Stork nesting in the Bay of the Somme
Here are the pictures taken during a few stalking sessions near a nest of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) well accessible on the roadside, in the lower valley of the Somme, close to the Somme bay. A nice little spot because the small country road is not very busy and you are alone with the chirping of the birds most of the time. There is a lot of waiting to be done because the birds can be absent for a long time or remain almost motionless, dozing on the nest for a long time... Fortunately, there are other nests further away, too far for photos, but which still allow observation.
Seeing a stork come back with enough to add a floor to the nest is the reward for the wait! The construction of the nests continues from year to year and they can weigh 200 to 300 kg (or even much more and end up collapsing). The lady (?) shows her contentment by snapping her beak, head back, and each one goes to work to arrange the branches or the balls of mud thus brought back.
There is a bit of competition, so I could see another individual, either in search of a nest, or a supernumerary male in search of a female, trying to land on the nest occupied by "my" pair and being violently chased away!
With a bit of luck, storks can be found in the neighbouring fields and pastures. I observed 6 of them in a potato field, exploring the freshly dug furrows, sometimes with only their heads visible...
When I was last here, the brooding had begun, so I preferred not to risk disturbing them. See you in a few weeks to see if the young are present!
Cold wave in the Bay of the Somme
Near Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
In February 2021, a cold spell hit the Baie de Somme region and last more than a week. This is the opportunity to take some pictures! After several days of dreariness the light finally arrives with the good weather. And as happiness never comes alone, the low tide takes place in the middle of the night. Therefore, in the early morning, the bay is empty and the ice has settled a little bit everywhere along the chanels and on the sandbanks. Around Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, the usual landscapes are transformed, and each relief is underlined with white. The meanders of the chanels take on a whole new dimension, and each rib in the sandbanks becomes visible from the sky thanks to the drone. Cape Hornu in particular offers magnificent views with its immense sandbanks, while the sky becomes colored thanks to the sunrise. On the other hand, by -8°C, and with the headwind, the batteries are exhausted very quickly and getting back the drone proves to be perilous... After one or two frights, I nevertheless manage to repatriate it and get back in the car, completely refrigerated!
On Le Crotoy beach
The next day, it is in Le Crotoy, on the other side of the Baie de Somme, that my steps guide me. At dawn, the polders are superb under the glowing red sky.
On the beach of Le Crotoy also the rising sun tints the sky with pink and I take advantage of this moment to make images with the drone. The temptation is strong to send it far away to explore these landscapes dressed in white... This time the drone lands 300 meters away from me in emergency, battery flat because of the cold. Fortunately, I had time to bring it back above the dry land and I could locate its landing point, I get out of it without breaking...
On the beach, the tide deposited a thick layer of ice over a few meters wide ... It is our "ice pack" to us! This time it is with the camera that I capture the scene, while a beautiful golden light floods the landscape. In the tufts of Townsend's Spartine, the piled up blocks of ice offer pretty compositions for the images. A little further on the beach, a few joggers are arrive, but they are not numerous in this cold!
At the Crotoy marsh
I continue my road towards the Crotoy marsh where the ponds are covered with ice. The ducks, coots and swans crowd on the few stretches still in water. The gait of the swans on the ice is cautious, one can see that it is not their element. On the other hand they are not shy to take a nap on the ice... The beautiful morning light highlights them well on the photos...
With the birds in the nature reserve
At the Plages de la Maye, in the Baie de Somme Nature Reserve, I observe in the distance the big bird gatherings! The Tadornes de Belon, emblematic birds of the Baie de Somme, perform their usual aerial ballets despite the cold. To my great surprise, they are accompanied by a multitude of ducks. I would later learn that heavy snowfalls in Scandinavia forced them to retreat to our home, further south, to our great pleasure!
A bit of macrophotography
On the way back, my eye is attracted by the shells and algae caught in the ice. Here, these are rare images, and I take the opportunity to take a few more pictures.
In the end, I get caught up in the game and spend long moments on the ice on my knees, looking for micro landscapes with interesting graphics. During post-processing in front of the computer, it appeared to me that the reliefs and materials of some of these images lent themselves well to black and white. So here is a small series of photographs that are perhaps more abstract art than documentary!
Rencontre avec les Tournepierre à collier
C’est en cherchant à photographier les phoques à Berck-sur-mer que j’ai croisé la route de ces jolis limicoles qu’on appelle les Tournepierre à collier. Ils viennent manger les petits crabes dans les anfractuosités des rochers et des épis, par petits groupes de 3-4 individus. Peu farouches ils peuvent se blottir au fond d’un trou pour passer inaperçus des touristes qui les frôlent…
Carnet rose
C’est la saison des naissances au marais du Crotoy, et voici donc la progéniture d’une maman canard qui a bien travaillé. Maintenant il faut promener tout ce petit monde pour leur apprendre à manger tout seul tout en surveillant les prédateurs éventuels… Pas de tout repos, mais heureusement les piou-piou dorment beaucoup aussi…
Affût-photo au Hâble d’Ault
Voici les images issues de plusieurs séances d’affût au Hâble d’Ault en compagnie des Linottes mélodieuses dont le mâle est si photogénique, des traquets motteux (idem), bergeronnettes et autres passereaux… La mare au limicoles m’a également permis de rencontrer les tadornes de belon, ainsi que les mouettes mélanocéphales.. Quelques vanneaux huppés, courlis et Gravelots complètent le tableau…
Le printemps est également la saison où les chevaux Fjord agrandissent la famille, de même que les lapins de garenne qui laissent les lapereaux sortir à proximité des terriers…
A la rencontre de l’échasse blanche
Cela n’a durée que quelques jours, mais ce printemps-ci, les échasses sont venues chercher leur nourriture tout près de mon poste d’observation, en ce montrant très tolérantes. Ca a été l’occasion de faire quelques gros plans, et de photographier un accouplement, particulièrement esthétique chez cette espèce où le mâle prend la femelle sous son aile avec un croisement de becs qui ressemble à un petit câlin.
