The Cirque du Gavarnie, Parc National Des Pyrenees

As we drive through Lourdes on our route to Gavarnie we see no immediate sign of the awful June flash floods but as you head out of the town, it soon becomes evident, the damage all along the river.

Huge boulders trees roots and all, piled high, roads and buildings collapsed, electric pylons being erected. Mile after mile of devastation and sadness. A time to reflect on the power of nature.

Then just a turn and crossing of the Gave de Pau, a feeling of Peace as we start climbing higher, the  scenery stunning.

 

The road twists and turns along the river.

All this rushing, well oxygenated water should be good for finding that lovely little bird, the Dipper (Cinclus cinclus). We start searching the boulders and after a few stops, our luck is in. With no cover to hide behind, it is hard to photograph this shy bird.  

Sadly like a small missile, it was off up river and we continue our journey upwards.

Parking in Gavarnie we now continue on foot into the Cirque a natural amphitheatre carved out by glaciers. It stands over 1500 metres high dwarfing all around.

Forty five minutes into the walk you arrive at the famous, Hotel du cirque et de la Cascade. Once a meeting place of mountaineers. A great place for a quiet beer. The Grande Cascade clearly seen, a further  thirty minutes walk. 

The Grande Cascade falls four hundred and twenty three metres this makes it the highest waterfall in Europe. The water feeds from the Lago Helado beyond in Spain. If you look carefully a person can be seen walking in a green jacket (look above the m of my copyright). There are another two walking couples beyond him but barely visible.

We park for the night on the camping car stop in Gavarnie.Black woodpeckers calling in the trees below us. The next morning we decide to go higher in search of high altitude bird species. The weather is not to good, light rain but we soon see Black Redstarts and Common Wheatears.

On the road above the ski station the weather starts closing in and we see the only other vehicle on the road, coming down! We continue passing the col Tente, eventually coming to a halt, at the boulders that stop you from continuing across the border into Spain. Now in dense cloud frost and sleet, its time to retreat lower.We abandon the many birds seen, for a safer environment.

Out of time to cross into Spain today we night stop near to Col Aspin. It got very cold during the night a we awake to low cloud and frost. the mountains around us superb in the rising sun.

As the sun starts to come up we are tempted by the forest and the bird song.

 Pleased with a sighting of Crested Tits (Parus cristatus).

Over the top of Col Aspin

Into Spain tomorrow, hoping to sight Lammergeiers!

French Airforce air display 2013 at Cognac base Aerienne 2013.

The French Airforce base at Cognac, in the Charente opened it's doors to the public on the 28th and 29th of September 2013. Having moved to the Charente earlier in the year we thought we would take the time to visit and enjoy. Not having been to a airshow for some years I was looking forward the roar of the fast jets.

The base itself has no jets, as it is for training of new pilots.The based aircraft are the Epsilon TB-30 (below) and grob trainers. It is the home of the Cartouche Dor'e  display team, seen below taking off.

The base also hosts a squadron of the Belgian Air Force, again for pilot training, in this better climate. 

The Cartouche Dor'e rolling for take off. (Special colours applied to the team aircraft).

Epsilon TB-30 trainer in the standard airforce colour.

A Belgian Airforce SF260 trainer.

Travelling very fast and low this Mirage 2000N one of the pair,   forming the display "Ramex Delta".

Another Mirage 2000N arriving from Istre-le Tube in the south of France.

The latest aircraft to join the airforce, the Rafale with it's Tiger Squadron colours. This one from St-Dizier.

A very Precise and powerful display.

The Belgian Airforce also sent their solo performing F-16. A fantastic display indeed.

Power on in the late afternoon sun.

Still going up!

And then down.

The UK. sent a couple of Eurofighter Typoon's, from R.A.F. Conningsby in Licolnshire. Another very immpresive display.

From Switzerland the PC-7 trainer team, just look at that formation!

Of course the crowds favourites, the Patrouille de France arriving to please all.

All the fun of a airshow.

For more highlights go to home and open the page (Meeting Aerian Cognac 2013.)

I cannot wait to go to another one,the ears are just recovering!

Footnote to the Parc Ornithologique post.

Outside of the Parc there is footpath that follows round the tidal estuary and the seaside boundary, here it is possible to see a good selection of birds.Beware though between September and February the hunters or chasse are everywhere especially in the early evening. Sadly for such an important wetland site there is no buffer zone to protect the migrating birds. This is not a problem of the parc they have created a fantastic site.

The hunters have their decoys on ponds within site of the fence, you may witness them launching the rowing boats with cages, bought from their homes and containing live wild ducks. I have witnessed beautiful pintail ducks in these very cages, to be used as live decoys.  

Hopefully the parc is acting as a great eduction centre for the school children that visit daily and perhaps in time the attitudes will change. As I said It is not their problem so please support them like me and enjoy this wonderful parc.

Ringed plovers along the tidal estuary.

Little Egret looking out from the safety of the Parc, to the setting sun across the Arcachon Bassin.

A day birdwatching at the Parc Ornithologique Du Teich

Arriving at Le Teich in the Arcachon Bassin south of Bordeaux, it soon became evident that for photography the weather was not on our side. Not to worry, all I wanted to do was get out there and walk the four miles of tracks that take you through this ancient fish farm. For the last thirty years though it has been birds and not fish that are to be enjoyed. Open every day of the year there is always something to see, this is a huge haven for the migrators.

One of the many Redshanks passing through.

The gates open at 10.00 am and off you go, just hope you have favourable tide times, because if like me you love the waders, during the low tide most are outside the park enjoying the rich pickings of the Arcachon Bassin. 

Our first day saw large numbers of Spoonbills.

In the shallow lagoons were good numbers of Grey plovers.

Hundreds of Dunlin, little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers take to the air.

Out of the hide window we can just see the predator causing the chaos, a hungry male Hobby.

Another pass, nobody is happy.

Eventually like this Curlew Sandpiper everybody settles back to feed or rest.

One of the many Black tailed Godwits.

In the fresher back waters great White Egret mounts a perch.

This little Egret is preening and keeping a eye on the small fry below.

A female Marsh  Harrier enjoying the sun after feeding.

Common Sandpiper in search of food.

Pied fly catchers are still passing through.

The day's star attraction a juvenile black headed Night Heron, so different to the adult grey plumage.

Egrets so love to please.

A good couple of day's birding, shame about the weather but a real joy in a lovely setting. If you are in the area it is so worth a visit.