Why choose Birding Languedoc?
> As Languedoc specialists we can help you see more birds on “our patch”
Birding Languedoc is a small team based in the Languedoc area of southern France (see below for more info on our team members!).
BL is part of not-for-profit organisation La Nature du Sud, which is dedicated to promoting and protecting the local birds and wildlife.
To help you explore the area and have a better birdwatching experience on your own, we provide the following services:
- DIY resources for independent birdwatchers
- Guiding services
- Small group fixed date tours
- We can arrange tailor-made fully customised birding and wildlife tours for bird watching clubs and groups, natural history societies, company incentive schemes, etc. Tours can be arranged to suit your group’s interests and budget. Please contact us
> Our unique combination of local guides and English speaking tour leaders!
- Most tour operators take their own UK based guides with them. We think that it is much better to use local guides!
- We work with the best local guides who all have extensive birding experience in the Languedoc and their finger on the pulse for the latest information
- Our English speaking tour leaders are passionate birders who live locally
> Our focus on customer service
We want to help! Our focus is on helping you to enjoy the amazing wildlife in the Languedoc.
So if you have a question about getting here, what to bring, vegetarian meals, the best time of year to see migration, or about organising a trip for your club or a group of friends, just ask us and we will do our best to help!
> Our interest in contributing to the local economy
A very rural area, with wine production and tourism the two major sources of income. Tourism however has been been very focussed on beach / coastal attractions. We believe that nature tourism can contribute to the local economy as a sustainable form of tourism using existing infrastructure.
> And of course, for our commitment to the local wildlife
100% of our “profits” are channelled back into local projects – to help improve the knowledge and understanding of local wildlife.
As a team, we can help you discover one of the most exciting new birding destinations in Europe!
Meet our team members below!
Philippa Benson - Birding Languedoc
Founder/Tour Leader - English, French & Spanish
Like many Brits, Philippa has a keen interest in nature and is always curious to learn more about the amazing birds and wildlife of the Languedoc. Resident in this unspoilt area for over 15 years, she has a good working knowledge of where the best spots are for birds, flowers and other species and enjoys sharing these with interested visitors.
Her background in project management and hospitality combined with being fully bilingual are useful skills for organising and hosting tours, and Philippa has a particular focus on customer service!
Karline Martorell - Independent Guide
Local ornithologist and bird guide - French, English & Esperanto
Drawn to wildlife conservation from a very young age, Karline then studied Biodiversity Analysis and Surveying Techniques. She is an active naturalist, with a focus on birds, reptiles and amphibians. Particularly passionate about birds, Karline volunteers for migration counting and local bird surveys in her spare time. Wildlife trips abroad have helped widen her knowledge base and she previously spent 5 years working for a consultancy firm specialised in ecological impact studies, carrying out bird and reptile surveys. Karline's highly developed knowledge of bird song and her eagle eyes, mean that we see more birds, reptiles, butterflies and all other wildlife!
Sébastien Roques - Independant Guide
Local ornithologist and bird guide - French & English
Sébastien is an excellent birder who knows the area well. Passionate about nature since childhood thanks to numerous stays in the Pyrenees, he then continued his studies in ecology with a degree in population biology a master's degree in biostatistics and ecological modelling. Having done a lot of fieldwork, especially in his beloved Mediterranean region but also when travelling abroad, Sébastien completed his PhD thesis on the behaviour of passerines during migratory stopover. Through non-profit organisation Med Migration, he organised bird migration monitoring on the Leucate headland from 2020 to 2022.
Tony Williams - Independent Guide
Guest Tour Guide - English & French
Tony Williams has lived in France for over 30 years and as director of the LPO Brenne he was instrumental in developing nature tourism in central France over the past 25 years. Tony’s extensive knowledge and his knack of making beginners and experts alike feel comfortable, has made him a highly popular leader with a number of British tour operators. This invaluable experience leading tours and his willingness to share it have been much appreciated in developing the Birding Languedoc tours.
David Thibault - Independent Guide
Local bird and butterfly guide - French & English
David started birdwatching in Paris 30 years ago working for a local bird organisation (CORIF). He moved to the Pyrenees-Orientales 20 years ago and spends most of his time looking for butterflies and birds in the area. Currently working for the local biodiversity protection society the Groupe Ornithologique du Roussillon (G.O.R), David has been training along side Aurélien Gaunet - the top butterfly specialist in the Eastern Pyrenees - for the past five years.
Jérémy Jalabert - Independent Guide
Local Reptile Specialist – French & English
Passionate about nature from very early childhood, Jérémy became interested in snakes from the age of 4! Together with his post-graduate studies in environmental management he has worked for the last 9 years in amphibian and reptile conservation. He is currently employed with an environmental consultancy firm carrying out surveys of amphibians and reptiles, but is also a regular birdwatcher. Jérémy is convinced that nature conservation depends on a better understanding of species and sharing our knowledge to increase public awareness of our amazing biodiversity.
Aurélien Gaunet - G.O.R
Local Butterfly Specialist – French & English
Aurélien is a butterfly guide for the local biodiversity protection society le Groupe Ornithologique du Roussillon (G.O.R.). He has a master’s degree in Biodiversity and Ecology. Fascinated by butterflies, he is a member of the Butterfly Diversity and Evolution Laboratory team (Barcelona).
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