Private guided day trip between Leucate, La Palme and Feuilla (11)
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Private guided day trip between Leucate, La Palme and Feuilla (11)
23th March 2021
Guide of the day: Karline Martorell accompanied by Philippa Benson
Participants: Delia, Richard and Sam
Weather conditions: sunny with a moderate wind (perfect for migration) dropping from mid-
day, temps ranging from 8°C to 18°C+
Highlights of the day: Penduline tit, Short-toed eagle and more broadly a superb migratory
flow all morning
Itinerary and birding spots of the day
The aim of the day was to observe spring migration, so we started the day in Leucate (les
Coussoules). At the Grau de La Franqui, an Oystercatcher and some Kentish plover were
feeding on the mud banks while groups of Alpine swift and various passerines passed over
our heads in a continuous stream. Walking towards the filtration pound, we saw large
numbers of Sparrowhawk and four Crane on migration quite low in the sky. Arriving at the
filtration pond, a Black-necked grebe was spotted in the middle of group of Coot.
Here we had a steady flow of raptors on migration really close: many Black kite,
Sparrowhawk, and Marsh harrier, some Kestrel, two Ospreys and one Red Kite. As we
walked around the reed bed, we were lucky to hear a Penduline tit. And after waiting a
while... it ended up showing itself! What a stunning view!!! Against a background of
migrating Black kite.
Birding Languedoc – Trip Report / 23th March 2021 – www.birdinglanguedoc.org
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Gorgeous view of Penduline tit!
Then we went up to the Leucate migration spot where we had our picnic. Not many birds
but a friendly moment in a superb setting!
In the afternoon we had a look around the La Palme salt pans, where we saw some
Flamingos, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Slender-billed gull and good close views of the Water
pipit.
Birding Languedoc – Trip Report / 23th March 2021 – www.birdinglanguedoc.org
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For a last bit of migration watching we went up to a high point at Treilles and then to Feuilla.
Here we had a superb view of the local pair of Short-toed eagles, flying high in the sky right
above us. Then one of them flew down and perched on a tree in the valley below us. To
finish the day and because we love all nature, we got superb views of Algerian sand racer,
some orchids and other wild flowers (Wild tulip in photo below).
Sixty species for an another great day trip with a friendly team! As often with birding, it
turned out to be a day full of surprises! Some great rewards for migration!
Birding Languedoc – Trip Report / 23th March 2021 – www.birdinglanguedoc.org
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Bird List 23/03/21
English Name French Name Scientific Name
Mallard Canard colvert Anas platyrhynchos
Common Shelduck Tadorne de Belon Tadorna tadorna
Black-necked Grebe Grèbe à cou noir Podiceps nigricollis
Great Crested Grebe Grèbe huppé Podiceps cristatus
Great Cormorant Grand Cormoran Phalacrocorax carbo
Little Egret Aigrette garzette Egretta garzetta
Grey Heron Héron cendré Ardea cinerea
Greater Flamingo Flamant rose Phoenicopterus roseus
Western Osprey Balbuzard pêcheur Pandion haliaetus
Western Marsh Harrier Busard des roseaux Circus aeruginosus
Common Buzzard Buse variable Buteo buteo
Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaète Jean-le-Blanc Circaetus gallicus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Épervier d'Europe Accipiter nisus
Black Kite Milan noir Milvus migrans
Red Kite Milan royal Milvus milvus
Common Kestrel Faucon crécerelle Falco tinnunculus
Eurasian Coot Foulque macroule Fulica atra
Common Moorhen Gallinule poule-d'eau Gallinula chloropus
Common Crane Grue cendrée Grus grus
Eurasian Oystercatcher Huîtrier pie Haematopus ostralegus
Pied Avocet Avocette élégante Recurvirostra avosetta
Kentish Plover Gravelot à collier interrompu Charadrius alexandrinus
Common Snipe Bécassine des marais Gallinago gallinago
Common Sandpiper Chevalier guignette Actitis hypoleucos
Yellow-legged Gull Goéland leucophée Larus michahellis
Slender-billed Gull Goéland railleur Chroicocephalus genei
Mediterranean Gull Mouette mélanocéphale Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Black-headed Gull Mouette rieuse Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Common Wood Pigeon Pigeon ramier Columba palumbus
Eurasian Collared Dove Tourterelle turque Streptopelia decaocto
Alpine Swift Martinet à ventre blanc Tachymarptis melba
Common Kingfisher Martin-pêcheur d'Europe Alcedo atthis
Thekla's Lark Cochevis de Thékla Galerida theklae
Crested Lark Cochevis huppé Galerida cristata
Common House Martin Hirondelle de fenêtre Delichon urbicum
Sand Martin Hirondelle de rivage Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow Hirondelle rustique Hirundo rustica
White Wagtail Bergeronnette grise Motacilla alba
Birding Languedoc – Trip Report / 23th March 2021 – www.birdinglanguedoc.org
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English Name French Name Scientific Name
Meadow Pipit Pipit farlouse Anthus pratensis
Water Pipit Pipit spioncelle Anthus spinoletta
Blue Rock Thrush (really quick view) Monticole merle-bleu Monticola solitarius
European Robin Rougegorge familier Erithacus rubecula
Black Redstart Rougequeue noir Phoenicurus ochruros
European Stonechat Tarier pâtre Saxicola rubicola
Cetti's Warbler Bouscarle de Cetti Cettia cetti
Zitting Cisticola (H) Cisticole des joncs Cisticola juncidis
Sardinian Warbler Fauvette mélanocéphale Sylvia melanocephala
Dartford Warbler Fauvette pitchou Sylvia undata
Moustached Warbler (H) Lusciniole à moustaches Acrocephalus melanopogon
Common Chiffchaff Pouillot véloce Phylloscopus collybita
Great Tit Mésange charbonnière Parus major
Eurasian Penduline Tit Rémiz penduline Remiz pendulinus
Eurasian Magpie Pie bavarde Pica pica
Common Starling Étourneau sansonnet Sturnus vulgaris
European Goldfinch Chardonneret élégant Carduelis carduelis
Common Linnet Linotte mélodieuse Carduelis cannabina
Common Chaffinch Pinson des arbres Fringilla coelebs
European Serin Serin cini Serinus serinus
Common Reed Bunting Bruant des roseaux Emberiza schoeniclus
Cirl Bunting Bruant zizi Emberiza cirlus
60 species
Thank you the good team for your participation and see you next time!
Birding Languedoc – Trip Report / 23th March 2021 – www.birdinglanguedoc.org
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