France - lower Doubs, late August 2007   -   birding trip report John van der Woude  -  www.jvanderw.nl This was the 4th time we visited the wonderful area of the Lower Doubs in eastern France, SW of Dole. It is a mix of wet and dry habitats in a very rural setting, and the excellent Foret de Risoux in the nearby Jura is a bonus. We camped for the full nine days at the campsite of Petit-Noir, right at the river and with a wonderful view on the river bank vegetation. Although August seems a little late, we saw all the summer guests, ánd we witnessed the departure of some, an impressive experience. We saw far less waders than we had hoped for. The weather was pleasant most of the time. We think this area merits more visiting birders and naturalists from Holland, UK, Germany etc. as it is so nearby, a really good wetland area, with some southern elements like Bee-eater. Again, for more details about the area, see http://tillier.club.fr/ornitho/doubs/Doubs_en/index_en.html and my older trip reports.
View of the river bank vegetation from our tent. Saw the last Bee-eaters here before their departure. River just visible left of centre.
Drier part of the river bank, a bit further West. Red-backed Shrike (Grauwe Klauwier), and lots of Pied Flycatcher (Bonte Vliegenvanger) on migration one day.
Old branch of Doubs river near Petit-Noir. Good for reed warblers, Purple Heron (Purperreiger), etc.
Another old Doubs branch near Petit-Noir. Little Bittern (Woudaap) here.
Map Butterfly (Landkaartje) and Peacock (Dagpauwoog) near the river.
Another flashy Peacock (Dagpauwoog).
Side trip to the Foret de Risoux in the Jura, on the ridge East of Bellefontaine. Good for forest birds like Black Woodpecker (Zwarte Specht).
Herb Paris (Paris aquifolia, Eenbes) in the Foret de Risoux.
Montrond mountain in the Jura. Golden Eagle (Steenarend) pair along slope in centre of photo. Once had Wallcreeper (Rotskruiper) here but no luck this time, requires more time. In summer this elevated area can be reached by cable car, what we did of course.
One night we had a torrential rain and the next morning the river level was very high for this time of year. No more gravel banks for the birds!
Even the tracks next to the river had gotten some of the high water.
Best bird of the trip was on our last morning, a Black Stork (Zwarte Ooievaar), landing on the meadows next to the river. Bird at the background left is Black Kite (Zwarte Wouw) who apparently didn't like the stork.
Species list (all along lower Doubs unless stated otherwise)	Soortenlijst (alle langs beneden-Doubs tenzij anders vermeld)
Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Cormorant Little Bittern Night Heron Cattle Egret (group of 7 near river) Little Egret Great White Egret Purple Heron Black Stork Mute Swan Mallard Black Kite Red Kite (during drive from N France) Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Sparrowhawk Buzzard Golden Eagle (Montrond Jura) Osprey Kestrel Hobby Pheasant Moorhen Coot Stone Curlew Little Ringed Plover Lapwing Curlew Greenshank Green Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Mediterranean Gull Stock dove Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Turtle Dove (common along river) Cuckoo Barn Owl Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Swift (1 on migration in high Jura) Kingfisher Bee-eater Hoopoe Wryneck Green Woodpecker Black Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Middle Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Sky Lark (1 only) Sand Martin Barn Swallow House Martin (+ large group high Jura) Tree Pipit Water Pipit (Montrond Jura) Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail White Wagtail Dunnock (Jura) Nightingale Black Redstart Redstart Stonechat Wheatear Song Thrush Reed Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Pied Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Coal Tit (Jura) Blue Tit Great Tit Nuthatch Short-toed Treecreeper Red-backed Shrike Magpie Rook Carrion Crow Raven (Jura) Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch Serin Greenfinch Goldfinch Linnet Crossbill (Jura) Bullfinch (Jura) Yellowhammer Reed Bunting	Dodaars Fuut Aalscholver Woudaap Kwak Koereiger (groep van 7 nabij rivier) Kleine Zilverreiger Grote Zilverreiger Purperreiger Zwarte Ooievaar Knobbelzwaan Wilde Eend Zwarte Wouw Rode Wouw (onderweg in N-Frankrijk) Bruine Kiekendief Blauwe Kiekendief Sperwer Buizerd Steenarend (Montrond Jura) Visarend Torenvalk Boomvalk Fazant Waterhoen Meerkoet Griel Kleine Plevier Kievit Wulp Groenpootruiter Witgat Oeverloper Geelpootmeeuw Holenduif Houtduif Turkse tortel Zomertortel (algemeen langs rivier) Koekoek Kerkuil Bosuil Ransuil Gierzwaluw (1 op trek in hoge Jura) IJsvogel Bijeneter Hop Draaihals Groene Specht Zwarte Specht Grote Bonte Specht Middelste Bonte Specht Kleine Bonte Specht Veldleeuwerik (slechts 1) Oeverzwaluw Boerenzwaluw Huiszwaluw (+ grote groep hoge Jura) Boompieper Waterpieper (Montrond Jura) Gele Kwikstaart Grote Gele Kwikstaart Witte Kwikstaart Heggemus (Jura) Nachtegaal Zwarte Roodstaart Gekraagde Roodstaart Roodborsttapuit Tapuit Zanglijster Kleine Karekiet Braamsluiper Grasmus Tuinfluiter Zwartkop Bonte Vliegenvanger Staartmees Glanskop Matkop Zwarte Mees (Jura) Pimpelmees Koolmees Boomklever Boomkruiper Grauwe Klauwier Ekster Roek Zwarte Kraai Raaf (Jura) Spreeuw Huismus Ringmus Vink Europese Kanarie Groenling Putter Kneu Kruisbek (Jura) Goudvink (Jura) Geelgors Rietgors