La Brenne - part 3

This is a pristine southern form of White Admiral, which were common everywhere we went - superb butterflies - at one site I came across a pair engaged in their mating dance, in which they were so preoccupied that I was able to get the camera close without disturbing them, although they were moving and flapping so fast not many of the shots were sharp

As he flapped his wings, the male was catching the sunlight so that his wings "flashed" blue and black several times a second, a stunning sight - no wonder the female was impressed!

Another beautiful butterfly around in high numbers was the Black Veined White, I' m sorry to say after day 1 we started to take them for granted

We also found several Fritillaries, Phil's pics do them justice, but I got this photo of a Spotted Fritillary

Dragonflies were also very numerous, and I am looking forwaqrd very much to hearing what Ian Hodgson makes of them all when he visits La Brenne soon, he doesn't know what a treat he's in for!

This example was still unfolding it's wings when I took this shot

I regret I can't tell you what it is, maybe someone can help me out please

Here's a couple more

And finally a photo which sums up the birdwatching potential of the area

La Brenne part 2, a mystery, and an unwanted intruder

First, the mystery - this thing was lurking in some grasses in a super rough meadow, I thought it was a moth, possibly a Small Phoenix, but it isn't - any ideas??

Now for the unwanted intruder - apologies for this pic again, but notice the white water lily growth beyond the fringe of reeds here, the Whiskered Terns nest on the lily pads hereabouts, so they are an important plant for this reason as well as many others

We were in the brand spanking new hide at the Etang Purais - Phil was busy with his camera and I was just taking it all in when an agitated Black Headed Gull caught my attention - it was mobbing something in the  water coming towards the hide - up with the bins - it was a Coypu, dreaded eater of Lily pads and very unwelcome because of that, according to posters in the reserve visitor centre at La Cherine - and then up with the the camera for these shots

Clearly the gull doesn't think much of Coypu either, although it sat and watched it after trying to shoo it away - the Coypu just paddled on completely unfazed

By way of a change, a couple shots of the mill and church tower in Preuilly sur Claise whence we went 2 evenings for our dinner, pausing en route on Wednesday evening to find the Stone Curlew pictured on Phil's blog

And finally for part 2, a shot of the bar in the village square at Azay le Ferron where we took ale before dinner each evening in the warm sun with Swifts screaming, and House Martins farting (according to Simon Barnes - that's how he hears their calls!) Dunno who the oik under the cascading rose is!

Next, in part 3, insects and the mating dance of White Admirals to admire

La Brenne - part 1

Have spent last week in this superb part of France, to the West of Chateauroux, superb place, third time I have been down there, see www.forewood.co.uk/labrenne.htm for the first 2 visits. This time I am pleased to report the weather was absolutely perfect, and the birds and insects stunning. Phil Smith came with me and heroically did all the driving so it was a real holiday for me, apart from keeping an eye on where his satnav was taking us - I admit to not trusting the darned things at all. Phil has put his superb pics on his blog at http://mrphil-kearsneybirder.blogspot.com/ - you must see them
This is a typical hide view, at Etang Mouton, where we watched the Cattle Egret and the Konik Ponies, of which more later

In all we have seen between us about 100 species, my list is after these pics of the habitats down there

This meadow was stunning, we spent an hour here, me just drinking in the beauty, Phil taking photos

I liked the roses round the door in this next one, I think its a store for the fish harvesting!

A word of warning, most of the lakes are used for farming fish to eat, Carp species mostly - if you eat out down there my advice is to steer clear of the "speciality local fish" - it's smoked Carp fillet, very good for the soles of your boots, but not to my taste to eat

The list, please try and stay awake I shall be asking questions later

Great Crested Grebe

Black NeckedGrebe

Little Grebe

Cormorant

Grey Heron

Purple Heron

Great Egret

Little Egret
Cattle Egret (should be pony egret) and I make no apology for including 2 pics of this delightful experience when the pony set off and waded across the Etang Mouton with the Egret on it's back

You can hear the Swan wondering what's going on

Night Heron - this blighter flew in right in front of the hide, perched in a bush with only its bum showing, and off to the right as well so yours truly at the left end of the flaps was the only one with it in view. After a minute it turned round so I went zap, then stepped up the hide a few people to tell Phil it was in view, he scrambled down, bugger, it had gone and deprived you of one of his superb photos. As an aside, digital photography has boomed in France, with the result that every time anything moves it's like the papperazzi - clickety clatter rattle, I found it very off-putting and disturbing

Mute Swan

Canada Goose

Mallard

Garganey

Gadwall

Shoveler

Tufted Duck

Pochard

Red Crested Pochard

Booted Eagle

Common Buzzard

Black Kite

Red Kite

Honey Buzzard

Marsh Harrier

Montague's Harrier

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Hobby

Water Rail - we think the young were just out of the nest as the parents led them off to another reed bed as we watched

Moorhen

Coot

Red legged Partridge

Pheasant

Lapwing

Whimbrel

Common Sandpiper

Black winged Stilt

Stone Curlew

Black headed Gull

Whiskered Tern

Woodpigeon

Turtle Dove

Collared Dove

Common Cuckoo

Swift

Hoopoe

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Skylark

Swallow

House Martin

Tree Pipit

Yellow Wagtail

Grey wagtail

White Wagtail

Wren

Dunnock

Stonechat

Black Redstart

Robin

Nightingale

Blackbird

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Cetti's Warbler

Sedge warbler

Reed Warbler

Melodious Warbler

GardenWwarbler

Blackcap

Whitethroat

Chiffchaff

Spotted Flycatcher

Long tailed Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Treecreeper

Corn Bunting

Yellowhammer

Cirl Bunting - Phil's pic is better, then so is his camera

Reed Bunting

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Linnet

Serin - singing (the rusty lawnmower song) to wake me right outside my hotel window

Hawfinch

House Sparrow

Starling

Golden Oriole
we spent ages trying to see one which was calling near to the visitor centre at la Cherine, eventually a

Jay
 flew in to the tree above us and instantly the Oriole appeared to chase it away, superb views
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow

More to come folks - Butterflies, Dragonflies and Moths and stuff