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Étang de la Cantache

Rennes  >  France

Reservoir with some small islands and a circular walking and cycling track. The lake is especially interesting in winter and during autumn migration.

Added* by Thierry Martin
Most recent update 14 July 2023
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Description

The Etang de la Cantache is a fairly big reservoir. There are a few small islands in the lake that are worth checking out. The reservoir is especially interesting in winter when large groups of waterbirds and many species of ducks can be observed. For example Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and Common Teal. Also more rare species such as Goosander and Northern Pintail. Depending on the water level during migration the lake also attracts waders like Common Snipe, Ruff and Dunlin. Especially in September and October when the water level is low and mudflats appear, many other wader species make a stop here. Among the other birds you can encounter around Etang de la Cantache are Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, European Golden Plover (winter), Northern Lapwing, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Common Kingfisher and European Stonechat. Note that in the summer months most birds are absent and it can be very quiet.

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Français: L'étang de la Cantache est une retenue d'eau d’Ille-et-Vilaine à l'ouest de Vitré situé sur la Cantache. L'étang accueille des espèces communes, mais est surtout intéressant pour les oiseaux d'eaux qu'on peut notamment observer en hiver : canards colverts, canards siffleurs, canards souchets, grèbes huppés, grèbes castagneux, grands cormorans, mouettes rieuses, sarcelles d'hiver, fuligules morillons, hérons cendrés, poules d'eau et foulques macroules. Remarque : pendant les mois d'été, la plupart des oiseaux sont absents.

Details

Access

The Etang de la Cantache is a reservoir located in Ille-et-Vilaine northwest of the city of Vitré and 30 km east of the city of Rennes. Click on a P in the map for directions to a parking. A circular route of about 7 km runs around the lake.

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Français: L'étang de la Cantache est une retenue d'eau d’Ille-et-Vilaine à l'ouest de Vitré situé sur la Cantache. Cliquez sur un P sur la carte pour vous diriger vers un parking. Un parcours circulaire d'environ 7 km fait le tour du lac.

Terrain and Habitat

Lake , Scattered trees and bushes

Conditions

Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Winter

Best time to visit

Winter , Autumn migration

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

Photo of the Cantache reservoir and dam by Jacques Le Letty, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Common Teal
1. Common Teal
(Anas crecca)
Dunlin
2. Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)
Great Egret
3. Great Egret
(Ardea alba)
Northern Lapwing
4. Northern Lapwing
(Vanellus vanellus)
European Stonechat
5. European Stonechat
(Saxicola rubicola)

Other birds you can see here

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