Wednesday 23 July 2014

Flycatchers et al

A spotted  flycatchers would never win a competition for dazzling plumage but this generally retiring migrant always catches the eye because of  its posture and behaviour. Typically one sees its slim pale form sitting motionless on an exposed branch and then a quick sortie to catch a passing insect before returning to the same perch or one nearby. Yesterday I saw one such at La Poterie pond and another pair at Mouton's bridge.
Mistletoe thrushes were feeding in the fields today and yesterday. They are among our earliest breeders and seem now to be flocking up and starting to disperse.
'Green woodpeckers have started to be very vociferous recently and there is still plenty of oriole activity.

Monday 21 July 2014

Herring Gulls

According to 'Les Oiseaux de Charente' herring gulls are listed as accidentals in Charente, ie occurring irregularly. As I cycled over the plains yesterday I watched five of them accompanying a tractor which was ploughing. Three black headed gulls were with them as was a black kite. On one occasion a herring gull with something in its bill was chased for some distance by another and was forced to release whatever it was in flight.
Much of the grain is now harvested and ground-nesting birds are being displaced. I heard several stone curlew calling in the distance but could not locate any.
Later, near La Rochette, I watched the family of red backed shrikes which I had first come across as just a pair some weeks ago. It has been a very good summer for these migrants and I found yet another (the5th) adult male in the Bonnieure valley yesterday.
Black kites always become more evident during the harvest and no fewer than eight birds were circling with a few common buzzards near La Tâche last week.
Speaking of flocks of birds, over twenty corn buntings were together on the plains in recent days and what must have been more than a single family of orioles, as more than one adult male was present, were feeding on elder berries near La Moulin d'Oiseaux.
I usually make mention of the weather in these posts and it is perhaps described as still rather unsettled with more cloud cover and rain than is usual fot July. Several days recently have been extremely hot-- in the upper 30's-- but there have been cool and overcast days also and the evening before last produced a long and violent electrical storm with considerable rain. In consequence everywhere is still looking remarkably verdant for this time of year.


Friday 11 July 2014

July Lapwing

There were several interesting birds about on this morning' early bike ride around the plains but the most unexpected was a solitary lapwing feeding among the stubble. The species does not breed in this habitat and I assume that it has been disturbed from its usual breeding location or that it is a very early passage migrant.
An oriole is calling as I write this and I heard two others during the ride. A male appeared briefly in my garden earlier in the week.
Several stone curlews were visible in the stubble fields today. They appeared to be family parties and flew some distance when disturbed so it's difficult to say exactly how many different birds wer around but probably between six and nine. Their noisy nocturnal wanderings have brought them close to the house on several occasions recently.
Several quails were calling and corn buntings seem now to have formed small flocks or family parties.
The black kites which have been following the ploughs recently were not to be seen but a male hen harrier made an appearance.
The pair of red backed shrikes were in their usual spot.
The weather has not really settled down yet this summer .Clear skies such as today's have been curiously uncommon and the wind has been in the north for a while. In fact it was so cold and wet last Sunday that I fled to northern Spain for four days!