France; Ile de Re, Charente-Maritime
2007, list with updates
Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia). Small numbers are present in winter
Ile de Re GALLERY
The nearest coastal area to Moulismes is on the Bay of Biscay, around La Rochelle. The best all-round birding area is probably the west end of the Ile de Re, accessible by road bridge [toll, see Ile de Re website]. Here there are good coastal habitats; saltpans, saltmarsh, low rocky headlands and beaches. The patches of woodland here seem strangely bereft of birds, as do usually the mudflats, the latter probably due to shooting
For rare migrant passerines, it’s too far into the Bay compared with hot-spots like Ile d’Ouessant far to the north. However, it does provide sea-watching at the Phare des Baleines lighthouse, with winter seabirds there also, wader roosts, and an LPO reserve with some superb coastal lagoons and saltmarsh
Bird species recorded 310+
PHARE DES BALEINES LIGHTHOUSE
On the western tip of the island, the lighthouse stands on a low rocky headland offering some elevation for sea-watching, also nice rock pools with waders, terns, gulls and egrets on the ebbing tide
The lighthouse and seafood restaurants there are a popular tourist attraction, after 11.30 a.m. the parking gets very busy, so mornings and evenings are best; early morning high tides are ideal
LILLEAU DES NIGES LPO RESERVE
Situated east of Les Portes-en -Re, about four kilometres from the lighthouse, with a good information centre, Maison du Fier, signposted off the main road through Les Portes.
Best from three hours before high tide, there’s a good circular trail taking in saltmarsh, lagoons and protected mudflats. Birds must know they’re safe here as the high tide roost is excellent; up to 3000 Black-tailed Godwits have been counted in September, also 40+ Spoonbills and good Brent Goose counts in winter
Reserve area 195 hectares
LOIX WADER-ROOST
Accessed from a track west of the Ecomusee [museum of history of the salt industry], there’s a coastal footpath enabling one to view the high tide roost in the Fiers d’Ars bay, opposite the Pointe de Fier
Nearby, at Le Martray there is a Sacred Ibis roost viewable from the main D735 road along the isthmus near L’Huitriere de Re oyster farm. In the pines here, up to 140 birds can be seen in late summer
Ars en Re has a picturesque harbour, La Criee, with some pleasant restaurants and a walk to the mouth of the channel overlooking fields and marshland - good for raptors
Cycling is the best way to get around, with cycle hire at Les Portes en Re
Access on and off the island can get congested Sundays and public holidays, especially east and west of the toll booths on the La Rochelle side of the bridge
ACCOMMODATION USED
Camping Municipal ‘La Pree’, Route de la Pointe a Chabot, 17880 LES PORTES EN RE. Tel. 0546 295104. Open 1st April to 30th September
La Moineresse, Chambre d’hotes. Bernadette and Stephane Chatenay, 22 bis route du pertuis, 17880 LES PORTES EN RE. Tel. 0546 295837
REFERENCE SOURCES
A Birdwatching Guide to France South of the Loire. J. Crozier, Arlequin Press, 2000
Les Oiseaux de l'ile de Re. Published by LPO, available Lilleau des Niges information centre
Ile de Re official website
Lilleau des Niges website
BIRDS RECORDED - 125 species over four trips made in February, March, May and September (2007-2011)
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (Gavia immer) - 2 Phare des Baleines 3/2008
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus)
SLAVONIAN GREBE (Podiceps auritus) - Several offshore winter
BLACK-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) - Offshore winter, sometimes on the LPO reserve
GANNET (Morus bassanus) - From Phare des Baleines, sometimes large numbers
CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)
SHAG (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) - 1 juvenile Phare des Baleines 15/9/07
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
GREAT WHITE EGRET (Casmerodius albus)
GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
SACRED IBIS (Threskiornis aethiopicus) - Self-sustaining population now native to this coast
SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia) - Present in small numbers winter, spring and autumn
MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)
GREYLAG GOOSE (Anser anser) - Winter visitor, only one wild flock seen in flight
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
BRENT GOOSE (Branta bernicla) - Large winter population
COMMON SHELDUCK (Tadorna tadorna)
WIGEON (Anas penelope)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
TEAL (Anas crecca)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
PINTAIL (Anas acuta) - Good numbers winter, LPO reserve
SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
COMMON SCOTER (Melanitta nigra) - Regular passage March, September, etc
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator) - Frequently offshore in winter
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans)
MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)
HEN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)
MONTAGU'S HARRIER (Circus pygargus)
SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus)
BUZZARD (Buteo buteo)
KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
HOBBY (Falco subbuteo)
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (Alectoris rufa)
PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus)
COOT (Fulica atra)
OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ostralegus)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)
AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)
RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)
GREY PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)
KNOT (Calidris canutus)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea)
PURPLE SANDPIPER (Calidris maritima)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
RUFF (Philomachus pugnax)
SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)
CURLEW (Numenius arquata)
WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus)
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus)
REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)
GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
ARCTIC SKUA (Stercorarius parasiticus) - Regular offshore in September, etc
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Larus melanocephalus) - Largest count 200+ Phare des Baleines in February
BLACK-HEADED GULL (Larus ridibundus)
COMMON GULL (Larus canus)
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)
HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus)
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus)
KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla) - Phare des Baleines, small numbers offshore
SANDWICH TERN (Sterna sandvicensis)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
GUILLEMOT (Uria aalge)
WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus)
COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)
SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) - Occasional LPO reserve winter
SWIFT (Apus apus)
KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
HOOPOE (Upupa epops)
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos major)
SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis)
SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)
MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis)
ROCK PIPIT (Anthus petrosus)
YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava)
GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)
WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)
WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes)
DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis)
ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)
NIGHTINGALE (Luscinia megarhynchos)
BLUETHROAT (Luscinia svecica namnetum) - Breeding birds, present March to September
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros)
WHINCHAT (Saxicola rubetra)
STONECHAT (Saxicola torquatus)
WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe)
BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula)
CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis) - Present throughout the year
WHITETHROAT (Sylvia communis)
BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla)
CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)
WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus)
FIRECREST (Regulus ignicapilla)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)
PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hypoleuca)
LONG-TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)
COAL TIT (Parus ater)
BLUE TIT (Parus caeruleus)
GREAT TIT (Parus major)
JAY (Garrulus glandarius)
MAGPIE (Pica pica)
JACKDAW (Corvus monedula)
CARRION CROW (Corvus corone)
STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
CHAFFINCH (Fringilla coelebs)
SERIN (Serinus serinus)
GREENFINCH (Carduelis chloris)
GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)
LINNET (Carduelis cannabina)
CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)
REED BUNTING (Emberiza schoeniclus)
Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia). Small numbers are present in winter
Ile de Re GALLERY
The nearest coastal area to Moulismes is on the Bay of Biscay, around La Rochelle. The best all-round birding area is probably the west end of the Ile de Re, accessible by road bridge [toll, see Ile de Re website]. Here there are good coastal habitats; saltpans, saltmarsh, low rocky headlands and beaches. The patches of woodland here seem strangely bereft of birds, as do usually the mudflats, the latter probably due to shooting
For rare migrant passerines, it’s too far into the Bay compared with hot-spots like Ile d’Ouessant far to the north. However, it does provide sea-watching at the Phare des Baleines lighthouse, with winter seabirds there also, wader roosts, and an LPO reserve with some superb coastal lagoons and saltmarsh
Bird species recorded 310+
PHARE DES BALEINES LIGHTHOUSE
On the western tip of the island, the lighthouse stands on a low rocky headland offering some elevation for sea-watching, also nice rock pools with waders, terns, gulls and egrets on the ebbing tide
The lighthouse and seafood restaurants there are a popular tourist attraction, after 11.30 a.m. the parking gets very busy, so mornings and evenings are best; early morning high tides are ideal
LILLEAU DES NIGES LPO RESERVE
Situated east of Les Portes-en -Re, about four kilometres from the lighthouse, with a good information centre, Maison du Fier, signposted off the main road through Les Portes.
Best from three hours before high tide, there’s a good circular trail taking in saltmarsh, lagoons and protected mudflats. Birds must know they’re safe here as the high tide roost is excellent; up to 3000 Black-tailed Godwits have been counted in September, also 40+ Spoonbills and good Brent Goose counts in winter
Reserve area 195 hectares
LOIX WADER-ROOST
Accessed from a track west of the Ecomusee [museum of history of the salt industry], there’s a coastal footpath enabling one to view the high tide roost in the Fiers d’Ars bay, opposite the Pointe de Fier
Nearby, at Le Martray there is a Sacred Ibis roost viewable from the main D735 road along the isthmus near L’Huitriere de Re oyster farm. In the pines here, up to 140 birds can be seen in late summer
Ars en Re has a picturesque harbour, La Criee, with some pleasant restaurants and a walk to the mouth of the channel overlooking fields and marshland - good for raptors
Cycling is the best way to get around, with cycle hire at Les Portes en Re
Access on and off the island can get congested Sundays and public holidays, especially east and west of the toll booths on the La Rochelle side of the bridge
ACCOMMODATION USED
Camping Municipal ‘La Pree’, Route de la Pointe a Chabot, 17880 LES PORTES EN RE. Tel. 0546 295104. Open 1st April to 30th September
La Moineresse, Chambre d’hotes. Bernadette and Stephane Chatenay, 22 bis route du pertuis, 17880 LES PORTES EN RE. Tel. 0546 295837
REFERENCE SOURCES
A Birdwatching Guide to France South of the Loire. J. Crozier, Arlequin Press, 2000
Les Oiseaux de l'ile de Re. Published by LPO, available Lilleau des Niges information centre
Ile de Re official website
Lilleau des Niges website
BIRDS RECORDED - 125 species over four trips made in February, March, May and September (2007-2011)
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (Gavia immer) - 2 Phare des Baleines 3/2008
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus)
SLAVONIAN GREBE (Podiceps auritus) - Several offshore winter
BLACK-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) - Offshore winter, sometimes on the LPO reserve
GANNET (Morus bassanus) - From Phare des Baleines, sometimes large numbers
CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)
SHAG (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) - 1 juvenile Phare des Baleines 15/9/07
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
GREAT WHITE EGRET (Casmerodius albus)
GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
SACRED IBIS (Threskiornis aethiopicus) - Self-sustaining population now native to this coast
SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia) - Present in small numbers winter, spring and autumn
MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)
GREYLAG GOOSE (Anser anser) - Winter visitor, only one wild flock seen in flight
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
BRENT GOOSE (Branta bernicla) - Large winter population
COMMON SHELDUCK (Tadorna tadorna)
WIGEON (Anas penelope)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
TEAL (Anas crecca)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
PINTAIL (Anas acuta) - Good numbers winter, LPO reserve
SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
COMMON SCOTER (Melanitta nigra) - Regular passage March, September, etc
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator) - Frequently offshore in winter
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans)
MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)
HEN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)
MONTAGU'S HARRIER (Circus pygargus)
SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus)
BUZZARD (Buteo buteo)
KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
HOBBY (Falco subbuteo)
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (Alectoris rufa)
PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus)
COOT (Fulica atra)
OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ostralegus)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)
AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)
RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)
GREY PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)
KNOT (Calidris canutus)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea)
PURPLE SANDPIPER (Calidris maritima)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
RUFF (Philomachus pugnax)
SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)
CURLEW (Numenius arquata)
WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus)
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus)
REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)
GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
ARCTIC SKUA (Stercorarius parasiticus) - Regular offshore in September, etc
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Larus melanocephalus) - Largest count 200+ Phare des Baleines in February
BLACK-HEADED GULL (Larus ridibundus)
COMMON GULL (Larus canus)
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)
HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus)
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus)
KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla) - Phare des Baleines, small numbers offshore
SANDWICH TERN (Sterna sandvicensis)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
GUILLEMOT (Uria aalge)
WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus)
COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)
SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) - Occasional LPO reserve winter
SWIFT (Apus apus)
KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
HOOPOE (Upupa epops)
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos major)
SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis)
SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)
MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis)
ROCK PIPIT (Anthus petrosus)
YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava)
GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)
WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)
WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes)
DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis)
ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)
NIGHTINGALE (Luscinia megarhynchos)
BLUETHROAT (Luscinia svecica namnetum) - Breeding birds, present March to September
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros)
WHINCHAT (Saxicola rubetra)
STONECHAT (Saxicola torquatus)
WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe)
BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula)
CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis) - Present throughout the year
WHITETHROAT (Sylvia communis)
BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla)
CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)
WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus)
FIRECREST (Regulus ignicapilla)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)
PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hypoleuca)
LONG-TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)
COAL TIT (Parus ater)
BLUE TIT (Parus caeruleus)
GREAT TIT (Parus major)
JAY (Garrulus glandarius)
MAGPIE (Pica pica)
JACKDAW (Corvus monedula)
CARRION CROW (Corvus corone)
STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
CHAFFINCH (Fringilla coelebs)
SERIN (Serinus serinus)
GREENFINCH (Carduelis chloris)
GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)
LINNET (Carduelis cannabina)
CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)
REED BUNTING (Emberiza schoeniclus)