Wildlife Holiday Recce

I have agreed to co-lead a Wildlife Holiday in Languedoc in late April for Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays.  Chris Durdin owner of Honeyguide and Rob Macklin co-leader have been here for a day or two and we have been going around on a reccee of sites.

Gadwall

We started today at Bessan in bright sunshine but a freezing wind.  We had no luck with Little Bustards but did find a mixed flock of Corn Buntings, Cirl Buntings and Greenfinches and a dozen Lapwings.  At Etang de Vendres the wind was very strong with ducks sheltering the lea and only a couple of Marsh Harriers really evident.  At Pissevache there were at least 6 Great White Egrets plus c100 Gadwall, c30 Teal , c30 Shoveler a few Shelduck and a dozen Greater Flamingos.

Greater Flamingos in the wind

Moving on to the Gruissan area there a few more Greater Flamingos about and a couple of Water Rails scuttled across the road.  At Mandirac we counted 18 White Storks and  a single male Penduline Tit.  Two Marsh Harriers quartered the marsh with a ring-tail Hen Harrier and 2 more Great White Egrets were sitting in the road.