France: Dordogne and Northern Aquitaine
Birds, Butterflies and Flowers of the Dordogne
Dordogne lies at a crossroads of some wonderful wildlife habitats. To the east lie the classic forest and meadows of the Massif Central, to the west the great Atlantic pine forest and heathland of Les Landes, to the north the arid arable plateaux of Poitou-Charentes and finally, to the south, the rocky Mediterraenean garrigue. All this traversed by three great rivers - the Dordogne, the Garonne and the Lot - with impressive cliffs and wetlands. Farming and land practices have left much of the wildlife habitats intact with many sought-after species. With the help of our friends in the local wildlife groups we can take you to the best sites not mentioned in the guides.
The region is very picturesque with pretty villages of honey-coloured stone and fascinating ancient Romanesque churches. The Vezere valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its prehistoric cave paintings. During the Hundred Years War much of the area was English, a period reflected by the sprinking of castles and 'bastides'. The Perigord cuisine along with Bergerac and Cahors wine is exceptional. This cultural background is very much part of the holiday, as is the famous Perigord cuisine.
This is a two-centre holiday and initially we are based at the beautiful village of Beynac in a fine riverside hotel nestled beneath the impressive castle fortress. 
From here we visit sun-baked hills in search of Subalpine Warbler and Ortolan Bunting, butterflies such as the Scarce Swallowtail and rare orchids including the Yellow and Sombre Bee-orchids. In the shady oak woods and meadows we will be on the look-out for birds including Golden Oriole and Hoopoe.
Our second base is Le Barrage, a small cosy hotel in a tranquil village setting beside the last big 'cingle' (meander) of the River Dordogne. From here we visit the pine forests where Crested Tit and European Pond Terrapin are found. On the arable plateau there is a healthy bird population including Montagu's and Hen Harriers as well as other typical species such as Stone Curlew and Scops Owl. The local wildlife group works closely with local farmers to protect the birds' nests. Finally we finish with a flourish in the old town of Bergerac taking a boat trip on a traditional 'gabarre' from which we should have exceptional views of Black Kites and their nests - a splendid close to the holiday.
