Keeping an eye out for birds

Common Nightingale – Rossignol

Anything but common (ordinaire), this small bird arrives in late March and begins to nest in our hedges (haies). It sings at night as if the world will end the next morning. Inspiration for poets and philosophers.

European Nightjar – Engoulevent d’Europe

Summer visitor in July and August. Silent in flight (en plein vol). Wing-beating sound resembles a distant two-stroke engine (un moteur à deux temps). Once chased round our courtyard by one of our cats, keeping safely out of reach with agile jumps (sauts) into the air before landing on the ground each time. Entrancing.

Eurasian Golden Oriole – Loriot d’Europe

A summer visitor, the oriole is difficult to spot (apercevoir). Its voice punctuates (ponctuer) every day of late spring and summer like liquid gold.

European Bee-eater – Guêpier d’Europe

We have seen this bird in the Gers only once and then in a group of perhaps 10. They are sociable and surprisingly noisy (bruyant). Keep up the good work (with the wasps)!

Eurasian Hoopoe – Huppe fasciée

Perhaps our favourite bird, this one lives around us all summer, enjoying being in the courtyard all day long. We’ve lost count of how many times it’s hovered (voltiger) outside windows, looking in at us. Splendid onomatopoeic latin name!

Hen Harrier – Busard Saint-Martin

Harry and Harriet. The male is grey with black wing tips (bout de l’aile) and the female brown with a white rump (croupion). The fly low over fields and along hedges.

Western Cattle Egret – Héron garde-boeufs

Only rarely spotted when we first visited southern France, this bird is now resident all year round, no doubt as a consequence of climate change.

Northern Lapwing – Vanneau huppé

A rare winter visitor. This majestic bird arrives in groups with the winter snow. Although it appears to be a black and white bird, its true colours are a feast for the eye (se délecter à regarder).