Les Alpilles and the Camargue March 18 - 21, 2006

A short family break over Tom’s birthday primarily to see Wallcreeper and visit the Camargue; but also to sample the countryside of Provence, the mountain villages of Les Alpines, and the city of Nimes.

Weather

Overcast for most of the time, but quite mild even in the mountains. Warm on the afternoon of the 20th, but light rain in the evening with drizzle the following day.

Tom's Birthday

Itinerary

18/3	Late morning flight from Luton to Nimes; afternoon in Les-Baux.
19/3	Morning Nimes; afternoon Camargue; early evening Le Crau.
20/3	Les-Baux; La Caume
21/3	Nimes, then afternoon return flight to Luton

Birds (77 species, 1 tick)

Great-crested Grebe - Four on the Camargue
Little Grebe - One seen by Tom en-route to Les-Baux on 20th
Cormorant - Fifteen birds seen in total
Cattle Egret - About twenty five in a field of bulls, Camargue
Little Egret - Seen daily
Great White Egret - About twenty five on the Camargue
Grey Heron - A total of twenty-two birds seen
Greater Flamingo - Fifty-four birds counted by Sam on the Camargue
Mute Swan - Several birds, Camargue
Shelduck - Several birds, Camargue
Mallard - Several birds, Camargue
Shoveler - Several birds, Camargue
Teal - About 150 birds on the Camargue
Garganey - Thirty-one birds, Camargue
Pochard - About one hundred birds on the Camargue
Tufted Duck - About one hundred birds on the Camargue
Goldeneye - Female, Camargue
Booted Eagle - One pale bird at Les-Baux on 18th and two intermediate at La Caume
Bonelli's Eagle - Two birds (probably same individual) at La Caume around radar station
Red Kite - One positively seen by Tom near Les-Baux
Black Kite - About fifteen birds seen in total
Marsh Harrier - About twenty on the Camargue and a pair at Le Crau
Common Buzzard - Common on the Camargue
Sparrowhawk - Two, Camargue
Kestrel - Fairly common (a female on the Camargue may have been Lesser)
Merlin - One briefly Camargue, and a female seen exceptionally well at Le Crau
Red-legged Partridge - About fifteen, Le Crau
Pheasant - Four, Camargue
Moorhen - Common, Camargue
Coot - Very common, Camargue
Water Rail - One seen by Tom, Camargue
Avocet - Five, Camargue
Stone Curlew - Two, Le Crau
Green Sandpiper - Two, Camargue
Redshank - Two, Camargue
Black-tailed Godwit - About three hundred birds on the Camargue
Ruff - Two, Camargue
Black-headed Gull - About fifty on the Camargue, and one on 21st
Mediterranean Gull - About fifty on the Camargue
Yellow-legged Gull - Seen daily
Sandwich Tern - One, Camargue
Rock Dove - Seen daily; birds at Les-Baux looking wild, birds in Nimes less so!
Wood Pigeon - Five seen on 18th and 19th
Collard Dove - Heard on the 18th, and about ten birds seen around the Camargue
Alpine Swift - A total of five birds at Les-Baux
Green Woodpecker - One heard only on 18th
Skylark - About ten birds at Le Crau
Sand Martin - About thirty birds on the Camargue
Crag Martin - About twenty birds seen on each of the visits to Les-Baux
Swallow - One with the Martins
Meadow Pipit - Common on the Camargue
White Wagtail - About two-hundred and fifty birds going to roost at Le Crau and nearby another hundred at a toll booth
Wren - One heard, Camargue
Alpine Accentor - Nine seen extremely well on 18th
Robin - Four birds seen
Black Redstart - A couple of birds seen on 19th and then 20th
Blue Rock Thrush - A female on 18th and a male and two females on 20th at Les-Baux
Song Thrush - Two on the Camargue
Blackbird - Seen 18th-20th
Blackcap - Seen 18th-20th
Sardinian Warbler - Singles seen on each visit to Les-Baux, but many heard there
Cetti's Warbler - Two seen, but many heard on the Camargue
Chiffchaff - Three, Camargue
Great Tit - Fairly common
Blue Tit - Fairly common
Bearded Tit - Two (at least one male) seen briefly on the Camargue
Penduline Tit - A small flock flew across the road whilst driving in the Camargue
Wallcreeper - One bird (male?), expertly found by Sam: 'What's that bird on the wall?', after a few minutes of searching at Les-Baux on 18th. Seen very well through the 'scope by myself, Tom and Sam, but frustratingly briefly. It was our only sighting despite another c
Magpie - Common
Jay - Three birds, 18th-19th
Jackdaw - Common, seen daily
Rook - Three birds, 18th-19th
Carrion Crow - Common, seen daily
Raven - Eight birds on 18th, and one whilst driving to the Camargue
Common Starling - Seen daily
House Sparrow - About sixty birds seen (19th-20th)
Chaffinch - One on 18th and about twenty La Caume
Linnet - Fifteen on the Camargue
Goldfinch - Fairly common
Greenfinch - Ten on 20th
Serin - Heard at Les-Baux on both days but not seen
Reed Bunting - Common, Camargue

Mammals & Plants

Rabbit - Common
Hare - Common at Le Crau
Wild Boar - A family party including young seen running on the Camargue
Coypu - Three, Camargue
Giant Orchid - Some nice specimens at Les-Baux