November 15, 2006
Pas grand chose
Since coming back from Ouessant, I haven't managed a whole lot of birding. This is in part due to my flatwarming, and the departure of my Kiwi pal Leigh back to NZ (seen here enjoying a tipple at the minibar).
We had a very cold (but sunny) week, followed by unseasonably warm weather. During the cold snap I took a wander around the campus and neighbouring basins. The campus is looking great as the leaves turn.
Save for some flyover Redwings (Grive mauvis) and a single calling Chiffchaff (Pouillot véloce), there was little activity in the basin, so I took a few shots of this Grey Heron (Héron cendré).
Back on the campus, the first Chaffinch (Pinson des arbres) flocks are forming, and I heard both Black and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers (Pics noir et épeichette) vocalizing. I decided to wait a while at a pond which has been a good spot for Hawfinch in the winter. I immediately flushed a Kingfisher (Martin-pecheur), a species I rarely see on campus. A male Bullfinch (Bouvreuil pivoine) and accompanying Blue Tits (Mésange bleue) made for colourful drinking companions.
This Grey Wagtail (Bergeronnette des ruisseaux) was also creeping around the edge of the pond.
A trip to the south of France produced much warmer weather and a different selection of birds - one vineyard I wandered round was a hive of activity, with a large mixed flock of Tree Sparrows (Moineau friquet) and Goldfinches (Chardonneret élégant) accompained by smaller numbers of Serin (Serin cini), Sardinian Warbler (Fauvette mélanocéphale) and Woodlarks (Alouette lulu). A Sunday hike up into the gorges around St-Gillem-le-Desert produced plenty of Wallcreeper habitat (but no sightings).
We tried a few of these strawberry-like fruits, called arbouses,
... and were assailed by a giant cricket.
Just when things were beginning to look dull, my boss came up with an amazing proposition for me - check back in early December if you want to know more...
Posted by rjhall at November 15, 2006 10:29 AM