Migration continues

It is market day in nearby Olonzac on Tuesdays so no time for looking for birds until after lunch.  Sitting in the lounge I noticed a female Pied Flycatcher in the almond tree outside and then a few minutes later it was joined by a male.  The latter in Europe are much browner than those found in Britain.

Later I had to take a short walk to a neighbour's house and on my return noted 4 Red-rumped Swallows over our garden.  They nest nearby mostly in the Cesse Gorge or under bridges.  They are a species that has colonised France recently and have spread through this region.  The weather has been so dry recently that there are currently no puddles providing mud for these birds.  Maybe I need to create some.

This evening we went to one of our neighbouring villages Oupia to enjoy drinks and nibbles at Susan and Tims wonderful house with friends Rod and Jill.  Chatting away our attention was drawn to a Hoopoe on an adjoining rooftop followed quickly by a flypast of half a dozen Bee-eaters and finally 3 Short-toed Eagles lumbering their way north.  What a way to spend an evening.