birding...

Ile de Re

Satellite View
This island provides an LPO reserve [see below], wader roosts, and sea-watching and winter seabirds at the Phare des Baleines lighthouse on the extreme 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. Divers, grebes, Purple Sandpipers and Mediterranean Gulls are the specialities here; in October even Yellow-browed Warbler are occasionally found. Nearby there’s a reliable wader roost at Loix, and a Sacred Ibis roost with up to 140 birds in summer.

Lilleau des Niges LPO reserve

Satellite View
Situated near the western tip of the island, about four kilometres east of the lighthouse, the reserve has a good information centre, the 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 here include all three harriers, many wader species [up to 3000 Black-tailed Godwits in September], also Stilts, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints and Avocets; 40+ Spoonbills in September, in winter large numbers of wildfowl including Brent Geese, also Short-eared Owls; and it’s a great place to watch the breeding Bluethroats. Reserve area 195 hectares.

Books, CDs etc

For guides to France n general, or more than one region see the Fatbirder France page...

L'Observatoire de L'Environnement de Poitou-charentes

Website

L'objectif est de soutenir les projets visant à valoriser les données et de mettre en place les conditions d'une meilleure connaissance partagée de notre environnement dans la perspective d'un développement durable des territoires...

Le Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres

Website

Le Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres est une association de protection de la nature. Elle a pour vocation l`observation, l`étude et la protection des oiseaux sauvages, nicheurs, hivernants ou migrateurs du département des Deux-Sèvres. Le GODS se veut être un acteur primordial de la conservation des oiseaux qui constituent un patrimoine naturel du département. Notre association regroupe tous ceux pour qui l`ornithologie, au delà d`une passion, constitue la marque du respect de notre environnement...

Ile de Re

Website
Satellite View

Lilleau des Niges

Website
Satellite View

Pôle-Nature de Vitrezay

Website
Satellite View
La première impression que nous avons eu lors de notre première visite au Pôle-Nature de Vitrezay, est une impression d’espace sauvage, d’immensité, de quiétude. En se promenant dans les chemins qui vont au plan d’eau, le long du chenal ou sur le bord de l’estuaire, en visitant le centre d’expositions, on mesure tout l’intérêt de cette initiative de Pôle-Nature à Vitrezay qui nous rend facile l’approche de cette nature sauvage que l’on ne pourrait pénétrer sans les aménagements considérables réalisés...

2001 [Spring] - Daryl Rhymes

Report

This was a short holiday to the Atlantic coast of France from 4th-12th May 2001. It was not a birding holiday as I was with my (non-birding) partner Laura, but nonetheless I did spend most early mornings out locally and we did drop in at other sites during the day. The area we stayed was near Les Matthes, about 20 minutes drive from Royan to the east. We stayed in a mobile home in a Haven Holidays park, which, because we visited outside the main holiday periods, was very cheap and very quiet. This would not be the case during the school holidays!

2004 [August] - Les Hull

Report

...First two days stayed on Ile de Re staying at Rivedoux Plage, plenty of birds in the sea, flying past and on the shore with plenty of Little Egrets present. We did go to The Lilleau des Niges Nature Reserve that is at the far end of the island. There is a visitor centre there but no hides or map but they do speak English. Follow the path then any of the numerous paths that skirt some of the salt marshes...

2009 [August] - Geoff Dicker

Report

Driving on to our destination we didn’t get to see much until we were over the St Nazaire bridge over the Loire. Once into the marshes around Beauvoir–Sur–Mer we saw a couple of Black Kites, Cattle & Little Egrets, Marsh & Montagu’s Harrier and a Short-Toed Eagle from the D51 road. Cattle Egrets have obviously spread into this area significantly since our last visit in 1997 when we didn’t see one...

Birding Pal

Information

Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

Chez Touvenot - Charente-Maritime

Accommodation

Chez Touvenot is situated in the pretty little village of Nieul le Virouil. It is approximately five minutes drive from the A10 autoroute from Paris to the South. It is in the Charente-Maritime department close to the Gironde estuary and the beautiful unspoilt beaches of and around Royan. The village lies between the two market towns of Mirambeau and Jonzac. The regional capital, the Romano town of Saintes and the historic city of Bordeaux are both approximately forty minutes drive away...

Les Haute Voiles Blanches - Mortagne sur Gironde, Charente Maritime

Accommodation

Situated in a small building with lift access and brand new for 2010, this modern, duplex apartment forms part of an old mill conversion and enjoys stunning views across the Gironde Estuary and Mortagne harbour. It offers the perfect holiday rental for couples in the Charente Maritime, France...

Les Maisons - Apartments

Accommodation

The edge of the amazing Brenne National Park is a 10-15 minute drive from Les Maisons Apartments in St Benoit du Sault....

Obsvpc - Obs-Vendée-Poitou-Charentes

Mailing List
To post to list:obsvpc@yahoogroupes.fr
List contact:obsvpc-owner@yahoogroupes.fr
To subscribe to list:obsvpc-subscribe@yahoogroupes.fr
Discussion group for observations, birds and nature in Vendée-Poitou-Charentes (French). Most members of local ornithological societies or LPO are on this list. There you may ask for an English-speaking birder guide, or any question about watching birds all around the country.