Birding in France Day 1

Today marked the start of my summer 'Dorrington' style birding adventure around France. As my P and O ferry entered Calais harbour I was soon picking out Med Gulls (18), Kittiwakes and also Herrings and Black-headed Gulls following the boat:

Cap Blanc Nez was the first destination, a site which together with Gris-Nez is famous for seawatching. This isn't the perfect time of year for big seabird passage but i was still optimistic. The scrub around the head was alive with passerines - Stonechats, Meadow and Rock Pipits, Skylarks.



Over the water were Kittiwakes and Fulmars, both of which breed on the cliffs here. The drive to Gris Nez brought a fine selection of the kind of farmland birds often so difficult to see in England only 17 miles away. Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers and Yellow Wagtails all singing in the Sun.

I didn't have much time watching from the head, but still managed to add a couple of Curlews and plenty of juvenile Gannets. Plenty of butterflies out as well. Today I've seen Large Whites, Marbled Whites, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue and this Skipper.



The drive onwards to Amiens wasn't short of excitement. Kestrels were to be expected, but a magnificent Honey Buzzard rising out of the roadside trees was a great early bonus.

Met with Xander and a walk around Boves and the Etang St. ladre reserve at dusk produced more outstanding birds, including 6 reeling Grasshopper Warblers of which we saw just one.



FRENCH LIST SO FAR
Great Grebe, Cormorant, Fulmar, Mallard, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Honey Buzzard, Common BUzzard, Pheasant (h), Moorhen, Coot, B.H. Gull, Med Gull, H Gull, Kittiwake, Mipit, Ripit, Skylark, White Wag, Yellow Wag, Nuthatch, G.S.W., Corn Bunting, YHammer, Swallow, H Martin, Swift, H Sparrow, Blackcap (h), Cetti's (h), Chiffchaff (h), Gropper, Jackdaw, C Crow, Magpie, Jay, Stonechat, Linnet, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Dove (46)