A Loud Report [part the second]... into the Brenne...

Sunday the 24th of March was not unusual...
it dawned grey...
and stayed that way all day!!

But, despite the cold, we had a good day out in the Brenne...
Our first call was Étang Purais...
we were hoping to see waders on the mud...
there was no mud!

Look twice... the only way is up!

Notices last year said that it was going to be emptied at the end of 2012 [which it was] and left to "air" for 2013...
a change of mind... all this winter's rain... who knows... anyway, it was full.
but there were Black-necked Grebe [Podiceps nigricolis] Grèbe à cou noir galore...

Coot [Fulica atra] Foulque macroule aplenty...

Fight or flight?

plus ducks, lots of Great Crested Grebes [Podiceps cristatus] Grèbe huppé and a solitary swan.

The Black-necked Grebe display below, I've only ever seen once before...
it is similar to the Great Crested's display...
head wagging, that synchronised swim and the perfectly timed dive...
but not as vigorous on the waggling... more like mirrored preening...
and while we were there... it would appear, no weed presentation.

The displaying couple did have a problem, however...
a problem many parents have... there was a juvenile present...
and it didn't seem to know when it wasn't wanted!

Are you still here?

Now... where did he go?

Will you PLEASE just... leave us alone!!

We mean it... go away... now!!!

Move, go on... move... or you'll feel my beak!!

He's gone, eventually... oh no... now who's this?!

At last... we can start...
headwag, headwag...
get ready to paddle...
one, two, three and we're away...
"Do you come here often?"

No! Étang Purais was very good...
notably warmer outside the hide than in...
just not as expected...
but still a lot of fun!!

We went on, via the Maison du Parc to warm up and get up to date leaflets, if possible...
it was still March...
followed by a brief stop over at Mer Rouge...
where, apart from the Chocolate-headed Land Gulls [Larus cocoaheadus] Mouette voixtrésfort...
there was nothing... not even a Great Crested Grebe... but I did find a key to the identification of Blackthorn species...

That elusive Blackthorn identification key....

We aimed for Ronnae [Rosnay... they drop the S] and the Étangs Foucault...
there were two cars in "le parking"... one British... t'other from 92...
The UK couple were leaving as we walked down...
and the French couple wanted help with a bird identification as we entered...
"Il y a un rapace... vous connais les rapaces?"
"Oui!" We could help there...
"Milan Noir" I said looking through his "long-vue"...
Black Kite [Milvus migrans] Milan noir...
I thought I'd briefly seen a harrier turn in flight over the hide as we approached...
but it was more than likely the kite that I could see down his 'scope...
there were in fact, four...
all in and over the woods directly opposite the hide...
occasionally one would glide across to us...
and then back...
Thanks to timely observation and warning from Pauline, I managed this shot...

Black Kite

just before it went above our heads again.
There were also Shoveller, Tufted Duck and Teal present...
along with Coot and Great Crested Grebes... the usual suspects.

There have been changes at Foucault...
at long last, they've done some scrub bashing along the ridge between the main lake and the ones on the left....
a great improvement in the view from the hide...
and the slots that were cut in the "brand"...
woven tree heather fencing...
as you approached the hide...
have been replaced...
by a very nice, wooden bay...
with an assortment of slots at different heights.
Wonderful for a quick scan across the right-hand side of the main lake.

From there to the Maison de la Nature at the Cherine reserve...

Jays must have had a very good year, last year...
we've had loads here all winter...
and on this part of the journey there were loads...
Jays everywhere!

The Maison does coffee!! One Euro...
we wouldn't have minded paying TEN!
Just to get some inner warmth!!
Never has a coffee been as welcome as that one...
reminded me of the "Cocoa" at the café at Cley next the Sea...
one of the few places twitchers and real birdwatchers mingled...
twitchers for access to the coin 'phone on the wall...
real birdwatchers for the list of what's where...
[like the one inside the door at both the Maisons in the Brenne]...
but together for the "Cocoa"...
Hot chocolate and cocoa mixed...
I've made it ever since... somehow richer than either...
or huge pint mugs of tea...
or if you needed sustenance...
sardines on toast...
Welsh Rarebit...
egg and bacon bap...
and...
for pudding...
her fabulous Spotted Dick and custard...
or the Jam Rolypoly..or the Black treacle & Ginger Sponge...
you had to mine through the thick custard to get at the pud!
Wonderful...
but I digress...
as per usual.

The "Nuit de la Chouette" stuff was pretty dire, to say the least....
some pellets, part "dissected", on a couple of benches...
seat benches that is...
we got there just after three... 
no posters...
no display...
no information...
no "animateur"...

it was meant to start at two-fifteen and continue 'til six!
Worse than the one day event at Benais...
much worse!

We looked at the books on the shelves...
and I noticed some CPN Cahiers Techniques...
and had a shufftie through them....
aha!... "Pelotes! Décortiquer et déterminer"...
found it...
and at only 6€...
that leaves 2€ towards the LPO badge...
can't be bad!!
I've always had a soft spot for Puffins...
the little clowns...
Avocets are nice....
but a bit like debutantes...
long legs...
posh clothes...
strange facial features...

We decided to go down to the hide at the Étang Cistude...
the long damp winter has certainly favoured the tree lichens...

Looking up at Lichens... mainly Staghorn and some Map...

Staghorn Lichen and Golden Shield Lichen [Xanthoria sp]...?

They were extremely lush... and covering everything...
I've only ever seen this sort of lichen growth in "carr" woodland at Swanage...
or in similar damp woodlands up in the West Highlands.

On our way to the Cistude hide we noticed a new bridge to the right...
which leads to a new viewpoint...
not a proper hide, this...
more of a bus shelter with a long bench, a bookshelf and a viewing slot.

Straight on for the main hide, turn right for the observation post...

You'll need binoculars to enter... and must hold your finger in front of your mouth.

This new viewpoint looks diagonally right, across towards the Heronry...
where there was a lot of pre-season activity...
but apart from that and a pair of Stonechats [Saxicola torquatus] Tarier pâtre...
there was nothing! Just mud and tussock sedge...
The Étang Cistude is currently drained... but not a wader in sight!!!

With no door, this new view point at the Étang Cistude has NO protection from the wind at all...
the "brand" seems to be set to funnel wind through...
it'll keep people moving through tho'...

We walked the few yards further to the main hide... still SFA!!

"Sous and then home?" "Yeah, why not?"

We went back to the car and drove to the Étang de la Sous...
Stopping, though, for our usual quick once-over of the Étang Monmélier en-route...
not a lot... probably all hiding in the reed!

The Sous, though, didn't disappoint...
wonderful views of Pochard [Aythya ferina] Fuligule milouin...

One Pochard...

Three pochard... more?

some more Chocolate-headed Land Gulls...

Leaning with the wind! Come closer...

That's better... but you're still no windbreak!!

and a pair of Black-necked Grebes...

Murfle..murflr.. murfle..murflr!
What d' you say? I can't hear you...
you've got your beak buried in your feathers!

I was saying... shall we get out of this wind!!?

along with the usual suspects....


One important thing we noticed on this trip, was that all the interpretation panels now have a braille surfaced map beneath them.

If you look at this  larger [click on it] you will see shadowy lines and dots... that's the braille.

I've been out with a blind "birdlistener"...
his term... 
it was an amazing experience...
name of bird, direction to look...  
and roughly how far ahead!!
The hide at the Étang Cistude actually has a braille surfaced species panel as well...

More Black-necked Grebes than we've ever seen at one time...
or on one day...
And the four Black Kites at Foucault...
But all the étangs that had water...
were full...
very full!
But...
for a "nitheringly" cold day, some nice views.

Gadwalling around... More from a Grand Day Out

Reed at the Étang Ricot

From Rosnay we drove back towards the Maison de la Nature and the Cherine Nature Reserve [part is also hunted over... this is France!]. A lot of management work has been undertaken in the last couple of years, cutting down an overgrowth of scrub and clearing space into the reserve and this has improved the view considerably... whether or not it was for the hunters or the wildlife, it helps both!

If you are coming from the direction on the Maison du Parc there is, at the bend just before the entrance to le parking for the 'original' hide overlooking Étang Ricot a point where you can pull off the road. This overlooks the Étang de Monmélier, opposite the bulk of the Cherine. The bank of the étang rises quite steeply away from the road to a flat area overlooking the water or, sometimes, mudflat if the lake has been drained.
This is a fabulous spot for a bit of "birding"... we've watched Stilt, Whiskered Terns , Purple Herons and deer at this spot... and the new clearance work gives you a very good view over some of the reed beds and clear water that can't be seen from the hide on the Étang Ricot... look out for harriers working the reed beds.
Étang de Monmélier didn't disappoint on our "Grand Day Out" either.
There were two large groups of Greylag geese in the distance, and we heard, then saw, Wigeon [Anas penelope] Canard siffleur - the whistling duck... there were Shoveler [Anas clypeata] Canard souchet, Pochard [Aythya ferina] Fuligule milouin and Teal [Anas crecca] Sarcelle d'hiver... but the sighting that excited me the most were some Pintail [Anas acuta] Canard pilet [here is a link to a super picture taken in the Brenne]**... my best sighting for around twenty years... they were hidden in the reed when on the water, but were flying around quite a bit; the male looking quite spectacular in the low angle,  harsh, golden sunlight. **[the picture link opens in a separate window.]


We then drove on to the Étang Ricot... and the 'original' hide.

New Étang Ricot board and map of Cherine Reserve.. click to enlarge and read.

There was absolutely nothing about... but the light on the reeds was attractive.

Ricot Reflection [enlarge this]

So we rapidly departed for the Maison de la Nature itself. There was nothing doing in the visible water in front of the big viewing windows of the centre itself, so we bought a new guide on Reptiles an Amphibians and, as that was open, walked down to the hide overlooking Étang Cistude.

Étang Cistude board and map of Cherine Reserve.. click to enlarge and read.

There were a number of people already in there... and there was a lot of activity out on the water... particularly Gadwall [Anas strepera] Canard chipeau. I find these a most attractive bird with their tones of grey, brown and gold. Our attention was drawn by another watcher to some European Pond Terrapins that were trying to get some sun. That, and the way the light was catching the Gadwall, made me decide to go and get the camera... it was in the car as we don't, normally, lug the bag around when we go to the Maison de la Nature and I had binos "in pocket". There was then a "French Ramble" [1.5km route march] to the car and back to the hide.

While Pauline took pictures of the cistudes[Here's the link back], I concentrated on trying to get a good shot of the ducks. They were swimming quite close by and the light was still good.

Gadwall pair... the blue LED light is not a recognition feature!
[Caused by reflection through a water droplet!
They are "dabbling" ducks.]

The male Gadwall... the subtle colouration shows up well here.

I also took pictures of the terrapins... but as they don't really move much, even in warm weather.... there is no point in putting up pictures that are already on the blog!
After a bit more watching we decided it was time to move on to the other new observatory at the Cherine... the Étang de la Sous.