FEBRUARY 2008 HIGHLIGHTS

Here are the highlights from February as the early migrants begin to arrive from their wintering grounds.

1st – Red crested Pochard, Bonelli’s Eagle (juvenile), Bearded Tit at Pont de Gau.

3rd – White Stork (on nest at La Capelliere), Common Scoter (x6) at Etang de Vaccares.

4th – White Stork, Wood Sandpiper (x2), Little Stint (x2) at La Capelliere, Brambling (x20) at Le Gimeaux.

6th – White Stork (pair, bill clapping on nest), Tufted Duck (x70), Penduline Tit (x3) at La Capelliere, Velvet Scoter (x4) at Etang de Vaccares, Spotted Eagle (subadult) at L’Amphise.

7th – White Stork (pair), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Water Pipit (ssp spinoletta), Firecrest at Marais de Vigueirat.

8th – Red Kite (x4) at Entressen tip, Southern Grey Shrike at Mas Chauvet, Raven (x2) at La Caume.

11th – White Stork (pair), Peregrine, Cirl Bunting at La Capelliere.

12th – Tundra Swan (x7), Rough legged Buzzard (adult male) at Etang de Badon.

13th – White Stork, Booted Eagle (dark form), Firecrest, Brambling, Purple Swamphen at Etang de Scamandre/ Charnier.

14th – Spotted Eagle (juv), Peregrine, Snipe at Etang de Consecaniere.
15th – White Stork, Tundra Swan (x7), Red Kite at Etang de Vaccares.

18th – White Stork (pair), Pintail, Red Kite, Green Sandpiper at La Capelliere, Tundra Swan (x4) at Marais de Romieu.

19th – White Stork (x5), Water Pipit, Firecrest (x2), Chiffchaff ( x5, all singing ) at Marais du Vigueirat.

20th – White Stork (pair) at La Capelliere, Tundra Swan (x12), Booted Eagle (dark form) at Etang de Badon, Pintail (x4), Black tailed Godwit (x7) at Marais de Grenouillet, Common Crane (x300+) at Silos de Tournelles.

21st – Crested Tit, Bullfinch at Les Alpilles.

22nd – Tundra Swan (x2), Glossy Ibis (x7) at Mas d’Agon, White Stork (pair), Booted Eagle (dark form) at La Capelliere, Stone Curlew (x2) at La Chassagne.

25th – White Stork (pair on nest mating), Snipe (x10), Bearded Tit (pair) at La Capelliere, Tundra Swan (x3) at Etang de Badon.

26th – White Stork (x3) at Tour de Valat, Bar- tailed Godwit, Black- tailed Godwit (x30), Little Stint (x2000), Avocet (x800), Redshank (x800) at Phare de Gacholle.

28th – Slavonian Grebe (x2), Short eared Owl at Beauduc, Tundra Swan (x16), Hoopoe at Etang de Badon, Garganey at Marais de la Palunette.

29th – Bluethroat (singing) at Eglise de Major, Arles, Little Bustard (x5), Cirl Bunting, Serin at Piste du Vallon.