Moulin de Marnay is a fab cottage to stay in if you are a nature/wildlife lover or birdwatcher. Dippers, wrens, grey and yellow wagtails can be seen on the river, which is just a few metres away from the cottage. Apparently an albino buzzard lives in the valley, although we did not see it. In spring and summer the meadow and back garden is alive with butterflies including orange-tips, speckled woods, brimstones, peacocks and lots more. If you are lucky you might catch a fleeting glimpse of the beautiful broad-bordered bee hawkmoth (Hemaris fuciformis)in April or May. At dusk dozens of pippistrelle bats can be seen flying over the forest behind the cottage and many species of moths are drawn to the cottage lights at night. The mill has a small pond at the bottom of it and is inhabited by alpine newts (Ichthyosaura alpestris) and smooth newts(Lissotriton vulgarise) which also live in the small pond in the meadow as do common frogs. Roe deer, jays and buzzards live in the forest behind the cottage. Common lizards bask on the stone wall and you may spot a grass snake, which is completley harmless, in the small pond. If you like fishing you could try your luck on the river which supposedly houses trout. The cottage itself is quite nice and is a good place to use as a 'base camp' for exploring the Regional parc du Morvan. Overall this place offers you everything from mammals, birds & fish to amphibians, insects and reptiles!