france

... or in this case, Outhouse Swallow! We'd just arrived home when I heard a racket in our neighbour's yard. This swallow was flying around in a very agitated state. It settled on the outhouse roof but was still clearly unhappy and was so pre-occupied I managed to get some fairly close shots...

I'm afraid I've not been doing very well on the birding front, plenty about but not within range of my camera - maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. Plenty of insects still being attracted to our sage. First time I've seen this moth in the garden. Very similar to the Hummingbird Hawk moth but...

Sorry I've been 'off-air' so long. Despite giving three weeks notice of our return to France we've been here 5 days and only just (lunch-time today) had our internet re-connected. Fairly poor weather has stymied our birding/photography but here's one from a bright interlude at the week-end. Our...

A bit too far away for a detailed shot but I do like the patterns and muted colours of the out of focus seed heads.

My favourite time is early morning, just as the sun's coming up and all's quiet......sadly, after that real life begins!

I can only apologise for being away so long, but so much to do, so many visitors and so little time to do anything. I haven't been out birding for a month, saw my first Dipper in Gaillac on our holiday though, sadly too far to capture on 'film'. This image is from my arty side....lol I hope...

These are certainly the most numerous of the 'red' darters in our area of France. Most of the other species are present but in much less numbers and are quite specific to location. This may be my last upload for ten days or so. We return to the UK next week and the internet is due to be...

Not sure how things stand in the UK but there are still plenty around in France. This one had been flitting about in the dew sodden reeds, hence it's condition!! Will catch up with you all before day's end!

Not quite close enough for a really good image but I was just happy to get this little raptor in my sights. I hope my ID is correct, as it is without it's 'red trousers' I'm assuming it's a juvenile. Will catch up later with you all.

So yesterday we said, "We won't need our binos there - we never see anything on that walk" Wrong decision, we encountered a small flock of Spotted & Pied Flycatchers with Chiffchaff!!! We watched them for quite a while, this being the best image of the several I took. Thanks as...

Sorry I've been quiet for the last ten days but last Monday we decided on the spur of the moment to go away for a few days. Isle de R and then St. Emilion (can't imagine why we went there, hic!). This heron came quite close as it flew past so an opportunity not to be missed even if it is only a...

I really don't know if butterfly reproduction goes in cycles but last year we hardly saw any Clouded Yellows whereas we were inundated with Peacocks. This year the reverse is true. It's a pity they don't show us the upper surface of the wing (only in flight) as when they're perched the wings...

Probably the closest I've come to one of these birds because despite their size they tend to be quite wary. Have retreated to the cool of the house, the thermometer has just touched 32C but thunderstorms are ahead!!

Morning all, That's us away in an hour for almost two weeks, we're off to Bilbao for 4 days and then to Gaillac for a week. No postings until I return, but if the Wi-Fi works as advertised I should be able to pop in and say hello from time to time. No comments required on this, but I'll leave...

After not seeing much bird activity for a while, we encountered a small mixed flock of tits (Great, Blue and Long Tailed) this morning. Unfortunately we were in a shaded chemin so it was fairly dim but I just like the way the light has been reflected back from the dried/bleached grass on the...

Good morning everyone. One from yesterday mornings trip. I've been trying to get one of these for while and finally one wandered in my direction. Mind you he was a bit wary, kept stopping and looking in my direction, but curiosity got the better of him in the end. Wishing you all a great week.

Morning all. Another from my trip out a couple of days ago. I was hoping he would come back up with a big fat fish, but he didn't, lovely to see them though. Off out shortly to see what's out there, catch you all later.

Good morning all. This little 'un was vying for my attention along with the Kingfishers a couple of day ago. I was hoping it would come a little closer but it was wary, still, beggars can't be choosers. Cracking weather here, have a great day and I hope it's good wherever you are?

Hello everyone, this is one from my morning out yesterday, I say 'morning out' but I left at 7 and was back by 10, but the two hours I spent at this location yielded a lot of good stuff, Plovers, Lapwings, Stilts, Wood Sandpipers, Egrets, Herons and of course this fine couple. They started off...

morning all, a post and run, off to the Brenne shortly, on my own this time, thereby cutting my chances of finding anything by half! lol. This Wheatear from the last trip is a first for me. A long way off, we tried to get closer but it just kept flying to the next post!

The birding's a bit slow in my neck of the woods at the moment so here's something a little different. If you want to capture a dragonfly in flight, I reckon the Migrant hawker probably gives you the best chance. In between it's madcap darting runs it does at least pause now and again for a few...

Good morning everyone. This lovely bird always seems to make an appearance at this place, sometimes for a while and sometimes for just a few minutes. Never seen it fish yet though, maybe it's just in for a rest! Off out soon, sadly not birding, but will catch up later.

Morning campers. We had a great day yesterday, the weather was perfect, the birds were out and Sumy (BF) got to hold (and use) a massive 600mm Nikon lens! At heart I'm still more of a photographer than a birder and this composition of the Grey Heron flying across and the Cormorant faded into the...

Good morning all, hope you had a great weekend? This fine fella was a long way off. He was taking 'shelter' from the rain on the same day I got my bedraggled Reed Warbler shot. Out out shot were 6 Little Herons all sitting on the same branch, as soon as the rain stopped they, and the Cormorant...

Good morning everyone. I'd forgotten about this image, but after fledging this little beauty has made several forays back to the area it was born, namely our back yard. It comes in, flits about and leaves before I get my camera, but I was ready for it last week.