chris pp

How's it going 5 elements? I can assure you that all the items that I listed have been said to me more times than I can remember by French people, plus of course remarks about the hundred years war.... I keep explaining that it's finished.[8-|] Chris

They do rather like a sand heap especially if it has a partial roof to keep an area dry. Chris

I assume that you a talking about Collared doves, if so then they are a bit dumb in the nesting department and yet remarkably successful BUT their success is based on the fact that they will produce or attempt to produce several broods a year, I think that ten has been known.[blink] They make the flimsiest of nests, far too small and in the most stupid of places. They obviously haven't fully adjusted to being in France.[;-)] Not a lot of help really, I have no answer, sorry. Chris

Here, borrow one of mine. [IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/Midwife-toad.jpg[/IMG] Chris  

No, I don't think that we can conclude that this is a recovery of the bee population, in fact I don't think that one persons opinion on there being "swarms everywhere this year" is remotely scientific, there are swarms every year - that's normal. It has however been a good spring for bees in that it has been very dry since the catkins flowered and there has been an abundance of blossom and flowers on all the trees ever since which means that colonies that did survive the winter safely built up their numbers rapidly leading to an early start to the swarming season, the first ones that I knew of were in April. You could speculate all manner of things, such as the fact that the dry spring resulted in less fungicides being sprayed on the crops - oilseed rape for example. Chris  

You can down load it to your computer using real-player before the expiry date.[:D] Chris

You can eat them, make jam with them or any do any other thing that you would do with soft fruit. Lucky you, Chris

Ta mate, I'll stick with the Montpelier and hope to goodness I'm right.[8-|] Snake skins as you say are both strong and fragile, hanging it up somewhere works for me and it is a nice one, very often they are torn and in pieces. Chris

Wonderful, a snake skin photo.[blink] How far am I supposed to stick my neck out on this one? Juvenile Montpelier snake from the photos, do you have any better ones of the skin about a third of the way back from the head? Chris

It happens from time to time that following a primary swarm, (with the old queen), a colony will produce a second and sometimes third swarm with virgin queens. These will often end up in a similar area to the primary, possibly as a result of the pheromones left behind. These smaller swarms are often so weak numerically that they can struggle to survive, especially in poor weather or if there isn't enough of a season left to increase their numbers sufficiently before autumn. They will also struggle to defend themselves against invaders. Chris

Try this for a starter.. http://www.first-nature.com/flowers/angelica_sylvestris.asp Chris

[:D][;-)] It was Margaret's attention that I was trying to get, nice bit of pick and mix all the same. It is, as you clearly are aware, a Striped Hawk-moth (Hyles livornica). Still the flamingo bit was good, must get to see them one day when they pass over Bordeaux.[blink] Chris    

Errr, I think that there is water involved somewhere in the process, not sure what else you do.[;-)] Chris

Ooooop's, obviously must be my day for misunderstanding. Another nettle thrashing for me then.[blink] Chris

Very briefly Christine and Qullan. I don't spend my life in my village as you both should know and I've been here for 14 years, long enough to have made up my own mind about France with all its wrinkles and I'm certainly not going to be impressed with what most Brits think of France, I meet enough of them to realise just how much they actually know about the Country that they either visit or live in. Obviously I know lots of French people, not least as a result of my activities and in general I get along "just fine". As mentioned, alcoholism, suicide rate, French women and antidepressants, more murders - that's right - more murders, knife crime escalating...and so on.... Come on, call it how it is, great for some - crap for others, some pleasant people - some unpleasant people but at the end of the day nothing special, I just like having a place in the countryside with land and a wildlife worth trying to save before it's destroyed, because being destroyed it is, make no mistake about that. Which of course leads me to where France stands in Europe when it comes to wildlife and habitat protection - you got it - near enough last. Chris

I'll bang this up to the top again for some responses. Chris

And here it shows how much we can differ, all of the following I disagree with or are false. French women much more sexier than English ones and much better dressed. There are far higher standards behavior. Far less crime. Much less stress. More healthier. Eat better. Healthier. Then doubtful... Children are better behaved and retain their 'childhood' innocence longer. There are far stronger family values than in the UK. So, there you have it and I didn't arrive last week, it fact I no longer have a passport. Chris  

[:D][:D][:D] Edit. Not being happy about you Nell, bad attitude, must do better.[;-)] Chris

I'm going to give you a chance to do your research and I'd like the Latin and it's range. What has been linked to is a USA blog. What I have linked to is a hawk moth. Edit. Here is another link. http://www.orchidee-poitou-charentes.org/article1099.html  Chris

Sure, some to go on with. All snakes are dangerous. Stag beetles are evil. 3 stings form a Hornet and you are dead. The battle of Waterloo was only lost because Napoleon had piles and couldn't get on his horse. Most French people are Catholic and therefore "caring" unlike people from the UK that are mainly Protestants. The UK has no social services. Chris  

http://www.lepinet.fr/especes/nation/lep/?e=p&id=38090 Striped hawk moth I think, bit rare in France. Chris

I thought that was what Brits liked about France, that it was quaint and how the UK used to be, that's what they tell me anyway. That and the fact that they come here to integrate and live like the French. Chris

But it's not the same in France. AFAIK if you buy a house in your name with your money and then later get married it still remains 100% yours. It's only when you buy a house in joint names that it is split 50 / 50. It's exactly the same with a French inheritance, the person that inherits is the 100% owner and their spouse has nothing although you can give them the right to stay in it after your death should that occur first. Chris

Call me a dumb blond if you like but I have always understood that if you live in France you are legally obliged to make a French tax return. End of story. Chris

Yes, quite sure odile, it's definitely common broomrape. Chris