Monday 14.08.06 7 am and the speed ferry leaves Dover for Boulogne. On board for 5 day non birding trip (with partner!). On crossing which was more than breezy, had gannet, manx shearwater, fulmar, cormorant, shag and assorted regular gulls. Off at Boulogne and drive to Abbeville (Normandy) for coffee break. En route had fly over hobby as highlight along with sparrow hawk, kestrel and numerous common buzzards. Carried on round Rouen ring road to village of Ticheville where we had booked superb vegetarian hotel for first night. This part of the journey gave up marsh harrier, red legged partridge, pheasant, lapwing and several as expected finches etc. Following day was a drive to Cancale in Brittany , on the coast and superb for oysters and mussels. A walk along the cliffs and coastal path produced the highlight; 4 dartford warblers, along with sandwich and common terns, little egret, grey heron, house, and sand martins with swifts and barn swallows. Stock doves were witnessed over the cliffs and skylarks and corn buntings were noted in fields and hedgerows. A roost of 150 GBBG, with herring, black headed and common gulls were seen on the field adjoining our campsite.. After 3 days here we set off for home, stopping for lunch at Honfleur, before spending 1 hour on a reserve on the coast east of Dieppe near the run down seaside town of Ault. Highlights here were a fly over of lapwings and golden plover, 30 ruff heading west, a hen harrier and a single winter plumaged white winged black tern. Also arctic tern was noted. Overhead hirundines were constant with 5 red rumped swallows mixed in. Common sandpipers were seen on the foreshore along with grey, yellow and pied wagtails. This looks to be a superb reserve for the winter and a visit in November is on the cards. Only 45 minutes drive from Boulogne. Ferry details at www.speedferries.com. The crossing return for car and up to 5 people was £50, pre booked in early July.. Crossing time 45 mins.
Overall species list;
greta crested grebe, little grebe, fulmar,manx shearwater, gannet, cormorant, shag, grey heron, little egret, mute swan, shelduck, mallard, teal, sparrow hawk, common buzzard, hen harrier, marsh harrier, hobby, kestrel, red legged partridge, pheasant, moorhen, coot, ringed plover, golden plover, lapwing, common sandpiper, ruff, BHG, med gull, herring gull, LBBG, GBBG, common gull, sandwich tern, common tern, arctic tern, white winged black tern, stock dove, wood pigeon, collared dove, swift, green woodpecker, skylark, barn swallow, red rumped swallow, sand martin, house martin, rock pipit,grey wagtail, pied wagtial, yellow wagtail, dunnock, blackcap, chiffchaff, dartford warbler, spotted flycatcher, whinchat, robin, blackbird, song thrush, LTT, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, house sparrow, starling, Jay, magpie, rook carrion crow, jackdaw.
Good list for only actually spending 1 hour with scope and only 5 hours with binoculars in hand.