Bird Migration in Brittany / Private Tour October 2021

The fall migration on the west coast of Brittany (Audierne bay and Ile de Sein) is fantastic to observe. A magnificent spectacle for any bird watcher.

We start this first day of our private birding tour in Brittany around 8:30 am with the aim of exploring part of Audierne Bay, focusing on the Trunvel region, a must.

We make our first stop at Kerbinigou, an area between two ponds: Etang de Trunvel and Etang de Kergalan. This natural space is recognized internationally for its interest for bird migration. This is an essential step for many migratory species, especially for “paludicoles” species. “Paludicole” literally means “who inhabit the marshes”. This concerns in particular the species of aquatic warblers: Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti), Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides), etc. Barely out of the car, an Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) flies over us, it is unusual in this corner of Brittany. Unfortunately his beak was broken in the middle, which completely prevents him from feeding.

We take the coastal path to follow the line of pebbles. This atypical natural environment hosts the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). A group is present on the beach, at rest. By approaching slowly and in silence, we can take some photos without disturbing.

Other shorebirds are present on the beach: the Sanderling (Calidris alba), the Dunlin (Calidris alpina), the Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) and the Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) with a group of about 150 individuals. . We take the time to observe them by carefully studying all the groups of birds.

As we approach the pond and its superb reed bed, a typical call is heard in the immensity and attract our attention... Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) !!! This species is found in large reed beds and is fairly localized in Brittany. Its colors are amazing. Our guests did not know this species, it is a pleasant discovery for them. A male ends up showing himself but timidly. We can see it for a few seconds in the spotting scope.

While observing them, a Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) flies over the reed bed in front of us, nice surprise!

Trunvel is also known for its banding station which has been in existence for over 30 years. Each fall, several people take turns, long-term or occasional volunteers. We went there without further delay and witnessed the ringing of a few birds: Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), Cetti's Warbler, Dunnock (Prunella modularis), etc. We meet with Gaétan Guyot, a great enthusiast who explains in detail the history of the banding station and how migration works, the evolutionary trends of species, in particular as a function of global warming. This moment is highly appreciated by our guests.

After a well-deserved picnic, we move to the dunes of La Torche for a walk of around 1.5 hours. These environments are very interesting for many species: Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Golden Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) and Meadow Pipits (Anthus pratensis) are present.

The rest of the afternoon is dedicated to exploring the south of the Etang de Trunvel. The landscapes are magnificent from the dunes. We observe several species of ducks in the pond: Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Gadwall (Mareca strepera), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina). A Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is hunting and flying over the reed bed. We return to our accommodation for the first night after a hearty meal in a local crêperie.

The second day, early departure to be on time for the boat, direction Ile de Sein! A real encounter with nature. We are escorted by a few Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) who follow the boat.

Just arrived, we go for a walk to the large lighthouse, on the western part. The birds are numerous. We make a stop to observe closely some Rock Pipits (Anthus petrosus).

At low tide, shorebirds move more and more but a few groups are still at rest. We note more than 500 individuals of all species. Diversity is relatively high in shorebirds: Dunlin, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima), Red Knot (Calidris canutus), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Common Ringed Plover, Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), European Golden Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) and Common Redshank (Tringa totanus). A total of 13 species.

All of these species are migratory, but some overwinter in France and are visible throughout the winter. Little surprise with a Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) which does us the honor of its presence.

We take advantage of the sunny weather this afternoon to explore the other part of the island, to the east. We surprise a beautiful female Merlin (Falco columbarius), resting on the rocks. She won't stay very long.

It is 5:00 pm, after a short break at the island cafe, we are motivated to try to find a species that had been mentioned earlier today by other bird watchers. This is the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva), a bird that breeds in Siberia and is believed to overwinter in Western Asia. This rare migrant remains regular in France in the fall with several sightings each year, especially on the Brittany islands. After a few dozen minutes, the bird finally shows itself through the tamarisk trees at the foot of the lighthouse. Very energetic, this species is sometimes difficult to capture in photos. We will be lucky because the individual in question comes to us and offers us some very nice observations!

Delighted with this moment spent with this bird, we return to our hotel, it is already dark. Get a good night's sleep before tackling the last day of the trip!

On the third day, we are outside before sunrise to admire the lights and reflections on the water as well as the atmospheres with the birds waking up. Some species can be heard actively migrating: Redwing (Turdus iliacus), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) and Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) are heard.

After some nice sightings, especially of Redwing, we decide to spend a little more time on the groups of birds that may congregate in the bay on the south coast of the island. We precisely count the different species by addressing the criteria to differentiate the species of shorebirds and laridae. We then go for a stroll through the alleys of the village while keeping an eye out for birds that may be present in the gardens.

We have a meal in one of the breweries on the island followed by some free time to make the most of the Ile de Sein and its birds. The boat is waiting for us at 4 p.m. and our birding tour in Brittany ends on arrival in Audierne. Thank you to the 4 guests for their participation and their confidence!

With superb weather and a total of 89 species of birds observed and/or heard during the stay, we can say that it was successful!

Thibaut
Guide Salva Fauna