mint Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Whilst out dog walking yesterday, the OH and I heard that distinctive harbinger of spring, the cuckoo. Should it be here whilst the weather is hardly spring-like? Is it en route to the UK?Any advances on hearing this bird prior to Easter Sunday? Chris, are you out there and can you come up with some suitably knowledgeable answers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tancrède Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 [quote user="sweet 17"]Should it be here whilst the weather is hardly spring-like?[/quote]When cuckoo comes to the bare twigsell your cow and keep your pig.When cuckoo comes to the green boughsell your pig and keep your cow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 In the Vienne first "ob" posted to LPO Vienne...14/03 Coucou gris. (première donnée 2008). Coulombiers. Raphaël Bussière. Which of course doesn't mean there wasn't one present before that date. If yours was singing I doubt it was on it's way to the UK, it had already chosen it's spot.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 We've had one calling away for about a week and it's really miserable weather here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Doh! bit late, but I heard my first cockoo this morning - made me feel good!Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Steve, don't worry about being late. I've heard our first one, in our house as opposed to somewhere else, today!But I can't help thinking of the poor bird whose nest it has taken over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 But I can't help thinking of the poor bird whose nest it has taken over!Clever bird, if you don't know how it operates have a research, it's incredible.[:D]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave&Olive Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 hi ok swallows arrived here today ??? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Mr Clair saw them yesterday, from the top of the ladder when he was trying to fix a leak in the roof.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 No swallows alas. But, we saw the cuckoo and the OH has been calling back and I swear it thinks the OH must be God's answer to a male cuckoo because it went a bit into overdrive and "cuckooed" back like crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 The swallows have been here a week now, but I heard a welcome sound, looked up and there were 3 bee eaters just overhead. First ones this year. I think that they must be about the prettiest European bird (sits back in anticipation??) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 25, 2008 Author Share Posted April 25, 2008 Jonzjob, do bee eaters have a song and, if so, what is it like? Also, what size birds are they? You could tell I know a lot about birds, can't you?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 They lool a bit like http://images.google.com/images?q=bee+eater&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLR&um=1 .Very colourful and very goog at catching bees. Bee keepers here don't like them, I wonder why??[8-)]Some fantastic photos here too http://www.jerome-guillaumot.com/gallery/2172707 .For the sound http://www.soortenbank.nl/BIS/qtmovie.php?pagetitle=Merops%20apiaster%20zang/roep&thisurl=vogels/pictures/MEROPS_APIASTER_SONG.MOV&width=400&height=200 .A raelly lovely sight, as long as you don't keep bees I suppose??[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 but I heard a welcome sound, looked up and there were 3 bee eaters just overhead. First ones this year. Thanks for that John, that's the sort of information that I need. They arrive here in Vienne in May.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 I saw the first bedraggled little swallow here in the Orne on 1st April, then two days ago we heard the cuckoo calling for the first time this year. The swallows are busily collecting copious amounts of lovely mud for thier little nests in our barn - spring hath sprung!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Four turtle doves today feeding in a field, first ones I've seen this year. Nothing to do with cuckoos though.[;-)]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 You can have some of our ring neck doves if you want Chris? We got dozens! They must be the second most boring sounding bord in place! Second only to the spectacular looking hoophoe!! That really is a pre-historic looking machine, but what an eye catcher!The ring necks also have the ability to produce the same size pooo as a goose, all over the place [:'(]... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Jonz, thanks for the wonderful pics of bee eaters. Don't know if we have any but the binocs are at the ready! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 You will know if they are about, because they make that funny 'churling' song almost all the time they are flying. Just look up. Good luck with the bins 'cause they don't arf get a move on. If you can find one of their feeding perches then you will have a wonderful sight of them. I haven't found one yet [:(]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I like the little turtle doves too. We have a pair nesting in the field but they sit in the tree by the goose run waiting for the seed leftovers, making this funny little electronic pigeon noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 There are very few nesting sites for Bee eaters in Charente-Maritime, none in Deux-Sevres. So, depending on where you are in CM you could be hours from a nesting zone in CM, Charente, Vienne or Gironde. They require a very specific habitat structure, the right soil in the right place.A not wonderful photo of one entering a nest hole, but they are fast.[IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Bee-eater.jpg[/IMG]photo Planete Passion.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Oh Chris, how disappointing! But OH was convinced that he heard a nightingale a couple of nights ago. Would we have those here in CM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I'm sure if your OH thought they heard a Nightingale they probably did, not many birds sing at night and certainly not like a Nightingale, they do rather like the sound of their own voice. Once again they are not as common in Charente-Maritime as in many other Departements, but you have other birds there that make up for it.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybananasbrother Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Bug gers never stop singing here at the moment. All night, and I reckon there is a gang of them. Too busy listening to sleep me. But Chrispp, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 But I love birdsong, Wooly. In fact, my wanting to move house is just so's I could be further out in the countryside where hopefully the birdsong is not too drowned out by the traffic noise.Chris, so what birds should I be looking out for here in south CM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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