We really enjoyed our recent nature trip to the Camargue. We knew the region a little before this trip as we have visited here a number of times as tourists in the days when we had a motorhome; but this was our first trip here since we have become particularly interested in bird watching.
White stork
The week was organised by the speciality nature trip company “Naturetrek” and we have been very pleased with the “Go slow in the Camargue” programme. The administration before the tour was good, the accommodation and food at the hotel was more than adequate for such a trip and the two guides, Marcus John and Neil Murphy, were excellent: they were very knowledgeable, drove the minibuses with care and consideration, produced amazingly good picnic lunches with locally resourced food and drink , had a very good rapport with all the group and made sure everyone saw a fantastic number of birds. Above all they are clearly good chaps and were a pleasure to be with. As well as providing a suitable programme to achieve the programme title of “Go slow in the Camargue” they also offered regular optional early morning walks and late evening sorties. They were the main reasons for the success of the tour.
We visited various local nature reserves, stopped often by the roadside in the marshes of the Camargue, had a trip to the coast to see different types of birds and see the salt works (le Salin de Giroud), did a number of other “touristy” visits to Arles, the Roman aqueduct of Barbegal near Fontvielle, Les Baux de Provence and Le Musée de Camargue – all whilst incorporating opportunities for more bird watching.
Ruins of the Roman aqueduct of BarbegalLe salin de GiroudLe salin de GiroudPelagic birding (?) at la plage de Piémanson.Gull-billed terns certainly rate high on any of my lists (if I had any)Probably my bird of the week – night heronOne of my favourite reserves in the CamargueAt the Maraiis du Vigueirat reserve we saw grey, purple and, here, squacco heronAnother of the nature reserves we visited which I shall remember for a good sighting of a cuckooCuckoo – great to see as well as hearOne of our picnic venues – beneath a mulberry bushOne swallow doesn’t make a summer – but this one convinced me that we really were in summerHôtel des Granges just outside ArlesWe often saw black kites close over our hotel and enjoyed the song of nightingales throughout the week View from our bedroom window of l’Abbaye de MontmajourHobby on one of the optional early morning walksMy favourite shot from beside the road – six spoonbills seen from le Chemin de Mas d”AgonPurple herons at the same place on the Chemin de Mas d’AgonLet’s hope that one day these beauties are regulars in our skies (but we will probably be in a lot of trouble in other ways!)Le Musée de CamargueI don’t like to see birds in cages but it is worth remembering what amazing things people do in rescuing such birdsLes Arènes d’ArlesPhotographic exhibition in the streets of ArlesEuropean roller seen on one of our optional evening tripsOur visit to Les Baux de ProvenceMy favourite memory of les Baux de Provence – a swallowtail butterflyOur guide Marcus was relieved that I was able to get a shot of a bee eater, certainly after all the banter I gave him. Glossy ibis were regularly seen in the rice fields The rice fields brought us loads of beautiful birds and many interesting beers tooPurple heron at the Marais de Mas d”AgonHow can such big birds, such as this white stork, be so agile?It wasn’t all about the birds – Orange-tipped orange dropwingFlora and faunaWhite-tailed skimmerTerrapin at the Marais de VigueiratCoypuIt wouldn’t be the Camargue without greater flamingosCommon tern was the most common of the terns we sawBlack-winged stilts were seen at all the reservesBlack-winged stiltSo many of the glossy ibis, herons and storks with juvenilesGrey heronsWhite storksSpanish gatekeepers seemed much brighter than the gatekeepers we see in the UKPainted lady butterflyLarge skipper butterflyFalse ilex hairstreak butterfly at Les Baux de ProvenceDid I mention the swallowtail?
Oh and I nearly forgot … those wonderful wild horses of the Camargue:
The largest marsh in the Gulf of Morbihan, the nature reserve covers 530 hectares made up of a mosaic of mud flats, marshes, coastal lagoons and meadows.
There are excellent walkways and a good number of hides. However, the windows in most of the hides do not open and it was often difficult to take photos.
Nonetheless, we made the most of a mainly grey day and saw some terrific birds.
For us a pair of turtle doves were definitely the standout birds, although close ups of avocets, black-winged stilts and a water rail (even through a grubby window) were pretty special.
European turtle doveWater railBlack-winged stiltAvocetShelduck and godwitsJuvenile robinStonechatCommon ternGrey heron and little egretLinnet catching the odd ray of sunshineEuropean turtle dove
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 