Migrants continue to arrive

Another fantastic day and it began for us  today by being taken by our good neighbours John & Hanne to Narbonne where we loaded up a trailer with free soil created by green recycling.  A fantastic operation providing a good service for local people.  Our chalky boulder clay flower beds will welcome a bit of variety.

Sitting on the terrace at lunch time a Nightingale was singing close by and then I could clearly pick out the "hurdy gurdy" song of Western Orphean Warbler.  I have a feeling that this was a bit earlier than last spring.  Even more surprising was a Roller flying high north and passing over the house.  It is normally the end of the month before I see this species.

During the afternoon we went out again with our neighbours to look at the plethora of wild flowers out on the garrigue.  We were particularly interested to look at some fritillaries known as Pyrenean Snakeshead which we had discovered a few days earlier.  They were still looking pretty good.  A Short-toed Eagle flew overhead and at another site a Western Bonelli's Warbler sang.

Back at home and gazing out of the window produced a splendid male Pied Flycatcher feeding from an almond tree.

Roll on tomorrow.