Camargue & Pyrenees
The best of France in Autumn
Saturday 6 - Sunday 14 September 2008 (9 days)
Starting with the famous Camargue, with its pink flamingos, white horses and black fighting bulls, and finishing with the grandeur of the High Pyrenees, we visit some of France's very best areas for birds and wildlife in autumn.
The freshwater marshes of the Camargue and the surrounding meadows remain one of Europe's most exciting birdwatching areas. The array of herons is quite outstanding: Grey Herons and both Little and Cattle Egrets are common, and Great White Egret a recent colonist. Raptors are always present in the skies here - usually Marsh Harrier, together with Short-toed Eagle here and there, and Hobby chasing the abundance of dragonflies. Migrant Osprey are also passing through at this time.
The shallow pools, mudflats and water meadows also boast a good variety of waders, including Black-winged Stilt and Avocet, together with passage migrants including Curlew Sandpiper. There is also the chance of a more unusual migrant, like the Red-necked Phalarope that we have seen here in the past. Whiskered Tern can still be found hawking over the freshwater pools and rice paddies, while Slender-billed Gull and Caspian Tern can also usually be found nearer the coast.
Reedbeds form another excellent habitat, with Cetti's and Fan-tailed Warblers. But perhaps it is the sight of the intense pink and red of the thousands of Greater Flamingos against the green of the reedbeds and the deep blue of the sky that will remain the most indelible memory of these wonderful wetlands.
The shallow pools, mudflats and water meadows also boast a good variety of waders, including Black-winged Stilt and Avocet, together with passage migrants including Curlew Sandpiper. There is also the chance of a more unusual migrant, like the Red-necked Phalarope that we have seen here in the past. Whiskered Tern can still be found hawking over the freshwater pools and rice paddies, while Slender-billed Gull and Caspian Tern can also usually be found nearer the coast.
Reedbeds form another excellent habitat, with Cetti's and Fan-tailed Warblers. But perhaps it is the sight of the intense pink and red of the thousands of Greater Flamingos against the green of the reedbeds and the deep blue of the sky that will remain the most indelible memory of these wonderful wetlands.
Price: £ 1,495
Single supp. £ 190 per room
Deposit: £ 300 per person
The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of 8 nights' accommodation as detailed above, meals, incidental tips, return scheduled flight London-Montpellier/Toulouse-London*, minibus transport, admissions, and leadership.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks (but please note that wine is included with meals) and other personal expenses.
*For an ex-flight cost (ex-Montpellier/Toulouse) please deduct £ 145 from the tour cost.
Principal Leader:
Mike Read
The unique boulder-strewn steppe of the Crau is a superb habitat for birds. France's only Pin-tailed Sandgrouse are here, and are most active in the early mornings and late evenings. The other specialities, Little Bustard and Stone Curlew are also best seen at these times. Other possibilities here include Montagu's Harrier and Egyptian Vulture, and possibly the odd late Roller or flock of Bee-eaters.
To the north of the area the limestone hills of the Alpilles with the spectacular hilltop fortress of Les Baux can produce a good variety of raptors including Bonelli's Eagle, as well as rock-dwelling birds like Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine Swift and Crag Martin. We have also seen Eagle Owl in this area in the past. Near to our hotel, the fabled Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard is spectacular in its own right, but has the added attraction to birdwatchers of its colonies of Crag Martin and Rock Sparrow.
After four nights here we travel across the south of France to the High Pyrenees. Amidst some of Europe's most inspiring scenery can be found a selection of really choice mountain birds. Lammergeier patrol the cliff-faces effortlessly, along with Griffon Vulture and Golden Eagle, and both Red-billed and Alpine Chough. The pines hold Citril Finch and Crossbill, while high on the scree slopes we can see Alpine Accentor, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, and flocks of Snow Finch. One of the attractions of this area is the accessibility of the high mountains by road - both Snow Finch and Alpine Accentor can sometimes be seen in some of the car parks and there is an outside chance of a Wallcreeper on one of the rock faces.
To a southbound migrant, these sheer walls of rock present formidable obstacles. The sight of flocks of raptors gaining height in the thermals amidst the foothills before attempting the crossing is most impressive. These can include Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh and Montagu's Harrier, together with Peregrine and Buzzard.
Higher up, migrants often become grounded in the valleys, and "falls" of migrants here can rival anything witnessed at an island bird observatory! Even if the weather is good, the high passes can still provide a steady stream of migrants, including Wryneck, Common and Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Pied Flycatcher and many warblers. Mammals include the delightful Alpine Marmot and Isard, the Pyrenean Chamois.
The slopes are also good for Naked Ladies (by which we mean Autumn Crocus of course!) and other lovely autumn flowers including Merendera, a Pyrenean endemic, while butterflies can still be found in good numbers.
From our base we can choose to drive up many of the passes and to the magnificent Cirques, or corries. The most famous of these, at Gavarnie, is one of the great mountain sights of Europe and not to be missed, but there are many other less busy areas that are equally stunning. Some of the lower valleys can also be worth visiting for several species, but given fine weather our aim will be to visit the higher areas whenever possible.
Itinerary
Days 1 - 4
We take a scheduled flight from London to Montpellier. We will collect our minibuses there and drive to Beaucaire for an evening meal. We have our minibuses throughout the stay, so will be able to have a very flexible programme with some optional early morning excursions.
Four nights Beaucaire
Days 5 - 8
We drive to Luz St Sauveur in the French Pyrenees.
Four nights Luz St Sauveur
Day 9
We drive back to Toulouse for the flight back to London.
Accommodation
Our base in the Camargue is the Hotel Robinson (2-star, Logis de France 3-cheminées award) in Beaucaire to the north of the area. The hotel has built an exceptional reputation for its Provençale cuisine (and splendid picnic hampers). Most rooms are en suite, although a few less expensive single rooms with shower only may be available. In the Pyrenees, we stay at a fine hotel in Luz St Sauveur (3-stars, Logis de France 3-cheminées) with all rooms en suite, in a quiet area just away from the busy part of the town.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients
To the north of the area the limestone hills of the Alpilles with the spectacular hilltop fortress of Les Baux can produce a good variety of raptors including Bonelli's Eagle, as well as rock-dwelling birds like Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine Swift and Crag Martin. We have also seen Eagle Owl in this area in the past. Near to our hotel, the fabled Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard is spectacular in its own right, but has the added attraction to birdwatchers of its colonies of Crag Martin and Rock Sparrow.
After four nights here we travel across the south of France to the High Pyrenees. Amidst some of Europe's most inspiring scenery can be found a selection of really choice mountain birds. Lammergeier patrol the cliff-faces effortlessly, along with Griffon Vulture and Golden Eagle, and both Red-billed and Alpine Chough. The pines hold Citril Finch and Crossbill, while high on the scree slopes we can see Alpine Accentor, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, and flocks of Snow Finch. One of the attractions of this area is the accessibility of the high mountains by road - both Snow Finch and Alpine Accentor can sometimes be seen in some of the car parks and there is an outside chance of a Wallcreeper on one of the rock faces.
To a southbound migrant, these sheer walls of rock present formidable obstacles. The sight of flocks of raptors gaining height in the thermals amidst the foothills before attempting the crossing is most impressive. These can include Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh and Montagu's Harrier, together with Peregrine and Buzzard.
Higher up, migrants often become grounded in the valleys, and "falls" of migrants here can rival anything witnessed at an island bird observatory! Even if the weather is good, the high passes can still provide a steady stream of migrants, including Wryneck, Common and Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Pied Flycatcher and many warblers. Mammals include the delightful Alpine Marmot and Isard, the Pyrenean Chamois.
The slopes are also good for Naked Ladies (by which we mean Autumn Crocus of course!) and other lovely autumn flowers including Merendera, a Pyrenean endemic, while butterflies can still be found in good numbers.
From our base we can choose to drive up many of the passes and to the magnificent Cirques, or corries. The most famous of these, at Gavarnie, is one of the great mountain sights of Europe and not to be missed, but there are many other less busy areas that are equally stunning. Some of the lower valleys can also be worth visiting for several species, but given fine weather our aim will be to visit the higher areas whenever possible.
Itinerary
Days 1 - 4
We take a scheduled flight from London to Montpellier. We will collect our minibuses there and drive to Beaucaire for an evening meal. We have our minibuses throughout the stay, so will be able to have a very flexible programme with some optional early morning excursions.
Four nights Beaucaire
Days 5 - 8
We drive to Luz St Sauveur in the French Pyrenees.
Four nights Luz St Sauveur
Day 9
We drive back to Toulouse for the flight back to London.
Accommodation
Our base in the Camargue is the Hotel Robinson (2-star, Logis de France 3-cheminées award) in Beaucaire to the north of the area. The hotel has built an exceptional reputation for its Provençale cuisine (and splendid picnic hampers). Most rooms are en suite, although a few less expensive single rooms with shower only may be available. In the Pyrenees, we stay at a fine hotel in Luz St Sauveur (3-stars, Logis de France 3-cheminées) with all rooms en suite, in a quiet area just away from the busy part of the town.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients