The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 12⁰C, minimum 5⁰C. 90% rain is forecast for today and it is raining as I type this. A Westerly wind of 31km/h with gusts up to 72km/h.
Our neighbour, Limousin calf (or I think that is what it is)
The photos loaded backwards and this sunset is 28/11/2024
and this is 26/11/2024
Garden insect Melanocoryphus-albomaculatus
24/11/2024 I think that this spook in the sky was ......
trying to blow our house down. We did not open our shutters on the roadside of the house all day in fear they may get ripped off, or at least we would not be able to hold them if we tried to open them.
Great tit (Parus major). French name - Mésange charbonnière.
Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). French name - Mésange bleue
Calendula, Choisya ternata, Cyclamen, Calendula.
Cotoneaster, Bergenia cordifolia, Viburnum tinus, Holly,
Pampas, Bellis perennis, Rose, Lavender.
November 11, Remembrance day.......
We were at our local village at 11h00 for the Remembrance Day service, which as always is very emotional. Today though was extraordinary as when La Marseillaise was being played at the end of the service, the biggest flock of cranes I have seen this year flew over in full cry. I have never heard them quite so noisy. As the first flock arrived in formation they started circling right above us, then flock after flock flew in and joined up with them after about 10 minutes they all moved back into formation and carried on their way South for winter. What an unbelievable sight it was. It was as if all the people whose names were read out on the cenotaph arrived to say thank you.
Common Crane (Grus grus). French name Crue cendrée.
Flower Crab Spider. (Misumena vatia) Other names: Goldenrod Crab Spider.
French names: Thomise variable, Misumène cagneuse, Araignée citron, Araignée crabe.
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet "
Chrismas Cactus (Schlumbergera).
Roses at the top and calendulas at the bottom.
Fire Salamander (Salamandra terrestris) spotted on the verandah one evening.
In French -Salamandre Tachetée or La Salamandre de feu.
As above.
Spider (Zoropsis spinimana). French name - Zoropse à pattes épineuses.
Calendula.
Carrion crow (Corvus corone)...
As above. French name - Corneille noire.
Catkins on the Hazel nut tree (Corylus avellana).
Queen Annes Lace (Daucus carota) with what I think is a Yellow Dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraria).
Eurasian magpies or common magpies (Pica pica).
French name - Pie eurasienne.
Common blackbird ( Turdus merula)...
As above or in French Le Merle noir.
Cotoneaster.
Seed heads from (Hibiscus syriacus), commonly called the Rose of Sharon.
The Tin Laurel (Viburnum tinus).
Stink Bug Halyomorpha species
Finally wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a sparkling, healthy 2025
