Bird watching
The Languedoc is an ideal area for bird-watching (especially in spring and autumn) – one of the most diverse regions in Europe. Check out our bird list below and also the Birding Languedoc link at the bottom of the page. Our Domaine is located on the edge of the Haut-Languedoc Parc Naturel in a biodiversity hotspot. It is home to endangered species including the Bonelli’s, golden and short toed eagles, eagle owls, genets, oescellated lizards, orchids, and a host of other wildlife. Sitting by the pool in spring you will be serenaded by nightingales. Take a stroll in the evening, and you may hear eagle owls whilst watching scops and little owls dive-bombing the local cats. Nightjars nest in the garrigue below us and can be heard chirring through the night. It’s a birdwatching and nature lover’s paradise with access to mountain, marshland and coastal habitats. We can lend you binoculars and a telescope and remember to take lots of water with you.
Details of bird varieties and locations can be found at Birding Languedoc which has two downloadable guides Where to Watch Birds in the Haut Languedoc National Park and Where to Watch Birds in the Narbonnaise National Park. And here is a great guide and article written by the famous naturalist Derek Moore (who is very sadly missed) who lived near Minerve Birdguides Wildlife-of-languedoc
To see more of Stuarts wildlife photographs click on the Facebook and Instagram links at the top of this page.
Bonelli’s Bird list
(All these birds were seen within the 5km long La Roueyre valley)
Cattle egret, Grey Heron, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Montagu's Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Wood pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle dove, Cuckoo, Eagle Owl, Scops Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Nightjar, Swift, Bee-eater, European Roller, Hoopoe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark, Crag Martin, European swallow, House Martin, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Nightingale, Blackbird, Black-eared Wheatear, Fan-tailed warbler, Western Orphean warbler, Sardinian warbler, Sub-alpine warbler, Melodius warbler, Woodchat shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Magpie, Crested Tit, Jackdaw, Eurasian Jay, Raven, Starling, Golden Oriole, Red Rumped Swallow, House sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, European goldfinch, Greenfinch, Serin, Cirl Bunting, Corn Bunting, Redstart, Black Redstart, Pheasant, Red legged Partridge, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied flycatcher, Tree creeper, Great tit, Blue tit