to meet the seals of Somme bay with Bernard, nature guide 'Qualinat'
The Somme bay hosts the largest french colony of seals that take advantage of the low tide to rest on the sandbanks. It's is the best time to meet a part of the 190 grey seals and 650
common seals.
Observation outings are fonction, each day, of low tide hour. Consult the CALENDER to know the days and times of departure to go to "A la
rencontre des hôtes de la baie"
The Somme bay covers an area of 7200 hectares composed of sandbanks, greasy swampy lands "mollières" (where salt meadows sheep graze) naturally drained by channels, pantry of many birds.
phoque baie de Somme - phoque baie de Somme
Seals, hosts of Somme bay : the seals bay ...
phoque baie de Somme - phoque baie de Somme
since very long time, the seals tolerate us and welcome us to their territories. Human stupidity went so far that they almost disappeared from our coasts. Today as yesterday, we go at their
home when we are going to observe them at the Hourdel or elsewhere on our shores. We are their guests and as such we must respect them hence the name of my walk: "at the meet of bay
Hosts".
From April to October, "Les Balad'eux" brings you to meet the largest colony of common seals and grey seals of France as well as grey seals that have joined them for a few years. From the
Hourdel, starting point in the Somme Bay, I make you discover their history, their rhythm of life ... and thus participate in their safeguarding and protection. Depending on the season, birds
and plants (edible) are also observed and studied.
phoque baie de Somme - phoque baie de Somme
phoque baie de Somme - phoque baie de Somme
The walk …
phoque baie de Somme - phoque baie de Somme
on the "route blanche" in Hourdel, a ray of sunshine illuminates the bay that awaits us under its canopy of lights at every moment different and always shimmering. On the horizon, on the other bay side, the Crotoy, the Marquenterre park. A small breeze invites us to follow its breath towards over there to the seafront. Its the beginning of the adventure. She invites us into the dune covered with known plants with often unknown virtues. Our stroll brings us on the pebble cord, "the blue gold", before descending on the foreshore still wet that our companion the breeze tries to dry. Its the moment of a first observation of the sirens of the bay. We can see them, small black dots on the sandbanks, banks of the river that seeks, lazily, to reach the sea. The lights, the breath of Aeolus and a few pinchs of dry sand carried by him indicate us the path to follow to say hello to the seals. One, two, sometimes three intermediate stops before reaching the ultimate, one that will leave you all the time to observe, to photograph the hosts of the bay. The guide will make you profit from his knowledge of the environment where you evolve. During these magical moments, in front of this immensity, the dream settles until the moment we have to come back to the reality and return. You will observe seals with long sight. At this distance, difficult to make good shots, unless equipped with a super telephoto lens. Thanks to the material put at your disposal, you you can go back with your photos. All you need is an SD card. On the way back we will stop in the small cove where salicorne and "pig ears" are waiting to meet you to be tasted . Before leaving, we will taste a cake made by Françoise, accompanied by an herbal tea.
phoque baie de Somme - phoque baie de Somme