May 9, 2008
La Dombes
Following our descent from the Alps, we attempted two more birding stops as recommended by the 'where to watch' guide for France. The first, l'etang de Haut-Jarrie, is a small reedbed surrounded by farmland, and apparently has nesting Little Bittern. However, when we arrived mid-afternoon we found the site overrun with picknickers, and very little bird activity save for adding heard-only Short-toed Treecreeper (Grimpereau des jardins) to the trip list and decent views of 2 Short-toed Eagles (Circaete Jean-le-Blanc). Our next attempted stop was the Lac de Miribel-Jonage on the outskirts of Lyon, which boasts an impressive list of breeding and passage birds. Unfortunately a sunny bank holiday Sunday evening is most definitely not the time to visit, and we found all the car parks full and cars double-parked all along the approach roads! After a brief moment of panic we decided to head for the lake-filled region known as La Dombes 30km to the north-east. This turned out to be an excellent decision, and a few minutes standing out in the hotel car park yielded flyover egrets, Purple Heron (Heron pourpre) and Night Heron (Bihoreau gris).
Nesting White Storks (Cigogne blanche) could be seen from our hotel window.
We got up at first light next morning to maximise birding time before the drive back to the airport. One of the first lakes we visited was teeming with herons and shorebirds in the early morning light (Great White and Little Egrets in the first photo, Wood Sand/Chevalier sylvain in the second).
As the light improved, we picked up a flock of about 30 Ruff (Combattant varie).
A few Black-winged Stilts (Echasse blanche) looked to be on eggs, and the Lapwings (Vanneau huppe) already had chicks.
Amongst the Ringed Plovers (Grand Gravelot), John picked out a Temminck's Stint (Becasseau de Temminck) and another, and then another up to a total of 7 birds - the most I've seen in one place.
A single Curlew Sandpiper (Becasseau cocorli) was looking dapper in breeding plumage.
A lone Black-tailed Godwit (Barge a queue noire) and a couple of Greenshank (Chevalier aboyeur) at a nearby lake completed the wader tally. A few Whiskered Terns (Guifette moustac) were flying around.
Both Common and Red-crested Pochard (Fuligule milouin, Nette rousse) are local breeders.
2 breeding-plumaged Black-necked Grebe (Grebe a cou noir) and a distant male Golden Oriole (Loriot d'Europe) added a splash of colour.
We were able to add Reed (Rousserolle effarvatte), Sedge (Phragmite des joncs), Grasshopper (Locustelle tachetee) and finally a couple of Great Reed Warblers (Rousserolle turdoide) to the trip tally.
It was particularly nice to see Europe's three large herons side-by-side.
Since we had allowed plenty of time to get back to Grenoble airport, I suggested driving the back roads nearby in the hope of adding a couple more birds to the trip list. Our prayers were answered when I glimpsed a male harrier which I called as a Hen Harrier (Busard Saint-Martin). Shortly afterwards John picked up what he was sure was a male Montagu's (Busard cendre). For once, the two-bird theory turned out to be true, and we enjoyed great views of the two, occasionally in the same scope view!
These birds took our total trip list for the weekend to a very respectable 127, inlcuding some real stunners. I got on the plane feeling very satisfied with the preceding days' birding, but little did I know the birding wasn't over yet...
Posted by rjhall at May 9, 2008 11:48 AM