chris pp

I suspect that your Geese may have been Cranes. http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1408988/ShowPost.aspx Chris

Follow the migration at the link and don't forget to log your observations at the same link, (all of France). http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/grues/point_sur_la_migration.htm Chris  

As far as I know the term "chasse naturelle" has absolutely no defined meaning what so ever. I think that it's just being used to sound good. Sanglier you will have in decent numbers I would think, vineyards are always popular with them. Chris

Can't say much except that they are definitely in Limousin although common may be slightly misleading, not exactly a bird that is floating around in the same large numbers as great tits or cirl buntings. We generally only have one or two coal tits in our garden in winter, about 20 long tailed tits, 30 or so great tits and about a dozen blue tits. Cirls all the year round, nesting as well. Chris

Give me a shout if you want me to take a look, I'm only up the road so to speak and I've dealt with the Mairie at Savigne. Chris

No you don't need permission to plant a hedge but it must be inside your land, which is not the edge of the road. In fact it is usually required to be a certain distance from the edge of the road and the roots at least 50cm inside your land. Not more than 2 metres high. What commune are you in? Chris

Sorry, only trying to be helpful...... .......should have known better.[:D][;-)] Chris  

and the line through the eye of the firecrest.... Chris

It bit obvious I know, but just on the off chance were they like this? [IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/Peacock-caterpillar.jpg[/IMG] Chris

Wool Carder Bee??? Chris

""I was warned not to let the dog near as if he ate one the vet would not be able to help him"". Nonsense.[:D] How large are your hands? Or even better any chance of a photo? Chris

No Jan, it doesn't mean that we are in for a cold winter, all the migrations are "running to schedule" so far as far as I know and remember that cranes are only partial migrants, some even spend the summer in France. Chris

Bats are indeed fully protected in all EU Countries. Lérot are not a fully protected species and it is only illegal to transport them, keep them in captivity, buy or sell them etc. Chris

Looks like a very young one to me, possibly still being fed by the mother. Chris

As you well know I suspect, they don't go anywhere if conditions are right for them and from my point of view it has nothing to do with putting food out for them - especially in summer which seems to be increasingly the fashion. We have a large number of Blue tits, Great tits and Long tailed tits at PP, and they are around all the year. Perhaps "yours" are just hiding. Chris

As you will probably already know, any type of wildlife rescue is a bit of a rarity in France. As Hedgehogs are a protected species, (and don't get me wrong here), it is illegal to take them in or care for them without a registration from the Prefecture which requires a certification of competence which takes two years "training" to obtain. When you add to this the fact that funding in France is almost impossible to obtain and French businesses don't  yet understand the principle of "green-washing" their image, it doesn't make things easy. There's no doubt that there are people looking after wild creatures but they just aren't advertising the fact.[;-)] Chris

This may throw some light on the situation. http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=16815 Chris

Keep it up, Bon courage.[:D][:D][:D] Chris

I'll leave it in your capable hands Jocelyn.[:D] Chris

Giant Peacock Moth (Greater Emperor), Saturnia pyri. I think it's in its second to last stage before pupating, not sure without checking. This is that huge moth, up to 12cm wingspan and possibly more that people are always getting excited about when they find one. [IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/SP.jpg[/IMG] Chris

Leave them alone.[:D] They aren't going to do any harm, they are docile, have very small colonies and will be gone in the autumn. Not at all the same behaviour as honey bees that stay in the same place. The males will all die and only fertilised females will overwinter to start new colonies next spring but they will not overwinter where they are, they will all find other "safe places". It's also worth noting that many species of Bumble bee are in decline, some species in steep decline. Chris

In a word, No, it generally has the same as the UK plus many more. I will be making a list soon of the butterflies of France, (French / Latin / English), with where they are to be found, photos etc. but as usual it's a time thingy for me, still trying to get the wild flowers on the website when I can grab a moment or two. Chris

Panda. I don't know where you are exactly, in two departements apparently.[:D] Anyway in Poitou-Charentes, Vienne and 2 Sevres you will see Booted Eagles and Short-toed Eagles reasonably frequently if you look and I'm rather pleased to say that here at our place we have had a pair of Short tailed eagles hanging around since late spring and today in the air, all together, there were three. They are based about 1km from us in some large woods with open cereal fields in between. Chris  

Really most unlikely Michael as I'm sure you know.[;-)]  Chicks would be a different matter. Chris

Are you actually sure what it was that stung you, I mean did you actually see that particular insect do it? I get stings and bites all the time and rarely know what the perpetrator was. Chris