The Camargue 25th - 29th September

Just returned from a super 4 day trip to The Camargue, with a quick visit to Avignon on the last evening.

All very good with a wide selction of birds, butterflies and dragonflies observed, as can be seen in the attached photos.

In all, over 70 species of bird, which is low for this area but was expected as it is between the summer migrants that have now almost all moved on and before the winter migrants arrive. However, a few summer visitors were recorded, including purple heron, roller, aquatic warbler, sub alpine warbler, spotted crake, wood sandpiper, kentish plover, common sandpiper as well as the resident sardinian warbler, moustached warbler, egrets (100's), flamingos (1000's) thekla lark, crested lark, calandra lark, red kite and peregrine.

Day 1: Luton airport at 4.30 for a 6.30 flight to Nimes. Train and bus had me at Albaron village mid afternoon and an exploratory walk gave up 24 species, before returning to the hotel.

Day 2 and a 24 mile bird wander following a 45 minute bus journey. In all another 32 species were seen and heard along with butterflies and dragonflies. Day 3 was spent at the Parc Ornithlogique before a bus trip to Arles and a train journey to Avignon before returning to Nimes for a 13.00hrs flight back to Luton.
Great trip, good food, super natural history and great weather.

Photos;

self portrait

red underwing moth

clouded yellow butterfly

red veined darter ( I think. good discussion on bird forum thread regarding some of the darters I photographed)

scarlet darter

flamingos in flight

coypu

general architecture

Popes Palace, Avignon,

River Rhone, Avignon

little egret

flamingos

bull

horses

red kite
The road out of Ste Marie de la Mer

Looking south from the road

The hectic road
Looking north from St Marie

Statue to the horse in town centre.

I have been booked to give an illustrated talk on this trip: Little Hadham village Hall. 7.45pm Tuesday 9th November. All welcome, £1.50 entrance which will include coffee and cake. Please come along and help increase the funds for the village social club and hopefully have a pleasant and interesting talk.