Wildlife on the Gironde estuary - Our first garden Snipe

As my old thread is still locked up I thought I'd start & new one. New home, new thread, new forum!!

Since moving in we've been really busy but here are a few photos taken along the way, these are a pair of Gland weevils, up to something naughty on the moth trap,

a Shield bug (for Rockwolf, where is she?) ,Pantilus tunicatus,

A flight of storks passing over on migration, someone asked me once, how do you know a bird is on migration "Does it have it's suitcase with it?" & they are quite right, most of the time it's circumstantial evidence,

& a local stork flying around,

meanwhile, whilst insulating the roof space I found this perfectly dried Garden dormouse (male!) which obviously died a horrible death from poisoning,

a Robin on the overhead cable, they don't come too close;

This is it's & our view of the estuary marshes,

A spider visiting the moth trap, Hogna radiata,

A burying beetle, Necrodes littoralis, also around the moth-trap

& a hornet, who wasn't agressive fortunately,

a Migrant Hawker on the marshes,

some Great White Egrets,

Cattle Egrets (probably), sitting on the fence,

& finally another Spider around the moth trap, Xysticus sp,

I'll try & finish this update later. Thanks for looking.

Best wishes

Hazel in Southwest France

  • Well done H for getting some recognisable pics, I've not had any luck so far!

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Must have been wonderful to watch the Gold and Firecrests and as you say, they never keep still for a second so well done on the pics.    Such pretty, dainty little birds and it looks to have been a good season for their numbers as we've had huge numbers of Goldcrests heading into UK.   Like your blue sky too as its been blowing a hooley here today  lol     Looks better tomorrow so methinks I'll be in search of that Short-eared Owl again   lol  

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • I wish it was like that here today, I'm afraid I took these at the end of last week & then didn't get around to loading them up. It's beeen wet all day & looks like staying wet until Saturday at least, when it's going to get cold.

    I'm glad you enjoyed them.

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • Last Sunday was a lovely day & so we went for a run in the camper up the estuary. There were a lot of birds around but not really within photographing distance. We stopped to eat our sandwiches at the lagoons at Mortagne, one of my favourite spots before we moved. I was just tucking into mine when I realised that there was a lot of activity in the bush closest to the camper. So I slowly slid the window open & got snapping,

    Firstly the Wren, there were 2 so not sure which was which,

    then they came back a few minutes later

    There were a lot of Reed Buntings coming & going, this is an adult,

    & then I think this is a 1st year Reed Bunting

    It went off & either it or a close friend came back later,

    & another adult came along too

    a Greenfinch came by, but didn't stop & this Robin was in & out all the time, on the post

    in the bush

    & on another post

    a Blue Tit passed through

    & then I ate my lunch!!

    Afterwards we went up to Meschers to look for the Ring-billed Gull, but maybe it hasn't arrived yet. Anyway we had these little Turnstones poking around on the slip.

    & then we went home! It was alovely sunny day & we made the most of it. Great!

    Thanks for looking.

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • Such lovely company you had for your al fresco lunch H, thanks for sharing your delightful pics!

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Lovely set of photos, Hazel. You certainly picked the right place to stop for lunch.

    My bird photos HERE

  • How nice to be able to share your picnic stop with these delightful little birds. Lovely pics. Turnstones are always good value as they are quite confiding.

    I expect that the sun has still got some warmth in it when it shines being that bit further south than the UK. Not cold here but very grey and damp.

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    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • Thanks all. We didn't venture to sit outside with lunch but afterwards we had a nice walk around for an hour & the sun was lovely & warm. It disappeared the next day & it looks like being dull & drizzly for a while.

    We've not seen the turnstones there often so they were interesting & as you say TJ quite tame.

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • Lovely pics Hazel, I do like the wren, very clear photos, and the reed bunting, smashing.   Looks like you had a good lunch stop, in the sun too.

    Lot to learn

  • Great photos and beautiful birds Hazel,  that's what I call a good picnic stop  lol    

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    Regards, Hazel