France 3: Canihuel and the Pink Granite Coast

Another day of beautiful weather started with Swallows on the wire just outside my bedroom.

European Barn Swallow

Dainty Damselfly, Coenargrion scitulum. This is a rare species in Britain. It is identified by its pale pterostigmata (wing spots).

Emperor Dragonfly

We drove north to the Pink Granite coast, visiting the beautiful beach at La Greve Blanche. The large pink crystals found in the granite were easy to see.

Despite their presence on the coast, I think these are Meadow Pipits. The pink legs, clear streaking on the breast and lack of supercilious (eye stripe) rules out Rock Pipit.

Common Blue

My first ever Grayling, on the lsland of the Rabbit, which is accessible from the beach at La Greve Blanche at low tide.

The Isle of Rabbits

The Pink Granite Coast

Sea Holly

White-tailed Bumblebees feeding on the Sea Holly at La Greve Blanche.

Heading west along the coast we stopped at Quellen Marsh nature reserve and walked through the woodland.

Meadow Brown

Cirl Bunting at Quellen Marsh

The journey home was enlivened by the entry to the car of a Giant Wood Wasp. This harmless species looks terrifying, but this female's ovipositor is not a sting. Bad news if you are the insect host to its egg though.

This Common Toad was active just after dusk back in Canihuel. We also saw a pair of Coypu in the lake.