Qui Parle Francais? -Mark 2.

[Padraig]

O.K. Last time I broke the rules by writing in french and Digiscoper rightly intervened.
He explained to me that the rule is there to prevent people erupting into foreign languages ,making it impossible for the moderators to keep an eye on the content of what contributors are saying.
It takes no imagination to figure out why survellance is important.

So I have been given the green light by Digiscoper to try again but this time ensuring that only the name of the bird is given in French. So please comply folks. No 'showing off' (myself included) the excellence of our O or A level French.

Right. 2 birds. In English.

1.A medium sized bird. Brown, with spotted undersides; buff wing linings. Likes to eat snails.

2.Male has a green head, white neck ring and purplish-brown breast. Likely to be seen swimming in the pool at your local park.

Answers in French only please.

Padraig. :cat:

[Padraig]

As Private Eye likes to say- Shurely some mistake (Ed).
:smoke:
I was just testing there to see if Andy Bright was awake and on the ball. And the answer folks is yes--Andy is up and running and surveillant as ever.

Digiscoper , who according to Andy, signs herself Diane, is not to be confused with Andy (who happens to have www. digiscope at the bottom of his contributions).

So profound apologies to both Diane and Andy, who may or may not have strong reasons not to wish to be confused with one another.

O.K. folks. Who knows the answers?

P.

[kmonty1950]

Padraig

1. Grive musicienne (Song Thrush)

2. Canard colvert (Mallard)

Regards
Ken

[digi-birder]

Digiscoper , who according to Andy, signs herself Diane,

Would help if you got the name right - it's digi-birder.

[Padraig]

Grive musicienne and Canard Colvert are right Ken.
And thanks for putting in the English in brackets. That helps. Take 2 points.

If anyone knows how to type in French accents please let me know. Its something to do with holding down certain numbers.

3. A large with with 6 ft. wingspan that plunges after fish. Adults are white with pointed tail and bold black primaries.

4. Small bird with double white wing bar and white sides to tail. Male has blue grey crown and pinkish cheeks and breast.

Padraig.

[Padraig]

Would help if you got the name right - it's digi-birder.

It's becoming rapidly apparent that I better sit down and study the differences between digiscoper, digibirder and any other digi's that are in the house.
Yes, I hereby solomnly undertake to forthwith take my digit out. Without delay.

Padraig.

[Andrew Rowlands]

If anyone knows how to type in French accents please let me know. Its something to do with holding down certain numbers.

Try reading http://depts.gallaudet.edu/forlang/Accented_Characters2004.html Padraig (and anyone else who'd like to do it with accents).

If you have a laptop or a non- Windows PeeCee, things may be different!.

Andy.

[JANJ]

??????????????????????????
JanJ

[Padraig]

??????????????????????????
JanJ

Could you elucidate Jan?

P.

[JANJ]

I wonder what all the talk is about, and why do you insist on the french thing? ( I´m not beeing prejudiced against the french, and this is not a major attack!) Are you p****off by any chanse, because they didn´t let you post in french? Anyhow, could you get to the point please, I mean the thing you came for, quiz.
Regards JanJ

[Padraig]

I wonder what all the talk is about, and why do you insist on the french thing? ( I´m not beeing prejudiced against the french, and this is not a major attack!) Are you p****off by any chanse, because they didn´t let you post in french? Anyhow, could you get to the point please, I mean the thing you came for, quiz.
Regards JanJ

Sounds like a severe attack of prejudice to me Jan. Maybe you would like to make a positive contribution in another thread?

Padraig.

[Andrew Rowlands]

Calm down folks - it's only a quiz!

Jan, the last question is in Post #5.

Andy.

[JANJ]

Just seemed much like a french lesson to me, and I apologize if you feel offended, maybe I was a bit gruff, sorry for that.
JanJ

[epervier]

3. Fou de bassan
4. Pinson des arbres

[Terry Smith]

Hi there folks

Blimey after all the effort I went to find Padraig's answers in French, Colin beats me to it! Anyway I concur with Colin:

3. Fou de Bassan (Gannet)
4. Pinson des arbres (Chaffinch)

I think it's a great idea Padraig. We can all learn a little for when we travel abroad, and if we're in a hide and someone shouts 'Loriot' we will hopefully know what to look for!!

Best of luck mate.

The (other) Exmouth Birder

[Padraig]

Andrew, well done and thanks for that link and Jan, thank you for being reasonable.
The idea here is not so much a 'French lesson' (although that comes into it a bit I suppose) its to have some fun but also to learn some of the names for when we're over there.

For instance, if I look out mt window in Exmouth I can often see Fou de Bassan (Gannets) which have left their nest in Sept Isles in Brittany that morning and flown the Channel to Devon for a spot of fishing-we're that close here-next door neighbours so to speak.

Pinson des Arbres is good too, so 2 points each to Colin and Terry.

Bird 5: A large white wetland bird-largest of its family-with curved neck. Adults have an orange beak with a black knob on the base.

Bird 6: The species is very common in sea-side towns (where it has the reputation of being ferocious at times); Grey back and wings with black and white wing-tips. flesh coloured legs.

P.

[Clouseau]

cygne muet
Goéland argenté

[Padraig]

I think it might have helped if I had explained my idea of such a quiz before I kicked off.
Beacuse I am a lazy sod who wouldnt mind knowing the names of alot of European birds in French I thought I'd have a go at this.
I dont know the answers myself so I have a copy of
Collins field Guide: Birds of Britain & Europe by Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort and Hollom by my side.
I also have Guides Nature:les Oiseax d'Europe with amazing illustrations by Lars Jonsson.
The Collins book gives the names in Dutch, German, French and Swedish (possibility of tempting you there Jan?).
So dont be nervous of looking up the birds in French if you have access to anything with it.
And never mind if someone beats you to it with the reply. Type in your response anyway.

In a previous quiz I did, we resorted to people PMing me in the end to avoid all the learned and correct answers piling up.

Best Wishes,

Padraig.

[Terry Smith]

Will you lot slow down!!

No sooner do I make a note of the descriptions and go away to do some research to find out what they are, than some-one beats me to it with the answers!
Again I concur with Clouseau -

Cygne Muet (Mute Swan)
Goeland Argente (Herring Gull)

The Exmouth Birder

[Clouseau]

C'est facile pour moi! Pardon, M'sieur!

[wintibird]

Salut mes amis,

If someone knows the answer but not the french name go to babelbird (http://www.bavarianbirds.de/index_e.html). You can translate any name in english, french, german, spanish and the scientific name.

Bonne soirée

André

[Clouseau]

Salut, copain! Babelbird! LOL! Hitch-hiker's guide to the birds of Europe!

[Padraig]

It may be easy Clouseau but I have to say that my books say Cygne Tubercule for Mute Swan. Always makes me think of a Swan chronically cough up tubercular sputum all over the canal.

Goeland Argente is right Not the most apt name as there's not much silvery about it but tyen neither does it specialise in eating Herrings (The Common Gull isnt too common either ).
So- one point each. Keep it up and others jin in please!

thanks for that link Wintibird. Am off to have a look in a mo. Next 2 first.

1. This bird hunts mainly by night. Described as having a hearshaped face; always seen as white as a ghost when caught in the headlights of youir car.

2.Very colourful summer visitor. Blue belly,yellow throat and black 'necklace'; chestnut and yellow above; A long bird with short tail streamers.

P.

[Clouseau]

Effraie de clochers
Guêpier d'Europe

[Terry Smith]

Third time unlucky!

Got my books out - worked out what species they were from the descriptions - translated them into French - got beaten to it again (by Monsieur Clouseau, n'est pas?). Yeh, I agree on the second but my reference shows Barn Owl to be -

Chouette effraie. (So Padraig, who's right?)

Second bird is European Bee-eater - Guepier d'Europe

Been busy today at work so couldn't get the answers out in time.............

The Exmouth Birder

[Jurij Hanžel]

The terms for Barn Owl are synonimous.

[Terry Smith]

Jurij

Many thanks for that! I must really practise my languages. Best of luck with your owls!

Terry
The Exmouth Birder

[Clouseau]

Well you know: en Francais, en dit d'habitude Effraie de clochers But you can say either! Vive les Anglais! London needs les Olympiques more than Paris!

[June Atkinson]

Grive musicienne and Canard Colvert are right Ken.
And thanks for putting in the English in brackets. That helps. Take 2 points.

If anyone knows how to type in French accents please let me know. Its something to do with holding down certain numbers.

3. A large with with 6 ft. wingspan that plunges after fish. Adults are white with pointed tail and bold black primaries.

4. Small bird with double white wing bar and white sides to tail. Male has blue grey crown and pinkish cheeks and breast.

Padraig.

This table may help -

French Accents

Use ALT +

é 130
É 144

è 138
È 212

ê 136
Ê 210

ë 137

à 133
À 183

â 131
 182

ç 135
Ç 128

î 140

ô 147

û 150
Û 234

ù 151
Ù 235 :scribe:

[Clouseau]

Formidable!

[Jurij Hanžel]

To avoid confusion: the numbers are to be typed on the num pad.

[June Atkinson]

I think it might have helped if I had explained my idea of such a quiz before I kicked off.
Beacuse I am a lazy sod who wouldnt mind knowing the names of alot of European birds in French I thought I'd have a go at this.
I dont know the answers myself so I have a copy of
Collins field Guide: Birds of Britain & Europe by Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort and Hollom by my side.
I also have Guides Nature:les Oiseax d'Europe with amazing illustrations by Lars Jonsson.
The Collins book gives the names in Dutch, German, French and Swedish (possibility of tempting you there Jan?).
So dont be nervous of looking up the birds in French if you have access to anything with it.
And never mind if someone beats you to it with the reply. Type in your response anyway.

In a previous quiz I did, we resorted to people PMing me in the end to avoid all the learned and correct answers piling up.

Best Wishes,

Padraig.

For years we've used the Hachette "Guide des Oiseaux" - an excellent little book if you can find it still.
But last summer I bought the Nathan "Oiseaux de Nos Régions" in their Guide Nature Miniguide series, for 7.5 Euros (sorry I haven't a Euro symbol).

But neither came in very useful when we saw an interesting bird hopping about the rocks near the Plomb du Cantal in the Auvergne. We got really excited, but it was only when we got back to Salers and went into the Tourist Office that we saw, on a poster, what it was - a Rock Thrush - "Monticole (merle) des roches. Gorgeous orange chest and lovely to watch as it flitted amongst the rocks at this high altitude in the Massif Central.

[Jurij Hanžel]

But neither came in very useful when we saw an interesting bird hopping about the rocks near the Plomb du Cantal in the Auvergne. We got really excited, but it was only when we got back to Salers and went into the Tourist Office that we saw, on a poster, what it was - a Rock Thrush - "Monticole (merle) des roches. Gorgeous orange chest and lovely to watch as it flitted amongst the rocks at this high altitude in the Massif Central.

Rock Thrushes are really a pleasure to watch, I saw a few during my mountain holidays last week. I was very puzzled by its song, it was like a Blackbird's! If a Rock Thrush sang in the lowlands, I would've immediately dismissed it as a Blackbird.

[Padraig]

My Lars Jonsson book says Chouette des Clochers and my Torry Petterson says
Chouette Effraie.
So there are obviously 2 accepted names for this bird. Two points apiece lads.
I've yet to see an Owl of any species in France.

I did spend a full day looking for Guepoier 'dEurope this year by the coast west of Quimper in Brittany. In the afternoon I came across some birders (not as cpmmon there) who pointed me to an area where I found none.
By 5 pm I was just about to give up-the family was getting close to full mutiny, when I gave it one last chance and asked a man did he know where there were Guepier.
He told me to go to a beach further along the coast but said they only appear at dawn. I went nevertheless and on ariving at the carp[ark was rewarded with 2 breeding birds sitting on a wire just above a dune with nest-holes in the small cliff.
I watched one regurgitate a pellet of insect chitin. A good reward for a long day's work. The family were pleased for me too.


1. A 7" shorebird. quite a long bill, slightly decurved. Breeding adults have distinctive black patch on lower breat and fore-belly.

2. Often seen hovering by motorways. Male has spotting on back and grey tail ending in a black band.
Female has barring on back and tail.

So, Clousseau- are you relqted in any way to the famous Inspecteur? I imagine you have some link with France but am curious what it is, if it is.
Terry is planning a trip to Brittany later this year, or so he tells me. You are duty bound to see all the birds mentioned here. Well, maybe not guepier- they may have depated by then.

June Atkinson has kindly sent me a list of accents in French and how to produce them on the computer. For some reason, it hasnt shown on the thread here.
June I tried the system but when I typed 130 to get an accent ferme on the e, all I got was 130. Is there some trick to how you press the keys? Many thanks for your contribution.

Padraig.

[kmonty1950]

1 Bécasseau variable (Dunlin)

2 Faucon crécerelle (Kestrel)

Padraig, as mentioned above, you have to use the number keypad - it won't work with the number keys along the top of your keyboard. Hold the alt key down a you type the number, then release it and you should get your accented letters.

Regards

Ken
(With help from Collins)

[Andrew Rowlands]

June Atkinson has kindly sent me a list of accents in French and how to produce them on the computer. For some reason, it hasnt shown on the thread here.
June I tried the system but when I typed 130 to get an accent ferme on the e, all I got was 130. Is there some trick to how you press the keys? Many thanks for your contribution.

As Jurij mentioned earlier - they have to be typed in using the numpad. There are exceptions - laptops and Macs might have different methods of doing this, for example. If you use XP (or Windows 2000?) you can use the Onscreen Keyboard (Start/All Programs/Accessories/somethingorother).

[Jurij Hanžel]

There's a bit on Unicode HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode)

[bittern]

[QUOTE=June Atkinson]This table may help -

alt 12 is ♀
alt 11 is ♂

Easier than making little drawings!

Mike

[Terry Smith]

[QUOTE=Padraig] Terry is planning a trip to Brittany later this year, or so he tells me. You are duty bound to see all the birds mentioned here. Well, maybe not guepier- they may have depated by then.

Not only do I tell you, Padraig, but I am almost certainly going to Brittany to look for Woodpeckers, S T Treecreeper & Sacred Ibis. ;)

Going at the end of September- I have already been told that the woodies will not be calling so much as in the spring, but as I'm partially deaf anyway I'm not likely to really hear them well anyway, so will be relying on my superb eyesight!!

Anyone got any good reliable sites for the above mentioned birds - i've got Gulf du Morbihan for the ibis and Foret de Rennes for the woodies. STT can be found anywhere with trees apparently!

The Exmouth Birder :gn:

[Padraig]

Bécasseau Variable and Faucon Crécerelle are right.
The 'variable' refers no doubt to plumage and bill length. Does anyone know the name of a Raptor with the woed 'Variable' in its name?

1. This bird is about the size and colour of a crow.
♂'s havr a fully red crown while ♀'s have red on the rear of the crown only. Undulating flight.

2. This little bird can climb down tree trunks and branches as well as up. Blue-grey above and rufous be;ow.
A stumpy bird with short tail and black line through eye.

Clousseau, just a gentle reminder to just give the answers in French. I did agree to abide by the rules and remind participants not to write in French. Sorry to be a pain.

[kmonty1950]

1 Pic noir (Black Woodpecker)

2 Sittelle torchpot (Nuthatch)

How about buse variable - our own common buzzard?

Regards

Ken

[Jurij Hanžel]

I agree with Ken, and here's another two:
Autour variable Accipiter hiogaster Variable Goshawk
Spizaète variable (synonim Aigle huppé) Spizaetus cirrhatus Changeable Hawk-Eagle

[Padraig]

Spot on Ken and thanks for those 2 extras Jurij. I have to admit I never heard of a Changeable Hawk Eagle.

1. Here's a bird I saw with Terry Smith last Sunday (first time we met) up on Dartmoor.
We heard it sounding like a particular insect and after less than 10 minutes we had it in our scopes sitting on top of some heather. Small bird with a long tail this one surprised us how buff-coloured it was on top with little evidence of streaking on its back. We could see no streaking either on the under-tail coverts which were white and packed with feathers(as you wuld expect of this family).
Throat was white, with slight buff streaking on breast. Legs appeared almost yellow in the sunlight and a faint creamy-yellow eye-ring was visible. I checked my Collins which confirmed that plumage can be variable giving the buff appearance rather than the darker streaked appearnace I was expecting. In French please.

2. This bird can also bee seen on moorland. It quarters the ground, gliding effortlessly on narrow wings which in ♂ has a dark bar across secondaries and a pale greyish rump. The ♀ is also slim, a smallish white rump (comparitively) and apparently a broad pale band across all under-secondaries (although I've never seen this).

P.

[Terry Smith]

Yes, it was a particularly good sighting of this species, but I'm not going to say what it was, as that would be cheating. However, it is normally a fairly secretive species, giving its presence away by its voice! This bird and a very confiding male Lesser Spot. at Yarner Wood were the highlights of the day's birding.

I could certainly do with seeing bird number two as I need it for my Devon year list, and a male would definitely be celebrated with a glass of red!

Come on some-one - surely you know what Padraig's latest birds are?

The Exmouth Birder

[Jurij Hanžel]

1 Locustelle tachetée
2 Busard cendré

[Padraig]

Locastelle tachetée and Busard cendré are absolutely right Juij. Good luck on your holiday to Croatia. Hope to see those Pallid swifts!

Speaking of Pics -woodpeckers Terry, I had mixed fortunes in Brittany. I went to a forest south of St. Brieuc where I was told there were Black, Middle Spotted and Grey-Headed Woodies and all I got was a Greater-Spotteds. I did see a Black Woodie fly over the car elsewhere. Not very satisfactory though.
I reckon that the Bois de Rennes is a better bet, even if it is farther away.

1. Usually seen at high tide or else inland. seem to like football pitches. Black back, white underneath, orange bill. White wingbar.

2. A ground-loving bird of open countryside common on passage. Summer visitor.♂ has grey back , black mask and peach-coloured breast. ♀ is brown above and buff below.

[Terry Smith]

Hooooorrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!

Seems like no-ones beaten me this time. Here goes:

1. Huitrier Pie (Oystercatcher). Saw one score the winning goal once on the pitch down in Exmouth Town!

2. Traquet motteux (Northern Wheatear)

Bring on the next two..............

The Exmouth Birder

[Padraig]

Yes Terry. The huitrier is an example where the French and English names co-incide. Doesnt often happen. I notice that many French names are taken directly from the Latin. Les Pics -woodpeckers- from the family Picidae.
Have to say I missed that winning goal by the 'catcher. It had flown off to Dawlish Warren by the time I got down there.

1. Largest of its kind in these waters. Re bill, ♂ with prominent knob on; Green-black head/upper neck; broad chestnut band around neck and upper mantle; black scapulars.

2.Black above & white below. Extremely long pink legs. Both ♂ & ♀ can have black or white crown.
Until recently this country had adoped one. Now unfortunately considered RIP'ed.

P.

[lou salomon]

hi padraig, just back i found this thread. jumpin in with
1. Tadorne de Belon
2. Échasse blanche
actually, is it allowed to use babelbird on bavarianbirds? (that's how i got 2.)
cheers from "lower-rhine"

[wintibird]

Salut Padraig

I guess Lou is right. Are you reffering to Sammy l'echasse blanche?

Bonsoir à tous

André

[Lucky Birder]

French is a beautiful language.

[Padraig]

hi padraig, just back i found this thread. jumpin in with
1. Tadorne de Belon
2. Échasse blanche
actually, is it allowed to use babelbird on bavarianbirds? (that's how i got 2.)
cheers from "lower-rhine"
Yes Lou, welcome, and use of anything you like, including Babelbird is fine.
So where have you been then? Anywhere nice?
Sammy l'échasse blanche it is André. And I have to agree with you Lucky Lirder. I do like French but am still bad at learning the names of birds in french.

1 This one is very far from uncommon.♂ is all black with bright orange bill and eye ring. ♀ dark brown above ,paler more rufous below. Likes dragging worms out of your lawn.

2.This one whistles. ♂ Chestnut head with buff crown. Grey body with pinkish breast.
♀ A short blue-grey bill.

Padraig.

[lou salomon]

hi padraig,

i've been a week on gotland, this big swedish island in the baltic sea. 2 lifers (nothing exciting for british birders though, i guess) - but the island is gorgeous and holds a rich birdlife.

1. merle (pretty name for those wormeating "black birds" ;)) and not necessary to look it up
2. Canard siffleur

[Terry Smith]

Blimey Lou that was quick!

No sooner than I read Padraig's latest quiz birds, than you've supplied the answers!
I heartily agree -

1. Merle noir (Blackbird).
2. Canard siffleur (Eurasian Wigeon).

Cheers

The Exmouth Birder

[Padraig]

Very good gentlemen. Dont forget the Noir after Merle Lou.
So what were the two lifers then Lou? dont be coy!

1. small, dumpy ground feding bird; commonest and most widespread of its family.
Both sexes olive or brown above. well steaked except on rump. buff to grey-brown below, fully spotted and streaked on breast and flanks. Dull double wing bar. white outer tail feathers. Best distinguished by voice-thin piping, tinkling trill.

2. This bird chases retreating waves on sandy beaches 'like clockwork'. Winter: grey above and white below with black shoulders.
breeding: Rusty above and on breast with white belly.

Padraig.

[lou salomon]

ok, razorbill and pine crossbill (see, this is a big hole in my european list - i haven't been to britain or scandinavia, both can be seen also in germany but i don't go twitching here)

as nobdy is ahead i try these:
1. accenteur mouchet
2. bécasseau sanderling

these seem to be easy, aren't they. maybe you should tell less features? watching out the window i see those dunnocks here in neersen near düsseldorf.

[Padraig]

Hi Lou,
Razorbills are fairly common here, as you know, but i've yet to se a Pine Crossbill.

Bécasseau sanderling was right but the first one was not intended to be a Dunnock. which is why i gave a loenghty description. I didnt think it would be easy. rember the call gives it away. Not usually in your garden though!

P

[lou salomon]

sorry for my arrogance - if it is a pipit, no, not found in this garden, but i'm unsure about pipit either (pipit farlouse it would be then. tinkling trill???

[Terry Smith]

O.K.

I'm gonna stick my neck out on this one.
Bird one may be Bruant proyer (Corn Bunting). They are certainly dumpy - we used to call them the 'flying beer-guts' due to their rather large full-looking bellies. They have a song which sounds like a bunch of jangling keys!

Now tell me I've made a cock-up as well Padraig!

Terry

[lou salomon]

i thought of CB too, actually, but: they are not small and (i don't know?) the commenest of its family? depends on where! (in romania it certainly is the commonest bunt in most regions but in britain?).

[Terry Smith]

Lou

Is not Corn Bunting the commonest of the genus miliaria? I thought about buntings too, but Corn Bunting is not classified as an emberiza. It's up to Padraig to put us out of our misery!

The Exmouth Birder

[lou salomon]

Lou

Is not Corn Bunting the commonest of the genus miliaria? I thought about buntings too, but Corn Bunting is not classified as an emberiza. It's up to Padraig to put us out of our misery!

The Exmouth Birder

haha

P said "family" not genus and i still don't find miliaria calandra is a small bird.

[Terry Smith]

haha

P said "family" not genus and i still don't find miliaria calandra is a small bird.

Point taken Lou.
I guess it's up to Padraig to put us out of our misery!
By the way, I still think of Corn Bunting as a small bird, especially when you put it alongside a Mute Swan or a Cormorant for instance! ;)

Good Birding.

The Exmouth Birder

[Padraig]

Apologies for being late. Was up in Bristol last night.
Pipit Farlouse (Meadow Pipit) is what I had in mind although apologies to Terry. I should have said 'genus' not family. My book actually provided the word dumpy, although I suspect that's only relative to other Pipits. I can see where you got Corn Bunting from Terry. never mind.

1. Largest, longest-billed and -necked of the genus (this time).
Winter: Satiny white; white above the eye; pinkish bill.
Breeding: unmistakable plumage from any istance.

2. Heard squeeling (described as pig-like) far more than seen.
Adult: Long red bill; barred flanks.

P.

[lou salomon]

2. râle d'eau
1.- no idea at the moment! will come back later on.

[Padraig]

No.1 is found on inland aters in throught year. In summer, rafts of up to 1,000 birds can sometimes be seen.
In winter, is often seen offshore.

P.

[Terry Smith]

Bird No One is I suspect Grebe huppe (Great Crested Grebe). Sorry I can't find the relevant French pronounciation marks on my old Machine!

Agree with Lou on No 2 - Rale d'eau (Water Rail).

The Exmouth Birder

[Padraig]

Grèbe Huppé will do Terry. How about these two then?

1. A very common bird. Largest of its type. White neck-patch on adult. White wing bars. Long rounded tail.

2. exists in two forms which have yet to be split.
Commonest and bulkiest of the genus. Often seen on lawns or on streets. Variable amount of black.

P.

[Terry Smith]

Hi Padraig,

1. Pigeon ramier (Wood Pigeon)
2. Bergeronnette grise (Pied Wagtail)

I think only the Dutch and UK400 Club split number 2! Think I'll wait for BOU on this one.

Regards

Terry

[lou salomon]

Hi Padraig,

1. Pigeon ramier (Wood Pigeon)
2. Bergeronnette grise (Pied Wagtail)

I think only the Dutch and UK400 Club split number 2! Think I'll wait for BOU on this one.

Regards

Terry

hi terry and padraig

t, this time you got the points, cause i work in the evening... :cool:
well, a split will give ya an armchairtick, let's see if we continue getting more and more species. but isn't BOU very conservative in all respects (rumours).

:bounce:

[Terry Smith]

[ but isn't BOU very conservative in all respects (rumours).

:bounce:[/QUOTE]

Lou

Conservative , goodness, I've only been waiting 21 years for them to split Siberian Stonechat! Which is when I saw my first one! I will probably die of old age before I get many more splits................

The Exmouth Birder

[Padraig]

Lou & Terry,
I think the time has come for PM answers. It gives you both a chance to carry on (if you wish) without spoiling it for each other. I', enjoying this. As long as you are too, lets keep going. maybe others will join again. What happened to the others?

1.Summer visitor. Flies on arc-shaped wings and shrieks. Small white throat.

2. Common small bird. ♂ grey crown and black bib.

So, dont for get to PM your answers this time.

P.

[Padraig]

Epervier has joined in wand PM'ed me with two right answers.
While others are contemplating the last two, I thought I would press ahead with 2 more because I'm away now until wednesday evening.

here they are:

1. A crested shore-bird; dark green back; loud call that sounds like a squeeky doll being pressed.

2. A small, stumpy bird; brilliant blue-green back and warm rufous underparts.

P.

[Padraig]

The last 4 proved a bit more challenging. No disgrace here Lou, being right all the time gets boring.

here's what I had n mind:
#72
1.Martinet Noir ( Swift); as opposed to
Hirondelle Cheminée (Swllaow); Hirondelle de Rivage (Sand Martin) and Hirondelle de FenÊtre (House Martin). Interesting that the Martins are included under Hirondelles (Swallows); whereas Martinet means Swift. That confused me one day when I asked a Breton what the French for the Swifts we saw flying around the local church was and when he correctly said Martinet, I thought he was calling them Martins. My mistake obviously.
2. Moineau Domestique (House Sparrow).

#73.
1.Vanneau Huppé (Lapwing)
2.Martin PÊcheur (Kingfisher).

Hope this is still proving to be fun. I'm enjoying myself but then I dont have to figure out the clues as I'm inventing them!

1. A smallish bird of open countryside;unfortunately has declined drastically in numbers;♂ a blaze of yellow often on a yellow gorse bush. rufous rump.

2. Medium/largish bird of gardens and open countryside. Has a bad reputaion (? exaggerated) as a thief of other birds' eggs. Pied pattern and long tail.

P.



2.

[lou salomon]

god, this threw me! :'D - that must have been a guess from outer space, herefor my shameful score : 1 out of 4!!! :eek!: :eat: incredible to miss swift! grrrrbl. ;) and sparrrrroww

[Padraig]

1.This bird breed in Russia, Scandinavia and Iceland passing through these parts in April/May and august/sept coming from and returning to Africa.
Its got another bird very like it but is smaller, with shorter bill; Bold dark crown stripes over whitish supercilium, dark eye-stripe and pale face. Voice very distinctive- a de-crescendo of seven notes.

2. A bird of woodland glades. Small.
♂ has black cap and ♀ had brown cap. Song very like a confusion species which also looks like this bird but which lacks, among other things, the cap.

P.

[Michael Gilmore]

I've been in and out of hospital for 3 months , so I missed this thread!!

( By the way it's always lower case! in French ). Anyway, an interesting thread: we have been here c. 11 years and it's confusing such as the Messange charbonnière, which is a Great Tit, not the obvious Coal tit.

However, I am glad to say that we live on Montoriol, aka. Oriole Hill, but in the 19th. century, Oriol was the correct word not the modern Loriot d'Europe


There are so many fascinating words in French, such as Circaëte Jean-le-Blanc , moderately common in high summer here, on the look out for snakes et al.


Bien amicalement de l'Aquitaine - Mike

[Padraig]

Welcome Mike. Glad you find it interesting. Want to join in? we're short on contestants right now. PM the answers if you do. Thanks for the advice on lower case. There have been threads (and arguments) on the use of higher case in English. Where is Vélines-pretty far south I'd imagine. I correctly guessed what Circaete Jean-de-Blanc must be. The Spanish just call it 'Snake Eagle'. None of this Short-Toed malarky for them.

Yes Lou. coulieu corlie and fauvette à tète noir are the ones. Dawlish Warren, which is just across the mouth of the Exe from where I live is hopping with courlieu colie (as opposed to coulieu cendré )at the moment-saw quite a few from my boat yesterday. They're early this year.
Next:
1.Small Summer visitor. Has a close confusion species from which it is distinguished by shorter bill, rounder head and shorter more rounded wings. Best identifier is the onomatopaeic song (I used to like that word at school).

2.17cm shore bird. Compared to 2 nearly related birds it is smaller and paler with blackish legs.Black on sides of breast only;unbroken supercilium; white wing bar.

P.

[Padraig]

1.pouillot véloce (Chiffchaff) or as Lou pointed out, Zilp zalp in Deutch.
2. gravelot à collier interrompu (Kentish Plover) with interrpted collar.

Well done.

1. A tiny common bird of gardens and woodland. Plump, rufous-browm; barred wings and flanks. Tail often cocked.

2. Seen on rocks and cliffs by sea. More slender and less black (brownish almost) than similar birds;streaked flanks. Bill more slender and pointed.

P.

[Padraig]

Welcome David FG- and right first time as with Lou.
troglodyte mignon (wren) and guilemot de troil (Guillemot) are the answers.

2 more:
1. this bird dives. Relatively long bill. ♂ has chestnut head; black chest & pale grey body. ♀ has buff mark around the eye and base of bill.

2.Smallest of its European type. Scaled rufous back; long rounded white-rimmed tail. Black & white striped patch on side of neck.

I'm away now until Thursday so apologies for 4 day's delay.

P.

[Padraig]

Full marks to Lou Salmon, David FG and Terry Smith for:
Fouligule milouin (pochard) and Tourtourelle des Bois (Turtle Dove). Both birds i've seen in Brittany. I've only got about 3 or 4 ducks in France so far. My French list is still short of 100 I think. Room for improvement aye?

Here's two more.

1.Marginally the smallest of its type in Europe. large head but narrow tail. White patch at rear crown to nape and double white wing-bar. Clean white cheeks contarst with crwon and black bib and upper breast.

2. 27-41 cm. Both sexes show rather short broad rounded wings, slim body and long, narrow-based tail. Barred under-parts and long thin legs and feet.
♂ dark slate-grey above, with rufous chheks, and fine red-rown barring below.
Hopes thats enough to clinch it. Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Apologies for long delay and a warning that I'm away from 4th to 14th SAugust. Home to Ireland with a bit of sea-watching beckoning, I think.

Padraig.

[David FG]

I think the idea is to send Padraig a PM (see above.)

[Cuckoo-shrike]

I think the idea is to send Padraig a PM (see above.)
Oops! Deleted my post and pm'd Padraig. Better delete yours too!
Andy

[Andrew Rowlands]

Better delete yours too!

Done ;)

[Padraig]

Thanks for that Andy and Andrew.
All four contestants on top form with full marks for:
mésange noir (Coal Tit) and épervier d'europe(Sparrowhawk). As was pointed out earlier, mésange charbonniere is confusing as it is actually Great Tit but could easily be thought of as Coal Tit as charbon means coal. Clearly the French & English taxonomists were not in deep communication whenever these names were formalised-presumably in the 129th centurt. Whats new?


Just to warn that I am away from the 4th to 14th of August. Lou Salmon is away in early August , starting the 1st.

Here's 2 more.

1. Slightly larger than a potential confusion species (38cm). Shape differs with straighter bill, steeper forehead, flatter crown and slimmer, longer neck.
♂ conspicuous white band curving from eye to nape; long black & white scapulars drooping over grey flanks and spotted stern.

2. This shore-bird is longer legged than its near relative.
adult Summer: Looks blackish; rather dark reddish legs.
adult winter: much paler and greyer than relative.Bright red legs.

[Padraig]

sarcelle d'été (Garganay) and chevalier arlequin (spotted Redshank) are correct.
We've had garganey at Bowling Green Marsh this weekend. Originally 5, I counted 7 last night and 9 were reported today.2 adults and 5 juvs last night. Maybe 2 more adults today? A new Devon tick for me, making it a paltry 200 on my devon list.
Chevalier arlequin is a wonderful name. I got my first ever Summer-plumage bird last year at Séné Marsh in Brittany.

Next 2:
1. Summer visitor. Breeding: Orange-red bill with black tip. Black wedge on upper and under wing primaries.
Winter: Bill darker. Black patch from eye around nape.

2.75cm. large marsh bird. buff-brown plumage. richly mottled and barred. Short but large green legs and feet. Flight reluctant and slow. walks with shoulders hunched.

Back again Tuesday. :flowers:

P.

[Padraig]

Sterne pierregarin (Common Tern) and Butor étoilé (Bittern) are correct. Full marks to those who got full marks!

1. 48-55cm. Distinguished by close species by larger size,heavier build, broader wings and absense of white rump.
♂dark mantle and secondary wing coverts.
♀ fairly uniform dark, chocolate brown with pale heads and shoulders.

2.33cm.Large, quite stout but still elegant with deep, slightly upturned bill and quite long legs. Distinctive voice carries far. Dark wings and tertials divided by long white rump and wedge up back.

P.

[Padraig]

Off to Ireland now for 10 days. See you all on return. B (:

padraig.

[Padraig]

Back again. I hope people dont mind but I feel that this quiz has run its course having had a successful and enjoyable run.
I cant say I'll remember all the names we've mentioned but at least it has been proved that birds sound great in French.

I thought it would be good to finish on 2 final birds. For whoever is not gone on holidays.

1. water bird.
Long necked and tailed.
♂ Needle tail; dark head above white chest.
♀Grey bill; slender pointed tail.

2.A very pretty woodland bird. Black cap and stubby bill. White rump above long black tail.
♂ Rose red breast.
♀ Warm pinkish brown breast.

Good luck!

P.

[Padraig]

Conglatulations to Lou salmon and to Jurij.

The correct answer was:
canard pilet (Pintail) and
bouvreuil pivoine (Bullfinch).

Congratulations too to Jurij who has returned from Croatia and caught up with Pallid Sw ift and sardinian Warblers.

And that brings to an end the French Quiz.

Thank you all those who participated. the numbers were small but the quality was good.

Au Revoir mes amis!

Padraig.

[epervier]

Merci Padraig
C'etait tres interessant

[Jurij Hanžel]

It was a good quiz and an appropriate introduction into secondary school, where I'll be studying French. Thanks Padraig!

[David FG]

Too slow for the last one, hélas, but thanks very much, Padraig.

[Padraig]

Thanks guys.

Over and out. Au Revoir.

P.