Birding Beaumonts

Starkly different from yesterday with almost no CHAFFINCHES (pinson des arbres) or THRUSHES (grives) flying overhead through the grey clouds, although there was a good passage of WOODLARKS (lulu) and a superb group of 4 migrating RED KITES (milan royal).

2 largish flocks of LAPWING (vanneau huppé) went through and a late REED WARBLER (effarvatte), maybe the same as Saturday's bird, was skulking in the reedbed.

Excellent skywatching today with Isabelle : CHAFFINCHES (pinson des arbres) were the birds of the day with well over 1300 of them bounding overhead in groups, and in the early morning a RED KITE (milan royal) flew low overhead, escorted northwards by CROWS.

Today was the famous annual "Journée de la Migration" when birders from all over the region stand on high places and count migrating birds. Nothing amazing turned up here although it was a thoroughly agreable social event. It happened to coiincide with a local birdgroup outing which meant that there were around 40 birders in the park today, surely a record!    

There were good numbers of the usual passerines flying over, plus a migrating GREAT EGRET (grand aigrette), a few HAWFINCHES (grosbec), a RING OUZEL (plastron) and a MARSH HARRIER (busard des roseaux).

The HOOPOE was still on site this morning on the edges of the pond and around the prairie, the poor fellow getting flushed by joggers, walkers and blasted dogs, and then hassled in the air by the maurauding local MAGPIES.

The unsettled, stormy weather continues and there was very little moving in the sky again today. However a couple of good birds were sound-recorded in the very early hours - a skulking NIGHTINGALE and what was probably more than one ORTOLAN BUNTING flying over.

Big cumulus clouds and blue sky today, and excellent skywatching was had with Eloi, David and Pierre. Top bird was a SHORT-EARED OWL (hibou des marais) which flapped in from the north and made a few attempts to land in the prairie before being driven back again by the blasted CROWS. There was a nice low MARSH HARRIER (busard des roseaux), 2 flocks of WHITE STORKS (cigogne blanche) and an OSPREY (balbu). 13 HONEY BUZZARDS (bondrée) included an impressive-looking kettle of 9. 

A short, half-hearted skywatch mid-afternoon turned out to be quite amazing : Pierre and Sally were there as well at the cascade and whilst we were packing up to leave I could hear distant BEE EATERS (guepier) calling from somewhere - a frantic look around shortly revealed a whole bunch of them high up over our heads ! Excellent stuff, and a patch tick for yours truly.

Actually I wish I'd got there earlier in the day since HONEY BUZZARDS (bondrée) were clearly moving (4 within a few minutes), and there was a HOBBY and a few SWIFTS (martinet) also.

Excellent news that aforementioned MARSH WARBLER (verderolle) did indeed find a mate in the end, and is now definately breeding at the pond. For the last couple of weeks there's been some toing and froing from a suspected nest site, but yesterday morning a bird emerged from the reeds by the water's edge and dropped a fecal sac.

This morning a rather rare MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER (pic mar) was heard calling.

Another intriguing sight of a HAWFINCH (grosbec) early doors, flying low overhead to the southeastern corner of the park.

Incredidbly, still not a single HONEY BUZZARD (bondrée) to report so far this spring !! Larger numbers of SWIFTS (martinet) are, thankfully, around in the sky and there was another sighting today of a pair of local-looking HAWFINCHES (gros bec).

A short skywatch with Sebastien early morning : incredibly a small flock of BAR-HEADED GEESE flew north over the park, alas not heading to their breeding grounds on the Tibetan Plateau. There was a confiding SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (gobemouche gris) at the bare trees in front of the cascade.

Two firsts for the spring sound-recorded in the early hours - a grumpy QUAIL (caille) and a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (gobemouche gris).

Not a lot about although there was a BLACK KITE (milan noir), and Isabelle had a GREYLAG GOOSE (oie cendrée) flying high to the north, not looking very feral.

A similar story to yesterday with nothing much migrating although an OSPREY (balbu) went through late morning. A couple of WILLOW WARBLERS (fitis) continued their song contest by the pond and SHORT-TOED TREECREEPERS (grimpereau des jardins) were feeding young. Intrigingly, a pair of local-looking HAWFINCHES (gros bec) flew over.

Good skywatching with Stéphane and Nadia this morning, best birds being this distant migrating WHIMBREL (courlis corlieu) and a much closer OSPREY (balbu).

An unusually large and broken flock of about 100 CORMORANTS flew north quite low overhead and other birds included a late flyover SISKIN (tarin) and a group of 5 WHITE STORKS (cigogne blanche).

Plenty of MEADOW PIPITS (farlouse) migrating over early, a couple of singing WILLOW WARBLERS (fitis) and, better late then never, the first SWIFT (martinet) of the year.

The first WHITETHROAT (grisette) of the spring today.

Bad news to report on the MALLARD (colvert) situation I'm afraid : we've been informed that yesterday two hunting dogs (unleashed of course) jumped over the fence and crashed into the pond and chased the female and the ducklings, which have sadly now all completely vanished - let's hope the stupid ******* ******* dog-owner responsible is satisfied.

A lovely sunny, warm day today with blue sky, and a pleasing skywatch was had from the cascade with Rémi, Sonia and Stéphane. It was another good day for MARSH HARRIERS (busard des roseaux) with 5 going overhead, but there were also migrating BLACK and RED KITES (milan noir et royal) and a more local-looking PEREGRINE.

Yours truly managed to see his first HOUSE MARTIN (hirondelle de fenêtre) and SWALLOWS (rustique) of the spring, but annoyingly missed the spectacle of 7 COAL TITS (mésange noire) hurrying north in a group at high altitude, well spotted by Rémi.

A SERIN was had today, sadly rather a rarity nowadays, and Stéphane found a CRESTED TIT (mésange huppé) near the car park. Excitingly a sound-recording of an unseen bird flying over (and only heard by Rémi) might possibly confirm the suspicion that a rare PENDULINE TIT (remiz) was involved, although we're waiting to see if the powers that be can ever confirm it...

The first MARSH HARRIER (busard des roseaux) of the spring flying north.

Good numbers of MEADOW PIPITS (farlouse) going over early, and a migrating OSPREY (balbu) went through at 11h30.

A whopping great flock of 10 CANADA GEESE flying over the town early this morning - a record for me...

The first WILLOW WARBLER (fitis) and YELLOW WAGTAIL (printa) of the spring this morning.

Clear blue skies and a rather cold northeasterly these last few days. Migration has picked up considerably with a lot more CHAFFINCHES (pinson des arbres) and a few more SONG THRUSHES (musicienne) than last week. Still quite a few BRAMBLINGS (pinson du Nord) about, on site and flying overhead, including some corking summer males. A couple of BLACK REDSTARTS (rougequeue noir), 3 COAL TITS (mésange noire) and a flock of around 50 SISKINS (tarin) went over this morning.

A HAWFINCH (gros bec) flew north and still a few BRAMBLINGS (pinson du Nord) about - a fine-looking, black headed male seen briefly with Eloi this morning.

The first FIELDFARE (litorne) of the year flew north.

Thanks goodness we have a local amphibnien expert (Alexis) who has advised that this pretty amazing sound, recorded at about 22h35 this evening, is a COMMON FROG (rana temporaria), clearly quite close to the microphone.