I observe marine fauna in the Chausey and Minquiers archipelagos

Contact

Sébastien Provost – 06 23 57 45 88 or contact@birding-msm.com

Rates

80 € / adult 60 € / – 18 years old 50€ / – 12 years old

Reduced rate for groups and families (1 free admission for 6 people or more). Other dates can be arranged for individuals and private groups.

Experience bookable online at: birding-msm.com

Duration

Approximately 8 hours, including 1h30 on the Grande Ile de Chausey.

Location

Meeting point: in front of the Granville ferry terminal entrance – rue des Isles 50400 GRANVILLE

Practical info

Equipment: Bring warm clothing and a raincoat, closed shoes, a hat or cap, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring a picnic lunch on board. Observations will be more profitable if you have a camera and binoculars (loan possible), as observations are sometimes very close-up and exceptional on board the launch.

Instant boarding

for the Chausey archipelago!

Your morning appointment is at the Granville ferry terminal, where you’ll meet Sébastien, ornithologist-naturalist guide and founder of Birding Mont-Saint-Michel, accompanied by two other naturalist observers. You’ll board one of the Jolie France shuttles that run regular services to the Grande Ile in the Chausey archipelago. Sébastien explains how your day will unfold. He also encourages you to download the NaturaList application, which will be an invaluable tool for your contribution as a bird, seal and whale watcher*. A marine wildlife charter (download below) is also available. *During the crossing to the Grande Ile, Sébastien and the observers hand out a booklet showing the different species to help you recognize them. They give you the basics on how to identify the animals you see. If you don’t have your own binoculars, a few pairs are available for close-up observation. Once the other passengers have disembarked on the Grande Ile, you can take advantage of this quiet time to picnic on board the shuttle and chat with the other participants. The shuttle then heads back out to sea, rounding the Chausey archipelago to the east via the Beauchamps pass to offer you breathtaking views of the archipelago. Sébastien then introduces you to the islets, their heritage and human activities, particularly fishing, which is very present on Chausey. Observations of the seabird colonies enrich your discovery. During this hour, you’re sure to catch a glimpse of the grey seals resting on the rocks, from a distance and in a calm atmosphere so as not to disturb them.

Download the marine wildlife charter
45KB

Set course for bottlenose dolphins

around the Archipel des Minquiers!

You then head for the Channel Islands of Les Minquiers. You take advantage of this time to listen attentively to Sébastien, who presents the first part of the theory on a large screen. The aim is to familiarize you with the main characteristics of marine mammals and seabirds, as well as their biology and representative species. The team will emphasize their protection and, more broadly, the preservation of the oceans. But first things first! As soon as a bottlenose dolphin or a particular bird is spotted, pull out your binoculars! At all times, sightings are reported live via the microphone, and you can hurry back up on deck. After all, this is the Dolphin‘s home turf. According to the G.E.C.C. andAl.Lark organizations, there are over 400 individuals in this marine area of the “Normandy-Breton Gulf”, the largest population in Western Europe. Once you’re close to thearchipelago, the shuttle slows down to let you enjoy and, above all, observe. Sébastien introduces you to the Minquiers and its characteristic fauna. At the same time, if a group of bottlenose dolphins decide to approach, the silence falls, a privileged moment for this encounter which, even if fleeting, never leaves you indifferent… It’s also the time for naturalists to get to know the Minquiers.It’s also the time for professional naturaliststo identify the individuals, and for you, budding naturalists, to enter your observations live on the application, or at least to continue annotating them on your document so as not to lose a crumb of these moments…

You take part

protecting marine species

thanks to their observation!

The shuttle returns to French waters, rounding theChausey Archipelago to the south, and Sébastien takes over to introduce you to some less common species, while inviting you to debrief your observations and take part in a quiz to exchange ideas with the other passengers. You then enter your observations on the NaturaList application, which acts as a relay between specialized associations (GMN, GONm, LPO) and the ObsEnMer platform. At this point, Sébastien presents you with your Marine Observer of the Day diploma, proving your participatory commitment and helping to safeguard all these species through knowledge and counting. Time for a break! A 1h30 stopover on the Grande Ile de Chausey awaits you, allowing you to stretch your legs and discover this natural jewel via the signposted paths, or to rest on a sandbank. You can also go birdwatching with Sébastien, equipped with his telescope. Finally, you leave with the passengers who have spent the day on the island, and the last opportunity forbirdwatching is yours to share with your neighbors, who will be amazed at your new knowledge!