22/12/2024 November and December

 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

09/12/2024 This is now October....

The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 7⁰C, minimum 3⁰C. 50% rain is forecast for today but so far just cold and damp. A North/Easterly wind of 25km/h with gusts up to 48km/h.

Orchids in the house I think they are (Phalaenopis amabilis).

Autumn crocus/daffodil (Sternbergia lutea).

Yay, the sun is shining lets all have a bath. House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

As above.

Sunset taken through the lounge window the New barn on the left.

Viburnum tinus - The flower buds are light purple-pink and the dark green leaves provide a good background for the buds and opened flowers. They are followed by oval, black-blue berry-shaped fruits that turn black when ripe.

Hovefly (Myathropa florea) I think.

Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata).

Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) on a Californian Poppy (Eschscholzia californica).

Just loved this cloud formation, it looked to me like Jumbo had taken to the air.

Me and my shadow..... one of the shield bugs, not sure which one. Possibly a Mottled Stink Bug (Rhaphigaster nebulosa).

We have never had so many figs as this year and they just kept coming.  Many bags of dried figs to see us through the year!  Sorry David too far to send some over to you!

Marigold (Calendula Officinalis).

Yellow Marigold.

Jerusalem Artichoke / Topinambour flowers (Helianthus tuberosus).

Seeds of the (Acer negundo), also known as Box Elder and Ash-leaved Maple.

Fluffed up and trying to keep warm also with a mouthful :-)  House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). I think maybe a youngster.

As above a male sitting on one of our African carvings,

A view from one of our lounge windows.  The neighbour's sheep.

Red sky at night....... Looking over my shoulder I loved the glow on the neighbouring barn.

Wall Bug (Micrelytra fossularum).

Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge aegeria).

Yet another sunset.

Common Cranes (Grus grus) flying South for winter, they are so noisy we always hear them before we see them.

Pampas Grass and a blue sky!

Sickle-bearing Bushcricket (Genus Phaneroptera) on a calendula.

Caddisfly (order Trichoptera).

Harvest Man (Dicranopalpus-ramosus).

Originally the species was found in Morocco. Later it spread into Europe, with first reports in Portugal (1948), where it spread to Spain (1965) and France (1969). The Netherlands was reached in 1992. Since 2004 it has been known to occur in Germany. As early as 1957, it was reported in Bournemouth, southern England, from where it spread all over the island, reaching Scotland in 2000. In 2010, one occurrence in Denmark was documented.

Wall Moth Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria).

Not a great shot, and I hate taking photos at the feeder which is a long way off, and through the glass from the lounge window. But for the record; European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera).

I hope to get back here before Christmas but if I do not make it, I wish you all the very best over the holidays and a fabulous 2025.  Take care and keep safe.