A Good Beginning Ends in Disaster

Curlew Sandpipers at Pissevache.

I had promised a birding friend Janet that I would introduce her to the main birding sites east of Narbonne.  We started well finding Janet her lifer Red-backed Shrike which was a juvenile sitting on wires at Lespignan.  We moved on to Pissevache and immediately came across a wonderful group of 15 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.  There were a lot of Sand Martins moving south and we also noted a Pochard on the ponds.

Curlew Sandpipers at Pissevache

Curlew Sandpipers at Pissevache

We then took the track out to the beach at Gruissan.  We found a few Kentish and Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin and a Sanderling but it was too windy for much more.  Driving past the Salt Shop we stopped to note 5 Honey Buzzards flying overhead and then it happened.  My poor old Land Rover which has been so reliable of late packed up.  We spent the rest of the day waiting for a breakdown lorry to take us to a garage and then for a lift home.  The problem is only a broken fan belt but I must wait until Monday to get the vehicle back.