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Étang de Pissevaches

Languedoc  >  France

An area of open saltmarsh and lagoon that attracts large numbers of water birds all year round and sometimes in the winter a few large raptors.

Added* by Thierry Martin
Most recent update 2 June 2021

Description

The seize of the lagoon of Pissevaches can vary from a few hectares to a thousand depending on the water level. The lagoon of Pissevaches can thus at times change completely. During floods, it reconnects with the neighboring River Aude and becomes a big delta again. This makes the lagoon attractive for large numbers of water birds (egrets, flamingos, terns, gulls, stilts, plovers, etc.). Among the birds you can see are Greater Flamingo, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Little Egret, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Common Shelduck, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Sandwich Tern, Purple Heron and Western Marsh Harrier.

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Français: Sa superficie peut varier de quelques hectares à un millier en fonction du niveau de l’eau. Il en résulte de grandes surfaces de marais périphériques plus vastes que les surfaces inondées en permanence. L’étang de Pissevaches peut ainsi par moments se métamorphoser : lors des crues parfois soudaines, il renoue avec le fleuve Aude voisin en en redevient complètement le delta. La situation de l’étang de Pissevaches, enchassé entre l’Aude qui rejoint la Méditerranée à cet endroit, et l’imposant massif de la Clape, lui confère une originalité paysagère et un intérêt certain pour l’accueil d’un grand nombre d’oiseaux d’eau (aigrettes, flamants, sternes, mouettes, échasses, gravelots, etc.).

Details

Access

There is an interpretive circular trail of 1,8 km (see the map below) on the south side of the area. But with high water levels a circular can sometomes be impossible. You can also make stops along the shores on the other parts of the lagoon. How interesting different parts of the lagoon are depends on the water levels.

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Français: Se laisser guider par les panneaux du sentier d’interprétation (1,8 km) réalisé avec le concours de l’école élémentaire de Fleury d’Aude.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Lake , Mud flats , Sea

Conditions

Open landscape

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring , Autumn migration , Spring migration

Route

Paved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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