Tours for Bird Watching, Butterfly Spotting and general Wildlife

Les Magnolias workes close together with Speyside Wildlife Speyside Wildlife is a specialist wildlife holiday company based in the Highlands of Scotland. We offer holidays in the UK, Europe and long-haul destinations all over the world, plus day trips in the UK and bespoke holidays for individuals and groups. In 2027 we are delighted to be returning to the Dordogne and look forward to staying at Les Magnolias Hotel – which has come highly recommended! We last came to this area in 2019 and loved the relaxed atmosphere, the beautiful scenery and of course the great variety of wildlife. Our holiday here, while still including many birds, is very much aimed at the general naturalist rather than the keen birder, as there is so much to see – so many butterflies and dragonflies, a few mammals and we shall be teaming up with local botanist Corine Oosterlee, so we can enjoy an astonishing selection of orchids and other wild flowers. We’ll visit Rouffignac Caves, where over 200 astonishing prehistoric drawings can be seen on the cave walls, including mammoths, woolly rhinoceros, horses, bison and ibex. It is a relaxed pace holiday and we look forward to staying at Les Magnolias to add to the enjoyment of it all.

Les Magnolias works also closely with David Simpson as a private wildlife guide who has lived in Dordogne for over 15 years and is the author of ‘Birding Dordogne’ and the ‘Crossbill (Wildlife) Guide to Dordogne’. The trips are led by David Simpson, he will be pleased to answer your questions about the wildlife, the local area and living in Dordogne. 

Apart from butterflies there is a good range of moths with over 500 species recorded here, including the Giant Peacock Moth, Clifden Nonpareil, Hummingbird and Bee Hawk-moths and Tau Emperor. Dragonflies are also notable with around 50 species recorded locally including specialities such as the Western Spectre and Orange Spotted Emerald. Other invertebrates are similarly diverse.

In spring from late March there is a beautiful display of orchids and wild flowers including the orchids: Lady, Sombre Bee, Woodcock, Lizard, Red Helleborine and Violet Limodore. Unusual wild flowers include the lavendar-like Staelelina dubia and Swallow-wort.

Birdwatching in Dordogne is surprisingly rewarding for an inland French département. In the summertime around most villages one can find the classic rural French mix of hoopoe, golden oriole, serin, cirl bunting, black redstart, cuckoo and turtle dove. Searching a little further can reveal red-backed and woodchat shrike, honey buzzard, short-toed eagle and hen harrier, to name but a few. On the dry farming zones there are crested lark, Scops owl, rock sparrow, quail and stone curlew and if you are really lucky, maybe one of the last little bustard. At migration times a vast array of birds pass through the region including osprey, purple heron, booted eagle, bee-eater and large numbers of pied flycatchers. Local reservoirs and the main river are good spots to search for waders, waterbirds and raptors.

Winter is the time to search for some of the Dordogne’s most elusive species. Resident black and middle spotted woodpeckers are active, as are eagle owls. Around the cliffs, wallcreeper and alpine accentor can be found, whilst in the countryside you may come across water pipit and rock bunting.

In fact you never quite know what may turn up. We have recorded well over 100 species around Lalinde.

Les Magnolias is located directly on the riverbanks and offers a good base for birdwatching and butterflyspotting. Short walks along the river, canal or through our  local fields  in spring or early summer will introduce you to a range of the rich local wildlife. On our grounds you will find butterflies , orchids and lots of birds like swans, firecrest, kingfishers and cormorants. Badgers, Foxes and Red Squirrels are also common locally.

Our package includes:

  • at least 2 nights at Les Magnolias including breakfast.
  • Period: April to October. For wildlife the area is probably best visited between April and June but there is interest throughout the year.

Tours for guests at Les Magnolias are available on request and when the guide is available.