June 1-11, 2025 with Marcelo Padua
There are few better ways of spending a few days in spring than touring the countryside of France while birding, immersing yourself in history, and enjoying fine wines paired with exquisite food. So that is exactly what we did.
Our group met at the Paris airport and we quickly made our way out of the big city into the small town of Chinon, famous for being the town of Joan of Arc, and for producing some of the finest red wines from the Loire Valley. We spent four nights here exploring the beautiful Chinon Forest, where we found species like the elusive Eurasian Golden Oriole, Western Bonelli’s Warbler and Eurasian Nuthatch, as well as some agricultural fields that hosted Little Owls, Corn Buntings, European Stonechats and many others. Out there, we also got our first taste of wetland birding at Etang D’assay and found our first Red-crested Pochards, Whiskered Terns, Great Crested Grebes and Common Terns among others.
Another special outing we made had us visiting the Meron Grasslands, where we encountered displaying Little Bustards, Eurasian Thicknees, Eurasian Skylark and Montagu’s Harrier.
On the historical side of things, we enjoyed a tour of one of Europe’s most important abbeys, as well as the Villandry Chateau that is home to one of the most impressive gardens in the Loire Valley and perhaps Europe, before packing up and moving to Cour-Cheverny where we would spend the following four nights.
From Cour-Cheverny we ventured out to the mosaic of parcs that form La Brenne Natural Park, and found a number of interesting species, including Black Stork, Common Reed Warbler, Mediterranean Gull, Eurasian Moorhen, Eurasian Coot and Tufted Ducks, as well as some forested habitats that got us onto Lesser, Middle and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black Woodpecker, Eurasian Wryneck, Goldcrest and Cirl Bunting, just to name a few.
We also explored the magnificent Chateau de Chambord, one of the largest Chateaux of the Loire Valley and Chateau de Chennonceau with its unique gallery over the Cher River.
This was definitely an unforgettable tour with wonderful meals, excellent wines, fabulous birds, and an amazing group. I have enjoyed it thoroughly and I hope you enjoyed it too.
Listed below you will find all the wonderful wines we got to try during our time in the Loire.
Winery, Wine name, Appellation, Wine type, Vintage
Domaine de La Commanderie, Blanc Petillant Naturel, Sparkling, No Vintage
Domaine de La Commanderie, Elegance, Chinon, White Wine, 2023
Domaine de La Commanderie, Elegance, Chinon, White Wine, 2023
Haitre de Chai, Quentin Gaufreteau, Pouilly Fume, White Wine, 2022
Chateau de la Bonneliere, Les Devants de la Bonneliere, Touraine, White Wine, 2023
Earl Brocourt, Les Truffieres, Chinon, White Wine, 2022
Pierre Sourdais, Les Cornuelles, Chinon, White Wine, 2022
Domaine Dozon, Le Grand Saut, Chinon, Red Wine, 2021
Comte Leloup, Cuvee des Ceps Centenaires, Mouscadet Sevre, White Wine, 2014
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, Les Blancs Closeaux , Chinon, White, 2024
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, Cremant de Loire, Chinon, Sparkling, No Vintage
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, “R”, Chinon, Rose, 2024
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, Chenin , Chinon, Red, 2022
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, “C” , Chinon, Red, 2023
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, “V” , Chinon, Red, 2018
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, Saint Louans , Chinon, Red, 2021
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, La Haute Olive, Chinon, Red, 2018
Pierre & Bertrand Couly, Les 4 Aiment, Chinon, Red, 2022
Domaine Des Bouquerries, Plaisir, Chinon, Rose, 2022
Domaine Charles Pain, Petit Pain au Raisin, Chinon, Red , 2024
Domaine de Huards, Pure, Cheverny, White Wine, 2021
Benoit Daridan, L’intemporel, Cheverny, White Wine, 2023
Domaine Du Croc Du Merle, Cheverny, White Wine, 2021
Amirault Vignerons, Armantine, Cremant de Loire, Sparkling, No Vintage
La Poussie, La Poussie, Sancerre, White Wine, 2023
Domaine de La Commanderie, Rose de Saignee, Chinon, Rose, 2022
Ca Croix, Chavet, Menetou-Salon, 2023
Phillipe, Loquineau, Cuvee Salamande, Cour-cheverny, White Wine, 2020
Domaine Regis Minet, Desert, Poully Fumé, White Wine, 2022
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/440119
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/flv25TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Marcelo Padua