We started at industrial Dunkirk on the harbour arm where up to 15 Red-breasted Mergansers and four Slavonian Grebes were the highlight along with Great Crested and Little Grebes, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the beach and a nervous flock of four Snow Buntings in and around the sand dunes that were uncharacteristically difficult to pin down; also a few Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting and at the harbour entrance four Common Seals hauled out on the sands.
Moving slightly inland to a municipal nature reserve with a series of fresh water lagoons surrounded by hides we came across an impressive white-fronted Common Buzzard, a drake Goldeneye, two Chiffchaffs, 15 Grey Herons and a selection of common wildfowl.
Further along the coast road and the pools at Oye-Plage delivered more wildfowl including plenty of Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal and a Pintail, plus Common Buzzard, several Little Egret, Little Grebe, Redshank and Curlew, two Snipe, a White Wagtail, and two Spotted Redshanks. Best of all here though was a mixed pipit flock that contained 12 Rock and at least two Water Pipits along with several Meadow Pipits. As already stated we were not in the main hide for long before being ordered out by the Gendarmes, but did managed to see a large flock of Lapwing and Golden Plover on the wet fields.
Our final port of call was the vast open beach to the east of Calais where a flock of nine Shore Larks had recently been reported; walking out onto the foreshore we picked up what was probably the nine larks flying away into the distance. A thousand plus Sanderlings scurried across the sands along with scores of Dunlin and Grey Plover, while up to 30 Little Egrets fed amongst the eel-grass.
Our last birding day out then in northern France as fully paid up members of the EU club before the madness at the end of the month. Thanks to Chris for organising the tickets and driving, together with plenty of stories along the way from Martin and Tony.
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