21st - A trip to the Marais du Vigueirat this morning in a strong Mistral and to Mas d'Agon in the evening . The wooded area at Vigueirat was empty other than a couple of Blackcaps heard calling and a Kingfisher that flew off from its perch near the reedbed. The marsh held a dozen Black-winged Stilts and 2 Wood Sandpipers plus a few Mallard. The second woodland had, amongst others, a pair of Cetti's Warblers, Nightingale, Melodious Warbler, juvenile Great Tit and Green Woodpecker. All 4 young White Storks were again standing in their nest giving superb views and a Fan-tailed Warbler sang its piercing song. On the open garrigue a male Stonechat showed well, at least 4 Bee-eaters flew overhead and a Reed Warbler disappeared into the reeds. The water level on the marsh next to the lagoon was just right for waders so it was no surprise to find 3 Greenshanks, 7 Wood Sandpipers and 12 Black-winged Stilts feeding here. A Yellow Wagtail was also spotted here. The lagoon itself was quiet although both Black Kite and female Marsh Harrier flew over. The journey back to Arles turned up another Roller on telephone wires. In the evening Mas d'Agon was livelier with a group of 6 Glossy Ibis feeding in flooded fields north of the farm. The lagoons at the Mas still held a good number of Whiskered Terns (60) plus 15 Common and a single Gull-billed Tern. A Hoopoe did its best to control its flight in the gale but disappeared like it had been fired from a slingshot! On the water I spotted 8 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Grebes and around 80 Coot. Both adult and juvenile Night Herons flew over as did 3 Purple Herons and then a real surprise, an adult male Goosander flew right over my head. A group of 4 Bee-eaters came close and a single Snipe flew haphazardly into the reeds next to the road but this was the last significant sighting of the evening.