Pas De Calais 11th March 2014

Presumed 1w male Snowy Owl

 Another cross channel twitch in the company of DW and GH who very kindly did all the driving. We caught the 06.00 ferry to Calais allowing us to have a full beakfast, arriving at Le Maisnil at 09.00 the bird was easy to find by the crowd of 1 french birder watching it, we stayed till about 12.30  during which time the Owl did what Snowy Owls do, nothing! it sat on the pollarded tree the whole time we were there. 2 locals joined the throng of 4 and admired the Owl through my scope for a few minutes and later 3 more french birders arrived but didn't stay long as it was lunch time. When we left site no one was there. The bird is in a field between the D141B(Rue Haut Loge) and the D141(Rue de la Feterie, Le Maisnil. The field is accesed by a muddy track that runs between the 2 roads, though the bird can seen distantly from the D141. If you go please park sensibly and respect the residents privacy.

 From Le Maisnil we went to a forest immediately north of Valenciennes where we found a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Black Woodpecker calling, lots of Crested Tits, Short toed Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Marsh Tits and more. A very enjoyable day in great company.

Short-toed Treecreeper