Camargue - Mas du Pont de Rousty

Camargue > France

The wetland of Mas de Pont de Rousty is another very good birding area in the Camargue. 80 hectares of reedbeds provide home to a wide range of birdlife.

Added* by John Morecroft
Most recent update 27 February 2023

Description

Around Mas de Pont de Rousty the natural habitat (reedbed marshes) is influenced by freshwater sediments brought in by the Rhone and various agricultural activities such as rice and cattle production. Here, 80 hectares of reedbeds provide home to a wide range of birdlife (herons and reed passerines). The seasonal flooding of these fields of bulrushes creates feeding grounds for waders in spring and ducks in winter. A bird hide allows for the easy observation of these birds.

Birds you can see all year round: Greater Flamingo, Great Bittern, Great Egret, Reed Bunting, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Purple Swamphen and Common Kingfisher. In summer : Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Collared Pratincole, European Bee-eater, Black-winged Stilt and Western Yellow Wagtail. • In winter : Common Teal, Northern Shoveler, Common Crane. During migration: Common Redshank, Snipe, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Whiskered Tern.

Details

Access

11 km south of Arles, via the D570. The sentier du Pont de Rousty trail starts at the Camargue Museum. For parking and directions click on the P on the map. On the 3.5 km trail you will encounter a variety of landscapes, but the best part for birding is at the end where the water and the reed marshes start and you can visit a bird hide.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Agriculture , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring , Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Paved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Links

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