The spectacular village of Minerve offers the perfect habitat for overwintering Wallcreeper and Alpine accentor, together with resident Crag martin. But finding a small grey bird creeping around on a grey rock face in a vast gorge is like finding a needle in a haystack! Read the trip report to see if we found this elusive bird…
Read or download the trip report here.
Guide: Karline Martorell accompanied by Philippa Benson. Also Guilhem Duvergé for the Bagnas Nature Reserve
Participants: 12
Weather conditions: A hot and sunny hot day saved by a moderate to a strong wind, temps ranging from 25°C to 32°C
Highlights of the day: Lesser kestrel, Purple swamphen, Whiskered tern, Avocet, Black-winged stilt
We spent the morning on a private visit to the Bagnas Nature Reserve enjoying a very well managed wetland area with large open areas of water surrounded by high quality reed beds. There were plenty of Whiskered terns and we also had excellent views of Purple swamphen out in the open with young. Plenty of Greater flamingo and a Purple heron too.
Then after a rather superior lunch break (eating our picnic in the shade chez Withers – merci Karen and Andy) we headed off to nearby St Pons de Mauchiens to enjoy the endless antics of the Lesser kestrel as we looked down onto the roof tops.
What a great way to end an amazing season of day trips! Thanks to all who participated 🙂
You can read read and download the full trip report and bird list via the link below and don’t hesitate to share the link 🙂
Guide: Karline Martorell accompanied by Philippa Benson
Participants: 5
Weather conditions: Mostly sunny with light winds and temps ranging from 10°C to 20°C.
Highlights of the day: Little bustard (good views in flight and on the ground), Bearded tit, Whiskered and Black tern, Lesser kestrel
Starting with both ends of Béziers airport, we were treated to a flight of 40 Little bustard, disturbed by a Marsh harrier. Also Tawny pipit and Corn bunting.
We then moved on to the reed beds and lagoons at Portiragnes, via a very active lush meadow with a lovely group of very glossy Glossy ibis, showing their bronze and green highlights and accompanied by a very active group of Jackdaw. At the reedbeds we enjoyed watching the Whiskered and Black terns in the distance (a tower hide would be perfect here!) and managed to get a glimpse of a male Bearded tit.
To end the day we moved on to Lespignan, a typical old Languedoc village with pan-tile roofs that provide good nesting opportunities for the growing colony of Lesser kestrel. A success story as they were reintroduced in nearby Fleury d’Aude and are now colonising other villages in the area!
Varied habitats and a wide variety of 76 species in total.
Read the full trip report and bird list via the link below and don’t hesitate to share the link 🙂
Guide of the day: Karline Martorell accompanied by Philippa Benson
Participants: 10
Weather conditions: Cloudy all day with a fresh onshore wind. Temps ranging from 10°C to 16°C.
Highlights of the day: White stork (on the nest and bill clapping), Marsh harrier, Yellow wagtail, Purple heron, Woodchat shrike
We started with reed beds, nesting White stork, Purple heron and a very shy Purple swamphen… and ended the day in a quarry ogling a beautiful male Blue rock thrush with a dazzling blue head! Saltpans, waders, vineyards and Woodchat shrike and so much more in between!
Varied habitats and a wide variety of 70 species in total.
Read the full trip report and bird list via the link below and don’t hesitate to share the link 🙂
We had a fun weekend at the end of February visiting the spectacular sites that offer the perfect habitat for overwintering Wallcreeper. No matter how much preparation we do, we are always in the lap of the bird and weather gods, but they were all kind to us this year! And what can beat a great group of birders, great weather, delightful accommodation, delicious food and wine, and some really excellent birding!
See and/or download the 2022 trip report and bird list here.
If you are interested in joining the 2023 Wallcreeper trip, please contact us here.
We may extend the 2023 trip and make it a Monday to Friday trip…
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