Spring is Sprung 2009

                                              Courting Peacock Butterflies (click to enlarge)

Copulating Gendarme Beetles - How do they reach agreement on which way to go?

Arrival back at Le Port on 9th of April proved to be right at the height of the bird migration Not having been at Le Port thirty minutes, whilst digging a hole to find the tap to turn the water on, there was the famililar trumpeting and the cranes that I had photographed high in the sky going South on 25 October, (see this blog) could once again be seen flying high above, but this time northwards across the penumbra of the moon at 20:00 hours.

Two days later returning from a shopping trip I saw a bird I did not recognise fly from under the eves of the barn. Returning an hour later I was able to identify the bird as a Wall Creeper (Trichodroma muraria). This is a rare species normally found in mountains up to the snow line and is the first record for Le Port. It has dove grey upper parts and dark grey to black lower parts: the upper parts were invisible against the pale limestone of the barn walls, and the black invisible against the lichen and algae on the barn roof, so this bird always looked half its actual size. It is remarkable for its long beak but also for its crimson and black striped wings with white spots which it flirts, extending a wing outwards every few seconds as if wishing you to gasp at its daring colours. 

Later in the day I was surprised to see what I thought  were swifts flying over the river near the bridge, but these were brown and rather robust, so that one had the impression of watching small falcons catching insects. These had mottled markings on the body and were identified as Pallid Swifts (Apus pallidus) rather north of  their normal range around cliffs on the Mediterreanean. I counted five in all; another first for Le Port. The Palllid Swifts were not seen again but the Wall Creeper was seen again nine days later on the 2oth, this time catching insects over the river near the bridge to which it retreated. The Droad saw the bird too on this occassion having migrated for the long week-end. Here is a link to a decent photograph of this strange bird: http://www.birdquest.co.uk/tour_images/53998977.jpg

Over the week end a warbler was seen catching flies, and the two wing bars and eyestripe suggested it was a Yellow Browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus).

Judging by the screams of rage from a Great Tit that greeted my emergence from the house on the first morning this bird was already nesting in a hole in the house wall. A week later it was seen, a bundle of fury, trying to drive a flock of about fifteen Chaffinches and Goldfinches from the small wallnut in the garden. The numbers of finches seemed to increase between the ninth to the 25th when this was written, and these seem to be very much winter flocks although the assault by the Great Tit seemed to lead to male chaffinches chasing each other, so flock break up and pair bonding mode may not be far away.  Chiffchaffs were calling from the week-end of the 14th and up to five were counted feeding amongst Forsythia and plum blossom. Small flocks of Long Tailed Tits were also making their way through the tres. Swallows were first seen on Friday 20th in flocks of about fifty, and again the following  days up until today. A single crag martin (Hirundo rupestris) was seen on the 22nd catching flies over the river and apparently inspecting the bridge - this is a species which I became familiar with in the mountains of northern Oman. It was very separate from a flock of Swallows south of the bridge. Black Kites had already arrived and up to eight could be seen thermaling in loose congregations. Buzzards and or eagles were also occassionally seen but remained unidentified. The Peregrine Falcons were notable for their absence but a Kestrel was seen on the house roof on the 13th, apparently looking at my pillow and tea cup on the front step of the house. Ravens were heard overhead at about the same date and groups of up to six Jays regularly chase one another through the trees on the river bank.  A pair of Swans was present on the river throughout, they now seem to be regular winter visitors, but only for the last four years or so. White Wagtails were seen on the barn roof and feeding over the river and a single female Black Redstart were seen from the 10th onward around the barns too. Owls at night, including one making a bubbling noise. Again the machinery in one of the barns is covered in bird excrement and outsized owl pellets. A Song Thrush was seen in and around ivy covered poplars but the body of a Song Thrush was found below one of the house windows on the 22nd and it may have broken its neck flying into glass.

The weather was sunny and warm reaching 22c on 18th and continuing sunny but cooling until the 24th. The beetles and butterflies are mating already with a courting pair of Peacock butterflies seen on the 11th and single butterflies subsequently. Then Red Admirals, Orange Tip, probably a female Brimstone and an unidentified white butterfly resembling a Green Veined white. but with not spots on the fore-wing, all seen from the 20th.  From the 10th the Gendarme beetles were also out, socialising over seed capsules or copulating whilst on the move. When joined up tail to tail, it would be interesting to know how they agree in which direction to travel. There must be a Ph.D there for somebody.

Huge amounts of plum blossom this year, especially on the broken mirabelle in the orchard.