The south‑west coast of Brittany is indented with harbours similar to those of Portsmouth, Pagham and Poole on the south coast of Britain. The first such indentation we look at is the Etel estuary. At high tide on a calm day it belongs on a picture postcard, but it could also be an interesting place for birds sheltering from a storm. There are many islands, some inhabited, which would increase the sheltering effect of the place and make a boat almost a necessity for exploring it properly.
A woman who was walking two dogs and a child along the shore tells us that, this winter, a large flock of white storks has turned up. She is obviously interested in birds but, as her English is like my French, the conversation does not go any further.
We stop for the night at Kerhillion Beach, facing the Atlantic. The weather is very calm, and there is a full moon. Out on the sea there are hundreds of black headed gulls ‑ all adults ‑ and more gulls roosting on rocky offshore islets. Also great-crested grebes and cormorants, and three small duck unidentifiable in the fading light.
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