A Brit abroad

A tour of the Camargue

I again joined Romain for a grand birding tour of the Camargue, starting in the Camargue Gardoise searching for Purple Gallinule (Taleve sultane). After hearing several, we had decent scope views of a couple of birds, though they never quite made it out into the open...

An amazing number of Chiffchaffs (Pouillot veloce) were singing - their migration certainly seems to be in full swing in the south of France. Driving the road that divides the Etangs de Scamandre and Charnier, we heard one singing Moustached Warbler (Lusciniole a moustaches), plus several Bearded Tits (Panure a moustaches) and Penduline Tits (Remiz penduline), though we didn't see any of them.

Just south of the lakes we had the very good fortune of running into a flock of about 150 Common Cranes (Grue cendree).

The birds 'bugled' frequently and a couple were seen to dance - they will surely be heading north in the near future.

The first of a handful of (migrant?) Red Kites (Milan royal) glided over with prey in is talons.

Our visit to Consecaniere to look for Spotted Eagles was a shade too early - it was still too cold for raptors to be up and thermalling. We had to content ourselves with my first Sand Martin (Hirondelle des rivages) of the year and some close fly-bys of Greater Flamingos (Flamant rose).

By the time we arrived at Mas d'Agon it was much warmer, but we still drew a blank on our target species (Bewick's Swan and Glossy Ibis). Nice views of a hunting Hen Harrier (Busard Saint-Martin) was some compensation.

After a much-needed coffee we decided to return to Les Baux. We did a little better than last week, finding Romain his second lifer of the day, a female Blue Rock Thrush (Monticole bleu), plus a few Crag Martins (Hirondelle de rochers).

Signs of Spring

The weather has turned decidedly spring-like in the south of France, so I'm trying to get out and about as much as possible. Last weekend Andrew and I hiked up to the base of the cliff face of the Hortus to the sound of singing Firecrests (Roitelet a triple bandeau), Chiffchaffs (Pouillot veloce) and Sardinian Warblers (Fauvette melanocephale).

These miniature narcissi were attracting attention from bees, butterflies and hummingbird hawkmoths.

The Peregrines (Pelerin) that nest here were very vocal as they patrolled the cliff face.

Thanks to a newly-laid bike path, I spent an afternoon of velornithologie (birding by bike) in the countryside between Montferrier and the source of the River Lez.

Highlights were a flock of 20 Cirl Buntings (Bruant zizi).

The river itself held Grey Wagtail (Bergeronnette des ruisseaux), Kingfisher (Martin-pecheur) and singing Cetti's Warbler (Bouscarle de Cetti) in the bankside vegetation, while a group of calling Hawfinch (Grosbec casse-noyaux) remained impossible to see in the the treetops.

Etang de Berre and the Crau

I joined birding buddies Romain and Sandrine for a pleasant if chilly day of birding in the south. Our first stop was polluted, smelly Berre l'Etang - why this spot is so favoured by birds when the Camargue is just a short hop away is beyond me! After a short search we located the returning Green Heron (Heron vert) on its favoured ditch by the sewage works. The bird barely moved in the half-hour we watched it, frequently shut its eyes and its plumage appeared to be very worn - could it be on its last legs?

Giving us its best grumpy old man stare.

The Black-necked Grebes (Grebe a cou noir) in the port are always fun to watch - this one was spinning Phalarope-like with one leg cocked as it tried to preen.

On the salt pans many Flamingoes (Flamant rose) were coming into breeding condition.

A quick 'sea-watch' from the Port de la Pointe revealed 3 Common Scoters (Macreuses noires) among the masses of grebes.

We stopped at a couple of sites in the Crau in the middle of the day hoping for bustards or sandgrouse, but it was pretty dead save for some Red-legged Partridges (Perdrix rouge). Mas Chauvet produced a calling flyover Richard's Pipit (Pipit de Richard), and a nice mixed passerine flock consisting of Linnet (Linotte melodieuse), Chaffinch (Pinson des arbres), Tree Sparrow (Moineau friquet) and Corn Bunting (Bruant proyer). Southern Grey Shrike (Pie-grieche meridionale) was a lifer for Sandrine in the adjacent coussouls.

We finished the day seeing not a lot in the Alpilles, though being beseiged by sheep was novel.

Between job interviews, I often stare at the tree just outside the window, which is usually bustling with activity, mostly Blackcaps (Fauvette a tete noire) with the occasional Sardinian Warbler (Fauvette melanocephale) thrown in.

Some of the other usual suspects include House and Tree Sparrow (Moineau domestique et friquet), and the Collared Doves (Tourterelle turque, who have recently taken to eating cat food while the cat stares on).

Athenian birding

I spent an exhausting but enjoyable week in Athens, Georgia meeting various members of the ecology faculty. My schedule didn't allow much time for birding, but my camera came along with me for my walks through the university campus.

The campus is one of the largest I've seen, sporting a cinema, 2 olympic-sized swimming pools and a huge stadium.

One of the things I love about US birding is just how co-operative the birds can be. This Cooper's Hawk flew into a tree just ahead of me...

... and didn't budge when I walked underneath it!

The extraordinary Cardinal was one of the most ubiquitous birds here.

Blue Jay, another corking eastern bird.

Two birds restricted to the south-east US, Carolina Wren and Carolina Chickadee, were both present.

Other eastern forms included Myrtle Warbler and Yellow-shafted Flicker.

Zonotrichia in residence was the attractive White-throated Sparrow.

Song Sparrows were dotted about in ones and twos.

House Finch and American Goldfinch were frequently hanging around the bird feeders.

A backlit Mockingbird.

Robins galore.

This Ruby-crowned Kinglet was probing around some fresh Yellow-bellied Sapsucker holes.

Not a great shot, but the first I've managed to get of this species with its ruby crown showing.

Dawg.

BBQ, Georgia style.

Athens' take on Mardi Gras.