Le Pays des Mille Lacs - Spring 13

A spring-time trip to La Brenne Parc Naturel (locally 'The Land of a Thousand Lakes') was booked backed in autumn 2012 and the anticipation warmed us throughout the cold winter months.

Eventually leaving behind the appalling UK weather, we set off for the more temperate climate of central France. Or so we had hoped... But France too had suffered a poor start to spring, with plenty of rain and temperatures below the average for this time of year. It was about 2ºc better than back home during the day but plummeted overnight to as low as -3ºc. The Bermuda's and sun lotion were never going to get out of the bag!

Day 1: Arriving at Rosnay late afternoon, tired and hungry, we settled for a stroll around the lake that we looked out onto. There were a few Mallard about and a Grey Heron, but suddenly a Night Heron dropped in (camera not yet unpacked of course). I watched it briefly before it was seen-off by the Grey. A big tick so soon and a stroke of luck too, as we didn't see another all week! Also today - Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Crow, Rook, Magpie, Jay, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Pheasant.

Day 2: We headed off to see Tony Williams at Maison de Nature at la réserve naturelle de Chérine. What Tony doesn't know about La Brenne simply hasn't happened yet! He marked our map with some likely hot-spots and also pointed out the lakes that were dry and not really worth a visit. They drain some lakes periodically to farm the carp. Tony confirmed that many migrant birds had not yet arrived, and those that had were still in relatively small numbers. Worse news, the large breeding colony of Purple Heron was hidden away on a lake that was completely inaccessible due to severe flooding on the access path. Apparently you could get through if you had waders but we simply forgot to pack them! So it was a case of rip-up the target list, see as much of the area as possible and just enjoy whatever came our way. But that is what adventures like this are all about - the simple unpredictability of nature - a fact confirmed by our first Black Kite, circling above us as we said merci et au revoir to Tony.

We had a quick lunch accompanied by Chaffinch, a Robin and a White Wagtail before moving on to etang D'Essarts. Here we added Coot, Swallow, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Pintail, Little Egret, Buzzard, Stonechat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. In the evening we had a stroll around a nearby wood, where we added Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, a female Black Redstart, another Black Kite and a few passing Cormorant.

Day 3: We awoke to two very clear calls. First a Cuckoo calling from the far side of the woods and then, the much closer call of a Hoopoe. We were to hear the Hoopoe for the next few days but we couldn't find it. We set off for etang Gabrielle, a huge lake and great place to look for Osprey, which we did unsuccessfully for some time. We did see a good number of Red-crested Pochard and the males looked fantastic, but too far away for a decent photo. We saw a lot of Little Egret here and also one Great White Egret. On the drive back to Rosnay we came across a farmer ploughing a small field and counted six Black Kites circling above. Later, at etang Masse we found a Cormorant breeding colony out on a wooded island and I counted 40 nests. Walking to a smaller lake nearby, we saw a Green Woodpecker and a male Black Redstart. The lake was deserted apart from Mink and we counted six in and around the margins. Back at base and during an evening stroll we found two Great Whites, the resident Grey Heron, a Wren and a couple of Marsh Tit.

Day 4: First thing today I spent an hour stalking a couple of Treecreepers but gave up once I had my customary 20+ shots of tree bark! We set off for a good woodpecker spot at la Chappelle but having got a little lost, we ended up in the middle of open farmland where we chanced upon a few Redshank and Lapwing feeding on a puddle.  We eventually found la Chappelle, but all we got there was a rather eerie feeling from the old chapel and the surrounding woods were reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project! We quickly agreed to bail out and headed to la Maison du Parc (visitor centre) where we had lunch and the best boozy crêpes we've ever had. From the car-park we followed a path down between a meadow and large woodland that took us to three lakes, where a mega fly hatch was being enjoyed by Stonechat, Black Redstart, Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff.

Day 5: A wipe out due to a very bad hangover. Just me, so we knew it wasn't revenge of the crêpes! Breakfast at 3pm was followed by a short walk for two distant Great White Egret.

Day 6: A 7am walk in search of the Hoopoe brought me no closer to seeing the bird, but hearing its occasional calls amongst the magnificent dawn chorus was awesome.

We arrived at etang Foulcault quite early and found

it alive with waterfowl, Also Black-headed Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls, a couple of Great White Egret and a Grey Heron. And overhead we had Black Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel. We moved on to etang Sous for possible otters but no joy. Whiskered terns breed here but it was far too early for them. In fact, their protected breeding area was still underwater! Out of the blue came a couple of Cattle Egret that sped, manic-fashion, around the hide a few times before disappearing. But we got lucky and caught up with them in a meadow near to the car-park and I managed a record shot at least.

We decided to round off this last day with another look at etang Gabrielle but on what was now a rather grey day, it was difficult to pick out anything across the open water. So we headed to the far north-west corner where it was marginally brighter. Here we

watched a Cormorant catch a carp so large, that after a 10 minute struggle trying to lift it through the surface and into position, it eventually conceded defeat and let it go. Sadly the carp did not survive the experience but maybe a pike or catfish got to enjoy the freebie. Quite a sight to round off the week I thought. But that magical unpredictability of nature was to have the last word... As our long-awaited Osprey came over from behind us and slowly faded away into the gloom.

My suggestion of a return visit in the summer, was not met with total enthusiasm by PK as she muttered something about lounging in the sun. So I have a compromise... but where on earth will I find her a camokini?

Our resident Grey Heron at Rosnay

Tufted Duck at etang D'Essarts

Fine male Kestrel from car en route to etang Sous

PK scoping Red-crested Pochard at etang Gabrielle

 Early spring Pussy Willow flower (male) in the afternoon sun at Rosnay

LLanfairfechan & Conwy - 2 March 2013

It's always a pleasurable journey driving into Wales. But with the added entertainment from my satnav as it attempts to roll its techno-tones around Welsh road names, it's often a hilarious journey also. You can well imagine what it made of our first destination this morning... the promenade at Llanfairfechan (via Dwygyfylchi and Penmaenmawr)!

On arrival we were greeted by the amazing site of a Jackdaw in a trance-like state, sea-watching. We guessed, based on recent weather, it was not so much enjoying the view but wondering what the big orange thing in the sky was!

It was approaching high tide and the increasingly calming sea mirrored the clear blue sky above, thus allowing clear views of Puffin Island, off the eastern tip of Anglesey. Just as well really, as the Red Breasted Merganser - our target bird today - where way out at sea, sharing the serenity with a number of Great Crested Grebe. That is until a lone male in full summer plumage, appeared within 50 meters and dutifully posed for photographs in the pale blue sea.

Mission accomplished, and after watching 100+ Oystercatchers desert the shrinking shoreline to head for their high water roost, we moved on to Conwy.

Lunch at the RSPB reserve was followed by a perimeter walk during which; Teal, Shelduck, Wigeon, Heron, Lapwing, Pochard, Canada Geese, Goosander, Blackbird, Curlew, Snipe, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Coot, Redshank, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Crow, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Goldfinch were all added to the day-list.

Conwy RSPB reserve is very well run by its team of dedicated, friendly staff. In my opinion, it is streets ahead of the better known (Springwatch) sister site at Ynys-Hir.

Da iawn Cymru.

Hypnotised by the sea (a state I know so well)

Red Breasted Merganser enjoying its usual 'bad hair day'

Snipe bathing in the lagoon at Conwy RSPB

Curlew taking a breather near the lagoon

A perfect end to the day - Watching a Grey Heron searching for supper at sunset

I had a birthday last year! - 18 February 2013

First, I must make it clear that... I love Leighton Moss... I love RSPB reserves and before I get accused of being a male whatsit of some description... I love women too. However, the ageing lady (I'm not ageist either) that I, my wife, my friends and my fellow birders had to endure today, was an extreme example of what you can occasionally come up against when out for a quiet days birding at popular nature reserves.

To cut a long story short... we had enjoyed a great day at Leighton Moss (RSPB) with friends Amy and Chris. We saw lots of birds, with a great view of a Marsh Harrier and I saw my first Green Woodpecker for nearly 2 years. We had a great lunch (nice tuna balls Ames - pity about the carrot cake icing Chris), met some lovely people along the way and decided to end the day with an hour in the Eric Morecambe Hide. And that's where it went pear-shaped!

I just had time to find 3 Spotted Redshank for everyone before it happened... the arrival of Mrs Megaphone and her - surely by now deaf - accomplices! Showing absolutely no interest in the birds and sitting with her back to the water, off she went at maximum decibels...

"I COULD MURDER A CUPPA..."
"DO YOU KNOW WHO I SAW LAST WEEK..."
"BEST VICTORIA SPONGE I EVER HAD..."
"I HAD A BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR..."
"KNIT ONE PEARL ONE..."
"MARKS & SPENCERS, 3 FOR A POUND..."
"WHY IS EVERYONE LEAVING?"

And leave we did, in droves. It is not the first time that we have encountered this problem and I'm sure it will not be the last. But it was, I assure you, the most extreme example imaginable. Do these ignorant people not wonder why the rest of us speak so quietly, do they not ask themselves why hides empty shortly after they arrive?

The Eric Morecambe Hide was recently built and is brilliant. It is a short drive from the main reserve and is where a lot of visitors choose to end their day. Today it ended rather abruptly.
Well done Mrs Megaphone, you emptied it single handedly!

Some highlights...

Moss Bros Pintails - synchronised diving or drowning out the noise?

Grey Heron - wondering where the noise is coming from!

Mynah Heron

Marbury - 15 November 2012

A bonus day off for PK (school being used as a polling station) and we set off for Marbury Country Park. There were two reasons for chosing Marbury today, one we love it there and two, a nearby Tesco (Northwich) reportedly had Waxwings feeding on the Rowans in the car-park, and PK wanted them. When we arrived at the Tesco, PK did see her first Waxwings but we were quite lucky, as minutes later they flew off and as we later discovered, were not seen again until late afternoon.

So on to Marbury where we had a very pleasant walk and ticked-off most of the usual birds, with the highlights being lots of Robin songs, a close view of a Grey Heron on the mere and 5 Jay feeding in a meadow north of Marbury Lane.

Beats work!

Robin at Marbury Country Park

Grey Heron in tree on Budworth Mere

My Kingfisher Lunch Buddy - 4 July 2012

Following a disappointing morning elsewhere, I was heading home when the weather improved, so I decided to take a short detour to Moore Nature Reserve. I parked up and headed for the Lapwing lane hide, where I could resume my kingfisher watch for an hour and enjoy my lunch.

When I arrived at the hide, I found a young birder just leaving after a 3 hour stakeout without any sign of a Kingfisher. He stayed and chatted for a while before leaving to meet his lift home. And within 5 minutes there it was...

I had barely poured a coffee when it crossed from the right and landed on the small sunken bush out on the lake. I watched it for while as it perched and could not believe my luck as it then started diving for fish and returning to the same perch to down its catch. It made 5 dives and caught 4 fish (probably small roach) and returned to the same perch each time, thus giving me the chance of a couple of decent but distant photographs. Well satiated, it flew off right, and I hoped it was returning to feed a clutch of youngsters. Awesome!

Shortly after the sublime, came the almost ridiculous... As a Heron landed in the same bush (they perch so gracefully for such a big bird) and appeared to be stalking the same shoal of fish! No doubt wishing it had the agility of the Kingfisher, it soon realised its limitations and departed.

Now where was I... Oh yes, lunch.

Kingfisher enjoying the result of another successful dive

A hungry Grey Heron contemplates the Kingfisher method!

Bolton Abbey - 21 March 2012

Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale is another favourite walk of mine and I try to get there three times a year. From the Abbey I headed NW away from the river, through Westy Bank Wood and up over Middle Hare Head. I stopped here for a while to take in the courtship flight of a pair of Lapwing, majestic anywhere but in this remote environment I convinced myself that they were putting on a show just for me!

I continued across the moorland with only the occasional Willow Grouse for company. On reaching the NW point of Lower Barden Reservoir, I found a pair of Mallards sitting elegantly above the run-off from the small pool above the reservoir. Returning along the North side of the reservoir, a large flock of Curlew passed overhead heading West and a couple of flighty Oystercatchers were piping around the dam wall. Arriving at the gate at the end of the moorland path, I joined three birders watching a Short-eared Owl soaring over the southern moorland, too far away for my 8x42's but I got a good view of it through one of their scopes. Thanks guys.

Moving on to the River Wharfe, I first came across a number of Grey Wagtails flying from bank to bank via the many rocks in the river. Then a Pied Wagtail imitating their behaviour. Further downstream was my highlight for the day, half a dozen well spread out Goosander, which I hoped would be there having seen them last year.

Had lunch at my usual spot downstream of the Strid, watching Wrens dart about on both sides of the river. After which, and further downstream, I sat watching a Grey Heron bathing in the river and shaking itself dry, dog-like!

No Dippers or Kingfishers this time but another great day at the Abbey.

 Truly wild Mallards

 Goosander on the Wharfe

My usual lunch spot

Shep the Heron shaking itself dry on the Wharfe