lapwings

I've seen few Lapwings as yet this winter but large flocks numbering perhaps 2000 in total were wheeling around as I around as I drove north. The most southerly flock was from the N10 north of Ruffec. As always, I find it very sad that these beautiful birds are regarded as chasse in Charente.
I calculated as I drove to Caen that kestrel sightings averaged about one every 10 kilometers.

last day here for a bit

Another mild and mainly sunny morning followed by rain in the afternoon. A male hen harrier was quartering the plains near La Tache and the skylarks were still there in their hundreds. The two separate pheasants which I saw were probably recently released or disturbed by hunters.

sun after rain

After yesterday's torrential rain today saw clear skies and it was warm if you could escape the northerly breeze. A hawfinch was in the woods close to La Poterie as was a short toed treecreeper and a couple of nuthatches. The plains were full of skylarks and linnets as usual but there are still no signs of any branblings among the chaffinch flocks. Greenfinches seem to have gone off the radar for a while and the four goldfinches which I saw near La tache were the first I've seen for a few days.
The Bonnieure river was over its banks at Chasseneuil yesterday.

wet and dry rivers

I dodged the showers to do a little birding by the Son-Sonnette and in the Braconne Forest. The river levels are interesting; the Son and the Sonette are just coming over their banks after the recent rains but the Tardoire and the Bandiat near Le Pont d'Agris  both have completely dry river beds still. The Bonnieure and the Charente seem to have reasonable levels.
In not very promising conditions--a stiff, cool breeze-- I recorded 35 species, the most interesting of which were a cetti's warbler near Valence, at least 4 marsh tits and 2 firecrests in the Braconne; small flocks of redwing in the forest, the first that I have seen in the Charente this winter. Nuthatches were very vocal and visible at both locations. Two sparrowhawks flashed by in the course of the day and a tawny owl was calling at La Tache in the evening.

sunshine and a harrier

Yesterday gave welcome relief from all the recent (and present) rain. The skies was blue, the light intense and large flocks of skylarks were wheeling around the Lairiere plains like so many waders. A few meadow pipits and chaffinches were using the same habitat and dozens of white wagtails were on any recently ploughed field but a bright male hen harrier stole the show as he elegantly quartered the field edges.
It's curious how few robins are around in Charente; an individual frequents our house in La Tache but the density of this species in England  during my recent sojourn there seemed to be something like one every hundred yards or so and their song and ticking call was everywhere.
My friends tell me that some cranes were seen still migrating only a week or so ago.

December and back in Charente again

It seems like a long time since my last post but then I've had to be in the UK since late Oct as poor old Mam's not very well.
Except for the flock which I saw on the way to Poitiers, I missed the crane migration but Stella tells me that is was substantial and protracted.
One thing about a prolonged absence is that you notice the differences more. There are not many leaves left on the trees but far more than I expected for mid December; the winter wheat is well up and the landscape looks remarkably green. The temperature is a few degrees up on the Isle of Wight and much warmer than that in Glos.
As for the birds, I've yet to see a black redstart and it was difficult not to fall over one only 7 weeks ago. All the summer visitors have of course long gone except for the odd chiffchaff which I have heard singing (and I daresay there are some blackcaps around somewhere). There is little sign of winter visitors though, presumably as the weather has been so mild north of here---but that seems to have changed this week. I did see a couple of fieldfares fly over La Poterie yesterday as I was viewing the progress on the re-constructed house. And I had brief views of a merlin near La Tache on the 8th.
A walk around La Tache on the 9th gave several woodpecker sightings including a lesser spotted in the old chestnut trees. Nuthatches were very noisy and the fields held several meadow pipits.