17/12/2017 Some of the local Wiltshire bird life.

Maximum temperature 8C,  Minimum -0C,  Still a bitterly cold wind, and wet.  It does look though as if it might warm up slightly in the next few days!!!

The mute swan (Cygnus olor).  The Queen has a prerogative over all swans in England and Wales.

The Royal swans are no longer marked, but an unmarked mute swan on the Thames is regarded as belonging to the Queen by default.

They pair for life.

 A youngster a bit too close to the road for my liking, but I guess being brought up here they know their boundaries.

The same bird as above.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) male....

 Female...

As above.

Gull, I never normally see gulls where we live; I know that they change from summer to winter plumage so I am not going to try and identify further.  I am sure to get it wrong!....

Thanks David "your gulls are Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Gull."

another Gull.

Loving having your comments but I will only get back to replying when we get home in January 😊

15/04/2016 A trip to the Dordogne to see friends.

Maximum temperature 18C, minimum 8C.  20 km/h SW winds.  6mm rain measured this morning.

Travelling to the Dordogne through villages...

and forests.

After a fabulous lunch we went to the local dam for a walk, not many people there and it was raining lightly.

There are a number of legends around the dam...

concerning devils and stories of Richard the Lion Heart.

A reminder to keep an eye open for the devil!

I only had the little Samsung camera, but these are still sort of recognisable as Mallards.

Not sure about this - the devil maybe?

A Pied wagtail on the weir.

Looking across the dam....

Can you see the little red building at the end of the dam, the men were waiting for us there.

Wendy hauling us across the dam on the ferry.  It works so well and was remarkably easy.

Walking back I was fascinated by this fallen tree with green leaves shooting.

19/12/2013 Not feeling so good and the cough is back - hopefully temporary! Took these photos while trying to get some fresh air mid-morning.

Maximum temperature in Devizes 8C and rain this afternoon.

Maximum back home in the Charente 11C and some rain.