The photos below were taken on 13^th and 20^th of September 2012 ; a favourable month for beautiful autumnal scenes. During evenings, when the clouds willingly recede, the declining sun illuminates the site…

The Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), in more or less numerous groups, come to rest in the tranquility of Carreau-Franc. However, with the hunting season beginning they will suddenly become much more wary.

The Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) feel very much at home here and are present in the site the whole all year round. While the Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) confines itself to the coastline, our Cormorant ends up far inland, taking advantage of the rivers, lakes and water reservoirs.

They take good care of their plumage.

… one of them (an adult in winter plumage) has just caught a fish not far from the observatory…

… followed by a Great-crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), a species found at the site, although only in small numbers…

… then by a mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), although one moulting its feathers: you can see that this male’s head is no longer green, and its breast is no longer lilac.

A Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) hunts for food, measuring every move…

It is as big as our familiar Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), its obvious difference being the completely white plumage which mirrors that of the smaller Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Its size, upright bearing, big yellow beak (in this season), dark-coloured feet, differentiate it from the latter. I also saw Little Egrets in Marolles during my visits but they remained too far away to be photographed. Previously rare in the region, egrets have become much more common here since the early 2000s.

On the 20^th of this month, during a migratory stop-over, a Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) was looking for food and tranquility at Carreau-Franc, before leaving again towards more clement skies. This wading bird is already in its grey winter plumage (it is completely black during the breeding season). You can see it here below the group of lapwings, to the right of the duck.

Two Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) are slowly swimming in front of the camera. They display beige, grey-brown plumage rather than the bright white of the adults. The beak is dull rather than rich reddish-orange; they are this year’s juveniles.

A Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) perched on a tree on the north bank obstinately leaves a twig between it and my camera : it is not easy to spot it, far away, at mid-height on the edge of the wood…

A Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)…

… and a European Kingfisher (Alcedo athis) takes turns perching on the various posts in front of the observatory. However you can’t expect to see the kingfisher on every visit – it is often difficult to find.

A troop of Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) has just taken off.

It is time to go.

Pierre Rousset