Bird watching in the Tarn, south-west France

osprey (4) green sandpiper (1) European bee-eater (1) common snipe (1) honey-buzzard (1) night heron (2)
blue tit (1) little egret (1) common kingfischer (2) cattle egret (1) mallard (2) booted eagle (3)

Bird watching near our B&B

For keen bird watchers, it’s good to know that in the immediate vicinity of our Bed and Breakfast, there are three very different kinds of habitat – the chalk cliffs, the forest and the open countryside. The limestone plateau between Puycelsi and the Aveyron has been cut by deep gorges, creating cliff faces, the habitat for birds of prey like the peregrine falcon, the eagle owl, the black kite and the short-toed eagle (known locally as ‘Jean le Blanc’). These large birds co-exist with quite a few smaller birds such as the crag martin. By the riverside, you can see water fowl, kingfishers and grey herons.

The Gresigne forest allows you to observe a large number of different species in the different woodland habitats. The fields and the vineyards are part of an environment created and sustained by man: the birds are used to living in synergy with human activity. An excellent work, well illustrated and documented, came out in 2005, published by ’Grand Sud Editions’ (Albi) called “Where to see birds in the Tarn” – we have a copy at home for reference.

The most interesting periods for bird watching are as mostly in Europe in spring or in the automn, the bird migration periode. However, outside of these periods you will be able to spot many birds her in the Tarn. For example, herewith a list of birds spotted, made by an ornithologue during his holiday in our bed and breakfast

More information on nature in the Tarn
Weather and climate in the Tarn
the Gresigne forest
Artichaud's walking holidays

Credits

The pictures on these page are kindly made available by the friends of the LPO Tarn, the French Bird Protection Association in the Tarn. You will find many more pictures at their web site