Bird Watching France Winter Wallcreeper Tour - 4 Days

Winter Wallcreeper Birding Tour in France

A 4-day winter bird watching France tour that covers some spectacular sites in the Minervois hills of southern France. Spectacular dolomitic chimneys, steep-sided gorges and vertical rock faces are home to the highly elusive Wallcreeper in the winter months. Our local knowledge and tour preparation give you an excellent chance of seeing this beautiful “butterfly” bird. Other species that migrate to lower altitudes for the colder months include Alpine accentor and we will also be looking for a number of resident Mediterranean species including Crag martin, Rock sparrow and Blue rock thrush.

Late February is also when the Great spotted cuckoo return and we know a particularly good site for these noisy and slightly comical birds. This open agricultural habitat also offers a good chance of seeing Iberian grey shrike and Stone curlew. Bonelli’s eagle is a distinct possibility as we travel through the craggy hills and some local marshes may turn up Purple swamphen and Moustached warbler together with migrating Black kite and White stork.

This tour is hosted at a delightful former wine estate. The property has been renovated to a high standard and the spacious rooms all have ensuite facilities. Each evening after enjoying an aperitif as we complete the list of birds we have seen that day, our welcoming French hosts produce wonderful home-cooked dinner in a cavernous room that was formerly the stables. All meals have a high focus on local produce.

From the moment you arrive until you leave, you can relax and enjoy excellent birding with our experienced local guide, delicious food, quality local wine. If the weather gods come up with the usual blue sky and sunshine, we will take care of the rest, providing a carefully balanced mix of some serious birding but at a relaxed pace, with some of the best bird watching France has to offer!

Alternative Tour Name: Winter Wallcreeper Weekend 2022