France

Parc Ornithologique and Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Down the D570 and into the Camargue proper, is the entrance to the Parc Ornithologique. On one side of the road is a small pool which held two White Storks, Grey Heron and Little Egret. These were soon joined by two Squacco Herons which showed very well.

White Storks

At the southern end of the D570 is the village of Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer. At the eastern edge of the village is the beginning of a path known as Digue à la Mer which crosses a large part of the Camargue. We walked only about a kilometre along the path but did see thousands of Greater Flamingoes, numerous Little Egrets and Black-headed Gulls, and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Barn Swallows.

Wing-tagged Little Egret

Back at the Parc Ornithologique the storks were still showing well and were joined by a Gull-billed Tern. In the information centre of the Parc is a large plate glass window overlooking a pool and reed bed. Here we saw Greater Flamingo, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns, Little Egrets and one Black-winged Stilt.

We walked around the reserve paths adding Bearded Parrotbill, Cetti's Warbler, Common Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt and an immature Black-crowned Night-heron. Common ducks included Gadwall, Mallard, Common Teal and Tufted Duck, More unusual ducks seen were Red-crested Pochard, a female Garganey and a male Ferruginous Duck. With a group of Greater Flamingoes was a Common Crane. As we started to leave eleven Purple Herons flew overhead.

Common Crane

Birds seen in Provence