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
