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France

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa �Nigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Although not as exotic as Spain or Greece, France has a lot to offer to the travelling birder, its central position in Western Europe means that there is a wide variety of habitats including the Guarrigues and Maquis of the Mediterranean coast, a choice of montane habitats, mature oak forests of central and eastern France. As Birding is still a connoisseur hobby in France, there are plenty of opportunities to find your own birds. But this also means that nature reserve are rare and not very user friendly (don`t expect the sort of facilities you get at Minsmere).

If visiting France between September and March you will encounter the famous Chasseurs (Hunters). They are very numerous (1.5 million) and vociferous and in some area (Sud Ouest, Nord) can be extremely aggressive to what they call Les Ecologistes (anybody with an interest in Nature/Ecology/Conservation). But its still worth the trouble and the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) is doing a very good job of beginning to counter the influence of this noisy (& large) minority.

Main areas of interest for the (British) birder in France: No need to go the best birding places to see some nice birds. Species like Black Redstart, Serin, Cirl Bunting are common in most of France... A few nice hedges and the chances are that Great Grey and Red Back shrikes will be present, a Poplar plantation should have a several pairs of Golden Orioles. France has the most forestation in Europe so you are never more that 50km from a decent sized Forest which, depending of the area, will hold Middle spotted, Grey-headed or Black Woodpecker... Birds of prey are common; on a drive across France over 10 species can be seen in a day from the motorway!

This page brought to you in association with:
Les Trois Puits

Les Trois Puits Congenies - Camargue, Cevennes, Garrigue, all within a stones throw! Visiting birders will find an enthusiastic welcome from Caroline and Francis (Quaker Twitchers) who love to share their home, hospitality and birding knowledge, whether it is for a week full board with a programme of guided outings, or just a solitary weekend B&B and birding. We can provide all that is needed to make your time with us a memorable event. I`m a good cook too! Contact Caroline@lestroispuitscongenies.com or for further information click the picture to visit our website
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top sites

North Eastern France

Mature oak forests in Ardennes, Loraine and Alsace: 6 species of Woodpecker, Collared Flycatcher etc.

Mountains - Le Massif Central

With highest mountains of only 2000m, very few high altitude species breed, but Citril Finch and Alpine Accentor are regular winter visitors, Snowfinch and Wallcreeper are also present. Several good visible migration spots for the autumn Montagne de la Serre and Prat de Bouc in fact any pass with a North South orientation can be good for visible migration. Larger forests will have Black Woodpecker and Crested Tits, Crossbills are quite widespread and Tengmalm`s Owl is present in most pine forests over 1000m.

Mountains - Les C�vennes Technically part of the Massif Central these mountain are excellent for the travelling birder. Les Causses are large limestone plateaux excellent for open habitat species (3 species of Shrikes, Ortolan Bunting, Tawny Pipit, Orphean, Dartford, Subalpine and Sardinian Warblers, Hen and Montague`s Harrier, Rock Thrush). Dividing deep gorges provide habitat for a wide range of cliff birds (Chough, Golden Eagle, Alpine Swift, Eagle Owl, Crag Martin etc.). Successful reintroduction of Griffon and Black Vulture has taken place in the Gorges de la Jontes (these species can also be seen in the Gorges du Tarn and the Cirque de Navacelle). Large forests on the Massif de l`Aigoual have most of the common woodland birds as well as Black Woodpecker. Dipper is a common breeder and river bank trees attract an impressive diversity of passerines during winter and migration time such as Citril Finch and Hawfinch.

Mountains - Les Alpes

It is hard to give good areas for the Alps as most of the mountains are really good. Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipits and Alpine Chough are all very easy to see, especially in winter when they can be seen from any ski resort... Hazelhen is wide spread but scarce in beech forest. Tengmalm`s Owl is regular in coniferous forest whereas Nutcraker are confined to where their main food source the Pin Cembro (Pinus cembro) is common. Rock Partridge prefer south facing rocky slopes and Ptarmigan are common above the tree line. Birds of prey are numerous and diversified including Golden Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Peregrine and Hen Harrier, and Bearded Vultures are being reintroduced. Best areas in the Alps are: The 3 National parks; Vanoise, Ecrin & Mercantour. Another good spot is Le Queyras (Nutcracker and Black Grouse).

Mountains - Les Pyr�n�es

Although most of the high altitude speciality are present (Gavarnie and the Col du Tourmalet being the best places to see Snowfinches, Alpine Accentor etc.) the Pyr�n�es are renowned for the quantity and quality of the birds of prey present in the western part of the range; Griffon, Egyptian and Bearded Vulture; Booted, Golden and Short-toed Eagle, Black and Red Kite all breed. For Bearded Vulture the Gavarnie area is the best bet, La Falaise aux Vautours in the Ossau valley has the biggest French colony of Griffon Vulture as well as Peregrine, Egyptian Vulture, Crag Martin and Red-billed Chough. Organbideska is the most spectacular visible migration spot in France starting with Black Kites in August and finishing with Cranes in November. Nearby Iraty Forest is a good spot for the elusive White-backed Woodpecker. Other good migration spots include: Eyne (eastern part of the range can have amazing Short-toed Eagle days, up to 200 per day!) and most pass on the western part of the mountains (for more information on migration counts in the Pyr�n�es contact OCL).

The Mediterranean Coast - La Camargue

is brilliant & not to be missed. Breeding birds include Collared Pratincole, 8 species of Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Slender-billed Gull (Oh yes, and Flamingos) etc. Huge numbers of wildfowl overwinter as well as Spotted Eagle. Migration time is the best with Sandpipers and Plovers in the saltpans (South of Salin de Giraud, Phare de la Gachole); freshwater waders (including good numbers of Marsh Sandpiper); Marsh Terns and Herons in the north (Basse M�jane, Mas d`Agon, Salin de Badon and La Capelli�re) and good passerine falls in bushes by the sea (Phare de la Gachole and Beauduc). Good information can be obtained at La Capelli�re which has a decent set of hides as well as quite good exhibit on the local Ecology.

The Mediterranean Coast - La Crau: the only French desert with Stone Curlew, Little Bustard, Roller and small population of Pin-tailled Sandgrouse, Calandra Lark and Lesser Kestrel. In recent years a few (up to 10) Richard`s Pipits have been found overwintering.

The Mediterranean Coast - Les Alpilles: Limestone hills with a chance to see Egyptian vulture Bonelli`s Eagle and Eagle Owl.

The Mediterranean Coast - Le Narbonnai: Very good area for visible migration (La station ornithologique de Gruissan) in both spring and Autumn... Pissevache (near Narbonne Plage); Les Salin de Lapalme and La Franquie (near Leucate) are all very good for water birds as well as providing good passerine falls. Cave has a small population of Spotless Starlings and the hills north of this little village have the only French population of Thekla Lark. The whole area has a good population of Great-spotted Cuckoo. For information about this area contact the LPO-Aude.

Western France - Brittany - Ille-et-Vilaine - For�ts de Rennes & St-Aubin-du-Cormier

6 Woodpeckers species (Grey-headed, Green, Black,Great, Middle and Lesser Spotted, all common); 6 Titsspecies, lots of Warblers among whom Bonelli`s andMelodious, 2 Creepers (all widespread); Nightjar,Golden Oriole...

Western France - Ouessant

is a typical vagrant trap, known as the French Scilly isles (recent megas have included Nighthawk, Slender-billed Curlew etc.) a small island with a bird observatory. No cars are allowed on the island so cycle around. L`ile de Sein is near and has also attracted a decent number of vagrants... The whole of Western Brittany is underwatched and is probably as good as Cornwall . La Baie d`Audierne regularly attracts nearctic waders.

Western France - Guerande et le Golfe du Morbillan Wetlands in southern Brittany offers some brilliant birding sites. Guerande offers good saltpans with a large breeding population of Bluethroats on the dikes. PenBron and Le Croisic are good seawatching spots. L`estuaire de la Vilaine is a good spot for Skuas and Sabine`s Gulls and the only important place for over wintering Scaup in France. Le Golfe du Morbillan is a huge estuary with loads of Waders and also has a feral population of Sacred Ibises, The Reserve of S�n�e Falguerec has several hundred pairs of Avocets and Black-winged Stilts.

Western France - Further South The whole coast of Vend�e and Charente has very good estuaries, passerines migration in the Autumn is clearly under watched. Main hotspots, Ile de R�, Baie de L`Aiguillon etc...

contributor

Tristan Guillosson
bgytg@leeds.ac.uk

numbers

Number of bird species: 547

numbers

Number of endemics: 1
Corsican Nuthatch Sitta whiteheadi

useful reading

A Birdwatching Guide To France South Of The Loire

by Jacquie Crozier Arlequin Press
ISBN: 1900159368
Buy this book from NHBS.com

All Birds of France / Tous les Oiseaux de France dans Votre Poche

Cassette 2 - Passerines Jean C Roche Series: ALL BIRDS OF FRANCE / TOUS LES OISEAUX DE FRANCE DANS VOTRE POCHE 2 Running time - 73 minutes. Sittelle editions des voix de la nature
ISBN: 128129
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birdwatching Guide to France North of the Loire

by Jacquie Crozier, Arlequin Press 2003
ISBN: 1900159767
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Finding Birds in Northern France

D Gosney Series: FINDING BIRDS SERIES 28 pages, maps. Gostours 1994
ISBN: 1898110115
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Finding Birds in Southern France

D Gosney Series: FINDING BIRDS SERIES 30 pages, maps. Gostours 1994
ISBN: 1898110123
Buy this book from NHBS.com

L'Inventaire des oiseaux de France

http://membres.lycos.fr/iof/htm/english.htm
Avifaune de France m?tropolitaine by Philippe J. Dubois, Pierre Le Marichal, Georges Olioso & Pierre Yesou. Nathan eds, Paris, 2000, 384 pp

Les Oiseaux de Nos R?gions

J Gooders, Editions Nathan 2001
ISBN: 2092608401
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Nouvel Atlas des Oiseaux Nicheurs de France 1985-1989

(New Atlas of the Breeding Birds of France) 1985-1989 Edited by Dosith?e Yeatman-Berthelot and Guy Jarry 776 pages, b/w illus, distrib maps. Societ? d'Etudes Ornithologiques de France 1995
ISBN: 2950544029
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Oiseaux de France et d'Europe

by Rob Hume, Marc Duquet & Guilhem Lesaffre

Where to Watch Birds in France

Philippe Dubois, Helm 2006
ISBN: 0713669802
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

*Proact

Coordinator: none (why not apply?) see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: 8 Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team

France Travel Guide

http://www.travel-france-vacation.com
Usefl general travel info

OCL Organdexka Col Libre

Organbidexka Col Libre 11, rue Bourgneuf 64100 BAYONNE France Email : ocl@wanadoo.fr

Want a Guide?

One Fatbirder surfer found a guide through our contacts - an American visitor wanted an English speaking guide in the south of France. With the help of our contributor he tracked down Frederic Bouvet in Saint Remy. His email is gypbouvet@aol.com and he also can include the historic sights, good food, wine and vineyards, etc. His English is excellent as he studied in UK and has worked in England.

clubs

LPO

http://www.lpo.fr/
French equivalent of the RSPB
Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, La Corderie Royale - BP 263 -17305 Rochefort cedex, Tel: 05 46 82 12 34 - Fax: 05 46 82 12 50

LPO UK

http://www.kjhall.org.uk/lpo.htm
For an introduction to the activities of the LPO this UK site will supply a useful way in as the other sites tend to be in French. You could also use the nine European language translator in the miscellany section of the Fatbirder links.

Ornithologie des Hauts de France

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-pierre.leys/
Ce site est consacr� � l`ornithologie et r�unit des passionn�s de l`observation d`oiseaux pr�sents dans le nord de la France et en Belgique. La technique utilis�e pour prendre les photos s`appelle la digiscopie. Elle consiste � utiliser un appareil num�rique coupl� � une longue vue terrestre.

The Common Crane Network in France

http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/English/e_Reseau_grues.htm
The R�seau Grues France was set up in 1995 and now comprises about fourty associations working under the supervision of the LPO Champagne-Ardenne (Champagne-Ardenne Organisation for the Protection of Birds). It makes it possible to follow the migration of Cranes day by day and to better understand this fantastic journey...

Union Francais de Centres de Sauvegarde de la Faune Sauvage

http://www.chez.com/uncs/
Association of Wild Animal Rescue Centres

reserves

French National Parcs

http://www.parcsnationaux-fr.com/
Very attractive site - in French only with good background information on the parks, access etc.

French Regional Parks

http://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr/
If this has an English version why hasn`t our neighbour offered translation of the above (but then why don`t we offer other language versions of our tourist sites?) France has huge areas of rural land with a stunning range of natural and cultural heritages. The rural areas are, however, faced with serious problems including a massive rural exodus, and pressures from urbanisation, tourism and large infrastructure projects, which in only several years could destroy landscapes that nature and man have painstakingly crafted over the centuries. Local governments have joined with the national government in an innovative, determined contractual process to halt and reverse the process. It now integrates heritage preservation considerations in local development plans. The concept of the Regional Nature Park was born in 1967 of this marriage of love and reason.

Reserves Naturelles

http://www.reserves-naturelles.org/accueil/accueil.asp
List of reserves across France...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

1996 [September] - Tim Earl - French Pyrenees

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/tripreports/Pyrenees96.html
Day one we travelled from Toulouse Airport to Gedre in the Pyrenees stopping at a beautiful hill top near Ausseing where we ate al fresco lunch in an ancient meadow full of flowers and butterflies while watching for raptor migration...

2000 [August] - Ivan Steenkiste - Central France

http://users.skynet.be/wielewaal/BRENNE2000.htm
We visited the Brenne Natural Parc this Summer from July 30 until August 5th, 2000. The weather was great, with temperatures around 25�C...

2000 [June] - John van der Woude - Eastern France

http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~jvanderw/francedoubs00/doubs00.html
...be found this far North, and because the lowland riverine habitat is still rather natural, with wide meanders, sandy cliffs, gravel bars, wooded banks, ox-bow lakes, a not over-developed agriculture and some interesting forests nearby. Moreover, the Jura mountain crests (1200 m+) are only an hour drive away...

2001 [April] - Ivan Steenkiste - Camargue

http://users.skynet.be/wielewaal/
My wife and I visited the Camargue (Regional Parc) located in the South of France at some 100 km west of the city of Marseille. Apart from being known for their white (wild ?) horses, the Camargue is also a real bird paradise.

2003 [February] - Chris Batty - Southern France in winter: Alpilles, Camargue, Crau and Nice

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/france/s-france/s-france-feb-o3.htm
I visited southern France for five days in mid February 2003, flying to Nice from Liverpool with Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) for around �70 including tax. I hired a Peugeot 206 from Europcar paying via their website (www.europcar.com) prior to leaving the UK but was stung on arrival at Nice Airport for being under twenty five years old and forced to pay a supplement...

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/France.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

French Pyrenees Holidays

http://www.borderlinehols.com
The birdlife here in the Pyrenees is very specialised. The area excels in the number and variety of raptors- Bearded Vulture (five pairs nesting locally); Golden Eagle (found on the mountainside opposite Les Sorbiers); Booted Eagle, Bonelli`s Eagle, Short-Toed Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, and the ever-present Griffon. Even a couple of Black Vultures. The bird most enthusiasts will want to see is the elusive Wallcreeper which during the summer is seldom found below 2000m. We can organise a day with a guide to accompany you to our most reliable site high above Gavarnie (regular sightings each season since 1987).

Northern France Wildlife Tours

http://www.northernfrancewildlifetours.com
Northern France Wildlife Tours Ltd, based in Averton, Mayenne, was born when Roy and Shirley Croucher realised that breeding Black Woodpeckers, Little Bustards and White Storks were well worth stopping for. When they found country lanes lined with orchids and cowslips, over which danced Swallowtail and Clouded Yellow Butterflies and Hummingbird Hawk Moths, they were convinced!

mailing lists

ObsFr

http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/obsfr/
To post to list:obsfr@yahoogroupes.fr
List contact:obsfr-owner@yahoogroupes.fr
To subscribe to list:obsfr-subscribe@yahoogroupes.fr
ObsFr est une liste francophone europ�enne regroupant les naturalistes amateurs de tous horizons. Les sujets trait�s sont exclusivement en rapport avec les domaines de l`observation et de la protection de la nature. ObsFr est donc ouverte aux passionn�s d`oiseaux, de mammif�res, de reptiles, de batraciens, d`insectes, de botanique�

Ornithologie

http://ornithologie.free.fr/
To subscribe to list:Majordomo@union-fin.fr
subscribe ornithologie
Mailing List � Discussion Group Liste de discussion sur les oiseaux d`Europe. Discussion of French birds, in French

BLOG - ornitho-blog

http://ornitho.over-blog.fr/
Observations, photos et actualit� des oiseaux

Egyptian Vulture

http://percnoptere.lpo.fr/
A priority for protection by the LPO

L'annuaire des oiseaux

http://www.oiseaux.net/
L'annuaire des oiseaux est une r�f�rence de sites ornithologiques du Web. Avifaune et ornithologie sur la toile, des sites qui vous font r�ver et vous donnent des ailes.

L'oiseau libre

http://www.oiseau-libre.net
Oiseaux de France et d'Europe. Refuges et jardins d'oiseaux�

La Plume

http://lesitelaplume.free.fr/
Ornithology discovered through etymology, confusions to be avoided by beginners, and... humour (in French)

Le Monde de l'Ornithologie

http://www.valeryschollaert.Com
Many pictures of birds, lists, taxonomy, news, and everything about birds in French�

Migraction

http://www.migraction.net/
Gr�ce � sa situation g�ographique strat�gique, � la diversit� de ses espaces et aux conditions m�t�orologiques vari�es qui caract�risent son territoire, la France est une �tape incontournable pour des dizaines de millions d�oiseaux migrateurs...

Migration Petition

http://www.lapetition.com
The on-going fight for conservation...

Oiseaux-nature

http://www.oiseaux-nature.com/
Book Reviews, Where to watch birds, bird list etc. Much of it translated into English. Fatbirder recommended.

Oiseaux.net

http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux.html
Envol�e au pays des oiseaux. Portail ornithologique. Guide d`identification, annuaire des oiseaux. Des centaines de photos, dessins et chants d`oiseaux. Encyclop�die ornithologique, biologie...

Organbidexka - Migration Watch

http://www.organbidexka.org/
Pyr�n�es, ann�es 1970 - De m�morables massacres de palombes en tirs sporadiques d`esp�ces prot�g�es perp�tr�s sans t�moin, la vie est belle pour les chasseurs qui ont pris l`habitude de se consid�rer, de la mi-septembre � la mi-novembre comme les ma�tres des lieux. En plaine, dans le grand Sud-Ouest la situation est � l`identique. En 1979, c`est la surprise. Une poign�e de naturalistes-ornithologues passionn�s de migration et r�volt�s par la chasse r�ussit � faire un joli pied de nez � la chasse fran�aise en louant pour trois ans, au Pays basque, un col de tir � la palombe (le Pigeon ramier) - Organbidexka. Le cheval est dans Troie...

Ornithomedia

http://www.ornithomedia.com
Ornithomedia is a web site (mainly in French) concerning Birding in Southern Europe: it`s a complete site: news, best spots, bird identification, articles about rarities, Flash animations, etc. An on-line shop selling, for example, the Birding CDROM Sentiers Ornithologiques en France, en Espagne et au Portugal...

Quelle est Belle Co.

http://www.qbc.fr
Des appeaux pour apprendre. Des appeaux pour la musique. Des appeaux pour le jeux. Bird Callers & Call Guides

The Osprey

http://balbuzard.lpo.fr/
A protection priority for the LPO...

Vivara

http://www.vivara.fr
Vivara est une entreprise en constante �volution; notre nouveau catalogue est enrichi d�un grand nombre de produits innovateurs pour votre jardin et balcon, �videmment de qualit� sup�rieure, comme d� habitude chez Vivara. Laissez-vous surprendre par ces produits originaux gr�ce auxquels vous apporterez en un tour de main la nature chez vous...

artists

Oiseaux

http://zoazos.free.fr
Very fine bird pictures from this French photographer�

Photographer - Ingo Waschkies

http://www.pbase.com/ingotkfr/profile
French Bird Photography - This site is my personal collection of record shots from my birding trips, mainly in the Asian region. Being mainly a birdwatcher, not all shots are of high quality, but they help me keep my memories alive. I'll try to put the better shots in the 'Favorite Shots' gallery�

Photographer - Julien Daubignard

http://jdaubi.free.fr/
Pictures of birds, plans and other animals�

Photographer - PHOTO-BIRDS - Photographies ornithologiques

http://www.photo-birds.fr.tc
Photo-Birds est un site personnel o� des photographies d'oiseaux vous sont pr�sent�es�

Photographer - Sylvain Hellio

http://www.hellio.com/
Sylvain Hellio is a French birdwatcher and a profesionnal nature photographer. He also organises workshop tours to photograph birds in Europe including Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, France etc...

Photosfaune

http://photosfaune.over-blog.com
Bienvenue sur mon blog, o� je publie r�guli�rement mes plus belles photographies de paysages et d'animaux sauvages de France, mammif�res, oiseaux, insectes et autres...

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