This file reproduces an old inventory of the cliffs and the rocky edge of the western Bessin. It documents the knowledge and protection of the natural heritage during the period covered by the fund.
The Natural Area of Faunistic and Floristic Ecological Interest (ZNIEFF)
The area of the cliffs between Vierville and Cricqueville in Bessin is classified ZNIEFF type 1 "Calif and Rocky Estran of Bessin Occidental" (N°. 0000-0016)
A type 1 ZNIEFF qualifies a sector with a generally limited area, characterized by the presence of species, species associations or rare environments, remarkable or characteristic of regional or national natural heritage. These spaces must be the subject of special attention when developing any development and management project
On this plane is the ZNIEFF and 2 other protected areas
Here is his description:
FALAISES AND STRANGE ROCKY OF THE WESTERN BESSIN
Overlooking a vast rocky plateau, the limestone cliffs of this area have, over six kilometers in length, a variety of biotopes (lawns, moors, thickets, overhangs...) that make it its ecological and landscape value.
Faa
The main interest of these cliffs is ornithological. They are home to the largest colony of seabirds in Calvados. There are no less than five nesting marine species: Petrel fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Brown Seagull (Larus fuscus), Silver Seagull (Larus argentatus), Tridactyle Seagull (Rissa tridactyla) and Huppé Cormorant (Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
The Pétrel fulmar has the highest density in France, with 50 to 200 nesting pairs from 1994 to 1998 and the population of Tridactyle Seagulls, with more than 2130 nests in 1998, represents almost half of the French population at the same time as the largest national colony.
The presence of a ornithological reserve in Saint-Pierre-du-Mont concretizes and reinforces this strong ornithological interest.
These cliffs are also home to other species during the nesting period such as the rare Grand CorbeaU (Corvus corax), the Crecere falcon (Falco tinnunculus), the Colombine pigeon (Columba oenas), the Grey Bergeronnette (Motacilla alba), the Pipit farlouse (Anthus pratensis), The Sansonnet Sturrout (Stumus vulgaris) and the Choucas of the towers (Corvus monedula) which finds its original habitat there.
The last Thickets and bushes of the summit moor Are interesting for the reception of the Plaster racket (Saxicola torquata), Fauvettes grisettes (Sylvia communis) and Billboards (Sylvia curruca), from the Mottled locustelle (Locustella naevia), from The polyglot Hypolaïs (Hippolais polyglotta) and the Pitchou fauvette (Sylvia undata), who had her only nesting site in Calvados and can recolonize this site.
These same thickets house in winter a mixed dormitory of Medium owl‐Duck (Asio otus) and Spaush Owl (Asio flammeus), probably the most important in the department.
The marine fauna of the rocky plateau is very rich and has in particular two species of fish infeod to this type of medium: the Nérophis lombricoïde (Nerophis lumbriciformis) and the Syngnathe needle (Syngnathus acus).
FLORE
There is an interesting algal flora on the adjacent rocky plateau.
Among the rarest species are Asparagopsis armada, Catenella caespitosa, Chondria dasyphylla, Gonimophyllum buffhamii, Lomentaria clavellosa, Pterocladia pinnata, Sphondylothamnion multifidum, Spyridia filamentosa, all corresponding to red algae.