Tuesday 3 December 2013

Kites - Simon Dupree and the Big Sound

I will fly a yellow paper sun in your sky
When the wind is high, when the wind is high
I will float a silken silver moon near your window
If your night is dark, if your night is dark
In letters of gold on a snow white kite
I will write "I love you"
And send it soaring high above you
For all to read
The Portsmouth based band were later to re-brand as Gentle Giant
Our final day in Gascony was one of dark skies, cold, gloom, fog, biting wind otherwise it was lovely. Despite the condition we were out again at first light in search of more 'goodies' to enjoy and bring to you. Collared Dove continued to outnumber Wood Pigeon 5 to 1 until we rounded this bend in the road and what brightness remained was blocked out by 'thousands' of
 WOOD PIGEONs
 The fields here are predominantly Maize and along with this Grain
Storage Area appeared to be a magnet to these birds.
On one previous trip out we had both thought that we had seen a
 BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE
but there was little doubting about the bird preceding us down
this country lane.
 It soon went to 'perch' and was thought likely to be one of the
 pair that Hugh found here back in August.
While this one remained on a spindly branch another was found
 close by with its back to us and while we were not desperately
 close to either, this one put on a fine performance.
 The closest we could get without flushing them was on an all too
 narrow ledge of field at the top of a steep bank and to make matters
 worse the Maize had not been cropped.
 However, this delicate and 'rare' Raptor hereabouts put on a
 fine performance twisting and turning in every direction.
 Further down the road we found a production facility for one, if not
 'the' favourite favoured food item for us in France.
A DUCK (Canard) FARM.
 Not thought part of that, this MUSCOVY DUCK was found
wandering along the roadway!
Some way-side shots included this lovely Donkey and Cart
tableaux in one small village plus,
 MILLET and
 GRAPE production a little further on.
 Perhaps not exactly Palomino Ponies, we at least know Janet will
be pleased to see this shot. Then the first of about a dozen
 RED KITE
 appeared with c4 of its mates.
 All appeared to be favouring a newly ploughed field
 which must have thrown up an abundance of
 'invertibrate' food stuff.


 FANTASTIC VIEWING
Then we reached the tiny village of
 which on a different day may have been considered 'pretty'.

All along its length and breadth these strategically planted (pollarded)
WILLOWS gave a real Christmas look to the place.

The UNKNOWN WARRIOR
 guarded the gateway to a fog-bound CHURCH
 and this is where I found my first 'CONKER',
Horse Chestnut, of the year.
 OLD WELL
 in the VICARAGE GARDEN
 and still the GARLANDS continued.
 PETIT ARMANOU
is where the Dampney's traditionally take Sunday Lunch, so who
am I to get in the way of that. 
 Perhaps no need to go through our selection from the menu as  the
hot and hearty Vichyssoise was all that differed from our usual
(and most enjoyable) Pâté de Foie Gras and Confit de Canard,
 Mousse au Chocolat along with a local Red Wine.
 Finally, and still on the subject of Fois Gras, we came across this
GOOSE FARM
don't think I really want any detail about what goes on over there!
Entry          Pageviews
United Kingdom
                821
United States
                704
Poland
                149
Germany
                  64
Russia
                  47
Estonia
                  27
India
                  27
Canada
                  21
China
                  20
Australia
                  15