birding beaumonts

Another OSPREY (balbu) went over today and the first HONEY-BUZZARD (bondrée) of the spring circled with a WHITE STORK (cigogne blanche). The first REED WARBLER (effarvatte) of the year was in the woodland along the Sentiers des Vergers and a LESSER WHITETHROAT (babillarde) was singing again near the Cascade.

A smart-looking WHINCHAT (tarier des près) and a singing LESSER WHITETHROAT (babillarde) on site. An OSPREY (balbu) went over in the afternoon.

The first SWIFTS (martinet) of the year drifted around in the late afternoon (several days later than usual).

Really excellent skywatching this afternoon with Pierre, the highlights being this possible PALLID HARRIER (busard pale) and SHORT-EARED OWL (hibou des marais). The owl flapped in from the north and tried to land in the Savanna before being chased off by a crow, returning just above our heads. The harrier was another exciting affair - although distant it was in fine view for at least a minute, circling around and then beating away to the northeast. Seems a bit too early for a Montagu’s (busard cendré) and it does look rather more like a Pallid (which are apparently moving through France at the moment).

Other birds were moving today : going north were a pair of adult MEDITERRANEAN GULLS (mouette mélano) and 6 MARSH HARRIERS (busard des roseaux) whilst a BLACK KITE (milan noir), the first of the year, flew the other way. On site was a HAWFINCH (gros bec), a singing WILLOW WARBLER (fitis) and a pair of nest-building LONG-TAILED TITS (mésange à longue queue).

A NIGHTINGALE (rossignol) and a WILLOW WARBLER (fitis) on site today, but apart from that almost no sign of any migration...hopefully everything's just late this year, or else we're in trouble.

The first HOUSE MARTINS (hirondelle de fenêtre) of the year this morning, plus a flyover WATER PIPIT (spioncelle). Two RING OUZELS (merle à plastron) on site.

First migrating SWALLOW (rustique) of the year this morning.

Amazing record this morning of a KINGFISHER (martin pêcheur)- the first since November 2003 ! Seen from the Cascade, and with no time to lift the binoculars, the bird zipped through westwards towards the mare Perchée, although it couldn’t be found there afterwards.  

Quite a lot of migration going on with several SKYLARKS (alouette des champs), CHAFFINCHES (pinson des arbres), the first MEADOW PIPIT (farlouse) of the spring, 3 FIELDFARES (litorne) and 4 GOLDEN PLOVER (pluvier doré).

30 GOLDEN PLOVER (pluvier doré) racing north very high in the sky this afternoon. At least three BUZZARDS (buse) still drifting around over Vincennes, and a HAWFINCH (gros bec) and SISKIN (tarin) on site.

No sign of those REDPOLLS this morning, but two WOODCOCKS (bécasse des bois) were flushed up from the Compost, one almost immediately after the other.

A FIELDFARE (litorne) was on site along with the usual REDWINGS (mauvis), and a COAL TIT (mésange noire) was making lots of noise in a conifer up at the northern end of the park.

Since all the recent meddling with REDPOLL (sizerin) taxonomy a couple of COMMON REDPOLLS (sizerin flammé) at the Cascade this morning made for a park tick!!! An historic event indeed to see such a regional rarity, although to be honest there's been loads around everywhere these last few weeks, in what has been an exceptional « invasion year ».  

An interesting day with lots of birds on site and stuff moving north at last after a really cold week: distant lines of LAPWINGS (vanneau) were edging northeast, as was a flock of 12 ROOK (freux) and the first migrating BUZZARD (buse). On site were at least 7 HAWFINCHES (gros bec), a few SISKINS (tarin), large numbers of BLUE TITS (mésange bleue) and a singing male FIRECREST (triple bandeau).

A flock of migrating SKYLARKS (alouette des champs) flew north this afternoon and 3 distant BUZZARDS (buse) were almost constantly on view, wandering high over the bois de Vincennes.

Pierre had a FIELDFARE (litorne) on site today, a couple of HAWFINCHES (gros bec) and at least 10 SISKINS (tarin).

A BLACKCAP (fauvette à tête noire) and about 20 SISKINS (tarin) for Pierre today.

SISKINS (tarins), BRAMBLING (pinson du Nord) and a couple of HAWFINCHES (gros bec) this morning.

A superb bright and sunny day - yesterday’s flock of SISKINS (tarin) was found again again feeding in trees in the northern part of the park (couple of shots here).

2 BRAMBLINGS (pinson du Nord) still present, and small numbers of adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (goéland brun)  were flying north and east in the early afternoon.

A least 4 HAWFINCHES (gros bec) feeding on site this morning and still a large group of REDWINGS (mauvis) rambling around. There were also 2 wintering CHIFFCHAFFS (véloce), a FIRECREST (triple bandeau) and the mournful sounds of a BULLFINCH (bouvreuil).

Happy New Year to you, dear reader. A grey and rainy day to kick off the year: a large group of around 30 REDWINGS (mauvis) was on site, but no sign of the BRAMBLINGS (pinson du Nord) or HAWFINCH (gros bec) which Pierre had a few days ago.