sympathetic migration

The birds have been on the move this last week and so have we, leaving La Tache after 18 months and moving back to La Poterie.
Several pied flycatchers have been in the garden there this week along with a spotted flycatcher, firecrests both species of redstart, chiffchaff, willow warbler, melodious warbler, nuthatch and short-toed treecreeper. A few house martins have been flying with the swallows
A curious record on August 15 was the sound of a small group of cranes around midnight. This is exceptionally eary for migration.
A tree pipit was near la Poterie and yesterday a wheatear flew from the sunflowers on the Lairiere plains.

return migration

Willow warblers were in the garden again yesterday but even more interesting was the presence of at least two pied flycatchers, the first I've seen since the spring.
Despite the heat, lots of birds were active among the garden trees; they included several young firecrests, chiffchaffs, black redstarts, a melodious warbler and a nuthatch.
A femail hen harrier was near La Tache.

kites and stone curlews

Something like a hot summer seems to have arrived at least temporarily. Richard and I went looking for stone curlews and orioles around La Tache last Friday and after failing to locate either of them during the course of a three hour walk, we saw two stone curlews in their usual field as we were driving away in the car. A female harrier, probably a hen, was hunting in the area.

On Sunday I had a look around Villefagnan to see if there was any sign of little bustards in what is supposed to be their last Charente foothold. There was no sign of them but upwards of twenty raptors including many black kites were either soaring or searching the recently harvested fields for food.  A male golden oriole provided good views as he sat atop a dead tree. (please note, Richard)

Return migration seems to be underway and a willow warbler was in my garden at La Poterie yesterday. I've not seen a swift for over a week.