birding beaumonts

7 FIELDFARES (litorne) on site this morning, and a solitary MEADOW PIPIT (farlouse) flicked feebly northeast, battling its way against this incessant cold wind. 

Another bright, clear, cold day with a strong northerly wind. A skywatch in the early afternoon in the company of Pierre, Stephane Chambris and (briefly) Pierre Delbove and Marie Christine was quite productive, with another super flock of GREYLAG GEESE flapping northwards at 14h20. A small group of STOCK DOVES (colombin) flew east and a WATER PIPIT (pipit spioncelle) fortunately called as it flew overhead northwards, nicely spotted by Stephane. Apart from that, not much else – just cold and wind…

Pierre’s good run of luck this week continues with a superb flock of 11 COMMON CRANES (grue cendrée) flying over northwards at 16h15. Also of note today were a CHIFFCHAFF (véloce), a LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (pic épeichette) and a pair of BULLFINCHES (bouvreuil).

The group of 6 MALLARDS is still around and there are still a few REDWINGS (mauvis) on site. A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (pic épeiche) may be heard drumming at the moment.

More bright and sunny clear skies today, although it was freezing cold early morning with a bitter strong wind from the northeast which probably put a stop to any migration. Almost nothing was seen moving overhead apart from a group of 4 MALLARDS (carnard colvert) which carreered around and around for ages before eventually landing in the Savanna, right in front of one of the new whacking great ‘bird blinds’ there (see rather poor photos below). Readers who know the park will rightly gasp in amazement at such a monstrosity, so clearly inappropriate it is for a small urban park like this one where an overall view is needed to spot the birds. Well, there are 3 of these things and they have all just recently been put up, at great expense, by the well-meaning authorities who, unfortunately, appear to have been ill-advised by incompetant and clueless people who know very little about observing wildlife.

Pierre went to the park later in the day and saw, amongst other things, a nice flock of 10 GREYLAG GEESE (oie cendrée) flying northwards, high overhead.

3 REED BUNTINGS (bruant des roseaux) and the first CHIFFCHAFF (pouillot véloce) of the year were found in the reeds at the Mare Perchée early this morning. A few more WHITE WAGTAILS (bergeronnette grise) and a single GREY WAGTAIL (bergeronnette des ruisseaux) flew northwards. Later in the day Pierre was to find the first NUTHATCH (sitelle) of the year.

An interesting day. The pair of MALLARDS (carnard colvert) was at the Mare Perchée again at first light, swimming around what is fast becoming a vast lagoon (someone’s forgotten to turn the tap off). They were soon forced to fly off by the inevitable unleashed dog charging into the water, but they  preferred to stay within the park and landed in the Savanna nearby where they spent a long time just walking around on the rough grass there – this area is blissfully devoid of people and dogs now that the authorites have put up a decent fence at last (and I wonder how long that will stay up?)   

SONG THRUSHES (grive musicienne) were singing everywhere and the first migrating WHITE WAGTAILS (bergeronnette grise) of the year bounded over towards the northeast.

Later in the day Pierre was skywatching from the Cascade and had some good luck there, seeing 8 WHITE STORKS (cigognes blanche) drift in from the south and circle around overhead, gaining height, before moving away to the north. Also of note was a COMMON BUZZARD (buse variable) away to the south east and more large numbers of WOODPIGEONS (ramier) steadily streaming overhead – no doubt these are local movements rather than true migrants which will fly over in huge, single and much tighter flocks.

The MALLARDS (carnard colvert) were paddling about in the pond again this morning, no doubt enjoying all the water (someone’s turned the tap on). Several ROOKS (corbeau freux) and a distant flock of LAPWINGS (vanneau huppé) were moving eastwards and a BUZZARD (buse variable), 2 JACKDAWS (choucas) and a REED BUNTING (bruant des roseaux) were also seen today.

A close-looking pair of MALLARDS (carnard colvert) was at the Mare Perchée early this morning, although there’s not much water left in there for them at the moment.

LAPWINGS (vanneau huppé) were on the move – several bunches of them were hurrying eastwards along the river valley, very high in the sky and well to the south of the park. WOODPIGEONS (ramier) were also streaming overhead - at least 800 of them in the space of 2 hours this afternoon.

A small flock of FIELDFARES (litorne) flew northwards and there was a couple of them on site, along with a group of about 25 REDWINGS (mauvis). A male REED BUNTING (bruant des roseaux) and at least 2 FIRECRESTS (roitelet triple-bandeau) were also seen today. 

No sign of last week’s FIELDFARES although there are still around 10 REDWINGS (mauvis) in and around the Savanna. SPARROWHAWKS (épervier) were very visible today and at one point there were 3 of them swooping around together in a high aeriel battle over the Bois de Bordure where they nested last year.

The highlights today, though, involved big birds migrating north: 2 GREYLAG GEESE (oie cendrée) at 13h10 and, a little later at 14h50 (and just seconds after having packed away the telescope), 5 WHITE STORKS (cigogne blanche) !!

Unusually there was quite a large, loose flock of winter thrushes on site today - about 25 FIELDFARES (litorne) and 15 REDWINGS (mauvis) were rambling around the treetops, occasionally dropping down to feed on the rough grassland in the Savanna.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (goéland brun) were moving northwards and one notable flock of 19 birds flew overhead, all but one of them adults.

The first larger raptor of the year was seen today – a distant BUZZARD (buse variable) moving slowly westwards, very high over the Bois de Vincennes.

A sad day for the park: the GREY HERON (héron cendré) which has been seen daily for the past couple of months has unfortunately died. Roland found the body this morning in a bush near the Mare Perchée.

Great weather today with clear skies and sunshine.

A skywatch with Laurent in the early afternoon was productive with the first STOCK DOVES (colombin) of the year flying high and eastwards.A lone CORMORANT flying high overhead was also a year tick.  

Very unusually a 1st winter BLACK-HEADED GULL (rieuse) (here on the right) landed on site and spent a long time just standing about on the grass, oblivious to all the people, scooters and dogs passing closeby.                           ...

Good also to see 2 FIELDFARES (litorne) today - the first one flew in purposefully from the north, landed briefly atop a small tree to have a look around, and then took off with a chack and carried on southwards.

A REED BUNTING (bruant des roseaux) is still present at the Mare Perchée and a LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (pic épeichette) called once from the Savanna this morning. Otherwise, not a lot.

Early morning at the Mare Perchée…no sign of the HERON there but a single REED BUNTING (bruant des roseaux) was in the reedbed and a mixed flock of thrushes, 7 FIELDFARES (litorne) and at least 9 REDWINGS (mauvis), was perched in the bare treetops at the Coffee Dome. However they didn’t stay long, all taking off together and flying away eastwards.

Roland reported the HERON flying away from the park this afternoon. With the pond still frozen over it's probably still hungry, but alive and well at least...

Rather disturbing news on the HERON front: Pierre was birding in the park this afternoon and saw it there on the ice again, allowing people to walk right up to it before flapping feebly away a short distance. Apparently it lacks the strength to fly up onto its usual perch (atop a nearby tree) where it stands aloof and watches the world go by.

Pierre noted a big flock of MAGPIES (pie) today – 48 of them in the woodland along the Sentier de la Renardière.

Pierre had another view of the WOODCOCK (bécasse des bois) this afternoon as it flew relatively high above the Northern Fields, heading down to the south of the park along its eastern edge. The GREY HERON (héron cendré) was again present at the Mare Perchée, standing obstinately on the ice.

A very good afternoon for Pierre who braved the big freeze and flushed a WOODCOCK (bécasse des bois) from the Savanna. Although it’s probably the same bird that’s been seen a few times recently, word has it that there’s currently some kind of ‘invasion’ going on of birds fleeing an ice covered Poland, some of them even ending up on Parisien balconies…

Additional good news today in the shape of a CRESTED TIT (mésange huppé) in the Northern Fields – a rare bird here this a fine year tick indeed. A fair sized flock of REDWINGS (mauvis) continues to roam around the site - Pierre had 18 today, and there are still 2 MOORHENS (poule d’eau) tucked up in the reedbed at the Mare Perchée in spite of all the snow and ice.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR !! to any readers out there reading…best of birding luck for 2010 !  

Highlight today was a lovely FIRECREST (roitelet triple bandeau) near the Coffee Dome and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (goéland brun) circled overhead. Little troops of BLACK-HEADED GULLS (rieuse) continue to move northwestwards and Pierre had a small flock of 8 SISKINS (tarin) flying north and 14 REDWINGS (mauvis) on site, in and around the Savanna.

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