We had wanted to visit the marshy reserve of Le Grand Castelou for ages. It's situated just south of Narbonne in the Reserve Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise en Méditerranée on the site of an old wine domaine, with a very handsome old farmhouse and attached barns at the centre. The domaine was also used for other agriculture in the dryer fields over the decades and even rice growing at one point. Nowadays Camargue horses and bulls graze as they are naturally used to wet environments. There are areas which are wilder with expanses of reeds, low growing salt loving plants like samphire, as well as small lagoons. Needless to say this encourages all sorts of wildlife and birds to the different habitats.
When we arrived there was a light sea breeze but warm enough to not need a jacket, not bad for the end of December! There are two walks here, a smaller 2km walk which goes past the only hide, and a longer 4km walk. Of course, if you are going to the hide as well (and why wouldn't you!) it will be a bit longer as you have to detour. According to the app K uses, we walked 5.6kms. Given I have barely walked much in months I was amazed at myself, though it's all flat, which is perfect!
It's not the easiest place to navigate so I strongly suggest you take a photo of this map opposite the buildings at the start of the walks! We soon realised this so K went back to get this pic. There are paths going off in all directions and many waterways, used to bring fresh water to the agricultural areas, which would otherwise become salt marshes over time if left to nature.
The first thing we noticed were loads of White Storks flying overhead. They are obviously happy overwintering here rather than flying south to Africa. It seems like more and more birds are staying put these days. We even saw a White Stork in Brittany on a cold Feb or March day about 10 years ago!
A line of Plane trees. These trees are really common in the Languedoc and there are avenues of Planes between villages as well as growing in the villages and towns. I just love them because they are very majestic and have the most glorious bark. They are often pollarded and provide good shade.
We could see the White Storks in the fields as well, but it wasn't easy trying to take photographs through the reeds. With my SX50 and autofocus, I got lucky, as the camera wants to focus on the reeds in the foreground most of the time.
I was astonished to see this tree with buds and blossoms all over it - in December? I wasn't sure what it was at first, but checked when home and I should have known really. Can you tell what it is?
It's an Ash. I should have known from the 'keys' (seed pods) but the flowers threw me, as well as being in a marshy area. Being beside the Etang de Bages, close to the ocean, this area would be very mild and almost frost free in winter, but it's still ridiculously early to be flowering!
The hide had a good view over this small lagoon, and the hills we see in the distance are the other side of the main lagoon, the Etang de Bages-Sigean.
Nearly all the ducks we could see were Mallards, Pochards and Teal. There's a Pochard on the left in the middle, behind the reeds. In the foreground are mostly Teals.
Sleepy Teals, three handsome males and two females.
We didn't see too many other birds as we walked around, although we were accompanied by the sound of many Cetti's Warblers! We also saw a female Reed Bunting, a Stonechat and some Marsh Harriers.
Some of the longer walk is along the road, but it's a very quiet road and we didn't see a single car, and only a very few people. We had a lovely view of Mt Canigou from most of the reserve.
The village of Bages over the other side of the main lagoon.
Looking towards La Nautique, a watersports base and little port, close to Narbonne town. We were happy to see what were in the foreground, Flamingos!
Above on the right and below, a juvenile Flamingo without any pink colouring. Above there's a Grey Heron in the background.
Photo credit: Keith Allen
The next day I got my spring and summer bulbs planted in the new Pollinator Bed - yes I know I am very late doing so but the weather has been so horrible this autumn, and I'm a real fair weather gardener these days. K lent me a hand which helped me to get motivated, and so, obviously, did the mild sunny weather.
I will end by wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
