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In 2007: 2007 has seen another successful year for birds here in north-west France.We have found new breeding sites for Black Woodpecker, Osprey, Booted Eagle and Melodious Warbler.The Rock Sparrows did well, and although Little Bustard numbers were slightly down, site visits normally had successful outcomes. Sightings of Short-toed Eagle also appear to be on the increase,and recent development work does not seem to have adveresly affected the Tawny Pipits. In 2006: February: Small flocks of Hawfinches at the usual sites. March: Crested Tits at feeders in the garden.Midwife toads calling in the garden. Beech Marten near garden. April: Serins on territory. May: Water Vole and three young at the Merdereau. Privet Hawk Moth in the garden. June: Young Black Woodpecker seen in nest hole (Middle-Spotted and Grey-Headed Woodpeckers seen in same wood).July: Golden Orioles still singing. September: 4500 to 5000 Swallows in one day, seven Hobbies (or was it one Hobby seven times). Stick insect found near village. In 2005: February: Seven White Storks seen over Averton. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on territory in the village. Black Redstarts singing. March: Grey Long-Eared Bat found dead in neighbouring village.
April: 8 pairs of Serins in Villaines-la-Juhel. 128 cm long Aesculapian Snake found in Averton. Midwife Toads mated next to the garden pond.
Seven singing Wood Warblers in the local woods. May: Giant Peacock Moth (14 cm wingspan) outside our house.
Five pairs of Melodious Warblers bred on a local patch. June: Young Black Redstarts were appearing all over the village. 8 pairs bred successfully.
Praying Mantis found in the garden. Little Bustards, Stone Curlews, and Montagu's Harriers - all in the same field near Saumur. July: 15 Great Green Bush-crickets in small field on edge of Averton. Hornets on the garden bird tables.
September: 2 Great Egrets and 2 Black Storks in the locality. With our American visitors we saw a number of mixed feeding flocks which included Firecrests and Crested Tits. October: Barn Owls with young in the villiage. In 2004:Xylocopa violacea (a gorgeous big black bee with violet wings), seen throughout the spring and summer. Two pairs of Buzzards on territory,watched from the garden. Middle Spotted Woodpecker calling in the Foret de Pail, our local woods. Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker seen flying over the garden. In 2003: In 2002: I built a garden pond in May and by August Black-tailed Skimmer, Southern Hawker and small Red Damselfly were oviposting there.
We also saw Southern White Admiral and 4 Swallowtails at our local lake, and a number of different species of blues in our garden.
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Northern France Wildlife Tours Ltd. Company registered in England and Wales. Registered no.4413404. Registered address: Chartwells, 1 St Josephs Court, Trindle Road, Dudley, West Midlands DY2 7AU. |