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France Aquitaine
   
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Osprey Pandion haliaetus © Jens Eriksen

The region consists of the Departments of: Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne & Pyrenees-Atlantique. The traditional Provinces of: Guyenne & Gascogne and Bearn. It is also home of the Basque people.

Renowned for its strong hunting tradition This area of France has a lot to offer to the daring birder, if you can stay well clear of the hunters and manage not to drink to much Bordeaux.

From the mouth of the Gironde to the foothills of the Pyrenees, coastal dune systems, ancient woodland, pine plantations patched with heathland and large-scale cereal production, give way close to the river systems to vineyards & low cliffs. This rich and varied birding region is marred only by the militant hunters in the autumn, who are prepared to blast even protected species out of the sky.

The key birding spots are:

The Gironde Estuary & Coast - Pointe de Grave:
star spring migration spot at the north tip of the Gironde. From mid March to the end of May, the LPO maintains a counting camp (usually mornings only). Hirundines in their thousands head north, accompanied by hobbies. Kites, ospreys, harriers, honey buzzards, peregrines, storks, spoonbills, hoopoes, golden orioles, waders, too many species to list.

The Gironde Estuary - the Marais de Conseiller:
a local nature reserve at le Verdon covering former saltpans and marshland, is good for black-winged stilts, lapwings & waders, as well as all three harrier species. Montague’s harriers are especially frequent in the North Medoc area.

The Gironde Estuary - North Medoc marshes:
LPO’s L’Oiseau magazine calls this “the other jewel of the estuary”. Mainly grazed wetlands to the northern end & polders to the south. A network of hedges & ditches offer a varied habitat for a broad range of species. Cycle tracks & lanes allow good observation access The hedges are home in spring & summer to skylarks, nightingales, bluethroats, shrikes, fan-tailed warblers. White storks & heron species are attracted to the area by the numerous amphibian species. Short-toed eagles are occasionally seen as they stray from their coastal woodland breeding sites.

The Gironde Estuary - Jau-Dignac:
former island now surrounded by marshland –home to bee-eaters, hoopoes & yellowhammers.

The Gironde Coast - Pine Forests:
Short-toed Eagles nest in the region - nesting sites are monitored in the south of the Medoc . Also rare white-shouldered kites.

The Gironde Coast - Pointe de Cap Ferret:
Autumn equivalent of Point de Grave.

Arcachon Basin - La Teich:
SW France’s Minsmere -large organised bird-reserve with varies habitats & English version of website [listed below]

Landes - Arjuxanx:
lakes formed on the site of former lignite mines. Major winter (November to February) home to more than 20,000 common cranes, plus thousands more passing through on migration, feeding on grain fields during the day & returning to roost on the lakes. Nightjars, shrikes & bee-eaters nest here. 177 species observed so far.

Landes - Marais D’Orx:
the Conservatoir du Littoral is returning former drained areas to natural wetland. One observatory, no hides but lakeside paths. Good for nesting spoonbills, kites, marsh harriers, kingfishers, Cettis warblers. Occasional ospreys on migration, as well as ducks & geese in winter. Has several gites for rent.

Landes - Adour River ‘Les Barthes’:
Flood plain wetlands provide rich habitat. St Martin de Seignanx Bergusté & Lesgaux reserves managed by local hunters! Several pairs of black-shouldered kites breed in the Adour river area – population is increasing but nest locations are a closely kept secret.

Pyrenees Atlantique - Organbidexxka:
Autumn migration count centre high up in the Pyrenees – spectacular in good weather. Chalets & camping available nearby. Two other count centres at lower altitude at Lindux & Lizarrieta.

 
 

This page is sponsored by...
La Cabane du Pommier


 

 

Artix Reserve

Satellite View
The small riverside reserve at Artix 10km NW of Pau, near to Mourenx, on a river called the Gave de Pau is well worth finding if you're passing through, or visiting Lourdes. It has all sorts of surprises, with breeding Little and Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Night, Purple and Grey Heron and so on

Bassin d'Arcachon

Satellite View
Although best known for its Oyster production this is a very good birding area outside June-September (To many Tourists at that time).

Dordogne - Faux Plateau, south east of Bergerac

Satellite View
An arable farmland area with woods and scrubby grasslands. Nesting stone curlew, red-backed and woodchat shrike, quail, Scop’s and long-eared owl, rock sparrow, corn bunting, crested lark, tawny pipit, hen and Montagu’s harrier. In migration periods wagtails, chats and warblers pass through and dotterel has been recorded. Wader passage can be interesting at two reservoirs in the south of the area. Occasional terns and gulls appear on passage with duck in winter.

Dordogne – Dordogne Valley

Satellite View
The main river valley. Although the valley bottom is fairly intensive agriculture, the riverside, forest and meadows amongst the side valleys, hillsides and hilltops can be very interesting. Nesting little ringed plover, black kite, honey buzzard, peregrine, hobby, short-toed eagle, raven, alpine swift, crag martin, wryneck, black and middle spotted woodpeckers, dipper, Dartford, fan-tailed and Cetti’s warbler. During passage osprey and red kite are frequent, plus egrets, herons, storks, crane. Small bird passage includes many pied flycatchers in autumn and occasional parties of bee-eater. In winter wallcreeper and alpine accentor can sometimes be found and Great White Egret and various duck species are regular.

Dordogne – General

Satellite View
In summer, in suitable habitat, all the area is good for hoopoe, golden oriole, cirl bunting, short-toed treecreeper, turtle dove, cuckoo, little and barn owl, kingfisher, tree pipit, woodlark, nightjar, lesser spotted woodpecker, firecrest, black and common redstart, stonechat, nightingale, melodious and Bonelli’s warbler, marsh and crested tit, linnet, serin and tree sparrow. Hawfinch and brambling are common in winter. Rock bunting has been recorded. There is a very large passage of common crane in spring and autumn. Meadow pipit is a common winter visitor but does not breed. Immediately south in the Lot and Lot et Garonne there are sites for nesting Subalpine Warbler and Ortolan Bunting.

Dordogne – Vézère Valley

Satellite View
Tributary valley of the much larger Dordogne. Wilder and with more of an upland feel than the main valley with dramatic cliffs. Nesting eagle owl, black kite, honey buzzard, peregrine, short-toed eagle, raven, crag martin, wryneck, black and middle spotted woodpeckers, water rail, Cetti’s and reed warbler. In winter wallcreeper haunt the cliffs.

Landes Forest

Satellite View
The maize crops in the clearings of the Landes forest harbour the largest population of wintering Cranes in Europe.

Pointe De Grave

Satellite View
One of the best spots for spring visible migration in France. There is a visible migration survey taking place every spring organised by the LPO which is trying to protest against the slaughter of Turtle Doves.

Reserve du Teich

Website
Satellite View
The Reserve has a good breeding population of Bluethroats and a very good high tide roost and Le Banc d'Arguin has a huge colony of Terns.

The Bayonne area

Satellite View
The Bare de l'Adour is an excellent, under watched, sea watching spot and the reserve des Marais d'Orx has always something to offer.

David Simpson - Dordogne Birding Guide
Dordogne Top Sites
0033 5 53 27 34 47
audave2505@yahoo.fr
Gite Website

Peter Wells
Top Sites
p.wells@zen.co.uk

Birding Dordogne

by David Simpson ~ BirdGuides Ltd ~ July 2010 ~ 32 page Paperback with maps
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 9781898110521
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Books, CDs, etc.

For books on France as a whole and more than one region see the Fatbirder France page...

Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux

Website

LPO Aquitaine is a LPO delegation, born of les Naturalistes Aquitains, a naturalist group involved in birds, and fauna protection. LPO Aquitaine is active on 5 departments (Gironde, Dordogne, Landes, Lot et Garonne and Pyrénées Atlantiques) in South West of France . The landscapes ranges from deep forests of Dordogne, great sand beaches of Landes, marshes and estuary of Gironde to the mountains of Pyrenées. These habitats take in many birds as attractive as white storks, griffon vultures,hoppoes etc. Reports for the area between Bordeaux and the Spanish border can be sent to LPO-Aquitaine, 3 rue de Tauzia, F-33800 Bordeaux, France. Tel +33.556.913.381, E-mail aquitaine@lpo-birdlife.asso.fr to participate in our database.

Teich Bird Reserve

Website
Satellite View
Teich Bird Reserve is proud to showcase some of the gems to be discovered in this beautiful Gironde location...

2002 [May] - Honeyguide - Dordogne

Report

PDF File

2003 [May] - Honeyguide - Dordogne

Report

Pdf

2004 [May] - Honeyguide - Dordogne

Report

PDF

2004 [May] - Honeyguide - Dordogne

Report

Pdf

2005 [May] - Honeyguides - Dordogne

Report

pdf

2006 [May] - John Durdin

Report

Honeyguides tour - pdf

2007 [May] - Honeyguide

Report

...Disturbed ground plants like bugloss and poppies are expected: a patch of cornflowers was an unexpected bonus. A sparrowhawk dashed through, disturbing starlings and white wagtails...

2008 [May] - Honeyguide

Report

Pdf

2009 [May] - Honeyguide

Report

Pdf

2010 [May] - Chris Durdin

Report

...Fiona found a raptor, the first of many honey buzzards today, and John pointed out a big patch of the parasitic purple toothwort round the base of a poplar, presumably its host...

2011 [May] - Honeyguide - Dordogne

Report

…golden orioles’ fluty song in the oak woods, the persistent calls of hoopoes...

2012 [May] - Chris Durdin

Report

... there was a concentration of birds that struck me as wonderfully French: a cirl bunting and a melodious warbler on one bush, two black redstarts on a roof and a TV aerial, a serin atop the short belt of cypresses and a nightingale singing...

Birding Pal

Information

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

David Simpson - Dordogne Birding Guide

Gite Details

David Simpson - Cabant et St Meyme de Rozens, 24150 Mauzac et Grand Castang, FRANCE - 0033 5 53 27 34 47
audave2505@yahoo.fr - Welcome to Dordogne Butterfly and Bird Watching. This is the website for our wildlife guiding service and La Cabane du Pommier which is our luxury holiday cottage in southern Dordogne, SW France, situated adjacent to our own private residence.

Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays

Tour Operator

If you are looking for a quality natural history holiday, this is a great place to start. The Honeyguide programme offers a mix of the very best of wildlife in fascinating parts of Europe..

Blue Sturgeon

Accommodation

Totally renovated with a classic but modern interiors and contemporary paintings, Blue Sturgeon is situated on the small port of Saint-Seurin-d'Uzet, "the village of caviar". Blue Sturgeon has 4 bedrooms, 1 suite, all with bathrooms. We offer a bar, lounge and dining area with log burning fire. There is a large park 9000m² with a lake and a pool backing onto sunflowers fields... we are on the Grionde Estuary and we have a bird festival in the village on the 24th April with a conference here.

Castang

Accommodation

Castang is a family run holiday property, where you come to take a break and relax in calm and peaceful surroundings while enjoying traditional French cooking in sociable company. The house is run by Cathy, assisted by her husband, Keith, daughter Olivia, and a team of helpers all of whom are dedicated to making your stay at Castang a memorable experience. We have individual and groups of naturalists that come and stay using Castang as their base...

Chalets d'Iraty

Accommodation

Au cœur du Pays Basque, un village, des chalets, des vacances en pleine forêt en toutes saisons.

Chateau de Senescau - Termes d'Armagnac, Gers, Gascony

Accommodation

We offer three gites for 2, 4 and 8-10 people at our historic house in the heart of Gascony, SW France, with memorable views and T-shaped pool. Our 25 acres of garden and meadow, are within easy reach of many different habitats (and therefore wildlife watching opportunities). The Pyrenees are an hour or so to the south across the Riviere-Basse region with its rivers and streams. The pine forests and lakes of Les Landes stretch westward to the Atlantic coast and the softly rolling farmland and vineyards of the Gers lie to the north and east. France at its relaxed best.

La Cabane du Pommier - Saint Meyme de Rozens, Dordogne (30 mins E of Bergerac)

Information

This holiday cottage is run by David Simpson, Dordogne birding guide, who lives next door. The terrace garden area has grasslands with olive and fig trees and a large gravelled area edged with a butterfly / flower garden. There are views across the meadow and a small valley. Car parking. Extensive forest and meadowland with an orchard (10 acres). Large covered terrace including wooden table and chairs, recliners and sun loungers. Charcoal Weber BBQ. The terrain is managed as a nature reserve. Roe Deer regularly visit the meadow and orchard. Footpaths lead from the house to the hamlet, main road, open grassy hilltop and forest. There are a number of bird nest boxes near the buildings. Footpaths within and from the property include a nature trail and access to a natural spring and an old hamlet. Nesting birds around the property include Honey Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Turtle Dove, Short-toed Treecreeper, Bonelli's Warbler, Firecrest and Woodlark. Butterflies include Large and Reverdin's Blue, Dryad and Duke of Burgundy. Orchids include Lady, Violet Limodore and Red Helleborine...

Le Petit Manoir du Tartre - St Thomas de Conac

Accommodation

Le Petit Manoir du Tartre is a beautiful Charentaise house which has been professionally restored by French craftsmen. In a tiny hamlet, near the Gironde Estuary with its fantastic array of flora and fauna, Le Petit Manoir is situated in a protected nature area and has glorious views towards the Gironde, with its own wooded land and huge barn detached from the house...

Les Tilleuls Appartments

Accommodation

Dean & Christiane Dorrell offer two holiday appartments in this unspoilt rural setting...

Soulac Beachhouse

Accommodation

A great base for birding in the Gironde area...
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Roadrunners Mike and Linda

Blog

The tales of our travels and adventures....

Bird-watching in Dordogne

Article

The rural terrain of the Dordogne departement in Western France lends itself to superb bird watching. Find out here where to go and what to look out for when you get there...

Birding in the Dordogne

Article

Every year, 200,000 Brits pass through Bergerac airport in the Dordogne, drawn in by the scenery, the cuisine and the long, warm summers (not to mention mild winters). But an increasingly large percentage of visitors are also starting to take notice of the incredible birdlife in the region...

Circa 33

Website

Ce site est dédié au Circaète, en Gironde...

Faune Aquitaine

Website

Bienvenue sur faune-aquitaine.org, le site collaboratif qui permet de rassembler des données naturalistes et d'en restituer la substantifique moelle auprès de tout un chacun...

Les Oiseaux de Pau

Website

Feeder cameras, BLOG etc...

Les Oiseaux de Pau

Website

Feeder cameras, BLOG etc...

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