France’s landscapes reveal the close relationship between nature and centuries of human history, from the Seine and the gardens of Versailles to woodlands, lakes, villages, and the green spaces woven through its cities. These pages gather my encounters with France’s wildlife and landscapes, along with the places and experiences that have made my visits memorable.
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS FROM FRANCE
Earlier species-focused stories from my travels in France
-
DP-11 — Short-toed Treecreeper
A barely audible call leads to an unexpected lifer as a Short-toed Treecreeper works its way methodically up the trees beside a pond in France.
-
A Noisy Encounter with a Short-toed Treecreeper at Etang de L’Ursine, France
The Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) breeds in temperate forests across Europe, from Portugal to Turkey and Greece, and in northwest Africa.
-
Common Chaffinch
Male Common Chaffinches are colourful birds with an orange-pink breast and cheeks, grey-blue cap and orange-brown back.
-
Dunnock
The Dunnock (Prunella modularis), a small passerine bird commonly known as the hedge accentor, hedge sparrow, or hedge warbler.
-
European Robin
The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a small, plump songbird with a bright orange face and breast, a whitish belly, and brownish upperparts.
-
Eurasian Blackcap
The Eurasian Blackcap is a common and widespread warbler that breeds across much of Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa.
-
Great Tit
The Great Tit (Parus major) is a small songbird with a green and yellow body, a glossy black head, and white cheeks.
-
Eurasian Blue Tit
The Eurasian Blue Tit’s vibrant appearance, acrobatic skills, and adaptability make it a delightful and resilient bird in our natural world.
-
Herring Gull (Western European)
Herring gulls are fairly large gulls whose heads and underparts are white, pink legs and they have light gray backs.
-
Eurasian Coot
EURASIAN COOT The Eurasian Coot, scientific name Fulica atra, is a fascinating bird that belongs to the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.
-
Common Wood-Pigeon
COMMON WOOD-PIGEON The Common Wood-Pigeon, scientifically known as Columba palumbus, is a large bird that is highly popular among bird enthusiasts for its distinctive physical features and behaviors.
-
Great Crested Grebe
GREAT CRESTED GREBE The Great Crested Grebe is a fascinating species of water bird that is well-known for its spectacular courtship displays and characteristic head crests.