Birdwatching in Normandy

Description:

Bird watching in France does not have the fanatical following of hundreds of ' twitchers' travelling around the country in search of the latest migrant rarity as in the UK.  However the LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux), the French equivalent of the RSPB in the UK, has about 100,000 members.

The LPO organises bird watching days, weekends and other events in most regions of France as well as abroad.  It undertakes activities to educate children and adults in the value and fragility of the bird population. The LPO Haute-Normandie (HN) is based in Rouen and the LPO Basse-Normandie (BN) is in Longues-sur-Mer; members exchange information on a daily basis as to recent sightings in the region and issue regular bulletins and magazines. The BN is a sub group of LPO France.

Through the LPO you can keep track of rare, and more common species of birds but also butterflies and other fauna and occasionally flora.  As well as all aspects of the protection of birds Members of the LPO are in fact interested in all aspects of biodiversity including migrations, seasonal events and agricultural practices.

Possible reading: Atlas des Oiseaux de Normandie 

Bird Watching Sites by Region
Normandy is rich in sites for the observation of birds not least because it is on direct migration routes to and from the Arctic, Scandinavia and eastern Europe. Birds nesting in Normandy include many species not found in the UK such as the Red-Backed Shrike, the Black Woodpecker and the Crested Tit (except in Scotland)

The following is a non-exhaustive list of possible sites to see birds:

Upper Normandy

Epte Valley, Fourges (27) - Golden Oriole, Nightingale

Seine Valley, Les Andelys, Tosny (27) - Stone Curlew, Shrikes, Warblers

Seine Valley, Poses (27) - Grand Noe Bird Reserve has many aquatic species including rare migrants. The Groupe Ornithologique Normand organises guided visits (Telephone: 02 31 43 52 56 http://www.gonm.org/)

Seine Estuary, Le Pont de Normandie (76): - Waders and estuary species. The Maison de l'Estuaire organises guided tours of the marshes and estuary (Contact and reservation: Maison de l'Estuaire, Telephone: 02 35 24 80 01/Fax: 02 35 24 80 09/Email: communication@maisondelestuaire.org

Antifer Harbour, Le Havre (76) - Migrant species and sea watching. This is a site which is on the north-south and south-north migration routes.

Bresle Valley from Eu-Le Tréport (76) - Blue Throat, Warblers, (summer visitors).

Lower Normandy
Lower Normandy is generally good for woodland birds, including Creepers, Warblers, Hoopoe, RB-Shrike .

Baie d'Orne, Salenelles to Ouistreham, North of Caen,(14) Calvados) - waders and sea birds, near the ferry port.
Mont St Michel (51) and the marshes around Mont St Michel - waders and migrants especially in winter.  

The Baie du Mont St Michel is a 'birders' paradise and there is a visitor centre at Genets with an excellent walk around the bay and the points at Bec d`Andain and Le Grouin.

The Cliffs at Farolles (South of Granville, Manche) - Passerines migration in autumn - including Tawny and Richard's Pipits, Ortolan,  Bunting, Finches, Larks.

Foret d'Ecouves (from Carrefour de Rendez-vous follow the forest trail) - Black Woodpecker, Tree Pipits, and Hobby .

Gatteville Lighthouse, Cherbourg , Manche (51) Sea watching.

Pays d'Auge & Marais de la Dives (East of Caen), Calvados (14) - White Stork, Woodpeckers, Warblers., Red-Backed and Great Grey Shrikes.