To the South

We needed a little shopping in Narbonne so first decided to go south as far as Port Leucate.  We checked out the small pools by the main lagoon but the only waders found were 27 Ringed Plovers and 2 Kentish Plovers.  we then headed up to Cap Leucate looking forward to seeing a completed Visitor Centre.  What a disappointment - No visitor facilities yet but a glass fronted restaurant with great views over the ocean.  The menu price of 49 euros will surely mean this will not last long.  A big case of priorities wrong.



Little Egret feeding frenzy

It was then down to Franqui where we watched groups of Little Egrets and Black-headed Gulls feeding feverishly together.  Checking out the small sewerage farm we found only 3 Common Snipe.  We moved on to Port La Nouvelle and sat munching sandwich by the pier.  I scoped c80 Cormorants flying south in a large "V" and also picked up 6 Gannets fishing out to sea.  This is the first time I have seen this species off the French Mediterranean coast.

Gannet

Heading for the shops there were c100 Greater Flaminogos and 200 Coots at Bages.