A Gift of Birds: Golden Orioles, Hobbys, Crag Martins and a Full Supporting Cast...

After a mild rather wet winter the air is full of birds and birdsong. The dawn chorus in early May was phenomenal and there was evensong too, as loud as the dawn chorus of a normal year. On the 3rd of May, an evening walk to Beynac was graced by twenty or so crag martins (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) flying with swallows over the river and amongst the houses built of their distinctive golden coloured limestone, crowded on to the cliff below the castle. On the way a golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) was heard calling from trees near the castle at Fayrac and ten mute swans were seen on the river. These swans first appeared about ten years ago as water quality improved thanks to the efforts of the local communes; they put in sewage treatment plants to prevent contamination of the river. Water crowsfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) spread on the river as a result, covering it in sheets of white flowers in July and August. On the return walk, just as the bright light of the afternoon was giving way to the softer tones of evening, a pair of large, almost pigeon sized birds were seen swooping  over the river swooping up and down from only a foot or so above it, up to tree top height. Sometimes they seemed to extend their legs as they rose in their undulating  flight reminiscent of a water wagtail's switchback, insect-hunting flight.  But these birds were not wagtails, their slate blue backs, moustaches and blood red vents identified them as Hobbys (Falco subbuteo).  Although there had been martins and swallows on all other parts of the river there were none close to the hobbys because these falcons can pursue those birds at a ferocious speed and catch, kill and eat them on the wing. A wood pigeon flying down the bank seemed to sense danger because it flew between the branches of trees on the river bank disturbing the leaves and branches until it stumbled onto a branch and alighted there - the hobbys resemble the pigeons main predator, the much larger Peregrine Falcon, a pair of these birds nest nearby on  a cliff above the river.  The hobbys were apparently catching insects and were observed for over twenty minutes at a distance of about fourty yards. Throughout a golden oriole called from the trees on the opposite bank. That was Quite a good evening for bird watching.  Two hobbys were seen near Castelnaud la Chapelle two weeks later also apparently catching insects over the river.

Spring was early this year and by the first week in April six species of butterflies (orange tip, brimstone, scarce swallowtail, red admiral, peacock, ...?) were seen on the lilac blossom and a week or so later the map butterfly and an unidentified fritillary (Lady x). By the third week of April a young blackbird was seen on the barn wall calling to attract its parent. Its nest was in a rose bush and a second clutch of eggs were laid but the rose came away from the wall in a thunderstorm and the nest was exposed and robbed and the eggs eaten, probably by a jay. By May 22nd there were young black redstarts in the barns, a group of at least five great tits clamouring for the attention of their parents and a young robin was also spotted in the walnut trees. Small groups of long tailed tit and gold finches were also probably family groups as it is too late for flocks and the winter is well and truely over.  For the first time there were two -instead of one - bright yellow male serin (Serinus serinus) singing from perches only about thirty meters apart. The serin is normally seen later in the summer at Le Port. The Droad reported seeing a great egret (Casmerodius albus) on the river gravel in the second week of April  - one was seen last Autumn too, perched in a swaying poplar tree besides the river. The species first appeared about fifteen years ago but now one is seen in most years.

By the last week in June second broods of blackbirds, blue tits, black redstarts, great tits, tree creepers, robins,greater spotted and green woodpeckers had flown the nest and there was frenetic activity as young pursued their parents through the branches seeking food. Above close flying groups of swifts appeared to creches of young swifts apparently doing advanced flying practice. 

On a cycle ride in late May a Tongue orchids were  seen on heathland and photographed. Two other species were also photographed in the same area.

Click to enlarge photographs.

Tongue Orchid, Serapis lingua

Searapis lingua, Polygala sp. on heathland.

Spotted Heath Orchid, Dactylorhiza maculata.

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Plananthera chlorantha.