Wandering in the Parc naturel régional de la Brenne
The first of many birding posts of this blog. I'll try there to paint some of the most beautiful places I will go birding (even if in my opinion, there is no better places than the ones close to us. Nature and birds are everywhere !!).
This time, I will give an insight of the gigantic Parc de la Brenne. Located in Indre, France, this nature reserve contains hundreds of lakes surrounded by moors, woods or even grasslands. Two areas of the Parc (West and North) still have an important agricultural activity, where hedges have been lost.
I focused my observations in the Chérine reserve, near Saint-Michel-en-Brenne, among the Grande Brenne. In this area, which has the most part of wetlands of the Parc, there are some interesting hides available :
o Étang de la Sous :
o Étang des Essarts :
o Étang Renard :
However, others places more in the East of the Chérine reserve offer a beautiful spectacle. In the morning, when the sun hasn't dissipated the humidity yet, the fog lets appear a whole wetland wildlife, from boars to Widgeons or Common snipes. Then, when the mist fades away, you can discover all the organisms you didn't see at first. Get your binoculars/telescope and enjoy the show !
o Etang de Bénisme : 2 hides.
o Etang Massé : at least.
Among the year, this natural space is ranked as the fourth wetland of international importance in France, according to the UICN. Especially during the summer, a lot of species (from butterflies, mammals to birds) are present, with 3/4 of endangered french species of birds passing by or staying in the Parc.
Between the two migration periods, when it's getting cold, up there in the North, thousands of Common Cranes are flying above the Brenne. A little part of them are staying from November to February. It is a real show to hear then see them in 'V' in the sky or in herds in cornfields.
Kind of crowded in the warm season, this amazing and endless wild area really worth to be visited.
Enjoy birding fellows !
Bibliography:
http://www.parc-naturel-brenne.fr/fr/accueil/un-territoire-d-exception/paysages#paysages_ancre
