Go Slow in the Camargue

The Camargue, in central southern France, is one of Europe’s best wetlands and has plenty to interest both amateur and experienced naturalists. Situated in the very heart of the vast Rhône Delta and covering an area of about 750 square kilometres, the Camargue’s marshes, pools, reedbeds, scrub and woodlands provide an oasis for a wonderful variety of resident and migratory bird species.

Following a direct British Airways flight to Marseille or Montpelier we will drive to our excellent, family-run hotel just outside the historic town of Arles. We will be based here for the whole week, exploring the area’s wide range of habitats at a leisurely pace. We should see numerous Purple, Squacco and Night Herons as well as both Bittern and Little Bittern. Great, Little and Cattle Egrets are also common, and Whiskered, Black and Gull-billed Terns feed along the ditches. The surrounding grazing pastures are ideal areas in which to see (and hear) Rollers, Bee-eaters, Golden Oriole and Hoopoe, and we’ll scan the saline lagoons for flocks of Greater Flamingoes and Black-winged Stilts along with a host of other species.

During the week we will also visit the arid landscape of La Crau where Little Bustard, Stone Curlew and Lesser Kestrel may be found. North-east of Arles, the limestone hills of Les Alpilles attract many raptors including Egyptian Vulture and Eurasian Eagle Owl. We’ll allow time for a little sightseeing in the historic Roman town of Arles, and our hotel’s lovely swimming pool offers the tempting option of a relaxing dip before rounding each day off with a delicious home-cooked evening meal!