Fermé le Mardi - 14 August 2012

Parc Natural Régional de la Brenne* is a 646 mile² nature park in Indre, France. Tagged colloquially as 'Land of a thousand ponds', it was within a 1 hour drive of our holiday base on the River Creuse near Eguzon.

*Not to be confused with the large naturist camping park in the same area, where sun-factor 50 is essential on certain parts!

We made our first visit on the first Tuesday of the holiday but arriving at the visitor centre in Cherine Nature Reserve near Rosnay, we were greeted by the sign 'Ferme le Mardi'. It was closed every Tuesday throughout the year, a fact that had somehow eluded my regimental forward planning, Doh! Fortunately, it only applied to the centre and the viewing hides on the adjoining Cistude Lake. So, back in the car and with only our road map as a guide, we set off to explore the area...

Just 5 minutes away we found Ricot Lake where a short footpath led us to a viewing hide. Our first sighting and what would have been a fantastic first French bird, was a probable Bittern disappearing into the reeds on the far side, but I couldn't say for certain. The lake held a number of Mallards and 2 Cormorant but the real excitement here was immediately in front of the hide. Sunning themselves on a strategically placed fallen tree trunk were 5 European Pond Turtles (Cistude d'Europe). From the information posted in the hide, we gathered that they were now relaxing after the breeding season (May to July) having buried their eggs somewhere away from the lake. This turtle is now a protected species (the French having almost eaten them out of existence early in the nineteenth century) and this lake is home to more than 100.

Next stop was Etang des Essarts where we walked to the lake accompanied by a good number of Swallows, either feeding all around us or perched in nearby trees. We spotted our first Whiskered Terns as they sailed through the air flying to and from the lake which we eventually arrived at. Here we found lots of them including many recently fledged birds, and a cordoned area of nesting trays, some of which still contained a few youngsters being fed by adults. The lake also held Mallard, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant and PK spotted our first Purple Heron across in the far reeds.

Another short drive found us at Sous Lake where we found a near-packed hide for the first time. After 30 minutes or so and only a brief raptor fly-through (we missed it), the hide emptied - probably another piece of PK witchery - and I wondered what, if anything, had brought them here. Here we saw more Whiskered Tern and hundreds of tufted Duck.

On the drive home we stopped briefly at a small lake where a Great White Egret was perched on a sunken tree.

Bonne Journée

European Pond Turtle at Ricot Lake

Swallow (juv.) - part of a large flock near Etang des Essarts

Whiskered Tern (juv. and adult) at Etang des Essarts

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