Concerning animal life : on the rocky side of the coastal footpath you will come across the " Rocher des Portes" : there you can see a close relative of the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus cachinnus) called "gabian" in Provençal : yellow beak with red markings on the lower mandible, yellow feet (adult bird).

Note, the gull's feathers go through different stages when its growing up.
When the gull is young its feathers are dirty brown, its beak is black and its feet are pink. Whereas the adult's feathers are pure white except for the wings which are grey on the top and balck flecked with white at the tips.

The Cormorant is entirely black and spends the winter season on the local coasts. From April to October during the nesting season the cormorant moves to the coasts of Brittany and Scandinavia. The bird is often seen in an upright standing position with its wings spread out in what is called a heraldic position. In fact it is drying its wings for although a great fisher it does not have a waterproof layer of grease on its feathers (like a duck for example).

Photos : -Gulls -Swallows -Wild boar

There are many species of birds of the gull family (Laridae) in the Mediterranean : the Lesser Black-backed Gull (dark coloured wings), the Black-headed Gull (red beak and dark brown head), the Mediterranean Gull (black head), the Little Gull (very small); Terns, also called sea-swallows, the Common Tern ( red beak), the Sandwich Tern (black beak with yellow tip), the Little Tern (small yellow beak with black tip).

In spring you may catch a glimpse of a blue rock thrush. This very shy bird makes its nest in the rocks on the north side (direction of Ramatuelle) above the "maison des douanes" (customs house), and can be spotted with a pair of binoculars. The male is a dark blue colour and can best be seen at the end of the winter on a sunny day whilst the female is sitting on the nest in a crevice in the rocks.

A few familiar animals of the underwoods that you might come across : the Herman tortoise (a protected species), foxes and wild boars who come and dip their feet in the water in the evening…  without forgetting the lizards and grass snakes.

"Bird-watching"

You must be discreet and quiet, wear neutral coloured clothes, have a pair of binoculars or camera, find a good watching spot early in the morning and summon up your patience.

For more details, contact the association :
Espace Naturels de Provence
Conservatoire Etudes des Ecosystèmes de Provence
BP 304, 13604 Aix-en-Provence cedex 1
Phone : 04 42 23 95 60

Flora : many protected species can be spotted : the dwarf fan-palm , "Chamaerops humilis", grows at Cap Taillat.
In October it produces foul-smelling bunches of little fruit which rodents, badgers and dormice feed on.

Photos: -Arbutus berries -Broom -Rock rose -White Rock rose -Asters -Dwarf fan-palm -Hottentot fig -Kidney vetch -Yellow flowers

Kidney vetch (Anthilis barba jovis) is a big downy silver coloured bush. In spring it has little delicate yellow flowers. This protected species grows in salty ground at the Cape Taillat.
African Tamarisk (Tamaris Africana) is a bush that grows in small damp valleys. It is a nest to little invertebrate animals. In spring it has pale pink flowers.

To go to Cape Taillat : from l'Escalet (a choice of car parks) follow the coastal footpath for 30 minutes.