FOREWOOD
La Brenne Species List
Great Crested Grebe - Common on all lakes, the most widespread grebe. Present and still feeding young in September 2006
Black Necked Grebe - Not at all uncommon, breeds freely wherever Whiskered Tern breed, and occasionally elsewhere. At one site over 20 pairs were present. By September in 2006 they had all gone
Little Grebe - Widespread, but the least common of the grebes, Most seen at Chérine reserve. Present on the river Bouzanne near the Gite in 2006
Cormorant - Uncommon except around Chérine and Massé lakes. A threat to the fishery and often shot, apparently
Grey Heron - Common and widespread. Breeds in reed beds and dispersed sites rather than in Heronries
Purple Heron - Numbers seem historically to have reduced. Nevertheless widespread and not uncommon. A dozen or more pairs nesting in reeds at Chérine. Many good close sightings on both visits
Great White Egret - One single seen at Chérine in 2003, with more than a dozen seen in 2006
Little Egret - Not common or widespread. Seen at Chérine, Massé, Gabrière and occasionally elsewhere, again apparently more numerous in 2006
Cattle Egret - More numerous than above, present in colonies at Chérine and near Gabrière. Also seen among cattle throughout the region. Only a few remaining by September in 2006
Night Heron - 4 seen in flight at Chérine, one near Massé, and odd sightings nearby. Said to be up to 30 pairs around, but all gone in September 2006
Bittern - One seen flying over the road near St Michel as we began the drive home! Said to be up to 30 present. Not seen or heard in 2006
Mute Swan - Uncommon, just 3 pairs seen, at Chérine and Gabrière. Apparently unwelcome because of the damage it does to Grebe nests (!). Plenty on the river Bouzanne and the Creuse in 2006
Canada Goose - Just one pair seen in 2003 with some Feral Geese near to Massé. Not mentioned in the guides
Mallard – Everywhere in large numbers
Teal - One pair seen at Chérine. Said to be a rare breeder. More numerous in 2006, moulting
Gadwall - Not common but widespread in low numbers. Up to 50 pairs said to breed
Shoveler - Said to be a rare breeder. One seen at Chérine and 2 at Foucault - not seen in 2006
Pochard - Common and widespread, has recently increased
Tufted Duck - Uncommon but widespread, has recently increased
Booted Eagle - One single seen whilst the observer was cycling just West of Martizay. The bird was at high altitude and cruised overhead towards the South-East. It’s passing apparently stimulated a Short Toed Eagle to take to the air. One light phase and two dark phase birds low overhead near Azay le feron while we were waiting for Stone Curlew to wake up
Common Buzzard - Common and widespread, provided there were trees
Black Kite - Uncommon, said to have increased recently. 4 seen in the air together at Chérine, and several other sporadic sightings. No sightings in 2006
Red Kite - A single bird soaring high over the super-secret radio installation to the East of Rosnay, so I had to be careful about watching it through the bins!!!
Honey Buzzard - Widespread and seen frequently on one thundery day, with 10 or more separate sightings. One example of the butterfly-like display flight very well seen. No sightings in 2006
Marsh Harrier - Said to be typical and common, but only a single sighting near Étang Neuf for this observer of a female during a shower. No sightings in 2006
Hen Harrier - A single sighting of a female near Rosnay. Said to be a regular breeder but no sightings in 2006
Montague’s Harrier - A female seen West of Martizay, causing the halt during which several other raptors were seen. A male seen on 3 days at the roadside East of Martizay gave close views down to 3m. A female also seen there on one occasion. Said to be increasing. In 2006 there were 5 sightings of males, 3 of which were near to Azay le Feron
Short Toed Eagle - One seen just West of Martizay, when the passing of the Booted Eagle appeared to cause this bird to take to the air and display for some 10 minutes, during which a female Montagues Harrier and 4 Kestrels were also in the air. Another was seen from the car when returning home through the Sologne. Not seen in 2006
Sparrowhawk - Widespread. One seen from the car at Massé was close enough to photograph. One other close sighting near Chérine, and several birds seen soaring at a distance
Hobby - One seen hunting in the village of Martizay, two seen West of the village. Said to be common but widespread. Several sightings en route 2006, none in the Brenne - surprising in view of the large numbers of Dragonflies in flight
Kestrel - Common and widespread
Water Rail - One heard calling from reeds near Rosnay. Said to be under-recorded and status not well understood. One seen at Cherine in 2006
Moorhen - Common and widespread
Coot - Common and widespread
Red – Legged Partridge - 2 birds seen during an early morning walk near to Martizay. Said to be common and augmented by release for hunting. Not seen in 2006
Grey Partridge - Widespread. Several sightings throughout the region
Quail - One heard calling at Chérine in 2003. Status not well understood, but likely to be common
Pheasant - Just 2 sightings, said to be mostly released birds in the region
Lapwing - Pleasantly common and widespread
Ringed Plover - A group of 11 birds on exposed mud in front of the new hide at Chérine in 2003
Little Ringed Plover - 3 birds on exposed mud in front of the new hide at Chérine, and another nearby at a muddy pond margin, said to be breeding. Not seen in 2006
Snipe - 3 in front of the "new" hide at Cherine in 2006
Curlew - Just one bird seen looking thick in a recently cultivated dry field near Martizay in 2003
Green Sandpiper - A single bird flushed at Cherine in 2006
Dunlin - 6 birds seen on exposed mud in front of the new hide at Chérine in 2003
Curlew Sandpiper - A single bird seen on exposed mud in front of the new hide at Chérine in 2003
Black Winged Stilt - 5 birds seen at Chérine in 2003, where 5 pairs are said to breed
Stone Curlew - 2 seen near to Azay - le - Feron in 2006, in re-generated rape which had not been cultivated
Black Headed Gull - Widespread and abundant in 2003, all but gone in 2006
Black Tern - Seen at Chérine in 2003, where there were up to 10 present. Small rafts provided for breeding are damaged by swans apparently
Whiskered Tern – Widespread and abundant, breeding on lakes large and small, said to be influenced by the time since any lake was drained. Mostly departed in September 2006
Woodpigeon – Widespread and common
Turtle Dove – Seen in 2003 in any wooded habitat or in fields nearby, common
Collared Dove – Very common, especially around villages
Cuckoo – Appears to be very common, seen and heard anywhere in the region, departed by September 2006
Little Owl - Pleasant to be wakened in the night by birds calling around the gite in 2006
Tawny Owl – A single sighting late evening in woods near St Michel, and plentiful in and around Le Pont Chretien
Kingfisher - Excellent close views both on the Creuse, the Bouzanne at the gite, and on the reserve at Cherine in 2006
This picture was taken from the kitchen window at the gite late one afternoon in 2006(hence the poor quality), there was some sort of territorial dispute going on - dispersing young perhaps
Swift – Not seen in large numbers but present around most churches and large buildings, departed by September 2006
Hoopoe – A single bird seen in flight near Martizay, and another in flight near Mézières. Not heard calling, possibly due to inclement weather, and not seen in 2006
Green Woodpecker – a handful of sightings in and near woodland
Black Woodpecker – A single bird seen at Chérine in 2003
Great Spotted Woodpecker – Three sightings, all around mature woodland, and common around Le Pont Chretien
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker – A bird carrying food across the front of the roadside hide at Chérine on three visits in 2003
Skylark – Seen and heard everywhere there was open habitat
Swallow – Abundant and widespread
House Martin – Slightly less numerous than Swallow, but present in good numbers
Tree Pipit – Seen twice in and around scattered mature trees in open habitat in 2003, and not present in 2006
Yellow Wagtail – One sighting of the blue headed form, and distant glimpses of others, but not commonly seen both in 2003 and in '06.
Grey Wagtail – Seen twice on the River Creuse in 2003, A pair at the weir above the gite at Le Pont Chretien
White Wagtail – Commonly seen, mostly near animals
Red Backed Shrike – Common at Chérine, where 6 pairs were seen. Also occasional elsewhere, but departed in September 2006
Wren – Often seen and heard, but not present in numbers, widespread
Dunnock - Often seen and heard, but not present in numbers, widespread
Stonechat – Widespread and abundant, especially at roadsides
Whinchat - Fairly common in dry heathy places in 2006
Wheatear - Two seen while waiting for Stone Curlews near Azay - le - Feron
Black Redstart – Common in villages and towns – one nesting next to the gite in Martizay
Common Redstart – One seen near the gite in Martizay in mature tree beside the lan in 2003, and a juvenile with Wood warblers feeding in front of the kitchen window at the gite in 2006
Robin – Not often seen, but recorded in woodland and village gardens. Freshly fledged young in a garden near the gite in Martizay
Nightingale – Very abundant, the most often encountered passerine, everywhere
Blackbird – Common and widespread
Song Thrush – Less often seen than Blackbird, but common
Mistle Thrush – Infrequently seen or heard, widespread.
Cetti’s Warbler – Common anywhere near water with bushy cover
Savi’s Warbler – One heard from the roadside hide at Chérine early one morning in 2003.
GrasshopperWarbler – Not mentioned in the literature for the region, but one heard singing from dry scrub near Étang Neuf in 2003
Reed Warbler – Heard and seen in reeds throughout the region, but only infrequently. Appears less densely distributed than would be expected. One feeding in front of the kitchen window at the gite in 2006
Icterine Warbler – Common in dry areas with mature trees and bushes, departed in September 2006
Garden Warbler – Heard and seen in hedges, bushy cover and mature woodland with thick shrub layer. Common. In 2006 a single sighting of a bird feeding in front of the kitchen window at the gite
Blackcap – Common and widespread, second only to Nightingale. Mostly departed in 2006, seen feeding in front of the kitchen window at the gite in 2006
Common Whitethroat - Common and widespread in dry areas with suitable bushy cover. Mostly departed in 2006, seen feeding in front of the kitchen window at the gite in 2006
Fan Tailed Warbler – Seen and heard near Étang Neuf and again near Chérine in 2003. Seems widespread but thinly distributed
Chiffchaff - Common and widespread, but not densely distributed
Wood Warbler - 4 were feeding energetically one evening in 2006 in front of the kitchen window at the gite, even picking insects from spider's webs!
Bonelli’s Warbler – One individual positively identified in the tops of mature trees in a dense hedge alongside a footpath at le Blizon in 2003
Spotted Flycatcher – One seen beside the lane near the gite in Martizay, and one heard calling near le Blizon in 2003. Two feeding together in front of the kitchen window at the gite in 2006
Long-tailed Tit – A pair seen in bushes beside a reed bed near to Chérine reserve in 2003. A large party around the gite at Le Pont Chretien
Blue Tit - Common and widespread
Great Tit - Common and widespread
Corn Bunting - Common and widespread in dry habitat, not necessarily associated with cereal crops
Yellowhammer – Less common than Corn Bunting, widespread but thinly distributed
Cirl Bunting - Common and widespread in gardens, cultivated plots and orchards/vineyards
Reed Bunting – Rarely seen though said to be common. Seen at Chérine and near Étang Neuf on both visits
Chaffinch - Common and widespread wherever there were mature trees
Greenfinch - Common and widespread in gardens, cultivated plots and orchards/vineyards, not seen in 2006!
Goldfinch – Often seen in and around gardens and villages, not abundant
Linnet – Uncommon, seen near vineyards and villages in small numbers. Said to be abundant
Serin- Common and widespread in gardens, villages and towns, departed by September 2006
House Sparrow - Common and widespread in gardens, villages and towns
Starling - Common and widespread in gardens, villages and towns
Golden Oriole - Common and widespread in mature trees, often not associated with Poplars, but always damp locations, departed by September 2006
Jay - Common and widespread in mature woodland and gardens
Magpie – Widespread but not common
Jackdaw - Widespread but not common
Rook – Widespread and common, many recently fledged birds seen
Carrion Crow - Widespread and common
117 species recorded
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