General information
Spring from April to May is the best season for birding in the Alpilles as the target species will eventually be back from their wintering grounds and many will sing. Furthermore, temperatures will likely be enjoyable. It is recommendable to start birding early to find the more skulky passerines and then watch out for raptors later in the day. An other option could be an evening walk with chances to stumble across nocturnal species later at dusk.
In general one might probably stumble across all target species at roadside locations across the whole Alpilles, so do not hesitate to make stops in appropriate habitats or for a short raptor check. Here presented are two sites which are particularly attractive in terms of bird species, landscape, accessability and time effort.
Vallon des Opies
Motivated hikers may go all the way up to the Tour des Opies which gives astonishing views over the Alpilles, the vast plain of La Crau and the Camargue with its Étang de Vaccarès and leads you all the way up through the beautiful Vallon. Listen for the song and calls of Sylvia warblers which remain often hidden in the bushes and scan the rock faces and the sky for Rock Thrushes and Raptors all the way especially.
If you prefer it more relaxed or you are just short in time, a scan from the parking lot at 43.719106, 4.949937 may already provide the most interesting raptors (altough probably a little more distant) and some passerines. At dusk you have chances for Eagle owl and Scops owl from the parking lot.
Plateau de la Caume
Bird along the small paths on the Plateau and always keep a look to the sky. The edges of the plateau or the ridge on the east provide nice view. Be prepared to wait some time for the good species (especially Bonelli's Egale) to show up.
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General information
Spring from April to May is the best season for birding in the Alpilles as the target species will eventually be back from their wintering grounds and many will sing. Furthermore, temperatures will likely be enjoyable. It is recommendable to start birding early to find the more skulky passerines and then watch out for raptors later in the day. An other option could be an evening walk with chances to stumble across nocturnal species later at dusk.
In general one might probably stumble across all target species at roadside locations across the whole Alpilles, so do not hesitate to make stops in appropriate habitats or for a short raptor check. We present here Here presented are two sites which are particularly attractive in terms of bird species, landscape, accessability and time effort.
Vallon des Opies
Motivated hikers may go all the way up to the Tour des Opies which gives astonishing views over the Alpilles, the vast plain of La Crau and the Camargue with its Étang de Vaccarès and leads you all the way up through the beautiful Vallon. Listen for the song and calls of Sylvia warblers which remain often hidden in the bushes and scan the rock faces and the sky for Rock Thrushes and Raptors all the way especially.
If you prefer it more relaxed or you are just short in time, a scan from the parking lot at 43.719106, 4.949937 may already provide the most interesting raptors (altough probably a little more distant) and some passerines. At dusk you have chances for Eagle owl and Scops owl from the parking lot.
Plateau de la Caume
Bird along the small paths on the Plateau and always keep a look to the sky. The edges of the plateau or the ridge on the east provide nice view. Be prepared to wait some time for the good species (especially Bonelli's Egale) to show up.
General information
Spring from April to May is the best season for birding in the Alpilles as the target species will eventually arrive be back from their wintering grounds and many will sing. Furthermore, temperatures will likely be enjoyable. It is recommendable to start birding early to find the more skulky passerines and then watch out for raptors later in the day. An other option could be an evening walk with chances to stumble across nocturnal species later at dusk.
In general one might probably stumble across all target species at roadside locations across the whole Alpilles, so do not hesitate to make stops in appropriate habitats or for a short raptor check. We present here two sites which pare especially are particularly attractive in terms of bird species, landscape landscape, accessability and time effort.
Vallon des Opies
Motivated hikers may go all the way up to the Tour des Opies which gives astonishing views over the Alpilles, the vast plain of La Crau and the Camargue with its Étang de Vaccarès and leads you all the way up through the beautiful Vallon. Listen for the song and calls of Sylvia warblers which remain often hidden in the bushes and scan the rock faces and the sky for Rock Thrushes and Raptors all the way especially.
If you prefer it more relaxed or you are just short in time, a scan from the parking lot at 43.719106, 4.949937 may already provide the most interesting raptors (altough probably a little more distant) and some passerines. At dusk you have chances for Eagle owl and Scops owl from the parking lot.
Plateau de la Caume
General information
Spring from April to May is the best season for birding in the Alpilles as the target species will eventually arrive back from their wintering grounds and many will sing. Furthermore, temperatures will likely be enjoyable. It is recommendable to start birding early to find the more skulky passerines and then watch out for raptors later in the day. An other option could be an evening walk with chances to stumble across nocturnal species later at dusk.
In general one might probably stumble across all target species at roadside locations across the whole Alpilles, so do not hesitate to make stops in appropriate habitats or for a short raptor check. We present here two sites which pare especially attractive in terms of bird species, landscape and time effort.
Vallon des Opies
Motivated hikers may go all the way up to the Tour des Opies which gives astonishing views over the Alpilles, the vast plain of La Crau and the Camargue with its Étang de Vaccarès and leads you all the way up through the beautiful Vallon. Listen for the song and calls of Sylvia warblers which remain often hidden in the bushes and scan the rock faces and the sky for Rock Thrushes and Raptors all the way especially.
If you prefer it more relaxed or you are just short in time, a scan from the parking lot at 43.719106, 4.949937 may already provide the most interesting raptors (altough probably a little more distant) and some passerines. At dusk you have chances for Eagle owl and Scops owl from the parking lot.
Plateau de la Caume
Morning General information
Spring from April to May is the best season for Sylvia-Warblers birding in the Alpilles as the target species will eventually arrive back from their wintering grounds and many will sing. Furthermore, temperatures will likely be enjoyable. It is recommendable to start birding early to find the more skulky passerines and then watch out for raptors later in the day.day. An other option could be an evening walk with chances to stumble across nocturnal species later at dusk.
Vallon des Opies
Motivated hikers may go all the way up to the Tour des Opies which gives astonishing views over the Alpilles, the vast plain of La Crau and the Camargue with its Étang de Vaccarès and leads you all the way up through the beautiful Vallon. If you prefer it more relaxed or you are just short in time, a scan from the parking lot at 43.719106, 4.949937 may already provide the most interesting raptors (altough probably a little more distant) and some passerines. At dusk you have chances for Eagle owl and Scops owl from the parking lot.
Morning for Sylvia-Warblers and the watch out for raptors later in the day.
Morning for Sylvia-Warblers and the watch out for raptors later in the day.