France; Lac de la Raho, Perpignan (66)
May 2024, list with updates
A little gem just beyond the metropolis of Perpignan.
We occasionally stop here on the way to Spain or when returning.
Weekends are hectic with barbeques going, fishing and families enjoying themselves.
The most interesting area is the south-western part, where a causeway separates a nature reserve from the main body of the lake. This is also the quietest part. There are various places to park all around the shoreline, the complete walk around the perimeter is about 6.5 kms long.
Lac de Villeneuve de la Raho
Tour du Lac de la Raho
Outtrip
Birdingplaces
Birds - total 57 species. Taxonomic order follows Collins Bird Guide 2nd edn. (2009)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - < 12 usually present (feral)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) – 1 24/2/24
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) – 20+ 24/2/24, 10+ 14/4/24
Common Teal (Anas crecca) – 50+ 24/2/24
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) - 1m 26/4/25, 3 25/5/25
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) – 50+ 24/2/24
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) – 5+ usually present
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) – 10+ often present
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - 4 26/4/25
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - 1f-type 25/5/25
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - 1 25/5/25
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – 2 14/4/24
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – 4+ 14/4/24, 5+ 11/5/24
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) – 1 14/4/24
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) – 1 11/5/24
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) – 1 11/5/24
European Roller (Coracias garrulus) - 1 25/5/25
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Woodlark (Lullula arborea) - 2 25/5/25
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) - 1 26/4/25
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbica) - 1 26/4/25, 6+ 25/5/25
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - 1 12/1/25
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) – 1 14/4/24, 1 25/5/25
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) - 2+ 12/1/25
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta)
Western Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) - 1 25/5/25
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) - 1m 26/4/25
Great Tit (Parus major) - 2 26/4/25
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) – 1 11/5/24, 2 25/5/25
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) - 2 25/5/25
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Butterlies/Dragonflies/other fauna
Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma) - 1 25/5/25
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) – 1 11/5/24
Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii)
Red-Ear Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)
A little gem just beyond the metropolis of Perpignan.
We occasionally stop here on the way to Spain or when returning.
Weekends are hectic with barbeques going, fishing and families enjoying themselves.
The most interesting area is the south-western part, where a causeway separates a nature reserve from the main body of the lake. This is also the quietest part. There are various places to park all around the shoreline, the complete walk around the perimeter is about 6.5 kms long.
Lac de Villeneuve de la Raho
Tour du Lac de la Raho
Outtrip
Birdingplaces
Birds - total 57 species. Taxonomic order follows Collins Bird Guide 2nd edn. (2009)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - < 12 usually present (feral)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) – 1 24/2/24
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) – 20+ 24/2/24, 10+ 14/4/24
Common Teal (Anas crecca) – 50+ 24/2/24
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) - 1m 26/4/25, 3 25/5/25
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) – 50+ 24/2/24
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) – 5+ usually present
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) – 10+ often present
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - 4 26/4/25
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - 1f-type 25/5/25
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - 1 25/5/25
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – 2 14/4/24
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – 4+ 14/4/24, 5+ 11/5/24
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) – 1 14/4/24
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) – 1 11/5/24
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) – 1 11/5/24
European Roller (Coracias garrulus) - 1 25/5/25
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Woodlark (Lullula arborea) - 2 25/5/25
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) - 1 26/4/25
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbica) - 1 26/4/25, 6+ 25/5/25
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - 1 12/1/25
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) – 1 14/4/24, 1 25/5/25
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) - 2+ 12/1/25
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta)
Western Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) - 1 25/5/25
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) - 1m 26/4/25
Great Tit (Parus major) - 2 26/4/25
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) – 1 11/5/24, 2 25/5/25
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) - 2 25/5/25
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Butterlies/Dragonflies/other fauna
Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma) - 1 25/5/25
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) – 1 11/5/24
Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii)
Red-Ear Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)