Out with The Danes

Wild Boar

First thing we observed 6 Honey Buzzards flying north in the sunshine.  Today I had offered to take the very nice Danish people I met the other day out to see some birds.  So this morning Jette and Arvid Jebens, Karen Engelstoff and Elsa Larsen joined me first to the local Bonelli's Eagle site.  As we arrived three female and 4 young Wild Boar crossed our path.  Watching the nest from a safe distance we had now views of the adults but were pleased to see two big chicks standing up and trying their wings which had already developed primary feathers.  In bright sunshine we listened to Nightingales, Orphean and Subalpine Warblers and admired a Crag Martin and 6 Alpine Swifts overhead.

Alpine Swift

We headed up into the hills near Boisset and found breeding Whitethroats and Stonechats and a male Red-backed Shrike on territory.  We also picked up 5 Honey Buzzards heading north. Coming back down to Minerve we checked the Peregrines and found they were feeding three hefty young.  My Danish friends had not seen a Roller so we set off for the vineyards.  Immediately we noted a super Roller sitting on a dead tree.

Roller

Heading on we found the now familiar Bee-eaters and a very obvious Tawny Pipit.  Further on we admired some Rock Sparrows and an Ortolan Bunting sang briefly but sadly did not reveal itself.  We returned to Montcelebre for a welcome cup of tea,  Just before dusk the male Pied Flycatcher showed itself in the garden.