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Autumn Migration
Le Hâble d'Ault becomes a crucial stopover for thousands of birds heading to their African winter quarters. This walk focuses on identifying autumn migrants and understanding their migratory strategies.
Encounter greylag geese in large flocks, northern shovelers, tufted ducks, and common shelducks. Learn to read V-formation flight patterns, understand tidal rhythms and feeding zones. An outing to capture the richness of the Picardy coast at a pivotal moment in the year. Autumn colours add an aesthetic dimension: yellowed reed foliage, low luminous skies, golden evening light. A privileged moment for observation and photography. Your guide will explain why some birds prefer autumn to leave the North, how they prepare physically (fat accumulation), and the distances covered (sometimes over 5,000 km non-stop). We will also take time to observe behaviours: synchronized flights, rest stops, tidal feeding strategies, interactions between species. All these clues tell the story of the migratory corridor.
The outing is suitable for beginners as well as experienced enthusiasts, in a friendly spirit: we take our time, we share, we progress together.
Bring waterproof boots (humid terrain depending on sector), warm waterproof clothing (wind can be strong on the bay in autumn), and binoculars if possible (some advice will be given on-site).
👉 What to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, waterproof footwear; binoculars recommended (rental available on request). Hot herbal tea offered during breaks.
Venue Information - The Hâble d'Ault
A former maritime lagoon sheltered from the sea by an impressive pebble spit, the Hâble d'Ault stretches over approximately 180 hectares between Cayeux-sur-Mer and Ault, south of the Somme Bay. This unique geomorphological site owes its existence to the slow erosion of the Norman chalk and flint cliffs, whose pebbles carried by littoral drift formed a natural rampart against the Channel's onslaughts.
Closed off from the sea in 1766 by the construction of the Grand Barrement dyke, the site was once the largest fishing centre in northern France during the Middle Ages, before being converted to agriculture and then hunting. Now managed as a wildlife and hunting reserve by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), it stands as one of the most significant ornithological sites on the French coastline.
Over 270 migratory bird species have been recorded here since the late 19th century. The reserve is a critical waypoint on the Atlantic flyway migratory corridor: greylag geese, Garganey, northern shovelers, Eurasian spoonbills, pied avocets and numerous shorebirds stop over in spring and autumn. The botanical wealth is equally remarkable, with nearly 250 plant species, some of which — such as sea kale (Crambe maritima) — are nationally protected.
Between brackish waters, reedbeds and pebbles, the Hâble d'Ault offers a landscape that is both mineral and alive, where each tide reshapes the feeding and resting grounds of hundreds of birds. An exceptional exploration ground for any naturalist.
Gallery
Ticket Information
| Ticket Type | Price | Available Place |
|---|---|---|
|
DEVORNI-AULT-001-A Ticket Adulte |
€15.00 | 12 |
|
DEVORNI-AULT-001-E Ticket Enfant (moins de 12 ans) |
€10.00 | 12 |
Location Map
Speaker(s)
Gregory Brouilliard
Naturalist Guide
As a naturalist guide, passionate amateur photographer, and ornithologist at heart, I invite you to walk at my pace—the pace of attentive observation.
My story is woven between France and Taiwan, two lands that shaped how I view nature: precise and analytical on one hand, deeply sensory and respectful of living things on the other.
Birds have led me along countless trails, my camera taught me patience, and it's this enduring enthusiasm that I'm eager to share with you today.
(Call at no extra charge)
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Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
