We have been to one part of the Aude river flood plain on our own a few years ago, and saw tons of Bee-eaters and some other interesting birds, but no Rollers which had been a target species. So this time we were more than happy to see three Rollers! A long time since the only one we have seen before, in Spain.
We started by making an impromptu stop to take photos of this magnificent field full of poppies. There are lots of them flowering at the moment, usually around the edges of fields and on verges, often on any kind of disturbed land but this field was just full of them!
The flood plain is very wide in some places and there are irrigation ditches to control the water levels. We learned that some of the flood plain is deliberately flooded in winter where there are vineyards - these vines are not using the usual American rootstock which is resistant to the vine pest Phylloxera, but by flooding the land the phylloxera is killed, without having any effect on the vine plants. Clever, isn't it!
Amongst other birds, we saw the Little Bustard again (we had seen some of them on the previous trip) and this one was a male who was calling - they put their heads back and emit a fart like noise!
Photo credit: K Allen
Here's the beautiful European Roller (Coracias garrulus):
Photo credit: K Allen
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris):
Photo credit: K Allen
I also saw a male Golden Oriole! I think I was the only one who saw it - just one of those times when you happen to scan with your binocs and something amazing comes into view! It had disappeared by the time I mentioned it to others, though I did confirm that there is nothing else that has a bright yellow body and black wings.... 😀 Most of the others saw one later in the afternoon (I didn't) so I guess that is fair.
I saw this plant, Aristolochia something, on a previous trip as well, and Karline (our bird guide) pointed out to me that it is the host plant for the Southern Festoon butterfly, a species that I would love to see. After walking along beside the drainage ditch back to the road, I discovered that my glasses were no longer in my pocket where I had put them, as I can't get on with looking through my binocs or camera with glasses on. Somehow they must have fallen out of my pocket. 😟
So K and I walked all the way back to where this plant was as I thought it might have fallen out whilst I was squatting down taking the photos, but nope, didn't find them. I'm now desperately trying to get new glasses made before we go on holiday in a couple of weeks time, and unfortunately I'm going to have to pay for them, as there is no way I can get to an opthalmologist for a prescription, then to an opticians to choose glasses, which will take some time to be made. That's the way it works in France if you want to be reimbursed by the healthcare system, and there's usually a 6 month wait for an appointment with an opthalmologist! I could get an appointment if I wanted to go to the centre of Toulouse, but we really don't fancy having to do that. So I'll pay - I can only just about get the glasses made in time as it is.
Thank goodness I still have some old reading glasses so I can at least see to read, cook, use computer screens, etc! I now have an appt for tomorrow afternoon at a local opticians where I'll get my eyes tested, then choose some glasses. This time I'll take advantage of the 2nd pair free offer - the last time my 2nd pair were prescrip sunglasses.
On his way back to the group K saw this Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius):
We then headed to nearby Lespignan, to view the Lesser Kestrels which are nesting in the roofs of the village. They were part of a very successful reintroduction programme and have spread to nesting in nearby villages as well. Again, these are birds we saw on our previous trip, but we saw more of them with better views this time! This next photo is a male Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), and the photo below that is of a male and a female who is the one flying.
Photo credit: K Allen
Photo credit: K Allen
We happened to be here on a Sunday when the Fete de Transhumance was being held, and the sheep and a few goats here were being moved from fields up on La Clape hills over a three day fete period involving three villages, to some fields around Lespignan. Normally the Transhumance is when the cattle (or other animals) are moved up to mountain pastures for the summer, or brought back down again. Philippa, our BL guide, reckons it's just an excuse for a party these days! We weren't very happy as the poor sheep were being herded around and around and the ones on the outside, including some small lambs, looked quite stressed with their mouths open. Thankfully, after having viewed the Lesser Kestrels and moving to a little park overlooking the lower village for our picnic, we could see that the sheep had been moved on to their new pasture.
A number of people on horseback (shepherds) joined in, as well as some horses and carts. This horse was beautiful!
Back to the flood plain and this time we crossed over the river to the other side, however we didn't see any more Bee-eaters this side, though we saw some Rollers inspecting the nesting boxes which have been put up on electricity poles.
Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) - the Rock Sparrow was in Lespignan but the Shrike was in the fields near the river. It's looking away from the camera but at least it is showing its lovely brown head!
Photo credit: K Allen
The Aude river.
I found a dragonfly I haven't seen before, an Orange-spotted Emerald (Oxygastra curtisii). This is the female - the male has green eyes.
These horses were quite friendly and came over to say hello and check us out. All but the dark one looked like Breton horses to me.
We then headed to the nearby Etang de Pissevaches and the filtration ponds, which you can't enter but can see some of the ponds from the road. There wasn't much about, some Mallards, Shelducks and Little Egrets, but quite a lot of birdlife flying overhead, such as Black-winged Stilts, Glossy Ibis and a Marsh Harrier.
On the lagoon on the other side of the road we watched some Little Terns fishing but they are much too fast for photos! I prefer things that don't move, such as this plant that I hadn't seen before. It's Hairy Sea Heath (Frankenia hirsuta) and grows in a low mound and looks quite similar to thyme.
A finger for scale, something I keep forgetting to do with tiny plants!
Since writing the above, I have been to the opticians and ordered some new glasses which will be ready in a week. The great news is that the guy said that my doctor could write the prescription and it would be accepted by the healthcare system - something we’ve not heard of before, maybe it’s new, but anyway, that means that most of the cost will be reimbursed! 🤓
