Camargue

The Camargue is the extensive delta of the Rhone river where it meets the Mediterranean. Internationally renowned for the birds that occur, and rightly so! It is probably best known for its Flamingo colony, the only regular nesting site in Western Europe and a species you are bound to see. Many, many other bird species breed here: Glossy Ibis, Kentish Plover, Collared pratincole, Bee-eater, Short-toed eagle, Slender-billed gull, Spectacled warbler… the list is enormous with interesting species in every habitat: lagoons, rice-paddies, salt pans, riverside woodland… And the rest of the year can also well be worth a visit. Many migrants occur with rarities to be found – for example, Broad-billed sandpiper is seen annually in the salt pans, White-winged tern over the marshes. Winter sees the arrival of many waterfowl, including thousands of Red-crested Pochard, with accompanying predators – Spotted Eagle occurs annually. And many species, from the Flamingo to Sardinian warbler are resident, and can be seen throughout the year.

When visiting the Camargue it is well worth combining a trip with the nearby Alpilles regional park to the north and with the dry, stone plain of the Crau, to the east, both within easy reach and with complementary sets of bird species.