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Tuesday 21 August 2018

The last of my photos taken in France on the West Coast near La Rochelle.

The final photos that were taken at Les Oiseaux du Marias Poitevin - Parc Ornithologique. As always, if my ID is incorrect please let me know and I will make changes to the post.

Greylag goose (Anser anser) the largest and bulkiest of the wild geese native to the UK and Europe. They feed on Grass, roots, cereal leaves and spilled grain. Outside of the breeding season, they spend time in fresh-and salt-water marshes, estuaries, and pasture lands. During the breeding season, they live in lowland marshes and fens that have a lot of vegetation. The number of eggs varies from three to twelve but it is usually only four to six. The eggs are creamy white and are incubated only by the female, they take 27 to 28 days to hatch. After hatching, the goslings usually wait until drying out before leaving the nest. With the supervision of their parents the young birds feed themselves, and in about eight weeks they are fully independent. Thay take from 2 to 3 years to reach sexual maturity but usually mature at 3 years. Life expectancy in the wild up to 20 years.

Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus). Critically endangered. It breeds in northernmost Asia so I presume it is an introduced to this area.  The nest is a shallow depression in marshy ground under a bush or on a tussock, lined with parts of plants and greyish brown down.  It lays 5–7 eggs laid in May, incubated for 25–28 days. The young are able to fly within 35–40 days.
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - note this bird has been ringed; it breeds in a wide variety of open habitats, usually with bare ground or low vegetation. Outside the breeding season, it is often seen in harvested fields, and roosts in old pastures.   The nest is situated in short grassy area. It is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation such as grass stems and leaves.  The female lays 4 brown eggs with black markings. Incubation is by both parents and lasts about 21 to 28 days, and starts when the last egg is laid. Chicks are covered in pale brown down streaked and blotched black, and have white nape. Female broods them but they are fed and tended by both adults. The young reach sexual maturity at one year.

Possibly a Wood duck female ? Help required here.

Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) an introduced species from N. America. Ruddy Duck breeds in freshwater lakes with fringing vegetation. Outside breeding season, it may also live in brackish marshes. It is a diving duck. It has feet situated at the rear of its body, allowing swimming easily under water. It strains the mud with its flattened bill. It forages on the surface and by diving. If threatened, it dives or hides in dense aquatic vegetation. It is usually nocturnal, and it sleeps during the day. The nest is located in marsh vegetation and is built little by little, adding grasses as the number of eggs increase. The female builds the nest slightly above the water and anchors it to the shore vegetation. She lays one egg a day, and a clutch may include 5 to 10 creamy white eggs. She also lays some eggs in other nests such as other duck, grebe and rail nests.  Incubation lasts about 22 to 26 days by the female. Chicks leave the nest within a day after hatching. They can easily swim and dive. Female tends and protects them, but they feed themselves. They fly at about 42 to 49 days of age.

Another one that I have no ID for!  More help please.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) rely on a habitat of open country, in general wetlands, occasionally flooded river plains, extensively farmed meadows and pastures or water meadows... 
White Storks feed on small mammals, frogs and toads, lizards, snakes, fish, earthworms, large insects and their larvae....

The breeding time of the White Stork is from the beginning of April to the first days of August and lasts 32 to 33 days. They most often lay three to five eggs and both parents share the task of sitting on them. During its first month the young chick is constantly supervised by a parent. After about two months the nestlings begin to fly but are still fed by their parents for a further two or three weeks. The young White Storks become independent after about two months and reach sexual maturity at around three to five years. Only then do the young storks return to their nesting area. In the meantime they live in the wintering regions.

Now I think this is a young Sacred Ibis, but as I only know them from Africa my ID for France might be completely wrong!

As above.


Linking up to 


14 comments:

  1. Wonderful images of delightful birds, Diane - I was really surprised by the Ibis! With my very best wishes - - - Richard

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    1. Thanks Richard, there were a few surprising birds there!! Keep well, Diane

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  2. Great photos. Love the blues in the Wood duck!

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    1. Thanks Marie, there are some very pretty birds on this planet. Keep well Diane

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  3. That's an interesting selection Diane. Especially so the Lapwing as it is ringed above the knee. I think, but am not certain, that all British ringers ring Lapwings below the knee so that may give a clue to its origins. Also the Lesser Whitefront must as you say be an escapee. If ever one turns up in Britain the twitchers try to make out it is a truly wild bird from the taiga. Much more likely is that any such birds are indeed escapes of what is a very attractive bird to have in a collection of wildfowl. As you may know, the Ruddy Duck has been eliminated from the wild in Britain, culled for fear of breeding with European White-headed Ducks. Can't help with that dark-headed thing, but yes I think the other is a Wood Duck.

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    1. Thanks Phil for the ID confirmation, I wonder what the dark headed duck is !! Interesting to know that rings are placed in different places in different countries. Must do a bit of research. No I did not know Ruddy ducks were not in the UK any more. I am learning something from this blog daily
      Have a great weekend. Diane

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  4. Storks are such amazing birds!

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  5. I really loved the shots of the Greylag and the White-fronted geese. How awful the White-fronted is so endangered...so glad you were able to see him and get such a great shot.

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    1. Thanks very much. It is sad so many birds and animals have become endangered. Keep well, Diane.

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  6. The duck you haven't Idied is most probably a hybrid crossed mallard and something else.
    Many duck species do hybridize and it can be a wild guess to tell which species are involved.
    Hugs again ;-)

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    1. Thanks Noushka, at least I am now not so upset with myself that I could not ID that duck! Lots of hugs 😉 Diane

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  7. Awesome shots! Especially love the first pic. But, I absolutely love the ruddy duck. I got a sad picture of one in the spring. He was far across the pond, but I kept the pic to prove I actually got to see one.

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    1. I have never seen a Ruddy Duck before so it was a first for me ! Thnaks for the comment Betty, take care Diane

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  8. I so rarely see your selection of birds, such beauties! Fabulous shots as always Diane. Thank you so much and have a great week :)

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