Most of these visitors come from northern Europe, and pass through the region on the way to warmer climes further south. As in the spring, the Camargue effectively constitutes a “service station” for birds to tank-up from July to October, with peak numbers reached in August and September.

Other migratory species do not travel further than the Camargue, and stay for the winter: these “overwintering” birds travel north in February and March. Our winter visitors include ducks, geese, cranes, birds of prey and a number of rarer species, such as the tiny Penduline Tit (a passerine generally found in reed beds).

Winter is also the moment when the flamingo population is at its most flamboyant, and the birds show off their colourful new plumage during spectacular courtship displays.