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Camargue - BirdForum Opus


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France

Osprey
Photo © by chiffchaff13
Camargue France August, 2014

Overview

The Camargue, a delta and wetlands, situated between the Grand Rhone and Petit Rhone rivers, is approximately 100,000 hectares/247,105 acres in size, with a diverse habitat and range of uses.

There are three specific zones present. One zone is cultivated in the north portion of the delta. In the east and west can be found salt banks, and the southern area contains lagoons.

It has also been described as a sanctuary for the study of birds with approximately 400 species of birds having been reported as seen here. One of those is the Pink Flamingo, which has become the icon for Camargue birds[1].

Birds

Notable Species

The Carmargue area has been described as an all-around good spot for birding with the site Marvellous Provence saying the best place to bird is anywhere in the area and the best time is anytime[3]. The article does go on to say there are variables at play that can influence how well that turns out. It has been described as famous for its shorebirds[4] and for the assertion, this is the only nesting site in France for Flamingos with around 50-60,000 present in the spring and summer and 5-6,000 wintering there. Noted as one of the most important locations for birds in France with more than 20,000 waterbirds breeding in winter and passage[5].

Rarities

Some of the species reported as rare in this area[6] are the Snow Goose, Pied-billed Grebe, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Red-necked Nightjar, Little Swift, Red-knobbed Coot, American Golden-Plover, Upland Sandpiper, Cream-colored Courser, Bonaparte's Gull, Bulwer's Petrel, Magnificent Frigatebird, Pygmy Cormorant, Great White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Lanner Falcon, Isabelline Shrike, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Plain Martin, Hume's Warbler, Barred Warbler, Rosy Starling, White's Thrush, White-throated Robin, Citrine Wagtail, Trumpeter Finch, Black-headed Bunting.

Check-list

Eurasian Spoonbill
Photo © by chiffchaff13
Camargue France June, 2013

Birds you can see here include:

Red-breasted Merganser, Black Grouse, Greater Flamingo, Eared Grebe, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Little Crake, Common Crane, Eurasian Thick-knee, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Dotterel, Common Redshank, Collared Pratincole, Long-tailed Jaeger, Dovekie, Sandwich Tern, Common Loon, European Storm-Petrel, Manx Shearwater, White Stork, Northern Gannet, Northern Gannet, European Shag, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Osprey, Common Buzzard, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Black Woodpecker, Peregrine Falcon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, Common Raven, Great Tit, Eurasian Penduline-Tit, Crested Lark, Bearded Reedling, Zitting Cisticola, Great Reed Warbler, Common Grasshopper-Warbler, Western House Martin, Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Marmora's Warbler, Common Firecrest, Wallcreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, White-throated Dipper, Spotless Starling, Dusky Thrush, Black Wheatear, Bohemian Waxwing, Dunnock, White-winged Snowfinch, American Pipit, Eurasian Siskin, Snow Bunting, Reed Bunting

Other Wildlife

To do

Site Information

History and Use

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Areas of Interest

To do

Access and Facilities

The nearest airport to the Camargue with commercial service is Nimes (FNI). Consult a trusted travel professional for up-to-date, specific information on this and other possible options to get to this location.

Contact Details

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References

  1. Arles Tourism - https://www.arlestourisme.com/en/the-camargue.html
  2. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Arles, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Publisher – Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc, Published June 02, 2017, https://www.britannica.com/place/Arles, Accessed August 29, 2020
  3. Marvellous Provence - https://www.marvellous-provence.com/activities-and-sports/bird-watching-in-the-camargue
  4. First Nature - https://www.first-nature.com/worldsites/fr-camargue.php
  5. Birdlife International – Camargue - http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/camargue-iba-france
  6. Lepage D. (2020) Bouches-du-Rhone Bird Checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World. Retrieved 30 August 2020

Recommended Citation

Maps

  1. - Parc naturel régional de Camargue on Google Maps

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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