Landscape.
The Platier d'Oye is rich in fauna, flora, mud, shrubs, white and grey dunes,
wetlands and freshwater ponds.
Fauna.
Migrating birds visit the reserve both in spring and autumn. The Platier d'Oye
is located between the Marquenterre in the bay of the Somme in France and
the Zwin in Belgium, near Bruges. Both ducks and waders often rest at the
reserve for one day or two and to get some food.
Other birds nest in shrubs which are on the wetlands or shingle on the beach
: avocets and sandwich terris have also been nesting there for a few years.
Flora.
The
flora is typical of the dunes from the north of France. In the mud, one can
find both salicorne and sea lavender. Marram grass covers the white dune and
helps to keep the sand firm. If you are lucky perhaps you will be able to
see some sea holly (chardon bleu), this being the emblem of the "Conservatoire
du Littoral".
The dunes have many buckthorn shrubs. These shrubs produce lots of fruits rich in C vitamin. On the grey dunes, one can find the flowers of lichen and moss. The tortula moss opens like a star when the weather is humid. Orchids can also be found in the dunes.