Day 5 - Gorges

I explored the area around Le Rozier by foot today, giving myself a much needed break from driving. There are plenty of footpaths up into the Corniches between the Gorges du Tarn and Jonte, and I headed up one of these past the village of Capluc. There were more butterflies than you could shake a stick at. This Swallowtail and Escher's Blue the pick of a bunch that also included Great Sooty Satyr, Spanish Gatekeeper, Spanish Purple Hairstreak, Silver Studded Blue, Dusky Heath and Cleopatra.





The bird list was still rising as well. I had a juvenile Subalpine Warbler just above Le Rozier and then a couple of singing males further up the slopes. There were plenty of trilling Bonelli's Warblers on the slopes as well as Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.



A party of Crested Tits, 2 juvenile Firecrests and some Coal Tits higher up were new for the trip. I reached a level of about 1000 metres, and had great views of fly past Griffons and hunting Short-toed Eagles. There were also good numbers of Crag Martins everywhere today, with a few Alpine Swifts and the more ubiquitous Swallows, Swifts and House Martins. A couple of Blue Rock Thrushes hopped about under the Griffs.



I spotted a few Ravens whilst having lunch in Le Rozier, and then went back to the campsite, where I found a Golden Oriole and Short-toed Treecreeper.

New list additions: Subalpine Warbler, Raven, Firecrest, Blue Rock Thrush, Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-billed Chough (yesterday), Crested Tit, Coal Tit (111)