Lac d'Orient, from the south-east shore, La Promenade
After the short drive down from Lac du Der, early Saturday afternoon, we had a quick stop at Lac Amance near Dienville - where there was little except some Bewick's Swans and a pair of Pintail - and there was just enough time with the deteriorating weather to take a look from the layby on the D43, just north-east of Mesnil-Saint-Père. Whilst birds were scarce, with just a few Shoveler offshore, a dozen or more Common Frogs were in the pond on the woodland-side of the road and the same number on the lake-side.
The frogs gave great practice with the 105mm macro lens. Judging by the focus, I need a bit more practice... A Coypu also appeared from the lake and foraged in the woodland edge, giving views down to a few metres.
After an overnighter in Troyes - see next post - we got to the birding part of the trip I'd been looking forward to most, a return to La Route Forestière du Temple. Although this vast area can seeem pretty empty, patience and fieldcraft do pay off!
We had great views of a pair of Middle-Spotted Woodpeckers to the south-west of the car park, and further west we startled a Wild Boar in the undergrowth, allowing Dave to capture it blurrily leaving us at speed! This is not that picture...
Woods north of La Maison du Parc, 6km south-east of Géraudot
