A Sky Full of Cranes / Tour November 2021

Day 1

We meet at the bnb at 10:30 am and set off with one goal: to fully enjoy the fantastic spectacle of the famous Common Cranes (Grus grus)! First we are going to explore an agricultural sector on the south side of the lake where good groups are used to coming to feed during the day (grazing areas). Very quickly we come across a few flights over the car, then quite large groups, by the dozen in the fields. We make a first stop on a favorable sector in order to observe them more properly but our eyes are attracted by the presence of two raptors circling together in the sky, they are two White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), incredible! A few flaps of the wings and the birds are already far away. We continue the route by car through the countryside and luckily we spot 2 cranes not far from the road, on a small ridge, which allows the group to take some great pictures! This encounter is perfect for a first interaction with this fascinating species...

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Already very pleased with these two sightings, a small group of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) honor us with their presence a few meters from the car, this species is rather rare in the region! We land at the Chantecoq Observatory after a good picnic. The birds are numerous, a lot of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) and a few White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons), a nice group of Green-winged Teals (Anas crecca), a few Eurasian Wigeons (Mareca penelope) and Mergansers (Mergus merganser).

Photo Thibaut Rivière

We are heading towards the Larzicourt peninsula to explore some favorable areas. We spot several species of passerines but they remain rather distant. Note the presence of a Middle-Spotted Woodpecker (Leiopicus medius), rather well observed in the forest. The wind is strong and the temperatures low, but our guests are courageous and we head to the Digue du Nuisement, to see the arrival of the cranes on the lake. They are a little late this evening, surely because of the wind which is contrary to their direction but they end up coming in many groups. What a spectacle!

We return to the bnb for a nice hot shower before heading to the restaurant.

Day 2

Early wake up so as not to miss the departure of the cranes! We arrive on the spot before sunrise, the cranes are already very active, the calls echo from all sides and the first flights are formed, they leave the Lac du Der. Some pass very close to our position, some beautiful flights pass along a pretty orange band that the sun offers us through the clouds. A few Great Egrets (Ardea alba), groups of Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) and Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata) are heard and a Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans), rather rare in the region, passes not far from us.

Photo Thibaut Rivière

The rest of the morning is devoted to exploring the ponds in the reserve at the west of the lake, a lot of passerines are present in the surrounding hedges: Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), Redwing (Turdus iliacus) and Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris).

Photo Thibaut Rivière

From the Étang des Landres observatory we make great sightings of Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), 3 individuals are fishing a few meters away in a beautiful soft light!

Photo Thibaut Rivière

From Grand Coulon, many ducks are observed including a group of around 350 Northern Pintails (Anas acuta)! Little surprise with a female Smew (Mergellus albellus) which comes very close to the observatory, a species little known to our guests.

Photo Thibaut Rivière

After a picnic and a warm coffee, we decide to go north to explore some countryside areas, and we meet several groups of Roe deer. We then make a stop to watch on a Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) not shy, he will even approach the car. What elegance, a common bird but one which largely deserves our admiration.

Photo Thibaut Rivière

We end our day at La Brèche, on the northern sector of the lake for the arrival of the Common Cranes, but there are less of them here. However, guests manage to photograph 4 Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) in flight.

Small aperitif and hearty meal in the restaurant, an opportunity to remember all the beautiful sightings of the day! On the way back, a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is perched on a fence post on the side of the road, a great sighting before going to sleep.

Day 3

We are outside before sunrise on the Champaubert side to admire the lights and reflections on the water as well as the atmospheres with the birds waking up. We are stationed in the perfect spot to watch the cranes take off, they fly overhead with a loud uproar. How emotional to see these large birds so close! Our guests memory cards are filled with photos: we try to freeze the birds in flight with the light still low and the weather rather cloudy.

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Photo Thibaut Rivière

There are hardly any cranes left when we walk on the Champaubert peninsula in search of potential roost for Strigidae, in vain. But the morning has other surprises in store, such as the small mixed group of Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) and Tundra Swans. Beautiful nordic atmosphere with hundreds of geese and ducks such as Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Merganser (Mergus merganser) or Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata).

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Many passerines are also seen such as Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) on the edges of the lake, Willow Tit (Poecile montanus), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Common Chaffinch (Fringilla montifringilla), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) or European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) in more wooded areas. In the gardens, we come across a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) quite close to us foraging and a not very shy Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) from the car.

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Photo Thibaut Rivière

Our birding tour in Lake Der-Chanteoq comes to an end with a glance at the port of Giffaumont where birds are still numerous! What we can remember is the diversity and dizzying quantity of birds at Lac du Der, especially ducks, geese and cranes.

Photo Noelia Herrero

With a great group, memorable sightings and a total of 89 species of birds observed and/or heard in 3 days, we could say it was a successful tour. If you would like to share this experience with us, join us during our next birding tour “A Sky Full of Cranes”!

Thank you for your participation and your trust!

Thibaut
Guide Salva Fauna