Birds in our French garden this week. Too wet to go out much.

Eurasian or common blackbird (Turdus merula) in hiding

Moving a little closer.

European goldfinch  (Carduelis carduelis) with female House sparrow to the left...

I have only seen one this year, there used to be dozens around!

Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) with house sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)  drinking...

 Paddling - a bit small for bathing!...

in jump mode!

House sparrow female (Passer domesticus).

House sparrow male (Passer domesticus).

European robin (Erithacus rubecula).

Great spotted woodpecker, male (Dendrocopos major)

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I'd Rather B Birdin.

Seen from a distance......

From a distance there is harmonyAnd it echoes through the land

It's the voice of hope

It's the voice of peace

It's the voice of every man.

Written by Julie Gold and sung by Bette Midler

The Common Cranes (Grus grus) were calling and circling for a while over the house, obviously waiting for more to catch up....

Suddenly more arrived and they all turned in the same direction; North...

I zoomed in as they moved into formation...

I did not have time to change to the wide angle lens, but here is as many as I could pick up with my telephoto lens, there were thousands.  The flights have been going over the house for most of February.

 Out for a walk yesterday this was the best shots I could get of the Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) circling above me.

This murder of what I believe to be Carrion crows (Corvus corone corone) was on the opposite side of the field from where I was walking.

Again this wagtail was on the opposite side of the fence and I could not get any closer.

Not the best photos, it was bobbing around, but I think it is a Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea).

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I'd Rather B Birdin.

Not the best birding week!!

The weather has been just amazing and we had a calling from the garden to go and do some work in it while we could!!  Therefore just a couple of sightings when I had the camera in hand while in the garden.

Eurasian magpie or common magpie (Pica pica)...

Note the beautiful blue colouring in the wing and tail feathers,

Not a regular visitor to the garden... 

but it pops in occasionally.

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea). Seen in the paddock next door where there are lots of sheep.

Common crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, flying North to their breeding grounds overhead...

It has been a couple of weeks now that we have been seeing them. This almost looks like a join the dots drawing from further afield.

The biggest bird of all that we see quite often 😉

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I'd Rather B Birdin.

Birds in our garden and overhead.

We are lucky enough to live right under the flight path of the Common Crane (Grus Grus) the first 3 photos were taken on 11 February 2019, and there were many thousands of them flying over, as always I hear them calling long before I see them - they are very noisy when in flight.

 Generally in great formation.

Although some are a bit haphazard!

 Again on 16 February, these were directly overhead.

As you can see here we are also on the flight path of several planes!

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus).

Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), male.

Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto). Note how small the sparrow is by comparison - bottom right.

Great Tit (Parus major), female.

House sparrow (Passer domesticus), female.

A rare visitor to the garden and a long way away but for the record.

Common or European starling (Sturnus vulgaris).

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I'd Rather B Birdin.

Very little time for photos since returning to France, but here are a few from February in the garden.

A face at the window ... Great Tit (Parus major)

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Male...

and a pair of Chaffinches.

Despite clean water being put out for them daily the sparrows still go to the pot plants for a drink!!

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus.) both males.

House sparrow in the cherry tree. Male.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Female.

European Greenfinch,  (Chloris chloris).

European robin (Erithacus rubecula).

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 and

I'd Rather B Birdin.

Back in France but so much to catch up with!!!!

As always, if my ID is incorrect please let me know.

Waiting at Folkestone for the Chunnel this Herring Gull (Larus argntatus) was keeping to the pedestrian crossing...

As above, and I suspect looking for food!...

As above...

As above.

Luckily we stopped overnight in France as the snow started just as we got to Rouen.

Back home Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)....

As above.

Great tit (Parus major) - male I think...

and on our window sill.

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Wild Bird Wednesday