This morning we visited Les Beaux de Provence, a rocky outcrop that is crowned with a ruined castle overlooking the plains to the south located in the foothills of the Alpilles mountains, northeast of Arles. We spent less than an hour and a half birding below the castle as it was very hot; then a similar period of time visiting the beautiful village and, along with many tourists, tasting its ice creams!
There was one very special moment when I managed to track a swallowtail butterfly for just over a minute and took a huge number of shots of it, mainly in flight. I am happy to share just a few of them with you in this blog.
At the foot of the historic village of Les Baux-de-Provence, le Chemin des TrémaïéThe chapel and the Trémaïé Bas-reliefThe Trémaïé Bas-relief, carvings in the rock above the chapelAlpine swiftsBlue rock thrushBlue rock thrushFemale blue rock thrushSpanish gatekeeper butterflyBlue rock thrushBeautiful views at every turnSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailSwallowtailLooking down from the terraces of the villageLes Alpilles de Provence
I am having such wonderful photographic opportunities on our trip to The Camargue that I am having limited time to edit photographs and record the narrative of our trip. So, just a few photos to give a taste of what a wonderful time we have been having in the last few days.
European roller near to our hotel outside ArlesHobbyGlossy ibis over rice fieldLittle egretSpoonbillSix spoonbills in formation over le Chemin du Mas d’Argon in the CamarguePurple heronThe same purple heron on its way backWestern demoiselleBarn swallowGreater flamingoBlack-winged stiltLes Arènes d”Arles – I just missed the opportunity of a shot of swifts as they screeched past as I (clearly) had the wrong lens attached.
Les Arènes d”Arles Les Arènes d”Arles La CamargueRice fields in the CamargueLes Alpilles de Provence where we saw Bonelli’s Eagle and Short-toed Snake EaglesMusée de la Camargue A visit to the Musée de la CamargueA visit to the Musée de la Camargue
Another great day on our trip to the Camargue with plenty of photo opportunities. I am afraid the photos will have to speak for themselves.
Montagu’s harrier (at some distance) en route to Les Salins de Giraud on the coastMontagu’s harrierBlack kiteJust what you would expect in this part of the world – a greater flamingoGreater flamingoA fresh breeze but still quite warmSlender-billed gullPied avocet through the tinted windows of the minibusLes salins de GiraudOther activities were availableSpoonbills and egretsBee eaterGreat picnic spot under a mulberry bushBarn swallowWhite stork in a steep dive
The star of the day: a cuckoo
Common cuckooA common cuckooA common cuckooA common cuckooA common cuckooGull-billed ternA feathered footman mothAllium and snailsOrange-winged dropwing back at the hotelFrog in the hotel pondHotel pond
A selection of photos from our first days in The Camargue in the south of France. What a start!
Black kite over the hotel near ArlesGriffon vulture near the hotel near ArlesGriffon vulture near the hotel near ArlesWhite stork with nesting material at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveGlossy ibis at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveCattle egret at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveSwallow at the Marais du Vigueirat ReservePurple heron at the Marais du Vigueirat reserveSquacco heron at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveGlossy ibis at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveCoypu at the Marais du Vigueirat Reserve Painted lady butterfly at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveBlack-tailed skimmer at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveTerrapin at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveCommon tern at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveBlack-winged Stilt at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveLittle egret and lunch at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveNight heron at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveNight heron at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveWhite stork and young at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveWhite-tailed skimmer at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveSpeckled wood butterfly at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveYellow wagtail at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveLarge skipper butterfly at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveFemale demoiselle of some sort at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveCamargue horeses at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveGull-billed terns and red-crested pochard at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveGrey heron at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveGlossy ibis at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveSquacco heron at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveCamargue wild horsesBittersweet or nightshade at the Marais du Vigueirat ReserveIris at the Marais du Vigueirat Reserve
A walk around the park this morning brought a few surprises: the 14 goslings we had seen earlier in the week had all gone, presumably predated, and a grey heron, which we have not seen for a while, was back (presumably from the heronry to which they disappear at this time of the year).
A grey wagtail leaping from one stone to another on the River FromeA wren, one of the noisiest birds but often the most difficult to see, beneath the tree canopy.The grey heron pretending to sleepThe five cygnets were safeA cormorant gorging on the fish stocks in the park lakeLesser black-backed gull, surely no 1 suspect for the disappearance of the goslingsLesser black-backed gullMute swan keeping a keen eye on its cygnetsThe grey heron perching on a fallen tree in the middle of the lake. There was an earlier attempt to remove the tree but coots had already started nesting there.Close up of the grey heronRed horse chestnut, popular in large gardens and parks in BritainThe lake in the parkYellow flags on the park lakeA beautiful hornbeam between the park lake and the River FromeWe sat opposite the kingfishers nest on the River Frome for a while but there was no action this morningBeautiful demoiselleFemale beautiful demoiselleBeautiful demoiselle in flight
If you have followed my blog through the winter I generally have something to complain about on my visits here: too cold, too wet, poor light, wrong lens, wrong settings, my incompetence etc. Not today: it was just a joy to be here. I’ll let you judge for yourself …
Scarce chaserFour spotted chaserSpeckled woodBlackcapFour spotted chaserGreat diving beetleGrey heronGreat crested grebesGreat white egretGreat white egretGreat white egretGreat white egretGreat white egretGreat crested grebeAzure damselflyRed admiralFour spotted chaserRobinMarsh harrierMarsh harriersMarsh harrierMarsh harrierLittle egretScarce chaserCommon brimstone
We saw our first mute swan cygnets on our Sunday morning walk around Eastville Park. There were goslings, ducklings and moorhen and coot chicks everywhere. However, our walk was really enlivened by the late appearance of a kingfisher which announced itself very noisily (as they do) so that we couldn’t miss it.
CygnetsMute swans and cygnetsCanada geese and goslingsCanada geese and goslingsVery strangely – a pink-footed gooseKingfisherKingfisherKingfisherSpeckled wood butterfly
We are very lucky that we have two parks very close to where we live in the middle of the city of Bristol: Eastville Park, a Victorian city park with children’s playgrounds, green spaces and a lake and a river where we regularly see common kingfishers and dippers; and Stoke Park Estate which is a local Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) covering over 100 hectares. Stoke Park Estate is also designated as a Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Site (RIGS): an important place for geology and geomorphology. The site has species-rich grasslands, woodland, scrub, and ponds. It is home to wildlife like great crested newts, dragonflies and glow worms.
I spent the afternoon wandering around the fishing lake which is also known as Duchess Pond.
This is the annexe to the main fishing lake (Duchess Pond) with a view of the yellow Dower House, built in 1563 as a private stately home, but now converted to private flats.The main fishing lake (Duchess Pond)
3 swifts passed over briefly but sadly didn’t reappear. However I was pleased to get some shots with the one chance I had.
Common swiftCommon swiftCommon swiftCommon swift
A kestrel appeared briefly but stayed in line with the sun (I’m sure to stop me photographing it).
I caught a glimpse of a chiffchaff and was pleased to get some shots as they are quite elusive at this time.
ChiffchaffChiffchaffChiffchaff
There were plenty of carrion crows too (not so elusive!).
Carrion crowStarling – don’t they look splendid with the sun on their plumage?
There were lots of(Canada Goose) goslings, ducklings and coot and moorhen chicks.
Coot and chickDucklingsCanada geese and goslingMoorhenCoot – look at the size of their feetCoot chickBlack-headed gull (probably looking for ducklings or chicks)
All around the lake there were dragonflies and damselflies which always prove a great challenge to photograph. I am not very knowledgeable with these and am only hazarding a guess at what was what.
Scarce chaserScarce chaser in flightScarce chaser looking straight at me.Azure damselflyLarge red damselflyBlue-tailed damselflyA common carder bee for good measureStoke Park Estate and the Dower House
It’s the first time we have seen the new ‘Estuary Shoreline’ landscape at Slimbridge. It’s situated in front of the Kingfisher café and, although we had our doubts as we saw it being developed through the winter, we were very impressed with what the talented Grounds Team have achieved in designing it and building it in-house.
The new ‘Estuary Shoreline’ landscapeWonderful wild flowers enhanced the new landscapeThe bees (early nesting bumblebee) were loving the new plantings at the “Estuary Shoreline landscape”Common carder beeShelduck looked magnificent in their breeding plumageThe avocets probably stole the showA very handsome shoveler duck
It was a joy to walk out to the estuary and, although the white spotted bluethroat which has returned here for the fifth year in a row evaded us, we did enjoy the display by a short-eared owl.
Short-eared owlShort-eared owlShort-eared owlShort-eared owlShort-eared owlShort-eared owlShort-eared owlShort-eared owlThere were plenty of these azure damselflies to seeAvocets Avocet flying over shelduckAvocetBlack-headed gull with nesting materialAvocet on its nest
Another great day at Ham Wall. Plenty of sunshine but a cold wind.
Lots of opportunities for great photos but I failed miserably as I was having camera problems which I haven’t got to the bottom of yet!
Editing has saved the day a little but far too many great opportunities missed.
The best of the birds? Glossy ibis, a red kite and a pair of common cranes.
A scare chaserGreat white egretGreat white egretGlossy ibis amongst the reedsGlossy ibis in flightRed kiteRed kiteRed kiteCommon craneReed warblerRed admiralRed admiral
Whilst there were parades across the UK today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day these newcomers to the park (Canada Geese goslings) were making their contribution.
Canada geese and goslings
It was also pleasing to see a grey wagtail on the weir as we haven’t seen one in the park for a while.
Early morning walk in the park. Much fresher this morning after yesterday’s highs of 27° C. Quite amazing weather for this time of the year.
Ramsons (wild garlic) in the woodsKingfisher leaving nestKingfisher flying up the River FromeKingfisher having a scratchKingfisher just above our headsCoot with chickCuteletsCoot with chickMute swanLesser black-backed gullBlackbird
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 