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  1. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Extras A couple of things from around day 3 or day 4 was the swarming of the flying ants - The whole garden, sky and valley seemed to be filled with them! At one point in the late afternoon probably millions of the things, but not a bird in the sky feeding on them, maybe all the hirundines had...
  2. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 8 - Friday 7th October First zero day! Well ... not quite, just no new additions. I still birded the garden, fairly hard. This mostly involved sitting down. It was probably setting up to be a quieter day after all the excitement earlier in the week. Unfortunately it was the earliest I had...
  3. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 7 - Thursday 6th October Another day, another garden birdwatch! Fortunately I didn't keep any birding notes at all today, so apart from noting the new species I mostly don't have to report every single bird I saw in the garden, at least ... Up in good time for a garden vizmig session...
  4. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    ** Day 6 - Wednesday October 5th BONUS CONTENT ** Special Trip Out ... Continuing the theme of widening horizons and visiting superlative birding locations in the region took an afternoon visit out on the Tuesday afternoon to a few places with the male parent. First stop was the village of...
  5. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    If you have any space at all, dig a pond! (If you don't have one already) Best and most prolonged views I've had here or anywhere ever this year I think. I think you get some other stuff I could only dream of here ... ;-) (Edit: views of the woodpeckers being referred to that is, not ponds...
  6. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Having being hearing woodpeckers all week and at times not catching a snifter of a glimpse think ninja may be an appropriate word here ... having a bit more sympathy than previously for the 'Ivory bill Woodpecker' searchers in the states ... (Mind you I'm making no effort to physically track...
  7. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Excellent news. When will one cross the channel I wonder? ;-) Seem to recall more sightings of Osprey into October in recent years too in Cornwall - and perhaps good weather means more and more staying later? (or better breeding?). Do you have any website info on migration numbers. Asking the...
  8. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Just coming back to to this, you have to be a bit careful you have permission or don't suddenly surprise them. Can potentially get a bit tricky otherwise ... especially if not your own.
  9. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 6 - Tuesday October 5th (Because I generally haven't been making proper notes of my days birding*, only listing new species on a random scrap of paper most days and relying on my memory today's report will be a little briefer perhaps. Maybe. (Also there's generally less new stuff; but still...
  10. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 5 - Monday 4th October Another reasonable and early start, and again a foggy, misty beginning to the day. However, new additions to the list kept on coming ... The main excitement was a productive vizmigging session for half the morning. Not long after sun up flocks of finches, again...
  11. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    I'm not a grandparent either (or a parent even), and not a word I've ever used before ;-) Guessing it's an Americanism. To me especially conjures up those collectible beanie soft toy types with big eyes and meant to be a bit cute (they are made from plush material after all?). The RSPB also...
  12. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Extras for the evening - The Milky Way (albeit a bit faint), a shooting star, and a cicada starting up in the evening over yonder.
  13. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 4 - Monday 3rd Oct Managed to get up and out earlier this morning, day 4 of the French Garden Birding Odyssey. Another foggy start to the day which included more finch (presumed and actual Chaffinch) flocks overhead, a compact flock of 20 or so apparent thrushes straight over the garden...
  14. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 3 2nd October Another interesting day, started off in the garden a bit later than ideal, waking up sans* alarm at around 8:45. The mornings birding started with the usual suspects such as the local Collared Doves and Starlings and a wide range of woodpecker noises, but also distantly joined...
  15. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Day 2 1st October Awoke and had breakfast. Continental, but not even any croissants, just that sweet doughy bread, but not bad, 4 Euros 90, rubbishy cereal, yoghurt etc. Food. Incidentally, getting into France the previous day no issues at all - Bristol Airport 20 mins from arrival to be being...
  16. dantheman

    A French Odyssey; October 2022

    Or maybe not. Finally made it down to France to see the parents after 2 and a half years of no travel during the pandemic. I could probably have made it down earlier but there you go. Since they aren`t that well wasn`t going to rush down at the first opportunity. Which probably meant should have...
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