autumn wheatear

I stopped the car near La Tache today to view a small flock of meadow pipits in a ploughed field near La Tache and while I was scanning to locate them I came across my first wheatear of the return migration; she was posing in that proud posture which is so distinctive of the species.
Later, while working at La Poterie, I heard a woodlark singing close by. Chiffchaffs, robins and black redstarts were flitting among the trees in the garden. No sign of any swallows today despite the fine, warm autumn weather.

spotted flycatchers

We are moving into the last week in September and it's looking like this could be the first year in a while when I have failed to see either a hobby or a whinchat. But the weather seems to have stabilised after the recent wet and stormy spell and some migrants are in evidence so there's still some hope,
Two spotted flycatchers were feeding at the La Poterie pond yesterday and there were plenty of chiffchaffs around La Tache this morning. Lots of blackbirds are feeding on the hedgerow berrries and the occasional common redstart and whitethroat put in appearances. Today, though, there were no swallows to be seen which is remarkable as they have been so plentiful over the last few days.

curlew, quail and harrier

I dodged the showers this evening to take a walk over the plains and my reward was the sight and sound of a solitary curlew flying westward. This species, like most other waders, is not a common sight in this area.
Shortly afterwards I flushed a quail from the side of the path, the first that I have seen, rather than heard, this year.
A female hen harrier was quartering the fields, a single whitethroat brightened up a hedge and swallows were purposely moving southwards, some of them at head height.

september birds and a BIG STAG

At this time of the year I tend to explore the plains and nearby fields and hedgerows, partly to avoid the hunters in the woodland but mainly because the migrating birds prefer the open countryside. Two trips around the La Tache area produced 33 species the most interesting of which were several whitethroats, a singing woodlark, a meadow pipit and a female hen harrier.
Swallows were swarming in their hundreds and were often very noisy. Robins are now plentiful and their autumn song could be heard from virtually every piece of cover. Blackbirds also seem to be in every berried bush making what I always think of as their distinctive autumn chuckling.
The most amazing sight though was of the biggest stag that I have seen this side of the Scottish Highlands. He was making his stately progress across the plains at about 8am, his dignified appearance enhanced by a large circlet of brambles which must have become attached to him as he was in the forest. I did manage to photograph him but the misty, drizzly conditions were too much for my small camera to focus sharply. Just after he crossed the Artenac road a car came by and understandably drew to a halt. The stag surprisingly did not bolt but stood his ground and stared back at the vehicle from just a short distance away. I hope they had a camera.

honey buzzard

I've gone virtually a whole summer without seeing a honey buzzard but one was circling west of Chasseneuil yesterday.
I've been too busy to do any serious birding this week but perhaps tomorrow when I aim to undertake a longish walk.

september and pied flycatchers

I'm back in a rather stormy and wet Charente the grass of which I've never seen so green at this time of year. Nevertheless it is autumn and therefore signs of the return migration are under way. A pied flycatcher was in my garden at La Poterie and I saw another in La Tache. A male common redstart that was also in my garden showed only faint vestiges of his bright summer plumage. Swallows have been massing for a while but birds can now be seen flying determinedly southward. Irv reported seeing a white stork near Aigre yesterday. The stone curlews haven't left yet and they were vocal throughout the evenening at Bourcelaine yesterday.
Owls seem to be making a lot of noise as well; I have heard barn, tawny and little on several occasions this week.
The comment from Le Pre d'Are on my last posting was very interesting. From the description and habitat I would say that the bird was very likely an immature little bittern. This is a rare summer migrant to Charente and I have yet to see one in these parts---perhaps I need to do more canoeing.