Two Hoots

Tawny Owl by Roger Tidman

We have just had University Challenge interrupted by a Tawny Owl calling loudly outside our lounge door.  This is the second year running we have had this species here.  Previously we had Eagle Owls in the area but these have not been heard for 2 years so that is maybe why Tawny Owl is here?

Wildlife Trusts take positive action for Badgers

I am so impressed with the Wildlife Trusts and their positive action on the Badger and TB in cattle issue.  As well as lobbying for the ridiculous Government action to be stopped many of the 47 Trusts and especially those like Gloucestershire and Somerset are vaccinating Badgers on their land against TB.The named Trusts are of course in the target area for immediate culling of these animals.  These Trusts have also made it clear that no animals will be culled on their reserves.

This action is commendable and whilst acknowledging that TB in cattle herds is distressing for farmers and their livelihoods they are prepared to take scientific backed action to try and address the situation.

My only criticism of the Wildlife Trusts is that although news of this action is on their website it is not hitting the national media headlines in the same way that the NFU led publicity about culling has done.  The general public deserve to know that conservationists are not just protesting without doing something very positive to address this problem for farmers and Badgers.

Keeping Local

I stayed around the house today.  Weather a bit duller and birds not obvious at first.  Late morning 2 Common Redstarts in the garden and a flurry of Swallows overhead.  A bit of a surprise was a Short-toed Eagle passing south.

Sardinian Warbler

I took a short work at 5pm - noticed more evidence of Robins in quite a few places.  Also Woodlark, 6 Rock Sparrows and Jay,  Sardinian Warblers appear to have had a good year with some good flocks containing juveniles.

Another Day on the Coast

Picking up my pal Paul Williams in Beziers we started a day watching coastal sites.  We started by looking over Etang de Vendres where we found 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Starlings.  A group of 40 Little Egrets feeding altogether was also notable. We had more luck at Pissevache where recent rain had put a flush of water into the lagoon where c60 Dunlin, 6 Little Stints a 5 Ringed Plovers fed busily.

Dunlin

We moved on to Gruissan and found many more waders on the salt pans.  At least 70 Dunlin, 30 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Greenshanks, Grey Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Bar-tailed Godwit.  A solitary juvenile Black Tern hawked for insects around the lagoons and a solitary Wheatear was also present.  A Kingfisher flew in front of us and another close group of feeding Little Egrets numbered 50.

Juvenile Black Tern

There were many Greater Flamingos feeding on the lagoons - maybe 300.  It was also good to see a good number of young birds amongst the pink throng.

Juvenile Greater Flamingo

We moved on to the wet meadows at Le Petit Tournebelle where one Pectoral Sandpiper still remained.  A count of 28 Snipe was notable and 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Little Stints, a Ruff, 10 Wood Sandpipers and 12 Little Ringed Plovers were also present.  Looking on other fields the Glossy Ibis and 10 Lapwings were still there.

A Pectoral Sandpiper

A sad end to the day was when we attempted to visit a small marsh on the edge of Narbonne.  Here we found a large concrete plant and fences and lorries barred our way.  Does this mean the end of this super little marsh where I have seen Great Reed & Moustached Warblers, Bearded Tits, Penduline Tits and nesting Marsh Harriers?  I hope not

Good Birds over Lunch

We visit friends Serge & Francoise for lunch today.  They live a bit higher up than us but enjoy a beautiful view which includes the Mediterranean Sea.  Serge has recorded over 160 species from his garden so we expected something.

Common Redstart

We were not disappointed as a Honey Buzzard cruised low overhead and later 2 Buzzards (looking ever so much like Steppe Buzzards) flew over with 5 Sparrowhawk,  The stars were the myriads of Common Redstarts, Pied Flyactchers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs which fed constantly in front of us.  Common species but all feverishly fattening up for the next step of their migration.

A Quieter Day

A beautiful day but much quieter as far as birds were concerned.  Hirundines were moving in big numbers again but today the majority were House Martins.  Coming back to the car from the market in Olonzac I found a Tree Sparrow calling from a local garden.

Tree Sparrow

Back at home a solitary Griffon Vulture flew over the house late morning.  Checking the hills behind Minerve I found a total of 10 Stonechats, a group of 4 Wheatears and a splendid Southern Grey Shrike.

More Raptors and Wetland Birds

Waking this morning to sunny skies and a northerly breeze.  It was soon obvious that raptors were still on the move.  Between 10am and 11,30am I counted 41 Short-toed Eagles, 6 Griffon Vultures, 2 Red Kites and 6 Sparrowhawks. Thousands of Swallows and House Martins were passing over constantly.  A quick look round revealed 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Common Redstarts and lots of Blackcaps.

One of the 41 Short-toed Eagles passing over our house

Inspired by the morning experience I set off for the Gruissan area. Between Cesseras and Olonzac a splendid Southern Grey Shrike sat on a snag by the roadside.

Southern Grey Shrike

I headed first for the wet meadows at Le Petit Tournebelle because I had been tipped off the 2 Pectoral Sandpipers had been there for a few days.  After a lot of searching through the telescope I found one Pectoral amongst about 10 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Ruff and 3 Snipe.  On another meadow the Glossy Ibis was still with the egrets.  Coming out of the meadows I counted 25 White Storks and a single Black Stork in the rice fields.

Little Stint

I then moved on to the salt pans at Gruissan.  There were still 200 Greater Flamingos and still a good show of waders.  In all I discovered c60 Dunlin, c20 Little Stints,6 Avocets, 2 Redshanks, 2 Sanderlings, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.  There were also 12 Shelducks.  As I left a Sparrowhawk flew over and 2 Marsh Harriers made my total to 10 for the afternoon.

Marsh Harrier

A great day for watching migrating birds.