Recce Further South

In really dull, damp weather we began today at Port Leucate where the best find was 15 Sandwich Terns resting on posts in the lagoon.  We went up to Port Leucate where in driving rain we managed an adult Gannet flying north.  Thank goodness the rain had abated when we got to Le Franqui where there were plenty of Greater Flamingos.  We checked out the sewerage works and located 2 Water Rails and a Water Pipit and later a Snipe.

Sandwich Terns

We moved on to La Palme and ate our sandwiches and were both surprised and delighted when 21 Slender-billed Gulls flew in and landed in front of us.  Amazingly this species was a Lifer for Rob Macklin.

Part of the flock of Slender-billed Gulls with a Black-headed Gull for comparison.

The beach south of Port Nouvelle had 250 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers, 8 Curlews and a Little Stint.  In the harbour there were at least 10 Black-necked Grebes and later we found another Water Pipit south of Bages.