Just back from a week over the New Year with Alastair to Lauzun (25 km south of Bergerac).
Certainly milder than here but it had snowed - very unusual.
Following a suggestion by Andy Sims we keep a record of all birds seen or heard within a 5km radius of the church in the village. This goes back to 2003 and is in a spreadsheet if anyone is interested.
Notable from this visit: Cormorant - first ever sighting in the village. Cattle Egret - first seen by Andy this summer and now 3 flocks of over 25 in total. Red Kite - none seen; always have been present in winter visits. Owls - none ever seen! Would expect Little at least, also Barn. Where are they? Black-headed Gull - 6 briefly at a lake the only sighting of any gulls! No Rooks either, nor Jackdaws. Serin - seem to have disappeared from the area; Andy had none in the summer either. Yellowhammer - first ever sighting - a male. Hawfinch - seen daily in small numbers. A real treat!
As always, lots of questions arise!
Rob
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