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France Basse Normandie

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica ŠGerd Rossen http://www.digital-nature-photography.com/

The region consists of the Departments of: Calvados, Manche & Orne. The traditional Province of Normandy

From the Carentan Marshes to Mont des Avaloirs( the highest point in Normandy); This region is characterised by its greenery. Traditional practices, such as coppicing and pollarding, ensure the sustainability of the forest systems; whilst the traditional orchards ensure an abundance of cider and calvados. Normandy also has extensive heaths and majestic, rugged cliffs - all ensuring the richest possible biodiversity.

top sites

Baie d'Orne

(Salenelles to Ouistreham, North of Caen, Calvados) a nice place for wetlands and marinebirds, near the ferry's harbour.

Baie du Mont-St-Michel

(SW, between Normandy and Brittany) & Baie de Seine (Le Havre)are the main sites (and extensive) for shorebirds and vagrants. The Baie du Mont St Michel is a wonderful birding place, almost anywhere will do - there is a first class visitor centre at Genets with a superb walk along the edge of the bay South from there, and the headlands at Bec d`Andain and Le Grouin either side of there. Then there are the marshy grasslands at the South end of the bay, North of Dol de Bretagne - go there in the autumn and winter especially.

Falaise de Carolles

(South of Granville, Manche) regional (& national) spot for Passerines migration in autumn - among whom Tawny and Richard`s Pipits, Ortolan Bunting, Finches, Larks...Baie du Mont-St-Michel (SW, between Normandy and Brittany) & Baie de Seine (Le Havre)are the main sites (and extensive) for shorebirds and vagrants.

Foret d'Ecouves

Park at Carrefour de Rendez-vous and follow the forest trail. You will probably not see another soul. Black Woodpecker, Tree Pipits, and Hobby here.

Gatteville Lighthouse

(East of Cherbourg/Manche) is a good seawatching spot.

Pays d'Auge & Marais de la Dives (East of Caen, Calvados)

White Stork, Woodpeckers, Warblers... and a bastion for Red-Backed and Great Grey Shrikes.

Southern Normandy

Southern Normandy is good for all woodland birds, Creepers, Warblers, Hoopoe, RB-Shrike (around Alençon/Orne); Stone-Curlew (Val de Seine); Crested Lark (South of Evreux/Eure)...

contributor

Peter Wells
Top Site
p.wells@zen.co.uk

Roy Croucher
Northern France Wildlife Tours
(Averton, Mayenne)
nfwt@online.fr
http://www.northernfrancewildlifetours.com

useful reading

Atlas des Oiseaux de Normandie en Hiver

written and published by Le Groupe Ornithologique Normand 2005
ISBN: 168343
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Books, CDs, etc.

For books on France as a whole and more than one region see the Fatbirder France page...

Guide des Oiseaux de Normandie

by Bruno Dubrac, Serge Nicolle, & Herve Michel, Editions Hypolais 2001
ISBN: 2913307027
Buy this book from NHBS.com

clubs

Groupe Ornithologique Normand

http://gonm.org
La base des nos actions est, avant tout scientifique : enquętes, études, publications constituent le quotidien de l`association...

LPO - Basse-Normandie

http://www.lpo.fr/reseau/lpo-basse-normandie.shtml
Contact details only

reserves

Baie du Mont st Michel

http://www.conservatoire-du-littoral.fr/front/process/Content.asp?rub=8&rubec=239
La baie du Mont Saint-Michel est l`un des paysages les plus exceptionnels de notre patrimoine. Sa renommée ne tient pas seulement au Mont lui-męme, mais aussi au spectacle admirable qu`offrent le sable, l`eau et le ciel ŕ cet endroit...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

Baie du Mont St Michel

http://www.forewood.co.uk/baiedemontstmichel.htm
We crossed by Seacat from Dover to head for Normandy and the Baie du Mont St Michel, which turned out to be a superb place, with two particularly fine interpretation centres. We had good views of a pale phase Arctic Skua on the crossing, and after an easy ride South, had a stop for lunch near to Yvetot . In some roadside woods just off the autoroute there were Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, and Great Spotted Woodpecker to admire.

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/France.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

Northern France Wildlife Tours

http://www.northernfrancewildlifetours.com
Northern France Wildlife Tours Ltd, based in Averton, Mayenne, was born when Roy and Shirley Croucher realised that breeding Black Woodpeckers, Little Bustards and White Storks were well worth stopping for. When they found country lanes lined with orchids and cowslips, over which danced Swallowtail and Clouded Yellow Butterflies and Hummingbird Hawk Moths, they were convinced!

places to stay

Farmhouse Breaks

http://farmhousebreaks.monsite.wanadoo.fr/
No longer need readers struggle with their French when planning to stay in beautiful Normandy and see the rich birdlife and unspoilt countryside hereabouts! All kinds of songbird, several species of owl, and a family of kestrels live on our 20 acres organic smallholding. We also keep ducks and rare breed poultry so plenty of fresh eggs for brekkers! They will find a warm english speaking welcome at our farmhouse...

Hotels Basse Normandie

http://www.france.hotels-france.com/fra/resultat.php?region=Basse%20Normandie
Lists with pictures and info...

La Basse Cour, Ancinnes, Pays de la Loire

http://www.normandie-chambres.co.uk/birds.html
his XVIII century Normandy farmhouse has three beautiful en-suite guest rooms (chambres d'hôtes) approved by Gîtes de France. The guest house is in a lovely setting by a lake, surrounded by wooded and planted gardens on the fringes of the Forest of Perseigne, straddling the Orne (Normandy) and Sarthe (Pays de Loire)...