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Saturday 27 October 2018

Apologies for having gone AWOL

I am sorry that I have been absent from this blog but it was a forced issue,  my hard drive crashed out completely and sadly nothing could be rescued at all.  I am fairly good about backing up, but my September photos had not reached that stage yet!!  October I had the originals, but all the editing had gone.  I am still trying to get back to sort of where I was, but it is taking time.  The other thing is many of my email addresses also seem to have vanished, I have to admit to not having backed them up for some time, I thought they would all be sitting in Google but that does not seem to be the case!!

I went for a walk a couple of days ago to clear the cobwebs from my head, and although not the best of photos, I did get some shots of a couple of birds, and one I have not seen before, or had at least not identified.  Thanks to my friend Noushka for helping me out with the ID. If you have not seen her blog I can assure you it is well worth a visit.


European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola hibernans) a first for me.  Male and female.
Apologies for the photos but they were far away in a hedge, every step I took closer they flew a step further away!....

Female...

as above...

as above...

the first photo of the pair slightly enlarged.

A little further down the road, this robin played the same trick on me, every step I took it moved a step further away!!! European robin (Erithacus rubecula)....

as above.

Back home I liked this shot of the sparrow diving into the 'bird bath' 😉 
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

Female House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

The icing on the cake though was this Little Owl (Athene noctua) that was on our chimney the other evening.
I was in my office when I heard a strange noise, not the typical call.   I shot downstairs, grabbed the camera, and it waited just long enough for me to get a single shot.


Linking up to 

Sunday 7 October 2018

Birds of Europe - All seen in the garden once again.

As always, I hope that my identification is correct, please let me know if there should be any mistakes.
Common blackbird (Turdus merula) male.
French name -  Merle noir

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), females.
French name - Moineau domestique.

European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), male.
French name - Verdier d'Europe

Greenfinch and sparrow having an altercation.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula).
French name - Rougegorge familier

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
French name - Tourterelle turque

House sparrow female taking a look at a daylily...

and in take-off mode sending pollen flying everywhere.

Common blackbird, juvenile.


Linking up to 

Monday 1 October 2018

Birds of Europe - Mostly seen in the garden, you will recognise the pot holder that they use as a bath!

As always, I hope that my identification is correct, please let me know if there should be any mistakes.

Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus).
French name - Pigeon ramier.

House sparrows - both females - (Passer domesticus) and a Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus).
French Names - Moineau domestique and Mésange bleue.

Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius). Seen in the Dordogne though they are local as well.
French name - Geai des chênes.

As above.

Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus).
French name - Tarin des aulnes

House sparrow - male - (Passer domesticus).

Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).
French name - Rougequeue à front blanc.

As above looking a little bedraggled after its bath. 😉


Linking up to 
Wild Bird Wednesday