Lilleau des Niges nature reserve — birdwatchers paradise
The Lilleau des Niges nature reserve is a perfect for bird-watching – 310 species have been seen on the reserve including all three harriers, shelducks, pintail ducks, bluethroats, black-winged stilts, avocets, terns, egrets, brent geese and storks. In September see up to 3000 Black-tailed godwits and many, many spoonbills.
It is worth a visit whatever the season as the reserve is a breeding ground, migratory stop-off point as well as where many birds overwinter including wildfowl such as Brent Geese, and Short-eared Owls. It’s an excellent place to see breeding Bluethroats. Created in 1980 on what were once salt plans, it covers 195 hectares and is run by the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO).
Visitors can walk or cycle the circular trail through the salt marshes, lagoons and mudflats. It’s at its best from three hours before high tide, and there are also a number of guided walks, some even at night, that focus on the area’s flora and fauna.
The starting point for a visit to the reserve de Lilleau des Niges is the Maison du Fier – it’s sign-posted off the main road through Les Portes-en-Ré. What was once a shed used during the production of salt, it has been converted into a very good visitor centre with information on the history of the island as well as on the nature reserve.
Address and Contact Information
LPO / Maison du Fier
Route du vieux-port
17880 Les Portes-en-Ré
Tel: +33 5 46 29 50 74
Website: ile-de-re.lpo.fr