At Château le Verdoyer, nestled in the heart of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park, nature is not just a backdrop — it is a living presence. This campsite in Champs Romain, Dordogne, is a sanctuary for some thirty bird species observable throughout the season. From the first light of dawn until the silence of midnight, a constant concert accompanies your stay.
The Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park is home to hundreds of bird species.
Whether you like it or not, a feathered choir will wake you at Château le Verdoyer well before sunrise.
The Serenade Singers of Dawn
These artists include the Common Blackbird, the Blackcap, and the Winter Wren for the quieter ones. The European Turtle Dove is certainly less discreet when it begins its song.
Regulars at the campsite
During the day, it is not uncommon to spot the European Goldfinch bustling about, alongside the Common Chaffinch, the Common Redstart, and the aptly named European Greenfinch.
Our camping friends from Northern Europe may recognize (with pleasure?) the Common Firecrest and the European Serin.
With a bit of luck, you might be dazzled by the multi-colored Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) taking flight above the fishing pond—where enthusiasts and connoisseurs will also be able to identify and appreciate the Melodious Warbler.
The Kings of the Sky
During your walks outside the campsite, keep an eye on the telephone wires: this is the impromptu perch where European Bee-eaters, European Stonechats, Yellowhammers, and Lesser Grey Shrikes gather to whistle at passersby.
The sky is also richly populated with Common Buzzards, Common Kestrels, and Eurasian Hobbies. Connoisseurs will also recognize the European Honey Buzzard or the Montagu’s Harrier—increasingly rare, but found hunting over the fields here.
Inhabitants of the Forest
The forests are teeming with pigeons, woodpeckers, and jays, as well as Wood Warblers and the Golden Oriole. Keep a close watch, and you might even encounter a Hoopoe.
Let us not forget the Eurasian Nuthatch, which has taken up residence in the large trees surrounding the campsite, as well as the Grey Wagtail—aptly named as it nests above the many streams that ripple through the Périgord Vert.
To learn more… open your eyes and ears!
The Guardian of the Night
Ah yes, one more thing: do not be alarmed if, around midnight, you hear a shrill cry piercing the night. It is simply our Barn Owl (Tyto alba) that haunts our attics and goes hunting at nightfall. Sleep soundly—in fact, she is the one watching over you…
