The Somme Estuary!

Another excellent but very laid back day trip to Crecy and the Somme estuary today, with Mark, Tony and Chris who once again did all the driving. 

It was quite overcast most of the day with a few sunny spells this afternoon. Dawn had just broken when we drove of the train at Calais, but within the hour we were at Crecy Forest, the field that had been so productive last visit was fairly quiet, though a smart male Black Redstart and a male Stonechat were seen, a return visit mid afternoon saw a ring tail Hen Harrier and and lots of Common Buzzards. There was noisy work going on in the forest so the birding was difficult, but we still managed a Middle-spotted Woodpecker, singing Chiffchaffs, Blackcap and the usual suspects.

 White Wagtail

As we approached Saille Bray a Red Kite flew over, not a bird that is often seen here. We went to Saille Bray more in hope than expectation, so it was no surprise that the Bluethroats hadn't arrived yet, we did see several each of Great White, Little and Cattle Egrets, a couple of Avocets, 3 Pintail, several White Wagtails, Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings, Grey Partridges and many Chiffchaffs, a White Stork flew over as we made our way to St Valery.

White Stork

 Spoonbills

We walked along the railway line that borders the estuary seeing 30+ Spoonbills, numerous Little Egrets, 9 Cattle Egrets, 10+ Great White Egrets, 2 Garganey, a superb adult male Hen Harrier, Merlin, Sparrowhawk and several Common Buzzards.

 More Spoonbills

More Spoonbills with Great White and Little Egrets.

Spot the drake and duck Garganey

 White Stork

Le Crotoy Pools were fairly quiet though we did record more Cattle Egrets, White Storks, White Wagtails, Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Sand Martins went through. The Black-headed Gull colony was only just starting to build. At Le Crotoy harbour the tide wasn't quite right but 200+ Curlew, 100+ Redshank were present with a couple each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover and an Avocet. We finished back in Crecy Forest where lots of Common Buzzards were soaring above the canopy, more Marsh Tits were seen as well as Short-toed Treecreeper, Nuthatches, Chiffchaffs Yellowhammers and Woodpeckers.

White Wagtail