Highlights from France: Birds, Wine, & Cheese

Starting in Corsica, we enjoyed the beautiful sceneries of the ‘Island of Beauty’ as well as great views on beautiful birds such as Corsican Nuthatch, Corsican Finch, Lammergeier, Marmora’s Warbler or migrant Red-footed Falcons.

We then night-crossed by ferry to continental France, arriving early morning in Marseille.

Three full days in Camargue, Crau and Alpilles were barely enough to cover this wonderful area full of birds! Colourful Flamingos were abundant, but we also had fantastic views on Purple and Squacco Herons, Common Hoopoe, Eurasian Roller, several species of lovely warblers, a Bonelli’s Eagle on its nest, Calandra Larks, displaying Little Bustards, and so many more!

We had succulent picnic in both Alpilles and Crau, to enjoy the evening light with a glass of wine, while Nightingalle were singing loud or a Eurasian Eagle-Owl was flying overhead!

We then headed towards the Baronnies, driving through amazing landscapes, and finding Griffon Vultures together with Cinereaous and Egyptian Vultures, but also little beauties such as Ortolan’s Bunting or Western Orphean Warbler.

We ended the tour with two days at high elevation in the Vercors, having fantastic views on Eurasian Pygmy-Owl, but also on numerous Coal Tits, Goldcrest and Firecrest, Tree Pipit, Yellow and Red-billed Chough, and plenty of stunning flowers!

We finished the tour in Lyon, from where part of the group was flying back home while the rest were staying a few extra days in France.

An eBird trip report can be seen here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/511737