A small group of
members were treated to an informative tour of the
Landes and Cascades of Augerolles at the beginning of July by Max
Richer of
SEPOL (Society pour
l'Etude et la
Protection des Oiseaux on Limousin).
Cool and cloudy
conditions following heavy rain the previous week made
visual identification virtually impossible but, nevertheless, Max was
able to
identify around 20 different species by their birdsong.
Many, such as the
jay, blackbird, magpie, woodpigeon, buzzard, mistle
and song thrushes and the robin were well-known to members. Others,
well known
but more rarely seen, such as the chaffinch (plentiful in the woods
around
Augerolles and dominating the birdsong)
were also in earshot
- as was the
angry-sounding wren!
Birds less common
across the UK incuded the blackcap, chiffchaff,
bullfinch, red-backed shrike and tree pipit. Max's day was made
worthwhile by
the sound of the nuthatch, which those of us living in Augerolles hear
almost
constantly – to my mind the only bird that actually says
“tweet”, alternating
with “free kick”. I always call it the referee bird.
A picnic lunch in the library followed. Much thanks to Max for
accommodating
us, especially as we had to re-arrange because of the weather.
Peter Edmondson
Les oiseaux
étaient: geai, merle, pie, pigeon, ramier ,buse, grive
draine,
grive musicienne, rougegorge, pinson des arbres et troglodyte,
fauvette à
tête noire, pinson des arbres, bouvreuil
pivoine, pie-grèche, ecorcheur, pipit
des arbres et sittelle.