Much Colder

A much colder day and I did a quick check of Lac de Jouarres.  Not much change just 50 Mallard, a Grey Heron, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls but 40 Cormorants most of which were fishing feverishly.

Cormorant fishing

Driving through local vineyards there are many sizeable flocks of passerines.  Chaffinches seem to be the commonest species but flocks of mixed species are also common.  Today a mixed flock of c200 birds was equally made up of Goldfinches, Linnets and Serins.

Goldfinch

Linnet

Serin

With all this potential prey it is no wonder that these areas are good for raptors in winter.  Today I saw Buzzards, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks all patiently waiting for their turn.