Birdwatcher’s Guide to South Vendée’s Top Nature Reserves
Birdwatching in South Vendée: A Paradise for Nature Lovers
Top Birdwatching Spots in South Vendée
Just a 20-minute walk (5-minute drive) from Maison Lairoux, this extensive marshland is alive with activity, particularly in the spring and autumn. Look out for herons, egrets, and curlews, as well as marsh harriers & buzzards patrolling the skies. In winter, the Marais floods and transforms into a haven for swans, geese, and other overwintering species.
You can find out more about the Marais Communal de Lairoux on this link.
A designated national nature reserve, this site is a birdwatcher's delight. Visit the observation platform for close encounters with white storks, spoonbills, and black-winged stilts. Spring brings the thrill of seeing lapwings and avocets, while autumn migration showcases flocks of cranes, godwits and redshanks.
Click on this link to see more details about events and opening hours for the Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Saint-Denis du Payré
This coastal gem offers a dramatic backdrop for birdwatching. Known for its tidal flats, it attracts thousands of waders, including oystercatchers, plovers, and sandpipers. In the winter, this area becomes a sanctuary for Brent geese and great cormorants.
Click here for more information about the birds and landscape of the Baie d'Aiguillon
A romantic name for a birding hotspot! Here, you’ll find redshanks, pipets, and occasionally bluethroats flitting over the hedgerows. The nearby dunes provide a nesting site for ringed plovers in spring.
Click here to find out more about the Rade d'Amour
Close to Champagné-le-Marais, this regional reserve is a hidden treasure for spotting purple herons, little grebes, and even bitterns. It’s an excellent location for patient birdwatchers with a love for quieter surroundings.
Click here to learn more about the Marais de la Vachérie
A lesser-known gem, this reserve is ideal for spotting reed warblers, bearded tits, and even elusive Eurasian spoonbills. Spring and summer bring a cacophony of birdsong as the marshes come alive with activity.
Click here to find out more about the Réserve des Huttes at Nalliers
What Birds Can You See and When?
Spring: A burst of life with migratory arrivals like swallows, swifts, and warblers. Marshes host black-tailed godwits, while storks return to nesting poles.
Summer: Breeding season for terns, egrets, and herons. Coastal areas are lively with little terns diving for fish.
Autumn: The southward migration begins, with flocks of waders and raptors such as ospreys passing through.
Winter: Wetlands fill with ducks, geese, and lapwings, while birds of prey like the hen harrier and hibou des marais (short-eared owl) are commonly seen hunting over the marshes.
Equipment for a Perfect Birdwatching Holiday
For a successful birdwatching trip in Vendée, bring a good pair of binoculars, a spotting scope for distant sightings, and a bird identification guide tailored to French species. Comfortable walking boots and weather-appropriate clothing are also essential. A camera with a telephoto lens is ideal for capturing the region's birdlife in its full glory.
At Maison Lairoux, you can unwind after a day of birdwatching. Our holiday homes offer panoramic views of the wetland valley, allowing you to spot birds such as storks and buzzards right from the terrace, plus over 30 different species of garden birds. With the serene beauty of South Vendée all around, it’s the perfect setting for a nature-filled getaway.
Plan your next birdwatching adventure in South Vendée and discover why this region is a favourite among bird enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, the stunning landscapes and incredible birdlife promise an unforgettable experience.
Click on any of the images below to view as a gallery of larger images.
Not sure what birds you have seen or heard?
If, like me, you hear lots of birds in the garden or out and about in the countryside, but you're not really sure what it is - then try the Merlin Bird ID App. You can download the App onto your mobile phone and then record the bird song, with suggestions for identifying the birds. A warning though, it is an addictive App! You find yourself listening out for birds all the time and whipping out your phone to catch a new tune. You can create a 'life list' of birds that you have spotted - so far I'm up to nearly 90 different species - mostly found in our gardens and along the coast.
Click on this link to find out more information and to download the App to your phone: Merlin Bird ID
Merlin Bird ID Home Screen
Merlin Bird ID Sound Recording
Merlin Bird ID Life List
Have a look at some of the birds we can see in our gardens here at Maison Lairoux Holiday Cottages
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