A Brit abroad: Up close and personal in Provence

March 21, 2006

Up close and personal in Provence

This weekend Andrew and I did a whistle-stop tour of several towns in Provence. Although not technically a birding trip (sorry, Andrew) I pushed my luck and managed to see two new species and a variety of interesting birds from the region. The highlight for me was amazingly close views of Alpine Accentors (Accenteur Alpin) at Les Baux de Provence. The birds were completely unconcerned by my presence as they fed in the grounds of the castle, and I was able to see lots of feather detail in good light through the scope.

You lookin' at me?

Also around the village several Black Redstarts (Rougequeue noir)...

... and Blue Rock Thrush (Monticole bleu) were singing.

Crag Martins (Hirondelles de rochers), Sardinian Warblers (Fauvette mélanocéphale), and Alpine Swifts (Martinet à ventre blanc)were present in good numbers. Disappointingly (to say the least) I failed to find a Wallcreeper (Tichodrome échelette), in spite of running into another Brit who cheerfully informed me one had been showing well just before my arrival. Grrrr.....

I'm shamefully bad at plant ID - anyone know what this orchid is?

I managed two other birding stops - the grassy fields at Mas Chauvet yielded my first Richard's Pipits (quite distant and elusive in a fenced-off field, so no photos I'm afraid) and loads of Black Kites (Milan noir) . A visit to the western Camargue was cut short by strong winds, but we managed to see a few of the specialities, including my closest-ever views of Greater Flamingos (Flamant rose) feeding by the roadside - judging by the brightness of their plumage I guess they were coming into breeding condition.