FANTASTIC WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
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Yesterday breakfast time, we had a huge influx of Starlings, all the trees appeared to be full of them, then they singled out a small oak on the edge of our garden that has rather too much ivy around it.
For at least five minutes there was a constant thick stream of birds arriving. There were so many that you could not see the tree or beyond it. Within 10 minutes the tree was devoid of berries.
On our way to town today we noticed a similar but much bigger event around two miles away. The sky was black with birds. Again they proved to be Starlings, Millions, no, Billions of them.
As we approached part of the flock flew over the car, you could not see the sky for the birds and the windscreen was covered, yes covered it black pooh. The flock was half a mile or so wide, but so dense.
Sun was shining this morning, so Mrs T and me decided to have our first 2024 forest walk. We love the peace and quiet of the forest, just the wind in the trees and the bird song. Occasionally we get a wonderful surprise and today was no exception. We bumped into this beautiful lady red deer who was accompanied by another seven family/herd members.
Outstanding! Great photos too.
Was this in France? We have never seen Red deer here?
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We get roe deer in the garden & lanes around us – in fact, I saw a couple on the lane a few minutes ago, when we were eating our meal. They sometimes come right up to the terrace outside the kitchen. We are very aware of ticks, though, when we are in the jungle that is our garden, & I check our cat frequently.
It is the forét Domaniale in Normandy, thankfully on our doorstep. Whilst the hunting season is over, I believe special culling licenses can be obtained.
We had a drive up to Locqueric on the North Brittany coast.
There were Artic terns fishing and we saw Curlew, Avocets and lots of Sanderling.
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Today we arrived at a busy roundabout on market day, as I emerged onto the roundabout a female Mallard and her ten ducklings crossed my path. She was waddling at medium duck speed the babies rushing and as each one became the last it would sprint ahead, and so and so on.
Having mind for traffic safety I managed to position the van to protect the procession and they reached the temporary safety of the centre of the planted roundabout.
We hope they made it to the other side.
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We have spent these last couple of days camping out next to the wildlife pond we set up last year.
We have seen so many different spicers including some very unexpected ones.
The pond has a small waterfall which flows down to a dyke which I have tried to use as a bog filter the water then flows through the watercress bed before being pumped back into the pond.
Yesterday I was cleaning the grass from the dyke and I came across some immature pond snails! How did they get here?
Next was a rather fat adult female Smooth Newt. I didn’t know they were present here.
I was amazed and in awe but to top it all this morning there was a Water Vole feeding and then swimming in the dyke.
Mme B was surprised by a deer.
There is much more to tell later.
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Sounds wonderful Bonjour!
Not sure what sort it is but it was hiding in my Thornless Blackberries. Do you know what it will become? Butterfly or moth i have no idea.
Thank you Fruitcake, I looked it up and you are right.
At breakfast today a gorgeous Red Squirrel came right up to the patio doors and stared in. It was only two feet away. Although they are present here we probably see on average no more than two a year.
Driving from Lorient to Carhaix earlier near to the junction with C6, a beautiful Red Kite flew over the road, it then turned and parrelled our track for about 20 seconds slightly above and to the side of us but less than 20 feet away before turning sharply and it was gone.
Never have I been so close to one. It was a real treat and completely unexpected.
We’ve had bees living in our roof all the time we’ve lived here and most years they swarm at some point. Today was the day!
They don’t cause us any problems and usually, as today, they seem to re-establish themselves back in the same place. Perhaps a new queen goes off with a few? One year they did form a ball in a nearby bush and a local beekeeper came and collected the swarm. He says they are very gentle bees.
Can anyone tell me what this critter is, please?
Is it a crab spider?
Thank’s Fruitcake. I’ve googled it and it certainly looks like it could be.
Saw this beauty on our weekend walk and initially wrongly identified it as a Emperor Dragonfly. Further research confirmed it as a Golden Ringed Dragonfly. We learn something new every day. I also took the picture of the solitary oak tree as I thought you might like it.
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