Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park

Natural Park · France

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Photo © Jmdigne

Photo © Jmdigne — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where slow, silt-laden channels braid through a flat green mosaic of wet meadows, reedbeds and poplar-lined banks, the Marais Poitevin unfolds around Coulon as one of France's most quietly spectacular wetlands. This is a landscape shaped by centuries of human water management layered over a natural floodplain: a maze of canals, dykes and drainage channels threading between seasonally flooded grassland, marsh and stands of riparian woodland. Under a temperate oceanic climate with rain spread across the year and no true dry season, the water table stays high and the vegetation remains lush through spring and summer, turning the marshes into a dense, humid labyrinth of green. Ecologically the park is a mosaic of aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats, and its wildlife reflects that: waterfowl and other aquatic birds nest and feed along the quieter channels, wading birds work the shallow margins and wet meadows, birds of prey hunt over the open marsh, and woodland songbirds and small forest mammals occupy the hedgerows and tree-lined banks. Amphibians and dragonflies thrive in the still, warm backwaters, while fish and aquatic invertebrates underpin the whole food web.

For photographers and birdwatchers, the appeal lies in the intimacy of the place: you move through it by boat or on foot along towpaths and embankments, close to the water and often below the level of the surrounding fields, so the light falls softly across reeds and reflections. Early morning brings mist over the channels and calm water that mirrors the tree lines, while the long, low light of evening picks out the textures of reed and foliage. Spring and early summer are the richest seasons for breeding activity and the greening of the marsh, with autumn and winter offering quieter, more atmospheric conditions and shifting gatherings of waterbirds. Access is gentle and slow-paced, rewarding patience over pursuit: drift quietly, keep a low profile, and let the marsh come to you.

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Branta bernicla

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis

Branta leucopsis

Bar-headed Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Tadorna ferruginea

Aix galericulata

Spatula querquedula

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Aythya fuligula

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Oxyura jamaicensis

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Coturnix coturnix

Red-legged Partridge

Cuculus canorus

European Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Rallus aquaticus

Gallinula chloropus

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Eurasian Stone-curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pluvialis squatarola

European Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Gallinago gallinago

Phalaropus fulicarius

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Common Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Calidris canutus

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Calidris alpina

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Calidris minuta

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Sternula albifrons

Hydroprogne caspia

Chlidonias hybrida

Chlidonias niger

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Mediterranean Gull

Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

European Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis

Great Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Ciconia ciconia

Northern Gannet

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Plegadis falcinellus

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta garzetta

Western Cattle Egret

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Griffon Vulture

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Greater Spotted Eagle

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Western Barn Owl

Eurasian Scops Owl

Short-eared Owl

Common Kingfisher

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Eurasian Wryneck

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dryobates minor

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

European Green Woodpecker

Falco tinnunculus

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Woodchat Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Garrulus glandarius

Eurasian Magpie

Western Jackdaw

Coloeus monedula

Corvus frugilegus

Poecile palustris

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Eurasian Skylark

Alauda arvensis

Galerida cristata

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Cetti's Warbler

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

Phylloscopus trochilus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Melodious Warbler

Hippolais polyglotta

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Common Firecrest

Regulus ignicapilla

Regulus regulus

Troglodytes troglodytes

Eurasian Nuthatch

Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Turdus philomelos

Turdus viscivorus

Common Blackbird

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Erithacus rubecula

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Luscinia svecica

European Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula hypoleuca

Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Saxicola rubetra

European Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Petronia petronia

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Passer domesticus

Prunella modularis

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla cinerea

Anthus campestris

Anthus pratensis

Anthus spinoletta

Eurasian Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

Fringilla montifringilla

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

Linaria cannabina

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Serinus serinus

Emberiza calandra

Emberiza citrinella

Emberiza cirlus

Common Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Branta canadensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Callonetta leucophrys

Red-crested Pochard

Ferruginous Duck

Somateria mollissima

Melanitta nigra

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Porzana porzana

Podiceps auritus

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva

Eurasian Dotterel

Eudromias morinellus

Lymnocryptes minimus

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Terek Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Sterna paradisaea

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Leucophaeus atricilla

Larus cachinnans

Black-throated Loon

Leach's Storm Petrel

Hydrobates leucorhous

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Ardeola ralloides

Rough-legged Buzzard

Lophophanes cristatus

Eurasian Penduline Tit

Remiz pendulinus

Bearded Reedling

Panurus biarmicus

Lullula arborea

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus bonelli

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Aquatic Warbler

Acrocephalus paludicola

Locustella luscinioides

Common Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naevia

Dartford Warbler

Tichodroma muraria

Turdus torquatus

Richard's Pipit

Anthus richardi

Anthus trivialis

European Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosus

Eurasian Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Loxia curvirostra

Eurasian Siskin

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Anser caerulescens

Taiga Bean Goose

Cairina moschata

Melanitta perspicillata

Melanitta fusca

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

White-headed Duck

Oxyura leucocephala

Reeves's Pheasant

Syrmaticus reevesii

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

Black-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudus

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Stercorarius skua

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Red-throated Loon

European Storm Petrel

Hydrobates pelagicus

Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis

Balearic Shearwater

Puffinus mauretanicus

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Hieraaetus pennatus

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocoptes medius

Black Woodpecker

Dryocopus martius

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Nymphicus hollandicus

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Melopsittacus undulatus

Greater Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Plectrophenax nivalis

Western Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Western Red Deer

Lepus europaeus

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Myocastor coypus

European Garden Dormouse

Eliomys quercinus

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

Ondatra zibethicus

Rattus norvegicus

West European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

Greater White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura russula

European Pine Marten

European Badger

Mustela erminea

Mustela nivalis

Southwestern Water Vole

Arvicola sapidus

Short-tailed Field Vole

Microtus agrestis

Microtus arvalis

Clethrionomys glareolus

Long-tailed Field Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

Eurasian Harvest Mouse

Micromys minutus

Lesser White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura suaveolens

Eurasian Pygmy Shrew

Bechstein's Myotis

Myotis bechsteinii

Daubenton's Myotis

Myotis daubentonii

Geoffroy's Myotis

Myotis emarginatus

Common Whiskered Myotis

Myotis mystacinus

Natterer's Myotis

Myotis nattereri

Leisler's Noctule

Nyctalus leisleri

Nyctalus noctula

Kuhl's Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus kuhlii

Nathusius's Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus nathusii

Common Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Soprano Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus pygmaeus

Western Barbastelle

Barbastella barbastellus

Brown Long-eared Bat

Plecotus auritus

Gray Long-eared Bat

Plecotus austriacus

Greater Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus hipposideros

European Polecat

Mustela putorius

Halichoerus grypus

Panglobal Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Long-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala melas

Harbor Porpoise

Phocoena phocoena

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