We are back home after our trip to the Dordogne.....

While we were away the weather was not very good and bird sightings were few.  We heard and briefly saw a hoopoe, and also heard an owl that I was reliably told was a Scops Owl. The only Robin I saw posed perfectly for me the one time I did not have a camera in hand!  I did get plenty of insect photos though!!

I would like to add a link to a friends blog who has just been to Wales and he has taken the most remarkable shots of Red kites (Milvus milvu) and he has added a great write up as well.

Well worth a visit. https://imageweaver.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-wonderful-red-kite-photographed-at.html

This was the most interesting bird that I managed to photograph -

Long-tailed tit or long-tailed bushtit (Aegithalos caudatus).

As above...

As above.

We had to visit Souillac Station and this Common blackbird (Turdus merula) appeared just next to the car, photo taken through the window!

While having lunch at a restaurant in Belvès this male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) watched on hoping for crumbs I guess,

Back home yesterday we had a visit from a male Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs).

As above.

I will endeavour to get some bird photos for next weeks blog but the garden is so overgrown after 10 days away, with lots of rain, that there is little time to play!!!

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Wild Bird Wednesday

and

I'd Rather B Birdin.

It has been a pretty hectic week few photos taken.....

Common or Eurasian Blackbird male (Turdus merula).

Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs).

Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto).

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) male.

As above.

Common blackbird and male House sparrow. Interesting the size difference.

Another family affair, House Sparrows.

I will be away next week and out of WiFi contact. I hope to return with some good photos but who knows.  We are returning to a spot we know, but I found last year that I did well with insects but not with birds!!

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Wild Bird Wednesday

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I'd Rather B Birdin.

Another series in the bath!

European robin (Erithacus rubecula),..

As above..

Ass above...

As above.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)...

As above but a family affair.

P.S.

Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Just read this article on the Internet. I would like to know more. What happens to the birds and other animals that eat the poisoned rodents? If the whole of North and South Island NZ are involved as this states it sounds more than drastic to me.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/01/department-of-conservation-plans-biggest-ever-1080-drop.html

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Wild Bird Wednesday

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I'd Rather B Birdin.

Rubbish weather and a series from the archives!

I just enjoyed this series of photos of what I believe to be young Common Redstart.

Common redstart - (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

Looking a little bedraggled after having had fun in the water.

These little birds winter over in Africa...

but return to Europe to breed in summer.

As I said these are photos from my archives but they should have returned again by now...

Hopefully, I will be seeing some around very soon....

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Wild Bird Wednesday

and

I'd Rather B Birdin.

Silence is broken........ oooop ooooop hoooop

The return of the hoopoes.

Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops).

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Wild Bird Wednesday

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All photos taken in our garden.

I am only just starting to feel better after the very bad flu/cold and I have hardly been out at all, now my husband has it, we will not be going far for a few more days at least!

Great tit (Parus major) at the window.

As above.

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus).

Dunnock (Prunella modularis).

Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs).

As above.

House sparrow (Passer domesticus), female.

As above.

As above.

House sparrow (Passer domesticus), male.

As above.

As above.

Is this still the same one that the Little Owl has missed or do we have a whole family of them?

Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus)

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Garden excitement.....

I have not been feeling well all this week, I have picked up a bug that has caused my longtime cough to reappear.  Therefore I have not been out and about, but the one photo I did take this week was more than enough to keep me going bird-wise.

I was in the bathroom cleaning my teeth when I glanced out of the window to see a bird in the Acer tree behind the cherry tree. I was not sure what it was at a distance, but it was enough for me to throw down the toothbrush and race through the house for my camera. I zoomed in through the window, and although quite far, and another tree in front, I managed to get a couple of shots that were fairly respectable. Little Owl (Athene noctua)....

I carefully tried to open the door to see if I could get a direct shot, but no, as soon as I moved the door handle it was gone.

Last, but not least, this Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) was stealing some of the bird seed, do you think this is what the Little Owl had its eye on or is it a bit big? ID thanks to Susan.

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Wild Bird Wednesday

and

I'd Rather B Birdin.