Going South in France

We have spent the last two days driving down through France.  We spent last night in Rosnay in the Brenne which gives me a chance to meet up with good friend Tony Williams and see some birds.  This morning was gorgeous with warm sunshine beckoning us after breakfast.

Black-necked Grebe

We had checked Gabrieau the previous evening and seen plenty of Black-necked Grebes and a small group of Red-crested Pochards.  This morning we stopped at a small lake and could immediately hear Grasshopper Warbler and Nightingale.  Another Red-crested Pochard was on the water and a Purple Heron and a Black Kite flew over.

Purple Heron

We moved on to the National Park Headquarters and pulling up in the car park 2 Hawfinches flew over and a Cuckoo was calling in the distance.  A Hoopoe dropped onto the road and Swallows and House Martins were everywhere.  Moving on we stopped at another lake near Chiron. Here Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Nightingales were in full song and Turtle Doves purred in the hedgerows.  On a partially drained lake c30 Greenshanks and a dozen Little Egrets were feeding.  We were in Paradise as spring was very much here.

Black Kite

Heading further south the weather became cloudier and a bit rainy but we still saw many more Black Kites from the autoroute.  No time for photography today so all pictures are from my library.