinch, Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk and Purple Heron (last two flying over)

Cirl Bunting in La Brenne (Photo David Wilson)

Drove to Rosnay, then went for short walk to unnamed etangs west of Etang Capitaine.

• Curlew seen and heard, Purple, Night and Grey Herons in flight, Cattle Egret
• Lapwing, distant Whiskered Tern, Cuckoo, Buzzard

Stopped by Etang de Montiacre, just to north, and met Tony Williams here.

• Reed Warbler, Black Kite, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Night Heron in flight

Then to Etang Massé, to watch from the tiny hide, but later got better views from path that runs along part of north side of etang. Large colony of herons at far end of etang.

Group at Etang Massé (Photo David Wilson)

• Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Night Heron all breeding, with young being fed. Purple Heron in flight
• Coot, Pochard, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Nightingale. Water Rail heard and Marsh Tit seen by some.

On to Forêt de Lancosme, for lunch at Chapelle St-Sulpice (and ‘magic fountain') and a walk in the woodland afterwards. Tony Williams showed us Woodland Brown butterflies and played woodpecker calls on tape recorder.

• Middle Spotted Woodpecker seen briefly, and heard calling in response to tapes
• Bonelli's Warbler: several heard, and seen briefly
• Crested Tit seen briefly, Firecrest and Short-toed Treecreeper heard

Looked at etangs around Grand Luc.

• Purple Heron in roadside reedbed and in flight, Whiskered Tern, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, pale Buzzard, 2 Canada Geese, Fan-tailed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, 2 Cattle Egrets

Then back past Etang du Coudreau (brief view of Marsh Harrier here), Rosnay and Ruffec to hotel.

3.6.03 (Tues) Raining overnight but dry by morning. Most of group dropped by riverside in Le Blanc while provisions bought in town.

• Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin, Kingfisher

Took Poitiers road, seeing a Hen Harrier male hunting over the fields west of St Savin (seen at same spot earlier in week by Ken & Lys when returning from Poitiers). Also Crested Lark, Black Redstart, Kestrel, Buzzard, Yellowhammer en route to Forêt de la Moulière. Stopped at le Grand Recoin and walked in woodland just to southwest. Nice mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, woodland edge and clearings, but mostly fairly quiet.

• Great Spotted Woodpecker at nest with young.
• Black Woodpecker calling several times and eventually seen in flight through the trees at end of walk, near the car park
• Buzzard, Firecrest, Marsh Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Melodious Warbler, Turtle Dove, Garden Warbler, Kestrel, Nightingale
• Middle Spotted Woodpecker seen rather distantly in bare tree, then in flight
• Hen Harrier briefly in flight seen by some

Had lunch at le Grand Recoin, luckily under cover while a thunderstorm with torrential rain passed over.

Then on to Réserve Naturelle du Pinail, an area of open heathland north of the forest. Sun came out again after another light burst of rain.

• Short-toed Treecreeper heard, Bonelli's Warbler and Marsh Tit seen reasonably well here. Meadow Pipit singing and seen briefly. Stonechat, Cuckoo
• Dartford Warbler heard (and seen briefly by some)
• Several of both Montagu's and Hen Harriers seen hunting over heathland. Also a distant Marsh Harrier, as well as Buzzards. Two or three sightings of Hobby here. Grasshopper Warbler heard singing distantly

Back to hotel along River Vienne via Chauvigny.

4.6.03 (Weds) More overnight rain, but sunny by morning, and remained fine for the rest of the day. Again dropped group at riverside in Le Blanc while provisions were bought, then to the Maison de la Nature at Chérine.

• Whiskered Tern, Cormorant, Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret, 2 Cuckoos flew over

Then to the tower hide at Etang Ricot.

• Night, Purple and Grey Heron, Reed and Cetti's Warblers heard
• Honey Buzzard circling, Whiskered Tern

Walked down the road to Etangs Monmélier and Miclos, and also scanned Etang Ricot from roadside.

• Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Melodious Warbler
• Marsh Harrier (imm) in flight
• Great White Egret seen in flight as was a hunting Short-toed Eagle over Cherine reserve
• Black-winged Stilt, Sedge Warbler
• Golden Oriole heard, Purple Heron in flight, Crested Tit seen, all near Etang Miclos

Lunch at Etang de la Gabrière.

• 4 male Red-crested Pochards, Whiskered Terns, Black Kites
• distant view of Short-toed Eagle here as well

Back to visitor centre at Chérine, where we saw Gadwall and heard Melodious and Fan-tailed Warblers. Then to Le Châtelier area, near Azay-le-Ferron.

• Crested Lark and 2 Red-legged Partridges in arable fields

Then via Tournon-St-Martin to Néons-sur-Creuse.

• Bee-eater: excellent views of maybe a dozen birds here, and their nest-holes in the river bank. Also Lapwing, Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, one male Red-backed Shrike

On to Vicq-sur-Gartempe, where two more Bee-eaters seen, then to Angles-sur-l'Anglin, where a rare but fortuitous navigation mix-up in the narrow streets ensured that we saw this extremely pretty village from all angles (b-boom). We also saw a male Montagu's Harrier en route. Then to Fontgombault, seeing a male Hen Harrier, more Red-legged Partridges and a Buzzard in the fields on the way. Back to hotel following the valley of the River Creuse.

5.6.03 (Thurs) More overnight rain, but dry by the morning, and remained a nice mixture of sunshine and cloud all day, not too hot.

• Spotted Flycatcher: one seen near hotel

Stopped at railway sidings once again while getting the shopping done.

• Cirl Bunting, Melodious Warbler, excellent views of a brown-phase Cuckoo, Dunnock, Crested Lark, Black Redstart

Melodious Warbler in La Brenne (photo David Wilson)

Drove towards Rosnay, but stopped near km 18 on the D27 to view the Etang la Cosse.

• Whiskered Tern colony: 220 pairs according to research worker who was involved in radio-tracking them
• Black-necked Grebe: 15 pairs here, some with young
• Fan-tailed Warbler seen, pair of Garganey, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe
• Purple Heron in flight, pale Buzzard on telegraph pole
• Tree Pipit singing from telegraph wires
• Skylark, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Melodious Warbler, Corn Bunting

On to etangs at Foucault, with their excellent hides, and we watched from the main one for some time.

• 2 Black-winged Stilts, 3 male Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Black-necked Grebe, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Night Heron, Little Egret, Black Kites, Cattle Egret, Melodious Warbler, Goldfinch, Jay
• Hoopoe heard and eventually located, seen perched and in flight
• Pale Honey Buzzard seen in flight

To Maison du Parc at le Bouchet for lunch.

• 2 Cattle Egrets, 2 Night Herons seen well, Black Redstart

Large group of children at Etang du Blizon, so continued to Etang des Vigneaux, which was very pretty but without many birds to be seen.

• Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebes, distant heronry

South to Etang du Sault, where we walked along the west shore.

• 2 Hobbies in flight and perched (distantly)
• 2 Golden Orioles in flight, several Purple Herons, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Black Kites, Buzzards, Short-toed Treecreeper seen, Nightingale, Cetti's Warbler and Cirl Bunting singing

In late afternoon spent an hour scanning from roadside over Etangs de Ricot and Monmélier.

• Marsh Harrier briefly in flight, several Black Kites, Night Heron, Purple Heron
• Black Tern flew directly overhead
• Whiskered Tern, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler, Black-winged Stilt

Back to hotel for final evening meal.

6.6.03 (Fri) Clear sunny morning and remained hot and sunny all day. Left the hotel at 9.15, then to garage at Chauvigny to fill up with fuel.

• White and Blue-headed Wagtails seen here, plus Crested Lark, Black Redstart

On round Poitiers to Neuville-de-Poitou area.

• Short-toed Lark: at least two seen and heard, though rather elusive in the rough vegetation
• Skylark, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Wheatear, Linnet, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, male Hen Harrier and distant ring-tail harrier. Also a lone Mallard

Stopped at Champagne de Méron for picnic lunch, and a walk through the fields here.

• 2 Short-toed Eagles together, quite close for a time
• Hobby, several Kestrels, Black Kite, Buzzard, distant male Montagu's Harrier, Turtle Doves, several Nightingales singing, 2 Red-legged Partridges, Stonechat, Wheatear
• 2 Curlews and 2 Stone Curlews seen by group (2 different Stone Curlews seen by Ken & Lys en route to pick-up point at far end of walk)

3 Stock Doves seen as we were heading off towards Fontevraud, where we failed to locate the Rock Sparrows, probably because it was by now too hot. Crossed River Loire at Monsoreau, and stopped on far side to scan the large sandbank just upstream from the bridge.

• Common and Little Terns numerous
• Mediterranean Gull: at least two adults in summer plumage
• Yellow-legged Gull: one adult
• 2 Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Black-headed Gulls

Back to Ouistreham via Mayenne where we stopped for a snack at pizzeria. Arrived at Ouistreham at 10.20pm, but not onto Normandie until after midnight.

7.6.03 (Sat) Uneventful drive back to Bristol via Bath.

Mammals

• Hedgehog (curled up but alive, held up for view by lady by roadside near Néons)
• Rabbit
• Brown Hare (Méron)
• Red Squirrel
• Coypu
• Garden Dormouse (at hotel, not Fat Dormouse as thought originally)
• Pine Marten (by Geoff, near hotel)
• Wild Boar (with horses near hotel several days)
• Red Deer (at Etang Ricot, not Roe Deer as thought originally)

Reptiles/amphibians

• Green/Marsh Frogs widespread
• Common Tree Frog heard near hotel
• European Pond Terrapin
• Western Whip Snake (dead on road)
• Common Wall Lizard