A short family vacation to Barbezières, France offered the opportunity for a spot of birding. We departed London Stansted on a Ryanair flight to La Rochelle and then drove the 104 km to our destination which took approx an hour and a half. Located in the Cognac region our cottage was surrounded by vineyards and mixed arable land mainly sown with maize and winter grain with small copses of mixed woodland present along the field margins. The weather throughout was very mild with warm sunshine and very light winds. I began each day with an early morning walk around the garden and adjacent farm land and took day trips with my family to Saintes, Angoulême and Aigre.
29-10-14
Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Feral Rock Dove, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Common Kingfisher, Common Skylark, White Wagtail, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Common Chiffchaff, Firecrest (2), Black Redstart, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Common Starling, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
During an early morning walk in the garden I happened across two Firecrest feeding in a conifer. At Saintes Cathedral several Black Redstart frequented the clock tower while below on the Charente River three Mute Swan basked in the sun and a Common Kingfisher passed by.
30-10-14
Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Common Skylark, Barn Swallow, Crested Lark, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Stonechat, Common Blackbird, Redwing, Common Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Black Redstart, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Starling, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, House Sparrow.
During my morning walk I discovered a Red Squirrel feeding in a Walnut Tree while several Common Wall Lizards basked in the sunshine. At least three Firecrest and a single Common Chiffchaff frequented the garden. An afternoon visit to Aigre produced a Grey Wagtail feeding in the stream that runs through the village square.
31-10-14
Common Moorhen, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Common Crane, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Common Skylark, Crested Lark, White Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Common Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Black Redstart, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Starling, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Cirl Bunting.
A late morning visit with my family to the busier town of Angoulême produced more Black Redstart present at the Cathedral. During the drive back to Barbezières six Common Crane were briefly observed in flight probably on migration south, a good spot from my brother-in-law who was driving at the time! Later a lovely singing male Cirl Bunting was observed in the garden late afternoon while in the evening Two Little Owl, a calling Tawny Owl and a single Barn Owl finished the day well.
01-11-14
Great Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel,Western Marsh Harrier, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Crested Lark, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Firecrest, Great Tit, Common Starling, Magpie, Rook, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
During my final morning I photographed more Wall Lizards before we headed off back in the afternoon to La Rochelle Airport. Nearing the airport Egrets and Herons were noted feeding in the marshes while at the departure lounge I noted at least two Western Marsh Harrier quartering the runway verges.
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