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| La Baie de Somme |
Some photos (mainly just record
shots as neither my camera nor my technique was up to the distances) are on my
flikr pages (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80296786@N05).
The region around the estuary of
the Somme is a haven for water birds and an important migration stop. On the northern shores is the region of
Marquenterre. Originally created by
polderisation for farming, it soon began to attract birds and the owners began
to manage it for wildlife. Today there
is the Parc du Marquenterre, a formally laid out reserve and the Domaine du
Marquenterre, a less formal region in private ownership which offers guided
walking tours or electric car hire. I
only had time to visit the Parc.
It's very well laid out, with
good footpaths leading to and often through the hides. Signposting is exemplary, and they've even
thought to put in a composting toilet half way round! In mid September it was a bit early for
migrants, but I still managed quite a good species list, including my first
great white egret and cattle egret.
Around the other side of the bay
is the much advertised Maison de la Baie de Somme et de l'Oiseaux, a small museum mostly devoted to a collection
of stuffed birds, with ducks arranged by species on shelves and others in
dioramas. Not exactly birding, but quite
interesting to a relative beginner like myself.
The museum also has information on the seals which can be seen at
several places around the bay, and on the evolution of the landscape. There's a small collection of captive ducks
outside, and a massive one of carved decoy ducks inside.
Although wildlife and
conservation are promoted in the region, fowling is an historical and
continuing tradition. Many etangs have
flotillas of suspiciously still ducks.
In a way, the hunting mania benefits birds because reserves are
protected from development. One such
area is the Hable d'Ault, near Cayeux.
It attracts both birders and hunters, which seems a bit odd to my
English sensibilities, but c'est la guerre.
This is a much less organised region, without a good road and with no
facilities. The landscape is reminiscent
of Dungeness, vast areas of pebbles partly covered in vegetation. Some commercial extraction continues. A large shingle bank separates the road from
the sea and a fence keeps you mostly on the road, but small lakes are easily
visible. It was fairly quiet, (apart
from the duck hunters!) but there was a good variety of birds including little
terns and flocks of tiny serin. Time was
limited here, and the road was very bad for our vehicle, so I only saw a
fraction of the reserve.
We returned to England via
Folkestone, so I took the chance to visit rspb Dungeness, where I am reliably
informed I saw a little stint. This
is a reserve where a good scope would be
a big advantage as the gravel pit lakes are extensive. Oh, and I also saw a great white egret. I don't know, you wait all your life to see
one then two come along in the same week!
Chris Daniels
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