Spring at the Baie de Somme

I managed to get an excellent day's birding done whilst the weather stayed nice and warm in the north of France. This time, to what has almost become my "local patch" - Sailly Bray and Marquenterre in the Baie de Somme area.

I started at Sailly Bray at about 7 o'clock and was straight away into several singing Sedge Warblers. there were also plenty of Whitethroats, Yellow Wagtails and Reed Buntings as well as a distant Roe Deer and a couple of Brown Hare.

I managed to get some decent shots of some very obliging Sedge Warblers as well as a very showy Garden Warbler. A Cuckoo called incessantly and eventually showed itself. A female Marsh Harrier also put in an appearance. Decent views of singing Linnet and Yellowhammer can always be relied on at this spot, and both of them showed well.

Highlight of the morning was an excellent Savi's Warbler reeling away from the reedbed. Great to see a scarce bird so well and good to see them at the same spot two years running. The only "dip" of the morning was Bluethroat but I reckon had I stayed a bit longer, they would have turned up.

Just before midday I headed to the reserve of Marquenterre a few miles up the road. A tip for serious birders - don't go when the sun is out ! It was full of coach loads of kids and tourists. I queued for over 20 minutes only to have my credit card refused. To hell with queing up a second time (with the right card) I managed to jump a barbed wire fence to get into the reserve (not easy with a 'scope, camera+lens and bino's)and immediately blended in with the hordes of visitors - no worries !


Good views of Avocet, Redshank and a summer plumage Knot were very welcome as were Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, another Garden Warbler and numerous Whitethroat. The highlight of Marquenterre, however, is the "heronerie" which holds breeding White stork, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Little and Cattle Egret. Whilst viewing the colony a flock of migrating Whimbrel (about 30 birds) zoomed over allowing for a few decent shots. A nice bonus.

Back to work on Monday unfortuneately but I'm hoping to get out again soon to get the most out of spring time in the north of France.