French Flamingos

[Ginmonkeyagain]

We're going to Narbonne in a couple of weeks. I really want to see the wild flamingos. Anyone got any top tips? We are staying in the centre of Narbonne and won't have a car, but are happy walking/cycling for an hour or so or getting local buses.

No idea about Narbonne but we often go to Arles and drive to St Marie de la Mer - through the Camargue- and they are everywhere on the estuary. Could you hire bikes and cycle ? Peyriac, for example is not that far and you can definitely see them there plus there is a wildlive reserve type place there. Take loads of mosquito repellant. You could also do an trek on the horses (very tame and beginners can defintely do it. They will bring you through the marshes - again smother yourself in mosquito repellant, they are on steroids down there.

Ooh thanks for the heads up on the mozzies. Mr Monkey is a walking bitey insect buffet.

I second the mozzie repellent. They are viscous buggers around the Camargue.

If you ever find yourself in southern Spain, near Cadiz, the marshes on the approach to the city are home to not only flocks of flamingoes, (they are so pink they really stand out) but large storks too (you can see the huge nests on the tops of pylons, and sometimes see the storks themselves sitting on the nests or feeding their young.
As well as several varieties of smaller water fowl plus egrets, avocets and plovers.