Paul Longland
Well-known member
Finally our long awaited trip to Provence in the south of France arrived. I had hoped to write this trip report as we went along but unfortunately there was no internet connection available so it had to wait until our return and will no doubt be done somewhat piecemeal.
07:45 am Saturday 11 may 2019 saw us hitting Jct 21 of the M1 and heading towards Heathrow. After an uneventful flight we arrived at Marseille where the weather was a pleasant, if somewhat breezy 18C. there was a bit of a glitch with the hire car, the booked Volvo V40 auto somehow was morphed into a Renault Megan, which after a 40 minute wait arrived obviously straight from the car wash but with several scrapes and a smashed wheel hubcap. After ensuring photos were taken and the damage duly noted on the hire form (I have heard some serious horror stories about foreign airport car hire companies ripping people off for existing damage) we were on our way to our cottage just outside St. Remy De Provence.
Unfortunately there was little time for any serious birding after the shenanigans with the car hire company and a stop off to pick up some provisions en route. We did manage a short walk around the local country lanes where Nightingales were heard in every other bush, and Golden Oriole was heard. A brief glimpse of black redstart and then my first Lifer of the trip. A pair of Roller flew from a nearby hedgerow but I couldn't see much of their colouration as it was almost dark by then.
So back to the cosy digs for a well earned glass of the local produce.
07:45 am Saturday 11 may 2019 saw us hitting Jct 21 of the M1 and heading towards Heathrow. After an uneventful flight we arrived at Marseille where the weather was a pleasant, if somewhat breezy 18C. there was a bit of a glitch with the hire car, the booked Volvo V40 auto somehow was morphed into a Renault Megan, which after a 40 minute wait arrived obviously straight from the car wash but with several scrapes and a smashed wheel hubcap. After ensuring photos were taken and the damage duly noted on the hire form (I have heard some serious horror stories about foreign airport car hire companies ripping people off for existing damage) we were on our way to our cottage just outside St. Remy De Provence.
Unfortunately there was little time for any serious birding after the shenanigans with the car hire company and a stop off to pick up some provisions en route. We did manage a short walk around the local country lanes where Nightingales were heard in every other bush, and Golden Oriole was heard. A brief glimpse of black redstart and then my first Lifer of the trip. A pair of Roller flew from a nearby hedgerow but I couldn't see much of their colouration as it was almost dark by then.
So back to the cosy digs for a well earned glass of the local produce.