Camargue by train
Wonderful European winter birding
Camargue by train!
Price includes: return Eurostar train from London – Nimes (involves 1 change), ground transportation, accommodation and all meals from arrival in Nimes to departure from Nimes, incidental tips, and the services of Leader Chris Townend, who will be joined by another from our main guiding team with more than 7 clients. Max. 12 clients.
Where can you enjoy great winter birding before migration begins? Join Heatherlea in the Camargue, one of Europe’s premier winter birding destinations. Winter birds usually include Wallcreeper, Bonelli’s Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Little Bustard, Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse, Citril Finch, Eagle Owl, Black Woodpecker, Alpine Accentor, Bluethroat, Moustached Warbler, Penduline Tit, and of course flocks of Greater Flamingo which can be usually measured in thousands. From the sweeping marshes of the Camargue reserve and the surrounding plains of La Crau to the limestone cliffs of Les Alpilles and, weather permitting, the snow-clad mountain slopes of Mont Ventoux, we explore all the special places and key sites, returning in the evening to a lovely cosy hotel and traditional food. Heatherlea aficionados will feel right at home!
Other birds of note may include Black-necked Grebe, Little, Cattle and Great White Egret, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Long-Legged Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Red Kite, Yellow-legged Gull, Slender Billed Gull, Little Owl, Crag Martin, Water Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Kingfisher, Blue Rock Thrush, Southern Grey Shrike, Crested Tit, Sardinian Warbler, Firecrest, Serin, Hawfinch, Brambling, Common Crossbill, Cirl Bunting and Rock Bunting. A tremendous start to the overseas birding year! Watch out also for Coypu in ditches or blundering Wild Boar crashing through vegetation.
In this holiday we travel by Eurostar train, rather than air travel. We depart London St Pancras, changing at Lille for Nimes, where we collect our minibus. If you hate flying, this is the overseas birding holiday for you!
IITINERARY
Day 1 We depart London St Pancras, changing at Lille for Nimes, transfer and dinner. Our hotel sits in a rural location, and offers comfortable en-suite rooms, Provencal-style dishes and local wines. Cheese is a local favourite, and Heatherlea aficionados will feel right at home as we take charge of the small, cosy dining room!
Day 2 - Day 7 Over the week we will thoroughly explore the Camargue Reserve with its vast lagoons and wetlands, exploring the network of roads and dykes which criss-cross this vast landscape, home of the legendary wild white Camargue horses and huge flocks of Greater Flamingo. We use viewing platforms and our transport to search the fence posts, lakes and lagoons. Here Black-necked, Great Crested and Little Grebe might be found, perhaps with Scaup amongst wintering flocks of commoner ducks. Waders might include Little Stint and Spotted Redshank, and we watch out for wintering Water Pipit and Yellow-legged Gull by the waters’s edge. Marsh Harrier hunt the vast reedbeds, which hide Moustached Warbler, Penduline and Bearded Tit as well as wintering Bluethroat and Stonechat in the surrounding scrub. Several majestic Greater Spotted Eagle have wintered in the area for some years, and we have good chances to see this magnificent raptor at the roost. We may even be lucky enough to separate a Long-Legged Buzzard, another regular wintering vagrant, from the plentiful local Common Buzzard. Little, Cattle and Great White Egret are all found around the reserve, and we see them as we travel, together with Corn Bunting and perhaps a briefly flashing Kingfisher. Watch out also for Coypu in ditches or blundering Wild Boar crashing through vegetation.
Another day we make a short drive to the magical limestone cliffs of Les Alpilles and the hill top Roman village of Les Baux. Here Wallcreeper winter, small flocks of Alpine Accentor gather around the village and resident Blue Rock Thrush are found on the rock faces. Sardinian Warbler chatter from the scrub, and a few Serin twitter from the trees. Small flocks of Crag Martin swirl around the cliffs.
We walk around La Caume, where resident Bonelli’s Eagle are the key target. We have a regular site, and usually see the birds. The track takes us through pines and towards cliffs where Crested Tit and Firecrest can be found. Citril Finch is also here in some years. Later we wait at a secluded location at dusk for good views of magnificent Eagle Owl.
A complete contrast is in store as we drive to the plains of La Crau, where Little Bustard gather in wintering flocks, and Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse can also be seen. We also enjoy sightings of Southern Grey Shrike, Little Owl, flocks of mixed finches including Serin and Cirl Bunting, and possibly wintering Richard’s Pipit. Early Ortolan Bunting may be seen.
A nearby landfill site offers the chance to see Red Kite soaring. Masses of Yellow-legged Gull scavenge the rubbish and we scan through them before moving on to another area good for Pin-tailed Sandgrouse.
Another change of habitat as we drive north to Mont Ventoux, taking the road to the small ski resort. We pass through forest where elusive Black Woodpecker are our target, before searching the higher slopes and treeline for Citril Finch. Brambling, Common Crossbill, Greenfinch and tits may be visited by a hungry Sparrowhawk. Golden Eagle and Raven are also sometimes seen soaring over the high tops. Mont Ventoux or “Windy Mountain” is well named, so we spend time in the ‘Alpine’ cafe for a warm cup of Hot Chocolate.
Time towards the end of the week will be spent searching the areas surrounding the Etang du Vaccares and Tour du Valat within the Camargue National Nature Reserve, searching again for species we might have missed, and hunting for our own rarities, such as Pine Bunting, with Hawfinch and Rock Bunting also possible.
Day 8 Our return train departs Nimes in the morning, and we arrive in London early evening.
....................................................................................................................................................................
NEW! HEATHERLEA PRE-FLIGHT SERVICE - The Heatherlea Pre-flight Service offers everything you need, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain!
SPECIAL OFFER! Join us on this holiday and enjoy airport facilities for free! We are offering FREE airport hotels combined with FREE airport lounge vouchers! Read more....
....................................................................................................................................................................
