Birding The Gruissan Area

We needed to go to Narbonne for some shopping so decided to check out the Gruissan area first.  As we headed for Olonzac a Short-toed Eagle lumbered over the vineyards and close to Fontareche a Roller and 2 Woodchats sat on roadside wires.

Roller

We began in Gruissan by checking out the salt pans.  We soon discovered about 30 Little Stints, 20 Kentish Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers and a solitary Dunlin.  Several Sandwich Terns were overhead and c200 Greater Flamingos including good numbers of juveniles.  A superb Kingfisher also flew by before we left. 

Male Kentish Plover

Moving on to Le Petit Tournabelle we looked over the wet meadows which looked in splendid condition for lots of waders.  Sadly we only found 10 Wood Sandpipers and 4 juvenile Black-winged Stilts.  There were also plenty of Little Egrets, 3 Great White Egrets and a White Stork.  The meadows were also full of Blue-headed Wagtails.

Juvenile Black-winged Stilts

Next stop was at Mandirac where I wandered into the reeds to check out the lagoons.  There were a couple more Wood Sandpipers, 2 Lapwings, a solitary Black-tailed Godwit and c30 Snipe.  Nine White Storks passed by overhead and whilst my back was turned Beryl enjoyed an over flying Osprey.

One of 9 White Storks passing overhead

Back home in the garden this evening there were 4 Black Redstarts, Common Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher.