Platier d'Ore, Loon-Plage, France

 Wednesday 1 October

Two nights booked at a hotel on the outskirts of Loon-Plage which would not only be very convenient for the return Dunkirk ferry to Dover in the morning but chance to visit the local nature reserve at Platier d'Oye.  Another warm and sunny day promised and no rush to go anywhere else so set off to see what I could find and stay as long as I liked.  Well, that was the plan but upon arrival discovered that the meadows were either dry or with just a few large water pools.  Good job I encountered House Sparrow and Collared Dove as I approached the Visitors Centre!  And as if I hadn't seen enough already, upon arriving at the first of the four hides on the 1.5km circuit the main occupants were the scores of Mallards.

Platier d'Oye Reserve

Notwithstanding, I settle down to scope the four main pools and was delighted to not only find a small number of Teal but the first returning Wigeon that I have seen this autumn. In the far distance to the east I could see a number of Carrion Crows and Woodpigeon along with a handful of Magpies.  A Ketsrel flew over the hide before I saw the flock of Jackdaws put in an appearance and, upon leaving the hide, I was immediately attracted o the gorse bushes outside where I found a number of, presumably migrating, Blackcaps.  To the left both Robin and Chaffinch before setting of on a clockwise circuit of the reserve.

Wigeon Anas penelope

The second hide produced more Mallards and third forty feeding Woodpigeons.  Both Blackbird and Cetti's Warblers were regular sightings on the back of the reserve as I passed between hedges and thick gorse and brambles.  This area also produced Greenfinches and Wrens and, stopping at the final hide, more a screen than hide, both Goldfinch and Great Tit put in an appearance to join the resting pair of Magpies.  Surprise, surprise as I made my way to the start to come across a handsome cock Pheasant walking along the path in front of me!

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (front) and Wigeon A.penelope

Moving on to explore the rest of the reserve I cam upon a second Pheasant as it crossed the road in front of the car.  Finding a parking place I discovered two large ponds with the nearer holding a pair of Mute Swans and a Heron in the background.  A couple of Mallards on the water with the Mute Swans as a Cormorant flew right to the second, more distant, water.

Mute Swans Cygnus olor with a Heron Ardea cinerea in the left background

The second water held a large flock of resting Cormorants accompanied by a couple of Little Egret and a few Herring Gulls. I though a few of the gulls on the nearby beach were Great Black-backed and upon topping for a late lunch alongside the river I very close Gravelines I was able to confirm that they were, indeed, in the area along with more Black-headed Gulls and even a wandering Little Egret.

Teal Anas crecca

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Wigeon Anas penelope

Teal Anas crecca

Platier d'Ore Reserve

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