Wallcreeper wintering in Northern France

A WALLCREEPER – one of the most stunning species in the World and my favourite bird of all time – is wintering in Northern France, just across the channel near Boulogne. It is fairly easy to see and gives excellent views, and can be visited by ferry for less than £20 per person (with 4 sharing in a car).

DIRECTIONS

To get to the site follow the Calais-Boulogne road and take the junction signed ”Wimereax Sud”. Head towards the sea and at the roundabout at the end of the road turn right. Park after about 200 yards at the obvious gate and path. Follow the path down to the beach through the ruins of what looks like an old WW2 fort.

The bird ranges over quite a distance either side of the fort, up to half a mile in either direction. It is very active and can be difficult to locate, especially during the week when few birders are present. It is essential to visit at low tide as viewing would be difficult if not impossible at high tide. The bird is rarely high on the cliffs and has apparently been seen on the large boulders at the upper part of the beach.

For those of you interested in seeing WALLCREEPERS this year, I hope to see them during my annual trips to Les Baux, Spain and Turkey. There are still some places on all of these tours if anyone is interested