Day 3: The Camargue

A cycling day was planned, so off early to beat the heat, cycling along the south of the Reserve and then up the eastern side to La Capeliere, one of the few areas especally set up for birdwatching with several hides.
A long ride over the salt pans and past the Phare a Gachorelle lighthouse. Birds along here that were new were slender billed gull and kentish plover. About 17km to reach the road the otherside that wound its way through typical Camargue scenery: lagoons, low vegetation and roadside trees. A dead sardinian warbler was noted on the road and zitting cisticolas were constantly calling. A kestrel overhead, was disappointingly, the only bird of prey. After 3 hours arrived at La Capeliere, some 30kn from Ste Maries. Great white egret, nightingale and spectacled warbler all added on the reserve along with plenty of other birds. At the reed bed, marsh warblers mimiced the local frogs and a great reed warbler sang. Plenty of regular warblers, too.
From here, I set off north along the shore of the Etang de Vaccares, stopping to check for grebes, but a few weeks early. More warblers as I stopped off at Villeneuve for a beer before heading west to Albaron, another 15km to go. Gull billed tern, black kite, bee eaters, cattle egret and a high short toed eagle all noted before the 20km south back to Ste Maries. Home by 7pm, a 12 hour day and I was shot. My first bike ride for well over 10 years. Out for some steak and wine before crashing out. A super day.

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