10th - Weather was calm and sunny today and by lunchtime temperatures were around 25C. We visited La Capelliere and Mas d'Agon before the heat set in. The woodland at the start of the trail resounded with Melodious Warbler and Nightingale song but as always these species proved elusive. From the first hide I spotted an adult Hobby preening high up in a tree. The lagoon had a single Flamingo feeding on it plus a couple of Moorhens but was otherwise quiet. At the second hide we had excellent, close-up views of a pair of young Cetti's Warblers that somehow managed to annoy a Robin, which then chased them through the undergrowth ! Further along we had good views of a Nightingale and a female Blackcap but we were startled when a female Sparrowhawk flew low over our heads and attempted to take something from the nearby reedbed. Whatever it was chasing escaped ! The heathland area produced a male Cuckoo, a male Marsh Harrier overhead and a pair of Crested Larks in mating flight. From the lagoon hide we spotted a pair of Black-winged Stilts, a calling Fan-tailed Warbler and a pair of Yellow Wagtails in addition to a possible Moustached Warbler which flew into the reedbed. The aaaaaahh moment of the morning was provided by a group of 4 young Coypu (ragondin) which posed nicely for photos and video (attached)!



The other notable sighting was the 3 young White Storks in their nest by the reserve entrance. Our stop at Mas d'Agon produced a number of Common, Whiskered, Sandwich and Black Terns plus at least 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Great Reed Warblers, 2 Fan-tailed Warblers, a Purple Heron and a Squacco Heron. Just north of here we stopped to admire a number of Camargue ponies only to find at least 60 Collared Pratincoles bathing and feeding over the flooded fields here. This number included a minimum of 10 juveniles and one possible Black-winged Pratincole, although this bird was more likely a hybrid Collared x Black-winged. Everyone had marvellous views of this species !