Where to Watch Birds in Camargue
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Where to watch birds… in the Camargue Regional Nature Park - France The Camargue is the largest wetland in France and is renowned internationally for nature conservation and the protection of birds. Approximately two thirds of all birds found in Europe can be observed in the Camargue, making it a favourite destination for both professional and amateur ornithologists. Situated on the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean, the Camargue represents an important stopover for the hundreds of thousands of migrating birds that pass through each year. It is also home to the only Greater Flamingo nesting site in France. With the aim of promoting and protecting its unique natural and cultural heritage, the Camargue was classifi ed as a Biophere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977 and a large section of it has been designated as a Regional Nature Park since 1970. Vers Vers Beaucaire The park Where are the main Nîmes Vers Avignon in numbers observation sites ? Parc naturel régional e • Created in 1970 Petit Rhôn des Alpilles • Covers 3 districts : D572n ARLES - Arles - Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Vers D6572 T Aix-en-Provence - Port Saint Louis du Rhône ST-GILLES SALIERS Pont Van Gogh RAPHÈLE GIMEAUX Marseille • 10 000 inhabitants D570 D35 • 100 000 hectares Centre du A54 GAGERON • 75 km of coastline Scamandre ALBARON D36 • 400 observed bird species Vers LE PATY-DE 4 NORD Nîmes LA-TRINITÉ • 3/4 of bird species, VILLENEUVE MAS THIBERT 1/2 of the freshwater fi sh N568 Vers D37 s species and 1/4 of all plant D570 e Martigues D58 rg o g D36b Marseille species found in France 5 6 s e can be seen in the Camargue d e AIGUES-MORTES Château d’Avignon l Étang du Vaccarès l D38c i a 3 r • Distances : D Réserve naturelle 1 LE GRAU DU ROI PIOCH-BADET nationale de Camargue LE SAMBUC - Arles to Les Saintes-Maries- de-la-Mer : 40 km R o u 2 - Arles to Salin-de-Giraud : 40 km te d PIN FOURCAT CABANES- e C Les Impériaux - Arles to Port Saint Louis : 52 km a DE-CAMBON c ha - Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer to D38 re G l r 5 a D35 Phare de n Port Saint Louis : 70 km d l'Espiguette Bac du Sauvage R h Petit Rhône ô D57 n e 0 7 D36b Phare de D36 la Gacholle STES-MARIES Plag Boundary of the Camargue e de DE-LA-MER Be D36c Regional Nature Park au du 8 c SALIN-DE Bac de Barcarin Access roads Mediterranean Sea GIRAUD PORT ST LOUIS © Carte et illustrations Vincent Brunot Bird watching sites Point de vue DU RHÔNE du sel Tourist Information 9 11 Phare de The vast wetland zone of the Camargue of the best observation sites and their different Beauduc Phare de Faraman n Regional Nature Park, on the delta where approaches for observing birds : éo 10 ol the Rhone meets the Mediterranean Sea, is of ap • trails with free access on sites of low sensitivity N e huge environmental and cultural interest. g Plage de a Piém l • trails with purpose built hides on sites of anso P Various economic activities have developed in n special interest this rural area, such as tourism, hunting, fi shing, . 6 . rice production and horse and cattle farming... • guided tours on highly sensitive and 1 The Marais du Vigueirat 4-5 Draille des 5 gorges 14-15 The Camargue is made up of a number of private protected sites Nature Reserve 7 Digue à la mer . 14-15 estates which are not always open to the general We wish you a very enjoyable stay in the 2 Marais du Verdier . 6-7 public. 8 Étang du Fangassier . 16-17 Camargue and hope you make the most of 3 The Camargue Nature Reserve . 8-9 To help you to enjoy your birdwatching your time here. Please keep in mind that it’s the La Capelière 9 Pointe de Beauduc . 16-17 experience in the best possible conditions, we’ve responsibility of each and every one of us to 10 Domaine de la Palissade . 18-19 put together this booklet describing a number safeguard the area’s natural beauty. 4 Mas du Pont de Rousty. 10-11 5 Pont de Gau bird sanctuary . 12-13 11 They du Mazet . 20-21 2 3 The Marais du Vigueirat 1 Nature Reserve > Fauna and fl ora found here The Vigueirat marshes belong to the « Conservatoire du Littoral » coastal protection BIRDS agency. They stretch over 1 200 hectares where meet the remarkable ecosystems of the Rhone Bee-eater delta and the Crau steppe. Many plant and animal species can be observed here including over • All year round : Glossy ibis, 300 species of birds. Explore this exceptional reserve via a 15 km network of tracks, either with Red-crested Pochard, Bittern, or without a tour guide, by foot or by horse and cart. For a closer insight, choose the option of a 5 km Moustached Warbler, Egret, Greylag Goose, White Stork, tour at the heart of the reserve with a professional nature guide. FAUNA Greater Flamingo Open from February to December 10:00 - 17:00. • During the summer : Purple Dragonfl ies, Butterfl ies (Southern Cafe open for drinks and snacks from April to September. Heron, Little Bittern, Squacco Festoon), European pond turtle, Free parking and picnic areas. Heron, Night heron, Bee-eater, snakes (Malpolon monspessulanu), Access to the « Starling » trails is free. Advance booking necessary for guided tours. Great Spotted Cuckoo, wild boar, Camargue horses and Common Tern, Short-toed, cattle… Eagle, Black-winged stilt • During the winter : Ducks, FLORA Vers Arles D Vers Saint-Martin- Booted Eagle, Penduline Tit 3 5 4 de-Crau NORD D2 • During migration periods : Reeds, salicornia, sea lavender, Black Stork, Spoonbill, Summer snowfl ake, Iris spuria, G Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Aristolochia, Sedges, Lilies ra nd R 2 2 Réserve naturelle nationale Black Tern, White-winged Tern, hô des Coussouls de Crau Whiskered Tern n e MaM s Thibert Étang du Vaccarès ACCUEIL PLAINE DE LA CRAU > In the surrounding area Réserve naturelle 1 nationale de Camargue Réserve naturelle nationale des marais du Vigueirat Vers Fos- ACTIVITIES FOOD ACCOMMODATION LLee SSambuam c N sur-Mer 5 Key 6 1 1 8 Coussouls de Crau Marais du Vigueirat Cafe Domaine de l’Isle Restaurant/food Isle Nature Reserve (open from April to September) Saint-Pierre Accommodation Museum Ecomusée de la Crau Marais du Vigueirat RD 35 - 13104 Mas-Thibert D Saint-Pierre 3 Accessible by bike 6 Boulevard de Provence 13104 Mas-Thibert +33 (0)4 90 98 70 30 1 Trails 13310 Saint-Martin de Crau +33 (0)4 90 98 70 91 www.islesaintpierre.fr +33 (0)4 90 47 02 01 Observation points 2 2 8 www.reserve-crau.org Ô Bistrot Gîte du Vigueirat ViaRhôna N26 Marais du Vigueirat 15 rue Alain Guigue RD 24 - 13104 Mas-Thibert Nature Reserve Vers Salin- Vers Port St Louis Vers Port St Louis ViaRhôna cycle route 13104 Mas-Thibert +33 (0)6 77 86 70 56 Camargue Park de-Giraud du Rhône du Rhône boundary www.viarhona.com +33 (0)9 67 10 77 85 www.abritel.fr/location-vacances/ Accessible from Arles, p1019654 Port Saint Louis du Rhône CONTACT and Mas-Thibert Address : Les Marais du Vigueirat Phone : +33 (0)4 90 98 70 91 ARLES TOURIST INFORMATION E-mail : [email protected] / Website : www.arlestourisme.com Town : 13104 Mas-Thibert Email : [email protected] Arles offi ce : Boulevard des Lices / +33 (0)4 90 18 41 20 GPS : Lat. 43.536292 - Long. 4.753211 www.marais-vigueirat.reserves-naturelles.org + info Salin-de-Giraud offi ce : Rue Tournaire / +33 (0)4 42 86 89 77 4 5 2 Marais du Verdier > Fauna and fl ora found here Acquired by the « Tour du Valat Foundation » research centre in 2003, the Verdier marshes BIRDS are managed by the organisation « Les marais du Verdier » in association with the residents of the adjacent village, Sambuc. The site covers four ancient fi shing basins totalling 120 hectares and • All year round : consists of a variety of different habitats (reedbeds, freshwater and salt marshes, lagoons, Tamarix Glossy ibis, Purple Galliunule, Collared Pratincole groves). It’s a haven for waterbirds. An observation platform and hide provide convenient Moustached Warbler, Bittern viewing points. FAUNA • During the summer : Nature trails are free to access all year round. Park in Sambuc village then pass down the side of the football Collared Pratincole, Dark and Southern Emerald fi eld and cross the wooden footbridge. A notebook has been made available in the cabin where you are Great Reed Warbler, Damselfl ies, Scarce Chaser, invited to make a note of your observations. Little Bittern, Stone Curlew Montpellier Snake, Ladder snake, • During the winter : Parsley Frog… Penduline Tit, Bluethroat, Greylag Goose, Red-crested FLORE D37 Key Pochard, Teal Vers Arles Restaurant/food • During migration periods : Crypsis aculeata, Villeneuve NORD 4 D 2 3 D2D Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilt, 5 Accommodation Crypsis schoenoides, Bearded Reedling, Little Crake Zannichellie pédonculée… Cattle farm Grand 2 Accessible by foot R hô Accessible by bike n e Mas Thibert Wine-yard 1 Marais du Verdier > In the surrounding area D3 Trails 6 Observation points Camargue Park boundary ACTIVITIES FOOD ACCOMMODATION Étang du Vaccarès La Capelière Guided tour of the Tour 1 L’Estrambord 1 Mas de Guinot du Valat Regional Nature 7 rue de l’École du Sambuc Route de Guinot - Le Sambuc Le Sambuc Réserve naturelle nationale des marais Reserve 13200 Arles 13200 Arles 1 ViaRhôna du Vigueirat D Bureau des Guides Naturalistes +33 (0)4 90 97 20 10 +33 (0)4 90 97 20 68 36 +33 (0)6 95 90 70 48 www.lestrambord.fr www.mas-guinot.camargue.fr b D www.guide-nature.fr 3 6 www.tourduvalat.org 2 La Chassagnette 2 Mas de Peint Tour du Valat Advance booking only Route du Sambuc - 13200 Arles Le Sambuc - 13200 Arles Vers Salin- Vers Salin- 2 Vers Port St Louis +33 (0)4 90 97 26 96 +33 (0)4 90 97 20 62 de-Giraud de-Giraud du Rhône Visit an organic wine www.chassagnette.fr www.masdepeint.com and rice farm Domaine de Beaujeu - Sambuc CONTACT 13200 Arles +33 (0)9 64 18 90 33 Address : Hameau du Sambuc ARLES TOURIST INFORMATION www.domainedebeaujeu.fr E-mail : [email protected] / Website : www.arlestourisme.com Town : 13200 Arles Arles offi ce : Boulevard des Lices / +33 (0)4 90 18 41 20 GPS : Lat.