Migration is intensifying with large numbers of pied flycatchers monotonously 'chipping' away from what seems like every bush or tree and even spotted flycatchers are appearing in some numbers; there were at least 4 around La Poterie on Friday. It's the same with whinchats which are particularly benefiting from any land which has been left uncultivated and contains lots of wild seeds; wheatears are less common though, I saw only one yesterday in the field just opposite the house.
The most interesting birds have been tawny pipits of which I saw a pair on Friday in a ploughed field near La Rochette and another pair yesterday near the eolien site on the plains. The latter ones gave excellent close views and I regretted not having taken my camera. I have seen them only once before in Charente and the location and timing was very similar to Friday's birds. They were accompanied by a few white wagtails but in a field closer to Lairiere a few migrating yellow wagtails were also present. According to the most recent data I can find, only a handful of birds breed in Charente with a slightly healthier population of around 30-60 pairs in Vienne (1994/5).
Skylarks seem to be strangely absent at the moment and I saw only one on my bike ride yesterday. One wonders where all the breeding birds go to before they return form the huge winter flocks.
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