17th - Today we visited Les Alpilles, specifically Les Baux and the Vallon de la Leque. We arrived at the south face of Les Baux around 9am and immediately spotted 2 or 3 Crag Martins wheeling around the rock face. A flock of Jackdaws were also present. After 30 minutes we spotted our first target, a splendid male Blue Rock Thrush flew from the bushes at the base of the rock face and hopped around for a few minutes before disappearing. A number of Sardinian, Dartford and Cetti's Warblers were seen in the bushes along the narrow pathway. We drove to another site  close by and walked along a path though the trees. Here we managed to spot Firecrest, Goldcrest, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and finally a pair of Crested Tits that gave brief views deep in the forest. We drove to the Vallon de la Leque and walked up the gravel track where we spotted Sardinian Warbler, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Serin and had excellent prolonged views of at least 3 Crested Tits. We also managed close views of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff here. As we descended we saw a single adult Raven fly over the gorge and land on top of the rock face.

16th Oct - We began at the Baisse de 500 francs just after 8am and noted a good number of waders feeding on the lagoon including 2 Grey Plovers, 70 Little Stints, 30 Avocets, 60 Ringed Plovers, 300+ Dunlin, 15 Redshank and 5 Green Sandpipers. Overhead we spotted 20+ Sandwich Terns and a single juvenile Gull-billed Tern. We also saw 3 Kingfishers along the banks of one of the lagoons. Next stop was at the Phare de Gacholle where we walked to the lighthouse from the car park. Along the path we had good views of a pair of Crested Larks, a pair of Stonechats, a single Dartford Warbler, several Black Redstarts, Sardinian Warblers, Fan-tailed Warblers, and both single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler flitting through the trees around the lighthouse itself. After an excellent lunch we visited the Marais de Grenouillet where a good number of wildfowl were feeding on the flooded marsh. We spotted 7 Greylag Geese, 30 Shelduck, 25 Gadwall, 70 Teal and 55 Shoveler amongst a large number of Mallard. In the distance I spotted a juvenile White Stork which was probably one of those hatched from the nest adjacent to La Capeliere. Scott spotted a fly-over Sparrowhawk and there were several Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards in the area. We travelled the short distance to the small lagoon opposite La Capeliere and here located a pair of Curlews, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a single Snipe and a pair of Little Grebes. On Vaccares we found many Great Crested Grebes and 5 Black- necked Grebes plus a dozen flying Common Terns. A brief trip to Mas d'Agon was rather disappointing although a single Penduline Tit was heard. We then drove to Consecaniere in the hope of spotting an elusive Terek Sandpiper but only managed more Dunlin, Little Stints and Ringed Plovers plus a migrating Greenshank. The drive along the track back to Mejanes produced large numbers of flyover Meadow Pipits and Corn Buntings but not a single Reed Bunting! Our final stop was at Mas Lauricet but as we approached in the car I spotted a Water Rail walking along a roadside stream. Unfortunately it disappeared very quickly as we disembarked! We parked by the open woodland near the farm and all appeared quiet until I spotted a Green Woodpecker in the trees and Scott managed a great sighting of a juvenile Roller as it flew into the same stand of trees. This was a very late bird! On the journey back to the hotel we spotted a pair of Northern Wheatears which was another pleasant surprise!