Our stay short stay in Fenouillet was the highlight of our holiday in France this spring and we cannot recommend Pyrennes Bird Watching highly enough. The gite was perfect, excellent value and in a beautiful setting which was the perfect spot for setting off to explore the surrounding countryside. We were met with a warm and friendly welcome from Richard and his dog. He took us for a walk along ancient country pathways that led to an area where he had set up camera traps so that we could see the footage of all the animals that passed this way at night. We then made plans for the following two days. Our 12 year old son wanted to see birds of prey and learn more about their behavior and and habitat and he was not dissapointed. Richard drove us around many promising sites all the while imparting his knowledge of the local fauna and habitat and taking great care to teach ethical and responsible wildlife observation. We were so excited to see many griffon vultures in their natural habitat and the biggest thrill: a bearded vulture flying low right over our heads. We also drove out to the mediterranean coast to see the flamingoes on a lagoon near Perpignan and spot other water birds from a hide on the waters' edge. Richard has an infectious love and enthusiasm for the natural world. His knowledge is very much rooted in the landscape and community of the area where he lives and works with its long, rich history of people and place. He helped us to understand the complexities and subtleties of conservation in the area and the importance of teaching others about the natural world around us. We saw and learnt so much in just two days and came away more confident in our ability to watch the wildlife in this area by ourselves. We will definitely be going back.
Hannah, May 2024.
Hannah, May 2024.