Although we had persistent Northerly winds the weather was kind throughout with blue skies and plenty of warmth and sunshine. Lots of good birds with a total count of 108 species for the 3 days (list at the end) and of course plenty of good photographic opportunities.
The reserve itself is a designated wetland / saltmarsh area situated some 30km south of La Rochelle and is split between a mainland segment on the West coast and the East coast of Isle De Oleron. We stuck with the mainland part around the ancient fortified commune of Hiers Brouage - worth a look if you're ever down this way (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiers-Brouage )If we're talking rarities then I guess the single Alpine Swift picked out amongst many passage Common Swifts would be your 'twitcher's' pick but the reserve is packed full of good birds such as Marsh and Montague's Harriers, Short toed Eagle, Hobby, White Stork, Purple Heron as well as many wading birds and passerines (small birds) and we had some cracking views of all.
Ok, bit of a photo montage but I know most folk just come on here to look at the pics!
First up are a selection of White Stork pics. Nesting platforms are commonly erected all over Europe to attract these harbingers of good fortune but it was good to see so many nesting in their natural habitat in trees. Anyway, here's my selection ....
Like those? I was very happy with the way these turned out, especially the courtship behaviour and twig bringing shots.
Sticking with the bigger birds here's a few raptor shots for you.
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| Marsh Harrier (oldish female) |
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| Marsh Harrier - same bird as above |
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| Montague's Harrier (Male) |
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| Short Toed Eagle |
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| Short Toed Eagle and the Moon! |
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| Short Toed Eagle - same bird as above |
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| Kestrel (Male) |
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| Peregrine Falcon |
Ok now I know this doesn't look like a bird of prey pic at first glance but for those of you with eagle eyes (excuse the pun) take a look at the nesting box and you'll see a Kestrel and for those of you who like me that need reading glasses for just about everything, below is a close up and hey presto he's caught some kind of rodent, think its a mole! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kestrel with prey (mole?) Here's the last of my bird of prey pictures from Moeze, a bit fuzzy but this is a Common Buzzard being mobbed by a Kestrel Rounding off part 1 of this photo montage of our Moeze trip with the rest of the bigger birds, here's selection of some of the wetland species, most of these were taken near the information hut. Most of these birds with perhaps the exception of the Spoonbills will be familiar with British birders. There were plenty of wading birds about and here's a nice shot of Ruff in flight and if you look closely you might be able to spot a single Redshank in the frame ...  Here's the Spoonbills and yes their bills really are like spoons!  Lots of Shelduck about ... here's just the one  Rarely do Black Winged Stilts make it across the channel but it has to be said they are the ubiquitous wading bird on any saltmarsh / estuarine habitat throughout mainland Europe and often taken for granted. I've always found them very photogenic though so here's a couple of this dainty long legged wader. Nice comparison of light conditions light here with the soft tones of the bird in flight (shot in the evening sun) contrasted with the much harsher midday sun shot in the second pic.    Little Ringed Plover's are total experts in the art of disguise and are often unseen as they stand stock still blending in with the background. I was already on to this one as I was walking across a wet field on our last evening but true to form when I got too close 2 other, previously hidden birds flew off from the same spot! The camouflage is obvious in this shot. Ok, as promised, here's a list of species seen over the 3 days for all the birding nuts that like to see such things and I'll post part 2 within the next few days featuring the smaller birdies and non bird pics.
And just to prove that I do take photographs of other things apart from birds here's a good Hare I managed to get some good evening shots of.  |
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