Clutching at straws

Buse variable is the French name for our Common Buzzard and how apt it is.  We have all seen the complete range from almost dark chocolate brown to very pale individuals often misidentified as Rough-legged Buzzards.

There are dozens of Buzzards in this part of France in winter and the whole spectrum of plumages is present.  One pictured is the palest I have ever seen and almost white.

Weather still awful here but better conditions forecast for tomorrow.

You can tell I am clutching at straws.

Work in the garden

Another dull and damp day.  We catch up with work in the garden but no birds of note seen.  Photo shows the house and garden in Spring.

Dull as ditch water

A dreadful day of low misty cloud and drizzle.  I stay home and we catch up with jobs around the house.

House Sparrows and Starlings our only companions.

High altitude visitor at last

After a quick shopping trip to Olonzac market we returned as the sun appeared.
I immediately set off for Minerve for yet another attempt for Alpine Accentors.

As I got out of the car in the bottom of the gorge the usual plethora of Blackcaps and Sardinian Warblers were all around me and two Blue Rock Thrushes flew overhead.

I pressed on along the path at the bottom of the cliffs, a route I had followed on all my previous visits.  Then suddenly a bird popped up on to the rocky ledges by my side.  Bingo! A superb Alpine Accentor.  Even though the sun was out the bird frustratingly kept in the shadows making photography tricky.  I kept at it for some time and finally the bird flew up onto a wall in the sunshine.  Sod's Law I could get close but was looking straight into the sun.  Ah well I caught up with one of these gorgeous birds at last.  Finding them in winter beats walking miles up to high altitude in the Pyrennees in summer.

I also checked out a Bonelli's Eagle site but no activity yet.  I did see two bees and a grasshopper in the midday sun.

Sandwich Terns in January

We awoke to cloudless skies with a cool breeze and got out quick to the coast and more birding.

Our first stop was the sewerage works and reedbeds at Lespignan. A horse paddock had 2 Water Pipits and a White Wagtail whilst a single Tree Sparrow fed with Goldfinches, Serins and Linnets.

We pressed on to Port De Vendre and the new marina.   There was a feeding frenzy of Cormorants taking place with hundreds flying in and plunging into the River Aude for what was obviously an abundance of fish.  Hordes of Little Egrets lined the stony banks trying to pick up morsels from the free for all.  A Black-necked Grebe picked its way through the melee giving photographic opportunties.

We then moved down to the beach flushing 2 Crested Larks and a Black Redstart.  The beach was entirely deserted of people and seemingly birds.  We walked along the tideline and suddenly I heard a Sandwich Tern.  What a surprise!   Three came into view and commenced fishing in the surf.  They seemed very unseasonable indeed.  Returning to the car a Common Sandpiper flew out from the jetty followed by a Grey Wagtail.

We moved on to Pissevache stopping first at the sewerage ponds.  Greater Flamingos were incredibly close and I managed quite a few photos.  A single male Red-crested Pochard looked splendid as did a male Pintail.  A male Hen Harrier quartered the reeds together with 2 Marsh  Harriers and a Buzzard.

We then drove down through Gruissan and ended up at Mandirac again.  Three Great White Egrets, a Cattle Egret and many Little Egrets were present.  A ring-tail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harriers were hunting low over the pools constantly harassing c200 Teal.

Another great day in fantastic light.  Year list now at 71.

Day made better by the Canaries getting a point at Middlesborough and moving into 2nd place in the Championship.

Weather improvement

Bright and sunny today but a bit of wind and colder.

Walking around Minerve no Alpine Accentors again and unusually no sightings of Blue Rock Thrushes.  Added Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Black Redstart and Woodlark to my Year List though.

This afternoon spent some time checking out two Golden Eagle nest sites.  No birds present yet and the nest used last year looks damagede by the high winds.  I look forward to their return.

A flock of c20 Fieldfares is a bit unusual here and they were added to the list.

Great Start to the New Year

Trying to ignore the effects of local wine I awoke grateful that I had reached the New Year and my 68th birthday.  Time to start the 2011 list.

I met up with friends John Andrews and Ron Bennett at the marsh at Capestang for our first birding trip of the year.  We set off as usual full of optimism.  The day was still without a breath of wind and also mild but the promised sunshine did not appear leaving a dull day.  Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron and Linnet were all noted within minutes.  Continuing on we noted a Southern Grey Shrike not a common bird hereabouts and perhaps an omen of a good day.

Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and Cetti's Warbler were soon added to our list as we reached the corner of the track across the marsh.  Here we were really in luck finding about 20 Penduline Tits feeding with a few Blue Tits.  We were amazed that all the Pendulines were males.

Walking on Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard were all seen as well as a small group of Reed Buntings.  More Penduline Tits including a female were found and in all we counted over a dozen Chiffchaffs in the reeds.  A small group of Bearded Tits went by and then a splendid male Bluethroat ran in and out of cover with typical cocked tail.

Scanning the edges of dykes a couple of Water Rails appeared and many more screamed in the dense reeds.

On our return walk we encountered a female Bluethroat and watched a hundred or so Lapwings and c20 Shelduck on a flooded field.

Driving home and crossing an open area near la Viala a bird with a heavy undulating flight turned out to be a Hawfinch - Wow! What luck!

A fantastic day with a total of 51 species recorded before darkness fell.

A perfect birthday with Norwich City's 1-0 victory over league leaders QPR a bonus present.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE AND GREAT BIRDING IN 2011