Birds & Birding

Kittiwake adult-winter, Etang de la Mer Rouge, Brenne; a Brenne rarity, present only after south-westerly storms

If you have a house in France and you don’t know where to go birding, the best investment you could make is to buy an IGN map at your local supermarket, the blue series called Carte de randonnee, scale 1:25000 (1cm = 250m), generally covering about 200-250 square kilometres. These retail at around 8 Euros, and of course you may need more than one. Secondly, check out the local Mairie and ask for information on public footpaths (sentiers). There is an extensive network of well-signposted public rights of way throughout the country, most are well maintained even though they are under-used. Departments/regions produce these walking maps, one per sentier, usually a long loop, and they are available free either from the Mairie, or the tourist office of the nearest large town in the area. Route signs, normally painted brown, also carry the name of the sentier.

I have found all my local sites this way, also doing surveys for the LPO has opened up new areas I may not have discovered otherwise. Most private land is fenced off securely, another legacy of the hunting regime, and it’s best to obtain permission to access land off the sentier, e.g. promising areas of open water. I’ve failed to do this occasionally, to my cost! Also be prepared to lose sites - I lost two in 2008, the most frustrating one a very good etang I had permission to watch that changed ownership; the new farmer/hunter made it very clear he didn’t want a birdwatcher on his land.

Hunting is without doubt the biggest problem for birders from mid-August until the end of March. Hunters also use the sentiers and public woodland, so nowhere should be regarded as ’safe’. People die every year having been shot by hunters; whilst often these are other hunters, walkers are also victims and obviously birders are even more susceptible. Weekends, particularly Sundays, and public holidays are the worst days for hunting activity. Also worth bearing in mind is that many unprotected species are very easily flushed because of the hunting, for example most waterbirds, whether protected or not.

Photography here is fairly difficult, there are virtually no hides and no nature reserves or totally protected areas except in the Brenne, where even Cherine NR has restricted hunting on parts of the reserve. I take many photos in the garden (sometimes through the kitchen window), or 'on the run', i.e. opportunistic shots taken whilst out birding. Of course, hides in the Brenne and other reserves in France provide good photographic opportunities.

Birds gallery


Adult Squacco; digiscoped in the Brenne, Etang de Gabriau, from the main road

Covering some 10,000 hectares and with over 1200 etangs, man-made lakes, the Brenne has reedbeds, meadows, rough pasture, cereal production and woodland, also two river valleys and some calcareous zones. Over 280 species have been recorded here; 300+ Common Cranes winter, Whiskered Terns (c1000 pairs) and Black-necked Grebes (150+ pairs) nest, as do Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Black-winged Stilt, a few pairs of Short-toed Eagle, and 30+ pairs of Bee-eater.
There are two good visitor centres, one at Cherine Nature Reserve (Maison de la Nature), and one at Le Bouchet (Maison du Parc), with a total of 10 hides throughout the park, 3 of which are at Cherine reserve.
As with the Vienne, the biggest problem with the Brenne is that most etangs are privately owned and the surrounding land difficult to access. However, apart from the reserve and other parts open to the public, there is an extensive network of well sign-posted sentiers that really open the Park up and provide some of the best birding – details from either visitor centre.

Brenne Regional Park website - www.parc-naturel-brenne.fr
Indre Nature, a comprehensive website covering the wildlife of the Brenne and the departement Indre - www.indrenature.net

Rarities, scarce birds

There are rarities/scarcities I've seen in the Brenne but not in the Vienne, and vice-versa. Brenne only birds - with Brenne status;

BITTERN - Scarce breeder
LITTLE BITTERN - Rare breeder
SQUACCO - Rare breeder
SPOONBILL - Rare migrant
CANADA GOOSE - Feral, now numbering more than 100
LESSER SCAUP - Rare (winter), individuals in 2007, 2009
VELVET SCOTER - Rare (winter)
GOLDENEYE - Rare (winter)
GRIFFON VULTURE - 1 in June 2009; sightings likely to increase
GREY PLOVER - Rare migrant
WHITE-TAILED PLOVER - 1 ad. June 2009 (2.5kms from the Sociable Plover)
SANDERLING - Rare migrant
KITTIWAKE - Rare (winter)
GREAT REED WARBLER - Rare breeder

Again, this only reflects my observations since January 2006; for comprehensive info see Indre Nature birdlist
The Brenne clearly has more potential for rarities than the Vienne, due to the existance of some very large etangs - virtually non-existant in the Vienne.
However, local patch-work here does pay off; species I've seen around Moulismes, but not in the Brenne - with Vienne status;

BLACK STORK - Scarce migrant
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Rare (winter)
FERRUGINOUS DUCK - Rare (winter)
SPOTTED CRAKE - Rare migrant
DOTTEREL - Rare migrant
MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Rare migrant
LITTLE TERN - Rare migrant
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN - Rare migrant
WRYNECK - Scarce migrant/breeder
CRESTED LARK - Rare locally, sedentary Vienne
TAWNY PIPIT - Rare locally, Vienne breeder
RING OUZEL - Rare migrant
DARTFORD WARBLER - Localised and sedentary in the Vienne
COMMON CROSSBILL - Rare/eruptive migrant

Sociable Plover, with three individuals in the Vienne and one in the Brenne, perhaps reflects the revised world population of this still rare and threatened species. Wallcreeper is rare but regular in winter (Vienne and the Brenne), but only the northern Vienne still has small breeding populations of Little Bustard and Ortolan. The habitat north of Poitiers is very different to that of the south, with vast cereal plains, and a site at Dissay that attracts large numbers of gulls in winter. These include Common, Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Yellow-legged - all rare elsewhere in the Vienne.
The best reference source for the Vienne is the 'Guide des Oiseaux de Poitou-Charentes et Vendee' Dubrac/Nicolle/Michel, published by Editions Hypolais, 2000
See also the excellent newly re-vamped LPO Vienne website
I would urge observers to enter their observations for the Vienne on this website - compared to the Brenne, the Vienne is under-watched.

List of birds observed in the VIENNE WITHIN 15 KMS OF MOULISMES, since our arrival in January 2006. The status/abundance guide may help if you are birding the general area. It is based only on my observations since January 2006 and may or may not reflect the true status/abundance within the Vienne. English and French common names are used

W = winter
S = summer, usually breeders
M = on migration, eruptive or eratically displaced
SD = seen all-year, breeds locally, sedentary

1 = very common
2 = fairly common
3 = scarce
4 = rare

Status of protection in France:
P = Protected
NP = Not Protected

LITTLE GREBE - Grebe castagneux ------SD2---P
GREAT CRESTED GREBE - Grebe huppe ------SD2---P
BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Grebe a cou noir ------M3---P
GREAT CORMORANT - Grand Cormoran ------SD2---P
NIGHT HERON - Bihoreau gris -----M4---P
CATTLE EGRET - Heron gardeboeufs -------W/M3---P
LITTLE EGRET - Aigrette garzette ------M3---P
GREAT WHITE EGRET - Grande Aigrette ------W/M2---P
GREY HERON - Heron cendre ------SD1---P
PURPLE HERON - Heron pourpre ------S3---P
WHITE STORK - Cigogne blanche ------M3---P
BLACK STORK - Cigogne noir ------M3---P
MUTE SWAN - Cygne tubercule ------SD2---P
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Oie rieuse ------W4---NP
GREYLAG GOOSE - Oie cendree ------M3---NP
COMMON SHELDUCK - Tadorne de Belon -----W4---P
[ WOOD DUCK - Canard carolin -------?4---?-French Cat. E ]
GADWALL - Canard chipeau ------SD3---NP
WIGEON - Canard siffleur ------W3---NP
TEAL - Sarcelle d'hiver ------SD2---NP
MALLARD - Canard colvert ------SD1---NP
GARGANEY - Sarcelle d'ete ------S3---NP

Garganey, spring female, Saulge, Vienne; a rare but regular breeding species

PINTAIL - Canard pilet ------W/M3---NP
SHOVELER - Canard souchet ------SD2---NP
RED-CRESTED POCHARD - Nette rousse ------M4---NP
POCHARD - Fuligule milouin ------SD2---NP
FERRUGINOUS DUCK - Fuligule nyroca -----W/S/M4---P
TUFTED DUCK - Fuligule morillon ------SD3---NP
SMEW - Harle piette ------W4---P
BLACK KITE - Milan noir ------S2---P
RED KITE - Milan royal ------M3---P
SHORT-TOED EAGLE - Circaete Jean-le-Blanc ------S3---P
MARSH HARRIER - Busard des roseaux ------M3---P
HEN HARRIER - Busard St-Martin ------SD2---P
MONTAGU’S HARRIER - Busard cendre ------S2---P
GOSHAWK - Autour des palombes ------?SD3---P
SPARROWHAWK - Epervier d'Europe ------SD2---P
BUZZARD - Buse variable ------SD1---P
HONEY BUZZARD - Bondree apivore ------S3---P
OSPREY - Balbuzard pecheur ------M3---P
KESTREL - Faucon crecerelle ------SD2---P
MERLIN - Faucon emerillon ------W/M3---P
HOBBY - Faucon hobereau ------S3---P
PEREGRINE - Faucon pelerin ------W4---P
GREY PARTRIDGE - Perdrix grise ------SD3---NP
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE - Perdrix rouge ------SD2---NP
PHEASANT - Faison de colchide ------SD1---NP
WATER RAIL - Rale d'eau ------?SD3---NP
SPOTTED CRAKE - Marouette ponctuee ------M4---P
QUAIL - Caille des bles ------S3---NP
MOORHEN - Gallinule poule-d'eau ------SD2---NP
COOT - Foulque macroule ------SD1---NP
COMMON CRANE - Grue cendree ------W/M2---P
BLACK-WINGED STILT - Echasse blanche -----M4---P
AVOCET - Avocette elegante ------M4---P
STONE CURLEW - Oedicneme criard ------S/M3---P
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER - Petit gravelot ------S3---P
RINGED PLOVER - Grand gravelot ------M4---P
DOTTEREL - Pluvier guignard ------M4---P
GOLDEN PLOVER - Pluvier dore ------W3---NP
LAPWING - Vanneau huppe ------SD2---NP
SOCIABLE PLOVER - Vanneau sociable -----M4---P

Sociable Plover adult, Saulge, Vienne; a lucky find on local patch, spring 2009...

...followed by a juvenile in October

LITTLE STINT - Becasseau minute ------M3---P
TEMMINCK'S STINT - Becasseau de Temminck ---M4---P
CURLEW SANDPIPER - Becasseau cocorli ------M3---P
DUNLIN - Becasseau variable ------M3---P
RUFF - Combattant varie ------M3---NP
SNIPE - Becassine des marais ------W2---NP
WOODCOCK - Becasse des bois -----S4---NP
WHIMBREL - Courlis corlieu ------M4---NP
CURLEW - Courlis cendre ------?SD3---NP
SPOTTED REDSHANK - Chevalier arlequin ------M4---NP
REDSHANK - Chevalier gambette ------M3---NP
GREENSHANK - Chevalier aboyeur ------M3---NP
GREEN SANDPIPER - Chevalier culblanc ------W/M2-3---P
WOOD SANDPIPER - Chevalier sylvain ------M3---P
COMMON SANDPIPER - Chevalier guignette ------W/M2-3---P
LITTLE GULL - Mouette pygmee ------M4---P
MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Mouette melanocephale -----M4---P
BLACK-HEADED GULL - Mouette rieuse ------M3---P
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - Goeland leucophee ------M4---P
COMMON TERN - Sterne pierregarin -----M4---P
LITTLE TERN - Sterne naine ------M4---P
WHISKERED TERN - Guifette moustac ------M3---P
BLACK TERN - Guifette noire ------M3---P
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN - Guifette leucoptere ------M4---P

White-winged Black Tern, Saulge, Vienne; another one-day bird

STOCK DOVE - Pigeon colombin ------W3---NP
WOOD PIGEON - Pigeon ramier ------SD1---NP
COLLARED DOVE - Tourterelle turque ------SD1---NP
TURTLE DOVE - Tourterelle des bois ------S2---NP
CUCKOO - Coucou gris ------S2---P
BARN OWL - Effraie des clochers ------?SD4---P
LITTLE OWL - Cheveche d'Athena ------?4---P
TAWNY OWL - Chouette hulotte ------SD3---P
NIGHTJAR - Engoulevent d'Europe ------S4---P
SWIFT - Martinet noir ------S1---P
KINGFISHER - Martin-pecheur d'Europe ------SD2---P
BEE-EATER - Guepier d'Europe ------S3---P
HOOPOE - Huppe fasciee ------S2---P
WRYNECK - Torcol fourmilier ------M4---P
GREEN WOODPECKER - Pic vert ------SD2---P
BLACK WOODPECKER - Pic noir ------SD3---P
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER - Pic epeiche ------SD2---P

Great Spotted Woodpecker male, Moulismes, garden

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER - Pic mar ------?4---P
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - Pic epeichette ------SD3---P
CRESTED LARK - Cochevis huppe ------?M4---P
WOODLARK - Alouette lulu ------SD2---P
SKYLARK - Alouette des champs ------SD2---NP
SWALLOW - Hirundelle rustique ------S1---P
SAND MARTIN - Hirundelle de rivage ------S2---P
HOUSE MARTIN - Hirundelle de fenetre ------S2---P
TAWNY PIPIT - Pipit rouseline -------?M4---P
TREE PIPIT - Pipit des arbres ------S2-3---P
MEADOW PIPIT - Pipit farlouse ------SD2-3---P
WATER PIPIT - Pipit spioncelle ------W/M3---P
BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL - Bergeronnette printaniere ------S/M2-3---P
(YELLOW WAGTAIL - B. flaviole -----M4---P)
GREY WAGTAIL - Bergeronnette des ruisseaux ------SD3---P
WHITE WAGTAIL - Bergeronnette grise ------SD1---P
(PIED WAGTAIL - B. de Yarrell -----W4---P)
WREN - Troglodyte mignon ------SD2---P
DUNNOCK - Accenteur mouchet ------SD1---P
ROBIN - Rougegorge familier ------SD1---P
NIGHTINGALE - Rossignol philomele ------S1---P
REDSTART - Rougequeue a front blanc ------M3---P
BLACK REDSTART - Rougequeue noir ------S1---P
WHINCHAT - Tarier des pres ------M3---P
STONECHAT - Tarier patre ------SD2---P
WHEATEAR - Traquet motteux ------M3---P
RING OUZEL - Merle a plastron------W/M4---P
BLACKBIRD - Merle noir ------SD1---NP

Blackbird male, Moulismes, garden

FIELDFARE - Grive litorne ------W2---NP
SONG THRUSH - Grive musicienne ------SD2---NP
REDWING - Grive mauvis ------W2---NP
MISTLE THRUSH - Grive draine ------SD2---NP
CETTI’S WARBLER - Bouscarle de Cetti ------?SD3---P
ZITTING CISTICOLA - Cisticole des joncs ------M4---P
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - Locustelle tachetee ------S3---P
SEDGE WARBLER - Phragmite des joncs ------S3---P
REED WARBLER - Rouserolle effarvatte ------S2---P
MELODIOUS WARBLER - Hypolais polyglotte ------S2---P
DARTFORD WARBLER - Fauvette pitchou ------SD3---P
WHITETHROAT - Fauvette grisette ------S2---P
GARDEN WARBLER - Fauvette des jardins ------S4---P
BLACKCAP - Fauvette a tete noire ------S/SD1---P
WOOD WARBLER - Pouillot siffleur ------S3---P

Wood Warbler, Saulge, Vienne; a rather scarce local breeding species

BONELLI’S WARBLER - Pouillot de Bonelli ------S2---P
CHIFFCHAFF - Pouillot veloce ------S1---P
WILLOW WARBLER - Pouillot fitis ------S3---P
GOLDCREST - Roitelet huppe ------W2---P
FIRECREST - Roitelet triple-bandeau ------SD2---P
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - Gobemouche gris ------S3---P
PIED FLYCATCHER - Gobemouche noir ------M3---P
LONG-TAILED TIT - Mesange a longue queue ------SD2---P
MARSH TIT - Mesange nonette ------SD2---P
CRESTED TIT - Mesange huppe ------W/M4---P
COAL TIT - Mesange noire ------W3---P
BLUE TIT - Mesange bleue ------SD1---P
GREAT TIT - Mesange charbonniere ------SD1---P
NUTHATCH - Sittelle torchepot ------SD2---P
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER - Grimpereau des jardins ------SD2---P
GOLDEN ORIOLE - Loriot d'Europe ------S2---P
RED-BACKED SHRIKE - Pie-grieche ecorcheur ------S2---P
GREAT GREY SHRIKE - Pie-grieche grise-----W/M4---P
WOODCHAT SHRIKE - Pie-grieche a tete rousse ------S3---P
JAY - Geai des chenes ------SD2---NP
MAGPIE - Pie bavarde ------SD1---NP
JACKDAW - Choucas des tours ------SD1---P
ROOK - Corbeau freux ------SD2---NP
CARRION CROW - Corneille noire ------SD1---NP
STARLING - Etourneau sansonnet ------SD1---NP

Starling, Moulismes, garden

HOUSE SPARROW - Moineau domestique ------SD1---P
CHAFFINCH - Pinson des arbres ------SD1---P
BRAMBLING - Pinson du nord ------W2-3---P
SERIN - Serin cini ------SD2---P
GREENFINCH - Verdier d'Europe ------SD1---P
GOLDFINCH - Chardonneret elegant ------SD1---P
SISKIN - Tarin des aulnes ------W/M3---P
LINNET - Linotte melodieuse ------SD2---P
COMMON CROSSBILL - Bec-croise des sapins -----W/M4---P
BULLFINCH - Bouvreuil pivoine ------W4---P
HAWFINCH - Grosbec casse-noyaux ------SD2---P
YELLOWHAMMER - Bruant jaune ------SD2---P
CIRL BUNTING - Bruant zizi ------SD1---P
REED BUNTING - Bruant des roseaux ------W2---P
CORN BUNTING - Bruant proyer ------SD2---P

TOTAL 183 19/4/2010