Vultures everywhere - but not being fed

I recently learnt of the whereabouts of a Vulture feeding station in the Corbieres south of Limoux.  In excellent weather we drove 2 hours to the site and found the valley pretty quickly.  As promised we found a large rock on the roadside with plenty of Griffon Vultures in place.

As the air warmed up the birds began to leave the ledges and soon c40 were soaring high in the sky.  Sadly they were not heading for the small hill where the feeding place was situated.  Walking up to the site we discovered a fenced off area and the remains of a couple of sheep which had obviously been there for some time.  What we had not realised is that feeding does not take place every day. 

The station has been set up for Egyptian Vultures which are extremely rare in this part of France.  A few have apparently been coming as well as Griffons.  The valley is superb and we heard Quail calling in the meadows and Western Bonelli's Warblers in the trees.

On the way home a small group of Bee-eaters gave stunning views near Olonzac.

My friend Ron Bennett reported seeing 2 Moustached Warblers singing at the Capestang marsh today so I must return there this week.