Wednesday 4 December 2013

To France - Maggie Reilly and Mike Oldfield

 Only moments before 'going to post' did it dawn on me to change the headline to this BEAUTIFUL song which just epitomises our trip. Want one of the greatest 'songstresses' that ever lived to 'Blow Your Mind'? 
Click the Link
 Taking on water, sailing a restless sea
From a memory, a fantasy.
The wind carries into white water,
Far from the islands.
Don't you know you're
Never going to get to France.
Mary, Queen of Chance, will they find you?
Never going to get to France.
Could a new romance ever bind you?
Rock Trivia
SHAME THEN THAT OLDFIELD NEVER 'CREDITED' REILLY ON THE ALBUM SLEEVE!
All good things come to an end, as is the case with the South of France. This time tomorrow we will be back in a slightly 'warmer' Dorset so with travel playing a large part in today's proceedings we'll end the trip with a
pictorial run-down of the bird species seen during our trip. Please note, some of the images are from the archive!.
 GREEN WOODPECKER
A single seen on day one, then absent until our last day when
c5 were seen. Others were heard occasionally.
 BLACKBIRD
At all locations and seen on every day not even a guesstimate 
made regarding numbers. 
 BLUE TIT
not as plentiful as might have been expected c3 in total.
 CARRION CROW
undoubtedly the most common Corvid in the absence of
Rook! A couple of hundred must have been seen over the period.
 CHAFFINCH
Warms your heart to see what could be described as 'swarm'
proportions of flocks all over the place.
 Until the last day the most common Dove - see Wood Pigeon.
 COMMON BUZZARD
Again at all locations mostly solitary birds, no count kept.
 COMMON SNIPE
One 'flushed' while searching for the 'Best Bird' of the trip!
 COMMON COOT
A few at both lakeside locations maybe amounting to 2 dozen.
CORMORANT
As with the above but not as numerous, just c8 in all.
 DUNNOCK
'Calling' birds heard on a couple of occasions otherwise only
a single recorded.
 GARDEN WARBLER
Most unexpected species of the trip. Some might say should be in Africa with the rest, but with 'tardy' Reed Warbler and Whinchat at Portland Bill who's to know what is lurking in the hedgerow?
Although we are a 'little' further south than the Bill, c2 were found in the back garden.
 GREAT CRESTED GREBE
c6 seen at one lake and c2 at the other.
 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
A common garden bird, seen or heard at most other locations.
 GREAT TIT
Like its cousin above a bit 'thin on the ground' only c2 seen.
 GREY HERON
At waterside and grassy locations c11 seen.
 HOUSE SPARROW
Seemingly not so common at this time of year a few in farm yards
and private houses.
 JAY
In threatening competition with Carrion Crow in the numbers game ,
difficult to know just how many with at one site c9 together.
 JACKDAW
c15 seen, widespread and often alone.
COMMON KESTREL
Seen everywhere but not counted.
LAPWING
Small feeding parties encountered in 3 different fields
on 3 separate days amounting to a total of about 50?
 LITTLE EGRET
Far less numerous that Cattle Egret only a single seen all trip.
 LONG-TAILED TIT
Just one feeding group of c17 on the final day.
 MAGPIE
Good (or BAD dependent on how you view them) numbers all
over the place, one flock comprising c15 individuals.
 MALLARD
Nearly saw as many 'on our plate' as we did in the field,
a total of c8.
 MARSH HARRIER
On day one 7 were counted but not seen subsequently.
 MEADOW PIPIT
They didn't show until the final full day and even then didn't reach
double figures.
 NUTHATCH
The single frequenting the garden daily was the only representative.
 COMMON PHEASANT
Talking of 'single representatives', just a lone cock bird was seen.
It is the height of the shooting season here and while most attention
is given to Wild Boar there is doubt that any huntsman would want
one of these to live to see the next day.
 PIED WAGTAIL
Daily, numerous and wide spread.
ROBIN
Ditto!
 SKYLARK
c2 were seen on the first day, then not again until the last when a
flock of an estimated 60 were buzzing around close to home.
 SONG THRUSH
Occurring on the same days as the above but only as singles.
 SPARROWHAWK
Just the one when we visited the Canard Shop.
 COMMON STARLING
Certainly no 'murmuration' in fact only small numbers on a daily basis.
 STOCK DOVE
Only a single sighting of c5 individuals on day 2.
 STONECHAT
A single male on the final day was all seen.
 TAWNY OWL
The 'singing' bird that greeted us the first evening, nor any
other was encountered again.
 TEAL
About 50 birds conveniently 'flushed' by a Motorbike Brigade did at least give opportunity to see most that were hiding in the reeds on the final afternoon.
 WOOD PIGEON
Total counts were lower than Collared Dove up until the last afternoon, when flocks of what must have been 'thousands were seen feeding in stubble fields.
WREN
Just a few were heard but I don't think either of us 'clapped eyes' on one?
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE
GRIFFON VULTURE
43 SPECIES in total - we're HAPPY! - Hope You Are Too?
Entry          Pageviews
United Kingdom
               823
United States
               644
Poland
               165
Germany
                 71
Russia
                 41
China
                 29
Estonia
                 28
India
                 28
Canada
                 26
Australia
                 18