02/01/25 Wallcreeper, Les Andelys Normandie

I’ve tried looking for Wallcreepers in multiple mountain ranges aswell as reliable winter sites in Cyprus and France and its never worked out. Ive been putting off twitching one for long enough and so before xmas formed a plan to spend New years looking for a bird that turned up on a Chalk cliff above the banks of the Seine in Les Andelys, Normandie – less than 3 hours SW from Calais.

Present since early November there were a few sightings on ebird mid December and a friend living in France assured me it was reported for a few consecutive days just before Christmas so a plan was hatched and Amy and I boarded a ferry and headed down there on the 31st.

Not such an unfamiliar thing to look at, these craggs are formed from the same Chalk strata as the Dover cliffs. A nervous 35 mins were spent looking for the bird early(ish) on New years day, I eventually caught a glimpse of it up busily feeding high up on the above cliff and basically detonated with excitement… Excellent prolonged scope views when suddenly the bird flew to the neighbouring cliff, much closer to where I was stood, and eventually came down to the lower levels, thrilling views of a mind blowing bird.

I watched the bird continuously for almost 2 hours, views of it on a chalk cliff too were extra meaningful, and quite painful on the neck! I gave the camera some time but not much as light was poor and views were much more fun. At around 12.30 the bird disappeared into a cave high up and didn’t come out. We came back after some lunch and it was feeding high up again and enjoyed some more scope views.

I may go back before winter is over, feel free to get in touch for gen, its easily done from Kent or Sussex channel crossings. emailpartridge@gmail.com