11/01/2026 Happy 2026 though a bit late now!

 The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 7⁰C, minimum -2⁰C. 24 - 42m/h South/West winds.  80% chance of rain.  So much better than the icy weather we have been having, and it actually warms up over the coming week.

We have hardly set foot out anywhere, as Nigel caught a bug at New Year, so Birds taken through the window have been my main source of photography this month so far.

29 December 2025, just a lucky shot!

Eurasian nuthatch, wood nuthatch (Sitta europaea) Sittelle torchepot...

As above.

Eurasian blackbird male  (Turdus merula) Merle noir.  Sparrows in the foreground.  There are so many of the latter around this year.

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) Mésange bleue...

As above,

Common Chaffinch, female (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres...

As above, but a male.

House Sparrow female (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique....

As above 

As above but a male

As above, in take-off mode.

Also, a male House Sparrow on the soapstone African art elephant.

I have been watching this bird for a while, but the photos have not been good. Today, they were a little better! I am pretty sure it is a Great Tit (Parus major) Mésange charbonnière, but it appears to have a touch of Leucism. A genetic mutation that results in a total or partial reduction of colour in a bird's plumage. I find it quite interesting.  Note the extra white on the head...

As above....

As above,

The return of the Eurasian nuthatch, wood nuthatch (Sitta europaea) Sittelle torchepot...

As above.

and a male House Sparrow again in the snow.

The return of the Blue Tit see above...

Great Tit (Parus major) Mésange charbonnière, wondering what this white stuff is!

A European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) Verdier d'Europe in a stand off with a 

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Rouge-gorge...

Robin, see above.

House sparrows are taking a drink.  I break the ice several times a day!

07/01/2026 Very cold again and snowing on and off, but not settling very much.

I spent some time sitting at the window this morning, and I got some great photos of the birds, but my favourite was this part of a series from Mrs Blackbird. Basically, breaking the ice, although I had already done it a while before....

and finally Mrs House Sparrow in the snow on the African soapstone head.

Wishing you all well and all the very best.  If all goes as planned, we will be in South Africa in February and I will post when I can.

Happy Christmas and all the best for 2026

 My apologies for the long break in blogs, but having had eye surgery in both eyes, I have found it difficult to get used to the result.   I did not wear glasses at all before, but now I need them for reading.   I was not told before that one eye would be set for distance and one eye for reading.    I still do not need glasses for long distances, but reading has suddenly become a pain, as my glasses are not immediately on hand.  It was suggested that I tie them around my neck.   As I am in and out of the house with gardening, that would drive me nuts.  I am told my brain will get used to it after 6 months!  My brain is getting older and more forgetful, so I have reason to doubt this story.  I also seem to have an allergy to one set of eye drops that I am supposed to use!!  Nevertheless, I will try to find more time to blog next year, especially with a visit to South Africa coming up 😉

I have so many photos not posted, but I will just add a few of the more interesting ones here now.  I see I have repeated some photos, but they are ones I like so.......

A few from August....

Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Pic épeiche.  Female at a great distance.

European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Hérisson commun. Taken at night, a lucky shot!

Sunset.

Rosebud.

Sun jumping spiders (Heliophanus tribulosus) Araignées sauteuses au soleil.

August 28 - Our anniversary 44 years.

A few photos from September

Sunset

Elbow-striped Grass-Veneer (Agriphila geniculea) Crambus anguleux.  Interesting character!

 Great Tit (Parus major) Mésange charbonnière.

Melanocoryphus albomaculatus is a species of insect in the suborder Heteroptera, family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae, and genus Melanocoryphus.  That is the best I can do; maybe it does not have a common name!

Common Copper or Bronze butterflies (Lycaena phlaeas) Cuivré commun ou Bronzé, and what I believe to be a Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Abeille européenne.  My favourite shot of the year I think!

Heliophanus tribulosus is a species of araneomorph spider in the family Salticidae. Again, this is the best I can come up with. It is eating a clear-winged flying insect, possibly a Chrysopilus modestus.

European mantis (Mantis religiosa) Mante religieuse.

As above.

A few photos from October

06/10/2025 Full moon.

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) Mésange bleue caught flying past the window!

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres. Plus a House Sparrow in the front.

Another sunset.

Blue Tit having a chat with me...

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Rouge-gorge.

and a few from November

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) Cactus de Noël.

Another Blue Tit......

taking a bath.

21/11/2025 snow!!!! European Robin. Rare for us to see snow here!

Christmas cactus, see above.

House Sparrows, Mr and Mrs. (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique. South African Soap Stone Elephant!

And finally, a few from this month of December

02/12/2025 Nearly a full moon, but the clouds would not go away!  

It is spooky though :-)

The weather changed for a few days, and the sun came out.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) with Hoverfly, possibly a Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) syrphe ceinturé.

Lawn daisy (Bellis perennis) Pâquerette. Plus a green fly!

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Petite Pervenche.

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres.

Sunset,

House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique.  Having lots of fun.

Happy, happy Christmas to you all and hoping that 2026 will be a good one for us all.

Cheers Diane.