The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 16⁰C, minimum 1⁰C. A 14km/h North/East wind with gusts up to 22km/h. Rain only forecast for Sunday it looks like a good week!!
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Chardonneret élégant.
European Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) Gros-bec casse-noyaux.
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) Verdier d'Europe.
This shows how much bigger the Hawfinch is.
European robin (Erithacus rubecula) Rouge-gorge.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis).
Snowdrop - (Galanthus nivalis) - Crocus - (Crocus vernus).
Persian Speedwell - (Veronica persica) - Daisy - (Bellis perennis).
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Étourneau sansonnet ...
As above.
Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) Ficaire fausse-renoncule.
Crocus (Crocus vernus) Crocus.
Hazel nut tree - (Corylus avellana) Individual flowers are tiny and have no petals, the male ones are numerous and borne on yellow catkins; female flowers are few and hidden under the buds' scales, the only flower part showing being the red, linear stigmata.
Sweet violet (Viola odorata) Violette odorante.
Cotoneaster berries (Cotonéaster coriace).
Celandine with a Marmalade Hover Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) Syrphe ceinturé ou syrphe à ceinture.
Common Bitter Cress (Cardamine hirsuta) Cardamine hérissée. The little leaves taste just like watercress and yes they are edible!
Crocus (Crocus vernus) Crocus.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) Cactus de Noël.
Bellis perennis with what I believe is a Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga tercoraria ).
Common Cranes (Grus grus) Grue cendrée flying North to their breeding grounds over the top of our house.
Cattle egrets (Ardea ibis) Héron garde-boeufs with a lamb in the background.
Mother sheep with her twin lambs.
Cowslips (Primula veris) Primevère officinale.
Gorse (Ulex) Ajoncs by the sides of the road.
Little Owl (Athene noctua) Chevêche d'Athéna. Sitting on the roof of our barn.
European Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) Gros-bec casse-noyaux.
Love the egrets and cranes but the little birds steal the show, especially the owl. The blooms are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI can only agree with the owl it is by far my most favourite bird around here. I wish my carpentry skills were a bit better as I would like to put an owl box up in the new barn. I hope all is well with you , Diane
DeleteLooks like spring has arrived there early this year...gorgeous shots of wild flowers. Have a wonderful day, Diane.
ReplyDeleteHi Angie it certainly does look spring like, but I am sure we have not seen the last frost yet, it will return!! Take care Diane
DeleteHi Diane - these are just wonderful ... as I walked to a meeting yesterday under a tree there was a robin singing really loudly - incredibly loudly - up high in the branches ... and yes the sun has brought loads of life around us to the fore - it's great to feel Spring is really here. Your photos are so good and thanks for the labelling and notes - the red, linear stigmata of the hazel is stunning - not sure I've noticed it before, even though we had hazel trees at home when I was a kid. I hope all is going well - cheers for now - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi there Hilary, yes the robins do sing so well but the ones around here are extremely nervous, unlike the UK ones where there is no hunting!! I have only ever seen the catkins before and have never noticed the female flower. I learnt about them from someone on blipfoto and then I went looking for it, but even then only found two, they are so small. It certainly feels like spring but I am sure we are not done yet. Last year May was very cold and we had a frost that messed up the garden and the fruit!! Keep warm and stay well Diane
DeleteThanks for including the French names, Diane. Great images, as always. I had always thought that European Hawfinch was an exceptionally difficult bird to see but on my last visits to the UK, and to Slovenia and Croatia, I saw them quite regularly. Either I got lucky or they have simply been forced into more frequent contact with humans due to urbanization. Bon mardi. Gros bisous - David
ReplyDeleteHi David I am not sure that Hawfinches are that common though there is a guy in the Dordogne who is getting great photos of them. We were having a problem with magpies and a lot of our smaller birds were just not visiting, I have seen very few sparrows this year and normally they arrive in a cloud. I have hung CD's around the garden and since then I have not seen a single magpie and the Hawfinch, Goldfinch and Green finches all returned. There may be others that I have not seen earlier this year but I am too busy to spend much time watching. As for the French, I decided that it might be a good idea as if I put photos on the Dordogne Wildlife web site there are a lot of French followers. Also good for me to learn not that I remember!!!!!
DeleteBonne semaine, bisous, Diane
Great shots. That little owl is adorable!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, I just love the Little Owls, I hear them all the time but rarely see them close enough for a photo so this was very special. I hope all is well with you, cheers Diane
DeleteUn precioso reportaje, me gusta todo. Besos.
ReplyDeleteGracias por el amable comentario. Que tengas una gran semana. Besos Diane
DeleteLily Bit and I have been watching the birds flirting around the yard lately. All sorts of them. Love watching life come back in full force as spring approaches. Beautiful flowers also.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam and it is so good to have spring approaching, I so hate the cold. Take care, my very best wishes Diane
DeleteYour photos are always a delight Diane, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, I am finding it increasingly to keep up with blogging at present but I am still taking photos so one day...... Thanks for looking in, Diane
DeleteBonjour Diane, Magnifique compte rendu de la vie au jardin en ce "début de printemps"! Je vous envie la superbe Chouette! Nous avons une hulotte par ici mais je ne la vois que très exceptionnellement! Bonne fin de semaine !
ReplyDeleteMerci Lucie. La Chevêche d'Athéna est un vrai plaisir et elle est toujours là. Les fleurs printanières sont nombreuses. Bonne semaine, Diane.
DeleteYour spring seems to have already started. Beautiful photos. I enjoyed them all.
ReplyDeleteSo many spring flowers around but we still may have some more frosts yet!!!! Thanks for the comment Diane
DeleteBeautiful shots as usual. I love the owl sitting on your barn. So rural.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane, the owls are always around calling, but not so often in a place where I can take photos. We love having them close by. Glad you survived the tornado, take care, t'other Diane
DeleteGreat shots. I especially love the one with the heron, egret, and lamb.
ReplyDelete