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The
weather would be good in the weekend, and over then thousand Cranes had been
reported already, so we decided to go despite the fact that it was only the
1st of February. The destination was the Der region in northern France, a
six hour drive from home. The Der is a migration and wintering hotspot of
Cranes thanks to the Lac du Der, a big artificial overflow lake of the Marne
river. In the lake several islands serve as night roosts for the Cranes,
which feed at daytime on the arable fields in the wide surroundings. The
evening arrival of the Cranes at their roosts is spectacular - groups of all
sizes arriving during the last hour of daylight. Finding them on the arable
fields in the pleasant Der landscape is also attractive, as is the other
birding, e.g. in some state forests. Besides, France always has some
non-birding bonuses in the sphere of food and wine, to consume locally as
well as to bring home. All in all, reasons enough for a Der weekend in
February or early March. And, as said, this time we had a very early
weekend, from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 February (2002).
The weather was as good as predicted, or
even better. In fact it was exceptionally warm, especially on Saturday, our
full day in the field. Under a cloudless sky we went along the sites where
we had been in previous years, and we were happy to see that the Great Grey
Shrike was there again, as were the many small groups of Cranes on the
undulating fields. In the early afternoon we went into a typical state
forest with tall oak trees, well spaced and hence letting pass ample
sunlight. It was so hot by now that we had to take off our jackets, and this
in midwinter... It really felt like a day in spring, even late spring. So,
full of anticipation about the bird life we started our walk down the forest
road. In other years, mostly in late February or early March, we had had
many birds around here, all very active vocally, like Middle Spotted
Woodpecker, Hawfinch, and many common species. However, to our great
surprise we heard nor saw hardly any bird. This was a very strange
experience. Normally, in this brilliant and warm spring weather bird song
fills the air. But now there was nothing. OK, we heard one Middle Spotted
Woodpecker calling shortly, and as a compensation we had our first live marten. But for the rest it was so dead quiet that we thought that Rachel
Carson's Silent Spring would be like this -
a brilliant spring day in a lifeless forest. Apparently the birds
could not react so soon to this sudden change in temperature, and stayed in
their winter mood.
Meanwhile, five weeks earlier than normal, many
Cranes were departing already to the North, after having eaten well on the
arable fields (for which the farmers are compensated by the government). We
too left the area well nourished by the French cuisine, but still in
amazement about this silent spring with a difference...
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Spoonbill - 1 apparently feeling rather lost at the border of Lac du Der
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Goosander
Hen Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Merlin - 1 flying across the arable fields West of Vitry
Partridge - a few pairs further West in the Champagne region
Pheasant
Coot
Crane - probably less than 10.000, so lots had departed already to the North (13
Jan: 20.000)
Lapwing
Curlew
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Sky Lark - many singing on the arable fields West of Vitry
Meadow Pipit
White Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Mistle Thrush
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
(Short-toed) Treecreeper
Great Grey Shrike - 1 at the usual spot (see map, at 1)
Jay
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Yellowhammer
This report is at
www.jvanderw.nl |
