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.
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
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 