Naturetrek Tour Report 4-8 July Purple Emperor

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1 Naturetrek 4-8 July 2011 European Beaver Het Zwin Purple Emperor Spotted Flycatcher European Beaver Het Zwin Purple Emperor Spotted Flycatcher Report and images compiled by Gerald Broddelez Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0) F: +44 (0) E: W:

2 Belgium in Summer Tour Leader: Gerald Broddelez Participants: Rosh Groves Ann Lee Steve Evans Alistair Lawrence Introduction This was without doubt one of the most successful Belgium in summer trips. The weather gods were with us with warm temperatures during the day and cool at night. This provided ideal conditions for the butterflies and we saw some very good birds and mammals in the process as well. A keen group of nature lovers had a great time identifying the approximately 40 species of butterflies (a record), seeing and hearing a good selection of birds and had some fantastic mammal encounters. Accommodation in charming local hotels with excellent food and great picnics were much appreciated by everyone and made an important part of the success of this trip. Finally culture was not forgotten with a visit to Bruges and reminders of the Second World War all over the Ardennes. Day 1 Monday 4th July Lille Bruges Het Zwin Weather: sunny Everybody arrived on time with the Eurostar and soon we were on our way to Bruges. After checking into the hotel, we drove north to the nature reserve of the Zwin, were we visited the reserve looking at a large variety of water birds. White Storks were seen near the entrance on the nest with their chicks and from the dyke we had great views over the wetland, and a party of 6 Green Woodpeckers feeding on the lawn at our feet! On the sandy beaches and the small islets in the lagoon we saw several waders in summer plumage; Redshanks, Curlew and smart Avocet, many Oystercatchers closely watched by several smart Little Egrets and beautiful Spoonbills. Some gulls and terns were roosting on the islets and included several Herring and Black-headed Gulls, Common and Sandwich Tern and many Cormorants. After this we made a short stroll through the salt brush vegetation and although it was warm, we all had good looks at male Linnets, Stonechat, Whitethroat and displaying Meadow Pipits and singing Skylarks. It had been a good afternoon so we drove back to the hotel where we had a great lunch and discussed our plans for tomorrow. Some made a stroll into the old town after dinner. Birds: Little Egret, Spoonbill, Curlew, Avocet, Redshank, Little Tern, Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Stonechat Mammals: European Rabbit Naturetrek October 11 1

3 Day 2 Tuesday 5th July Bruges Antwerpen Salmchateau Weather: sunny After breakfast at the hotel we met with our local guide that gave us in 2 hours a brief but interesting history of the city. We then drove to Blokkersdijk, a large lake surrounded by reed beds and famous for its large wildfowl concentrations. Here we took our picnic lunch by the lake. By carefully scanning the lake we found large numbers of Tufted Ducks, Common Pochards, Gadwall, more Spoonbills, Mute Swans with young and best of all a Black-necked Grebe. We then drove to the Ardennes stopping at a heathland en route. Here we found good numbers of Small Pearlbordered fritillary, had fantastic looks at a Red-backed Shrike. After checking in and freshening up we had a wonderful dinner at our charming hotel closely watched by a Spotted Flycatcher. Birds: Black-necked Grebe, Spoonbill, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher Mammals: Rabbit Invertebrates: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Day 3 Wednesday 6th July Salmchateau Hertogenwald Hautes Fagnes Weather: sunny We drove onto the plateau of the Hautes Fagnes and made a walk along a nice patch of forest. Soon we were looking at Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Ringlet and Large Skipper. Birds were keeping a low profile with only Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Coal Tit seen/heard. Our next stop at the viewpoint of Botrange (Belgiums highest point at over 2000 feet!) provided great views of displaying Tree Pipits and a Stonechat. After a short stop at the visitor centre, we drove up the Barrage de Vesdre. On the way we checked for Black-bellied Dipper along one of the many fast flowing streams and found a bird in the stream giving good scope views to all. After our picnic at the lake we did a walk and soon found many birds calling from the forest and we spend some time listening and identifying the different calls and songs. We also saw several Large Skippers, signs of a Beaver family and a large Oak Eggar flying by. After dinner we decided to visit one of the quarries for Eagle Owl and a Beaver Lodge. In no time we had located the Owl and had great telescope looks. A Serotine Bat was hanging nearby under a concrete wall allowing great views! We then drove to the river waiting for Beavers to appear. We had just arrived and got out of the car as we located our first animal just across the river. For the next hour we were treated with a fantastic wildlife spectacle. The Beavers were busy feeding on the small trees and branches, sometimes coming completely out of the water, or just swimming by with branches in their mouths towards their Lodge. 2 Naturetrek October 11

4 They were really big, especially compared to the Muskrat that swam by and fed on the riverbank right next to the Beavers. A Kingfisher flew by a couple of times, Yellowhammers were singing away and a pair of Roe Deer was playing in the field just across another evening never to forget!! Birds: Eagle Owl, Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Dipper, Crested Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Kingfisher Mammals: Muskrat, Beaver Invertebrates: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Large White, Ringlet, Small Heath Oak Eggar, Clouded Buff Day 4 Thursday 7th July Salmchateau Nismes After breakfast we drove to the Chalkhill area, with a short detour to twitch Luxembourg for some! The sun was out and temperatures quickly reached 25 C. Butterflies were waiting for us as we arrived at our first stop of the day with Black-veined White and our first Swallowtails. A short walk took us to a viewpoint with Woodland Ringlet and a Sparrowhawk flying by. A short drive took us to another woodland area intersected with some nice meadows. Here we quickly found a nice male Red-backed Shrike, many Yellowhammers and a pair of Raven overhead. In the meadows Fragrant Orchids were common and butterflies were represented by species a Common Blue, Brown Argus and a nice Map Butterfly. After a short coffee break we arrived at out last stop for the day. We soon had a Purple Emperor perching literally at our feet. We also had White Admiral, Dark-green and Silver-washed Frittilary, Lesser Marbled Frittilary, False Heath Fritillary, etc etc. A Lesser Purple Emperor was seen flying by a couple of times before we finally located it perched high in a tree. We observed it for the next 15 minutes through the scope. Nuthatches and Middle-spotted Woodpecker made brief appearances, and Treecreepers and Blackcap were singing all over the forest. Birds: Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike, Raven, Invertebrates: Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Dark-green Fritillary, Marbled White, False Heath Fritillary Day 5 Friday 8th July Nismes Trelon - Lille Weather: Sunny and overcast After breakfast we visited one of the most impressive chalk hill plateaus in southern Belgium mainly in search for the many species of butterfly it harbours. Just as we left a pair of Serin in the garden said goodbye! After a look at the bizarre limestone formations we went for a walk along the forest edge. A Tree Pipit gave excellent views and showed us its parachute-like display, closely watched by a Spotted Flycatcher and Nuthatch. A Peregrine was an unexpected bonus! After a short stop to buy supplies we were on our way for our last stop seeing a Hobby just in front of the car. Naturetrek October 11 3

5 The forests near Trelon are very rich both in birds and butterflies and we had a great time walking the open forest trails and seeing such beauties as Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor, Silver-washed and Dark-green Fritillaries, several White Admirals and a nice chorus of forest birds. Overhead we had a great sighting of a pair of Honey Buzzards. We took our picnic near a small lake with Great Crested Grebes, Coots and Ducks, but to soon it was time to leave for we had to take the Eurostar train mid afternoon The drive to Lille went by very quickly. We all agreed that it had been a great trip with many good birds, excellent butterflies, some unsurpassed mammal sightings and great company. Birds: Peregrine, Hobby, Honey Buzzard, Serin, Invertebrates: Purple Emperor and Lesser Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Lesser Marbled Frit Receive our e-newsletter Join the Naturetrek ing list and be the first to hear about new tours, additional departures and new dates, tour reports and special offers. Visit to sign up. Naturetrek Facebook We are delighted to launch the Naturetrek Facebook page so that participants of Naturetrek tours can remain in touch after the holiday and share photos, comments and future travel plans. Setting up a personal profile at is quick, free and easy. The Naturetrek Facebook page is now live; do please pay us a visit! 4 Naturetrek October 11

6 Species Lists Birds Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name 1 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 54 Eurasian Swallow Hirundo rustica 2 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 55 Sand Martin Riparia riparia 3 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps ruficollis 56 House Martin Delichon urbica 4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 57 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 5 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 58 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 6 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 59 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 7 Black Stork Ciconia nigra 60 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 8 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 61 Dipper Cinclus cinclus 9 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 62 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 10 Greylag Goose Anser anser 63 Dunnock Prunella modularis 11 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 64 European Robin Erithacus rubecula 12 Gadwall Anas strepera 65 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 13 Shoveler Anas clypeata 66 Common Redstart Phoenicurus 14 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 67 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata 15 Common Pochard Aythya ferina 68 Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula 16 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 69 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 17 Black Kite Milvus migrans 70 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 18 Red Kite Milvus milvus 71 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 19 Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 72 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina 20 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 73 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 21 Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus 74 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin 22 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 75 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 23 Hobby Falco subbuteo 76 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 24 Peregrine Falco peregrinus 77 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 25 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus 78 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix 26 Common Coot Fulica atra 79 Goldcrest Regulus regulus 27 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 80 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 28 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 81 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris 29 Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 82 Coal Tit Periparus ater 30 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 83 Great Tit Parus major 31 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 84 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 32 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 85 Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 33 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 86 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 34 Greenshank Tringa nebularia 87 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea 35 Common Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 88 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 36 Common Gull Larus canus 89 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 37 Herring Gull Larus argentatus 90 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 38 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsi 91 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 39 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 92 Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula 40 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 93 Rook Corvus frugilegus 41 Common Tern Sterna communis 94 Carrion Crow Corvus corone 42 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 95 Common raven Corvus corax 43 Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 96 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Naturetrek October 11 5

7 Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name 44 Stock Dove Columba oenas 97 Tree Sparrow Parus montanus 45 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 98 House Sparrow Passer domesticus 46 Eurasian Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur 99 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes 47 Eagle Owl Bubo bubo 100 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 48 Common Swift Apus apus 101 Serin Serinus serinus 49 Kingfisher Alcedo athis 102 European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris 50 Great Sp. Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 103 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 51 Middle-sp. Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius 104 Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina 52 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis 105 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 53 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Butterflies 1 Swallowtail Papillio machaon 21 Comma Polygonia c-album 2 Black-veined White Aporia crataegi 22 Map Butterfly Araschnia levana 3 Large White Pieris brassicae 23 Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia 4 Small White Artogeia rapae 24 Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja 5 Green-veined White Artogeia napi 25 Lesser Marbled Fritillary Brenthis ino 6 Brimstone Gonypterix rhami 26 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana selene 7 Wood White Leptidea sinapis 27 False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina 8 Ilex Hairstreak Normania iilcis 28 Woodland Ringlet Erebia medusa 9 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus 29 Marbled White Melanargia galathea 10 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas 30 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina 11 Chalk-hill Blue Lysandra coridon 31 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus 12 Common Blue Polyomatus icarus 32 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus 13 Brown Argus Aricia agestis 33 Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus 14 Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina 34 Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania 15 Lesser Purple Emperor Aputara illaà 35 Wall Brown Lasiommata megera 16 Purple Emperor Apatura iris 36 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria 17 White Admiral Limenitis camilla 37 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola 18 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 38 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris 19 Peacock Inachis Io 39 Large Skipper Ochlodes venatus 20 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Moths Silver y 5 Spot Burnet 6 Spot Burnet Clouded Buff Cinnabar Moth Heath Moth Oak Eggar Hummingbird Hawk-moth Mammals Rabbit European Hare Roe Deer Red Fox Beaver Muskrat Serotine Stoat 6 Naturetrek October 11

8 Dragonflies & Damselflies Beautiful Demoiselle Broad-bodied Chaser Emerald Damselfly Blue-tailed Damselfly Common Darter Emperor Reptiles & Amphibians Brown Frog Wall Lizard Serotine Bat Naturetrek October 11 7