Region covered by this guide
This guidebook covers the Dordogne region of south-west France, centred on the Dordogne and Vézère valleys. It includes the limestone causses and grasslands around Terrasson, Daglan and Paussac, the forests of the Double, Landais and Bessède, the agricultural plateaux around Faux and Verteillac and the higher country towards the Massif Central.
The Crossbill Guide is a thorough and practical guide for birdwatchers, naturalists and nature lovers. It offers background information, routes and site descriptions, plus tips on finding and watching birds, wildlife and wildflowers. The book combines mostly easy walking routes with car itineraries featuring stops and short walks.
Some key sites described in this book
- Dordogne Valley
- Vézère Valley
- Cingle de Trémolat
- Plateau de Faux
- Forêt de la Bessède
- Beune Valley
- Causse de Terrasson
- Plaine de Verteillac
- Plateau d’Argentine
Why visit Dordogne for its wildlife
Dordogne offers a beautiful mosaic of forests, traditional farmland, limestone grasslands and river valleys, set in a rolling landscape of villages and quiet countryside. The Dordogne and Vézère rivers, together with scattered wetlands and dry limestone habitats, create an exceptional variety of habitats within a relatively small area.
The region is particularly rewarding for orchids, butterflies and birdwatching. Hoopoe, Cirl Bunting, Short-toed Eagle and Scops Owl are characteristic birds, while the limestone grasslands are rich in orchids and butterflies. A dense network of quiet lanes, tracks and footpaths makes Dordogne an excellent region for walking and exploring its wildlife at a leisurely pace.
Read more on our Wildlife Site Page about Dordogne.
Some key species you may find with this book
- Black-winged Kite
- Stone-curlew
- Wallcreeper
- Hoopoe
- Scops Owl
- Rock Sparrow
- Short-toed Eagle
- Booted Eagle
- Cirl Bunting
- Dartford Warbler
- Crag Martin
- European Pond Terrapin
- Western Whip Snake
- Lesser Purple Emperor
- False Ringlet
- Marsh Fritillary
- Great Sooty Satyr
- Pronged Clubtail
- Violet Limodore
- Tongue Orchid
- Woodcock Orchid
About the authors
David Simpson (UK, 1958) is a wildlife guide living and working in Dordogne. Before moving to the region in 2002, he worked as a warden at various UK nature reserves, including Ravenglass and Ainsdale Sand Dunes in north-west England. David is an all-round naturalist with a special interest in butterflies and birds.
Frank Jouandoudet (FR, 1965) is a teacher, naturalist and photographer who currently lives on the Gironde coast after a period in Dordogne. Frank has written several books on orchids and other wildlife in his home region of Aquitaine in south-west France.
J.Y. Barnagaud –
This exhaustive and detailed guide is clearly written by a naturalist for naturalists. A major feature is its extensive coverage across multiple taxonomic groups including birds, mammals, insects and plants, while remaining simple and synthetic enough to get straight to the point once on the field. It is just as useful for a visitor in search of general knowledge on Dordogne’s nature as for a skilled naturalist determined to take the outmost of the region. The level of detail relative to site descriptions demonstrates the authors’ expertise. A reference fieldguide for a region which has a lot to offer.