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The Lagoon

22/2/2014

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by Robin Noble

As I have mentioned, quite a lot of the birds that I see in my garden are familiar from the Scottish Highlands, but if there is ever any danger of forgetting that I live now in a place that is really rather exotic and special, then it is always worth going to the coast and looking at the "local" Étang. I am not completely sure how the flat plain of the Roussillon evolved, but between us and Italy there is really quite a lot of sea, and thousands of years of east winds have created long ridges of sand and shingle, enclosing a whole number of lagoons. This sort of landscape stretches a long way, from the Camargue down to where the Albères run into the Mediterranean in the rocky coast of the famed Côte Vermeille. Our local étang is the last of these lagoons, and is called the Étang de Canet (ou de St. Nazaire, according to the map) , and is no distance from where most of us live. The seaward side is easily accessible just beyond (going north) where the shore road crosses its exit to the sea, the channel called "the Grau". Here there are some fishermen's huts and you get good views over the large expanse of open water. It may often not look very special or exotic, as the wind churns up the sediments and the water can look pretty murky; the wind has the added disadvantage, often, of driving many of the birds to the other, rather less accessible, side.

However, in the winter, this area of water, like many of the others further north, is home to a group of flamingos, and few birds can be more exotic or look special than a flamingo! Their profile, to start with, is quite unlike that of anything else, and when I arrived there on a visit in December, two flew along the shore behind the cabins, just as I was getting out of the car. There was, therefore, something of a rush to get a view of where they had landed and I was in luck: although one had disappeared, the other had stayed close in, and I stalked it till I got a reasonable view-at which point, it was just beside an egret; a nice combination! The flamingo was, I think, quite young and looked rather gawky and colourless. When they get older, they become really spectacular, with deep pink, and black on the wings. On my most recent trip, although they were more distant, the deeper colour showed up well in the sunlight: there were many of them visible along the far shore. I have just noticed that one of my bird books says that they breed here, which is news to me- any comments on this are welcome!

Halfway across the water, but closer to the channel out to sea, was a large group of birds which I eventually estimated at about two hundred. These, though much smaller of course, were in their own way almost as spectacular as the flamingos: they were great-crested grebes. To me they are almost as exotic as flamingos as they almost never came north into the Highlands, and remained very much birds of the fertile lowlands. The adjective " great crested " is something of an approximation, as what you actually see are conspicuous ear-tufts and a frill around the neck- called, rather sweetly, I think, a " tippet " according to the same book! It was, interestingly, these " additions" which helped me identify them- I say interestingly, because they are part of the birds' summer plumage, and this was the middle of February. In the hide alongside me was a Catalan birdwatcher and photographer who described to me their very complex courtship rituals: it is as well I had some clue what he was talking about, as my Catalan is non-existent! The same bird book has come my rescue again (thank heavens for them!), as it says that the first eggs may be laid as early as the end of February.

Around the huts were a few larks hopping around on the ground and not very shy: they had very distinct crests, and were clearly not the British skylark. The book shows colour variations which were not clear to me and mentions rather ominously that there are four European races of the Crested Lark, but adds that they are all very similar to each other!

Moving swiftly on, (and it tended to!), there was also a hoopoe around the huts which gave me a lot of pleasure. There can be little more exotic than this amazing bird; there is no need to describe it, as almost everyone knows what they look like! The books (sorry!) suggest that this one was rather early back here, adding to my confusion as to whether this will be a late or an early spring!

When I was listing the garden birds, I forgot one which has obsessed me for years and certainly counts as exotic- the bee-eater. When they are migrating, it is very hard to get a decent view of them, but I love their call and am forever rushing into the garden to see if I can get that slightly better view this time. Mysteriously, it seems to me that the autumn migration of such birds often counts as a more definite " event" than does the spring, even allowing for the fact that more birds must fly south after the breeding season, than flew north in the spring. They will very soon be on the move, so get out there and look for them!



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Celebrations and Surprises

17/2/2014

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by Lesley McLaren

While parts of the UK were celebrating some long-overdue sunshine yesterday, we were glad to see rain. February, often billed as the worst month of the year in these parts, has been dry and mild so far.

Sunny again today but everything had a fresh feel first thing. Chaffinches, long-tailed tits and woodlarks were flying around the dogs and me earlier on, singing their hearts out. We were in "The Park" as I call it - a small area of open woodland near Sorède. I imagine it was originally designed as a kind of mini botanical garden with information panels about various trees and shrubs. Sadly the panels - and irrigation system - have been systematically vandalised over the years and the area is returning to its natural state. The only ongoing maintenance seems to be an annual strim for fire prevention reasons, given its proximity to a retirement home.

"Strawberry trees" (arbutus unedo) are scattered throughout. They do well in this region and it's good to see so many in the park because they're the larval food plant of the striking Two-tailed Pasha butterfly. No butterflies today (unsurprisingly) but I was surprised to spot a hummingbird hawkmoth, hovering around a rosemary bush in full bloom. Don't remember seeing one of those before, so early in the year.

A bigger surprise was in store, however. A few metres further down the track the dogs stopped, sniffed, and 'pointed' to something up ahead. Clearly flummoxed (and a little nervous), they weren't budging. I was practically on hands and knees - down to their eye-level - before I could see what they could.

It was a wild boar, about fifty feet away, on its way up the same track. It too had stopped and was giving us the once-over. We all stood motionless for a few seconds, sizing one another up, before it turned tail and disappeared into the undergrowth.

It was quite small and had no tusks (something of a relief) but it's unusual to see them in the daytime and I couldn't help thinking it should have been tucked up in a thicket somewhere. An errant teenager late home from an all-nighter with his mates perhaps? Or simply celebrating an abundance of worms close to the surface, thanks to yesterday's rain?
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Garden Birds - Part 2

12/2/2014

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by Robin Noble

I keep a very occasional journal, in which I write notes about the garden and what I have seen around the place. It tells me that things are happening more slowly this winter than last; for instance the first mimosa to bloom in the garden last year was around the 12th of January, and this year it was nearer the beginning of February. So, too, with the first, delicately blue irises to appear under the bushes by the kitchen door. It will be interesting to see whether the bird life will be similarly affected.

The same journal tells me that in the next couple of months, our few chaffinches should be joined by gold- and green- finches, who certainly brighten things up. Then the local goldcrests will start to sing with all their tiny hearts from the tops of the trees. I spent ages checking up on these, feeling somehow that this far south they should maybe be firecrests, but was convinced that, in fact, they are the goldcrests which which I am more familiar. The firecrest has a back and white eyestripe which I never managed to persuade myself I could see- will have another go this year! The last little birds to appear should be the rather beguiling black redstarts.

This valley- Vallespir- is actually quite densely populated; there is a string of attractive small towns and villages along the main road which is across the river from us. Despite being so busy, the river corridor is used by birds which I sometimes see in the distance from the garden. These include the occasional heron and some gulls, and , once or twice, some fast -flying duck, although these were too far away for me to identify. And quite a number of raptors fly across the valley, too. As we look south, these are often against the light, and a little bit tricky to sort out. I am pretty sure that they are mostly common buzzards, another sight familiar from the Scottish Highlands, but there is another biggish bird about which I am less confident, partly because I have not yet had that perfect view that all birdwatchers long for!

These are probably simply sparrowhawks, but, if so, they are always big and female. ( The male is quite small and really very colourful-surprisingly blue- backed with a rich, orange- reddish breast). Is there any chance that they might be goshawks? On a quick view, size would probably be the determining factor, and I have never had any other bird to help give me some idea of scale. But maybe the fact that I see them over the houses and gardens of this suburban setting, rather suggests that they are sparrowhawks- the books seem to indicate that goshawks are seen in wilder places.

Other birds flying over at intervals are great- spotted woodpeckers, and at night I hear tawny owls, again very evocative of the years I spent living in a long, wooded Highland glen. I have heard jays, too ( they were moving north into the Highlands in recent decades) but my strangest garden bird was certainly not something you might ever expect to see in Scotland- a green parrot, sitting calmly and quietly in a pine tree. I can only presume it had escaped from some aviary, but have no idea what it may actually be, as none of my books venture that far into the realms of the exotic!



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Garden Birds - Part 1

6/2/2014

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By Robin Noble

The house here is quite well organised for watching the birds in the garden. I have mentioned that there is a view from the kitchen sink ( vital in any house for me!), but the living room has french windows on to the upper terrace ( sounds very grand, but it isn't very big!), while my bedroom looks into the orchard ( ditto!). What this means is that we get a pretty good view of what is happening on three sides of the house, and now being in my second year here, I have a rough idea of what to watch for.

In the "winter" ( which has actually only just begun), I think quite a few birds come down from the woods above the valley floor. We have two large pine trees, which are much used by the tits. Some- especially the great and blue- use the feeder on the terrace regularly, but I see a coal tit only rarely. The long-tailed tits, which I love and have enjoyed in so many places in the Scottish Highlands) have not got wise to the feeder yet, and it is also ignored by the occasional crested tit- so special a sighting in Scotland, that I still get excited about having them in the garden! And there is an occasional marsh tit- it likes the same bit of hedge and garden as the blackcaps I mentioned last time, but skulks, very quietly, in the foliage.

These join with the resident sparrows, which are quite fun to have around, a couple of robins, the occasional chaffinch and a few visiting starlings. Then a few birds about which I have mixed feelings: you might think blackbirds are fairly innocuous but they actually make quite a mess of the garden, flinging leaves and gravel all around the place- protecting seeds from them is not easy! We have two collared doves, but they seem very mild, quite tame with us and disinclined to bully the other birds, so I am happy to have them. Then there are the magpies, noisy and vigilant- but I did hope they might go for the neighbourhood cats more than they do!

We have once - Christmas Day, 2012!- seen a treecreeper, but there may be more visits; they can be very tricky to see. Last year, there were more wagtails around- I think they are white wagtails, rather than pied, here- but I still hear the occasional one. And just lately I have been delighted by good views of a nuthatch. Being in the far North of Scotland, I never saw them, and for me they were, like kingfishers, legendary birds of the South! They are smaller than I always expect, and dart about in the trees. My bird book says that they have " a sinister, devilish look " when seen close to, but to me that seems a bit much- something to do with the dark eye-stripe, I guess! The one I have been watching in the last few days is very colourful underneath, a really warm, deep orange.

Stop Press! No - there are two! ( nuthatches!)- I was on the ' phone, glancing out of the window, and there was one at the feeder, and another, at the most incredible angle, on the trunk of the tree which holds the feeder-brilliant!

( to be continued).

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Kites and Other Things

5/2/2014

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by Lesley McLaren

Bruce's wonderful photos of red kites on his UK photos page reminds me that I see several every year here.

Exciting birds - bigger than buzzards and booted eagles; slightly smaller than short-toed eagles - they have a very distinctive profile. The forked tail is an instant giveaway of course (though not always visible), but the shape and slightly bowed position of their wings when soaring makes them stand out from other raptors, even at some distance. The last one I spotted was patrolling the orchards close to Patridge Path (see previous blog post).

Partridge Path is quite a rich area for birds: a green woodpecker is always particularly vocal and busy in the nearby woods. Often there's a buzzard or a pair of ravens and, at the other end of the scale, goldfinches provide flashes of brilliant colour in the sunshine. Woodlarks are common and their melodious song makes up for a rather drab appearance.

It's worth standing still and waiting to see what passes. Even sparrows can be worth watching. A favourite haunt of one flock is a stand of bamboo that runs along one side of P. Path. One day last autumn I stopped in my tracks to listen more closely to a sound like grain pouring out of a sack. It came again and again as the sparrows flew en masse from one end of the bamboo to the other, disturbing the canes that had gone to seed. They kept this up for a good minute or so until a few finally broke cover ... with a sparrowhawk (aptly-named) hot on their tails. Not the first time I've seen him there, either.
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Hunting Season Ends

1/2/2014

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Picture
View from "Partridge Path"
A local hunter tells me that la chasse ended last Sunday (26th Jan). As I understand it this only applies to the hunt, which means that at least the wild boar, deer and any other large game can relax for seven months.

But I'm still hearing gunshots daily - from the orchards and vineyards on the plain rather than the mountains - so small game still needs to lie low for another few weeks.

After each season has ended I often come across patches of straw and partridge feathers on walks around the vineyards. My guess is the birds are bred and released, so there's something to shoot at come the following August.

There's one regular tour I make with the dogs, where - earlier last year - we often put up a red legged partridge. I say "put up" but usually it ran. My two dogs would go crazy, jumping up for a better view as the bird disappeared into the untended vineyard next to us. Happily, they were on the lead. I have a habit of naming routes I take, so that one has become Partridge Path. I do hope the bird made it through this season.

When you're new to the area it's alarming the first time you see men armed with shotguns by the side of the road or hiding in hedgerows. Shooting remains such a passion and part of the local culture that I do wonder if that's the main reason I see so few mammals in particular, but some bird species too.

In the eight years I've been roaming the countryside I've seen and heard only three pheasants (or one, three times); one woodcock; quite a few red legged partridge.

I've yet to see a deer (even their tracks are sparse) and there seems to be a dearth of rabbits. I spot hares more often, and they're always in the hills (which are thickly wooded). Walking with dogs myself is, of course, a double-edged sword. They'll scare off most things before I realise anything's there. But sometimes they see or smell something I would otherwise have missed. Like the totally bizarre mole cricket (see below) that, to me, resembles a cross between a cricket, scorpion and mini lobster. I had no idea what it was until I looked it up; then felt privileged to have found it as they're usually nocturnal.

Of course many mammals are nocturnal too and I tend to find more of those dead than alive: a pine marten, so unlucky to have been run over on a very quiet country lane; a genet (minus head) that must have been caught by another predator - fox or even eagle owl perhaps? I'd never have found that had my dogs not dragged me half way across a neighbour's field of vines. Until then I had no idea they were around here.

But it's not all bad news! In contrast to this, it's a thrill to see red squirrels in decent numbers - sometimes dashing across the roads around our village! Some are nearly black and, if you're feeling a bit down, I guarantee they'll give you a boost as they cavort through the trees, tails twitching, as if revelling in the simple pleasure of being alive. And they need have no fear of the hunters.

Picture
Mole cricket (shot taken with phone)
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