An outstanding coastal reserve
Only eight miles from the coast of France, Longis is a hotbed of species you struggle to find in the UK, with Golden Oriole, Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and Hoopoe often seen, and this year Zitting Cisticolas breeding in the area for the first time. The reserve contains 13 distinct habitats ranging from marine, intertidal and coastal heathland to scrub woodland, reedbeds and freshwater ponds.
There are three distinct trails and a small main road plus if you arrive by train you can view it from the carriages. Do check tide times before you attempt to walk to the fort.
WHERE TO WATCH
1
Mannez Quarry Railway Station: The old quarry walls are covered with gorse and scrub and give shelter to plants and insects so keep a look out for Peregrine, Brambling, Serin and Sparrowhawk.
2 out for flycatchers and others species on the hunt for a meal. Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler can also be seen with Little Egret.
3
Longis Common and Pond: The hide here was rebuilt in 2017 and Water Rail, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe and Kingfisher have all been recorded.
4
IINSIDER KNOWLEDGE. The reserve is a stronghold of the Glanville Fritillary and migrant birds and dragonflies.
TARGET SPECIES WINTER
● Dartford Warbler
● Firecrest
● Yellow-browed Warbler
● Black-throated Diver
● Great Northern Diver
● Black-necked Grebe
● Red-necked Grebe
● Slavonian Grebe
● Merlin
SPRING
● Hoopoe
● Black Redstart
● Ring Ouzel
● Black Kite
● Goshawk
● Hoopoe
● Alpine Swift
● White/Black Storks
● Honey Buzzard
● Bee-eater
● Serin
SUMMER
● Gannet
● Balearic Shearwater
AUTUMN
● Osprey
● Wryneck
● Honey Buzzard
● Crane
● Zitting Cisticola
We also stock an extensive range of ex-demo binoculars and spotting scopes - all with huge savings and supplied with the full manufacturer’s warranty - see website
hiking (and constantly being bitten) we got to the very top of the moors and there it was, this big, incredible bird, with these bright white eyes that looked as though they were about to kill. It was perched on the ledge stretching its wings, glancing at us. I didn’t want to leave!
Harriet Day
Gone fishing
Bird rock trail
I have been a birder for many years now, but due to the current situation, have taken to trying my hand at painting on rocks and pieces of old roofing slate, to pass the time (photos above). The idea is to take them out, eventually, and hide them for someone else to find and, hopefully, that person will post a photo on social media, then re-hide it somewhere else for others to find. And the trail goes on.
The attached photos are a few of my efforts, I am no artist but have enjoyed doing these paintings in between reading your brilliant magazine.
Phil Hodgkiss
Posing for pics!
The best part of lockdown has been the chance to really consistently spend time in my garden. As a result, the birds have become very familiar with my presence and, in some cases, quite tame. In addition to the usual feeders, I set up a few extra perches baited with mealworms, to see if I could persuade them to pose for me. It was working well until this Robin and Magpie realised that I has a supply of mealworms in a pot on the bench beside me! If I sat still they would just bypass the perches, land beside me and help themselves! They then started checking out my plate after lunch when I stood up to stretch my legs. So, I thought it would be fun to set up these shots (see below). I hope you like them.
John Draper
Nightjar facts
Re: your recent Bird of the Month, Nightjar. Oilbirds are related to the nightjars and usually placed with these in the order Caprimulgiformes. However, the nightjars and their relatives are insectivores while the oilbird is a specialist fructivore and it’s sufficiently distinctive to be placed in a family (Steatornithidae) and suborder (Steatornithes) of its own. Some research indicates that it should even be considered a distinct order (Steatornithiformes).
Ed Hutchings
birds we tend to casually call ‘chats’ , such as Robin, Nightingale, Stonechat and Wheatear (as well as the birds we call ‘ flycatchers’). True thrushes, on the other hand have broken free as their own family, Turdidae. Hope that helps…