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Eyne Bird Migration Spot

Cerdagne, Pays Catalan  >  France

Autumnal place to be for migration of raptors. Due to the aircurrents, the valley of the Tet provides an excellent circuit for birds heading south.

Added* by rick dubbeldam
Most recent update 23 september 2021

Description

The Eyne plateau is one of the main autumn sites for the migration of raptors. Located on a high plateau in a corridor area at the crossroads of the Tet Valley, the Aude and the Sègre, the Eyne migration spot enjoys a prime place for migration observation since it offers the advantage of being able to capture the flows of birds arriving through the two valleys (Aude and Tet). Every autumn, some 15.000 or 20.000 soaring birds follow the la Têt and Aude valleys: bocian čierny, bocian biely, haja červená, haja tmavá, jastrab krahulec, 4 species of harriers and kršiak rybár. Včelár lesný is by far the most numerous raptor accounting for 70% of the raptor total, between 11.000 and 15.000 individuals. hadiar krátkoprstý is also numerous with over a 1000 individuals in autumn. In fact, Eyne is the best site for hadiar krátkoprstý in France and the second most important site in Western Europe after Gibraltar. Many other species also occur in good numbers: včelárik zlatý, trasochvost žltý, lastovička obyčajná, belorítka obyčajná, brehuľa hnedá and dážďovník obyčajný. On top of a small hill, the local birding group has placed a hut and in season (from the beginning of August to the end of October) counts the birds during the migration specatacle.

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Français: Se situe sur l'un des principaux axes migratoires européens automnale. Le col voit ainsi passer 15 000 à 20 000 grands planeurs qui remontent chaque année la vallée de la Têt et la vallée de l'Aude : Cigognes noire et blanche, Milans noir et royal, Epervier d'Europe, Busards (4 espèces), Faucons (dont l'Eléonore), Balbuzard pêcheur, mais surtout Bondrée apivore (plus de 70 % de l'ensemble des rapaces qui migrent sur ce site, soit entre 11 000 et 15 000 oiseaux) et Circaète Jean-le-Blanc dont les effectifs sont particulièrement remarquables (plus de 1000 circaètes peuvent y être dénombrés en automne, faisant d’Eyne le principal site de migration français pour ce grand aigle migrateur, et le deuxième d’Europe après Gibraltar). On peut également y observer d'autres espèces remarquables lors des pics de passage, comme le Guêpier d'Europe, la Bergeronnette printanière, ou encore des milliers de martinets et hirondelles.

Details

Access

You can park next to hill. Click on the P in the map to get directions.

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Français: Vous pouvez vous garer à côté de la colline. Cliquez sur le P dans la carte pour obtenir les directions.

Terrain and Habitat

Plateau , Grassland

Conditions

Mountainous

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Autumn , Spring

Best time to visit

Autumn , Autumn migration

Route

Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Links

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Map

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