17th - A big day today with an early start travelling down to the beach at Piemanson. The decision to start at the beach then work northwards was immediately justified as an adult Osprey flew low over the car giving excellent views. My first for France. Then, within a couple of minutes, a double whammy! A flock of small waders feeding in a lagoon just behind the beach contained not only the standard fare of Dunlin and Little Stint but a winter plumaged, adult Red-necked Phalarope. It remained on the periphery of the feeding flock and gave great views for 5 minutes or so. Just as I decided to digiscope the bird the flock became quite flighty, shifting position a couple of times and then en masse disappearing over to the far side of the lagoon. They did not reappear within the next 10 minutes. I walked along the beach in a strong south-easterly wind in the hope of locating an Audouins Gull, which had been seen in the vicinity a couple of days previously, but, apart from several Kentish Plovers, no luck. A quick scan of the sea turned up an adult Kittiwake but no skuas or auks. Next destination was the Digue a la Mer but on the journey I stopped to view several Mediterranean Gulls in a field. The lagoons close to the pumping station had water in them and a flock of waders close by comprised Dunlins, Little Stints, Ringed Plovers and Sanderling. A flock of around 50 Ruff flew over. Driving through L'Amphise 2 immature Bonelli's Eagles then gave superb views as they jousted above the road, soon to be followed by 3 Black Kites. A brief stop alongside Vaccares resulted in a decent view of 2 Whiskered Terns perched above the fishing nets. Final stop was at Mas d'Agon but due to the weather the best it could offer was a male Garganey and around 80 Black-winged Stilt.