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:
More amazing photo opportunities today at the Parc Ornithogique de Pont de Gau.
Greater flamingoGreater flamingoGreater flamingoGreater flamingosBlack-winged stiltGreater flamingosGrey heronGlossy ibis and hungry youngstersA rescue Eagle owlA rescue eagle owlGlossy ibisGreater flamingoCattle egretGrey heron with juvenilesGrey heronGrey heronCommon ternSmall white butterflyGreat willow herb Not our transport for the dayBee eater on our way back to the hotel
Now I’m wondering what to do with the remaining 1500 photos from today!
Post script:and now for a week to recover on the coast near Marseille.
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
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.
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 