Three months, almost to the day, had passed since my last (and first) visit to what is undoubtedly the best birding spot in southeast France. I won’t let that happen again.
As explained in my intro post, the Embouchure du Var is a stretch of wetland and river where the Var River meets the Mediterranean, flanked on its east by Nice Cote d’Azur Airport and to its west by a sprawling shopping mall.
In actuality it’s not at all as bad as that sounds.
The first thing I spotted as I approached the walkway was this group of eight Great Cormorants occupying this tiny island on the river, oblivious (seemingly, anyway) to the comings and goings of the third busiest airport in France, just behind them.
At least 260 birds have been reported here; my effort on Saturday was a more modest but still very successful 17, eight of those spotted for the first time here (by me). There were likely a handful that I missed, but it was also good to see that I’ve become slightly less of the novice birder that I was when I first visited three months ago.
It was a parade of sorts, or a curtain call, with new species making their appearances one by one, some choosing to share the stage. Here is a shot of a Gray Heron, Mallards and a Mute Swan in one frame.
As photos go, I was happiest with the capture above of a Common Buzzard, who swooped down and paused on this branch just long enough for me to snap a few shots. How’s that for blending with your surroundings?
Here are a pair of Mute Swans that flew in, slowly making their way up river towards Great Cormorant Island. They stopped when they reached one of the sentries.
Below, the Gray Heron.
How close, exactly, is the airport? Here’s an A380 taxiing before take-off. The pilot is closer to those gulls than I was.
Next up: a trio of Mallards. I was pleased with these shots, too.
And a few more Great Cormorants.
There was LOTS of European Starling activity, with several hundred creating spectacular patterns.
A Little Egret also made an appearance.
Of course, lots of gulls. I only identified two: Yellow-Legged and Black-Headed.
And finally, a few Eurasian Magpies, from a distance.
Personal tally at the Embouchure du Var as of 22 November 2025:
18 species in two visits; 14 species photographed. (And one Emirates A380.)
- Black-headed Gull – 22 Nov 2025
- Carrion Crow – 22 Nov 2025
- Common Buzzard – 22 Nov 2025
- Common Chiffchaff – 22 Nov 2025
- Eurasian Coot – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Eurasian Magpie – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Eurasian Moorhen – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- European Shag – 22 Nov 2025
- European Starling – 22 Nov 2025
- Gray Heron – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Great Cormorant – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Little Egret – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Mallard – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Marsh Sandpiper- 23 Aug 2025
- Meadow Pipit – 22 Nov 2025
- Mute Swan – 22 Nov 2025
- Sardinian Warbler – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
- Yellow-legged Gull – 22 Nov 2025; 23 Aug 2025
All photos from 22 November 2025.
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I’m a little late to the party, but if they’ll have me, I’d like to tag this to the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #376, this week on the topic of Wings, hosted by Beth at Wandering Dawgs.
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Not late at all, Bob. What a wonderful collection and productive time!
It was – peaceful, too. I’ll be heading back this weekend and need to make time once a week or every other week to really become acquainted to the area.
Wowww. Sensational!!!
Bob, you have chosen beautiful photos flying, the movement you captured is great. I enjoyed them all but the three mallards were my favorites.
What a wonderful place you’ve discovered for birding. I really enjoyed your galleries from the excursions there. I love how you integrated a man-made flyer in the post.
It is a great spot. I’ll drop by again at some point this weekend.
Bob, it’s never to late to respond to one of these challenges. I’m so happy to have you take part in this challenge with these amazing bird images. You have discovered a great place for bird watching. We have many of these same birds in coastal Georgia in the southeast U.S. Of course we don’t have European starlings and I love your gallery of them. I also like how you included the airplane. Thanks for your beautiful post.
Thank you and thanks for hosting. I hope to make it to coastal Georgia one day, have heard some wonderful things.
Beautiful post Bob, I envy the number of species you were able to capture in a single visit! The mallards are my favorite – your capture of them in flight is wonderful.
Thanks Tina. It is a busy area, year round. I’m going to try to make a point of stopping by a couple time a month to really get to know it.
Never late, Bob and I’m glad you joined us. Your photos are beautiful, the starlings gave me a mix of fascination and terror (I’m scared of birds…) and the mallards are simply wonderful captures.
You are always welcome, Bob! Lovely gallery, and I too am enchanted by the mallards!
Thanks – they are great and really fun to follow.
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