Been awaay for a while including 3 weeks in Poland and a trip back to the UK so not really up to speed with the Charente scene. The Spring seems to have been pretty quiet though, partly because of the indifferent weather. --lots of rain/cloud and unseasonably cool most of the time. we've had the log fire burning in mid May.
There's no sign of little bustard on the plains yet but then I didn't see them last year either. it could be that they are now finding it hard to breed hereabouts now. 2 or 3 years back I could guarantee finding small numbers on the plains especially in the early morning. I've seen no stoe curlew either but i have heard thgem calling.Quail are also seemingly thin on the ground.
On a brighter note, melodious warbler seem plentiful this year; one has been singing in the garden for 3 weeks. Nightingales too seem ok in numbers and sing day and night around the house but there are fewer visible swallows. Black redstart and blue tits have successfully fledged young around the house and goldfinch and greenfinch seem to be nesting in the garden as do stonechat. One or two hoopoes have made briefvisits but as yet there are no wryneck or shrike. Ortioles are snging eveywher along with turtle doves. I've seen just a couple of hobbies and a pair of honey buzzards thermaling-along with 2 common buzzards- above the house.
No willow warbler as yet but they seem rare in these parts as do whitethroat. The latter were everywhere in the UK and I saw a few of the former in Poland in April.
I've staggered to 145 species this year but there's plenty of time yet and Man U did win the double so things can't be too bad,
There's no sign of little bustard on the plains yet but then I didn't see them last year either. it could be that they are now finding it hard to breed hereabouts now. 2 or 3 years back I could guarantee finding small numbers on the plains especially in the early morning. I've seen no stoe curlew either but i have heard thgem calling.Quail are also seemingly thin on the ground.
On a brighter note, melodious warbler seem plentiful this year; one has been singing in the garden for 3 weeks. Nightingales too seem ok in numbers and sing day and night around the house but there are fewer visible swallows. Black redstart and blue tits have successfully fledged young around the house and goldfinch and greenfinch seem to be nesting in the garden as do stonechat. One or two hoopoes have made briefvisits but as yet there are no wryneck or shrike. Ortioles are snging eveywher along with turtle doves. I've seen just a couple of hobbies and a pair of honey buzzards thermaling-along with 2 common buzzards- above the house.
No willow warbler as yet but they seem rare in these parts as do whitethroat. The latter were everywhere in the UK and I saw a few of the former in Poland in April.
I've staggered to 145 species this year but there's plenty of time yet and Man U did win the double so things can't be too bad,
