We took a drive back up to the Brenne for the final time of this trip this morning dropping into a few new Etangs that we'd not been to before. Again it was a great morning, this area is incredible and I can't wait to get back here again.
We visited Etang du Blizon, part of the Cherine reserve and several smaller Etangs with names I don't have on me at the moment. Highlights today included several Savi's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Reed Warbler, Water Rail, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, loads of Whiskered Tern, tonnes of Black Kite, Marsh Harriers (4 or 5) and a couple of Honey Buzzard. Colour was provided by loads of Red-backed Shrike, with a handful of Hoopoe, Turtle Dove, Golden Oriole, Green Woodpecker thrown in too. Got a couple of Redshank, Lapwing and surprisingly 3 Canada Geese that were ambling through a cow field! All the usual suspects were still abundant such as Nightingale, Stonechat, Serin, Melodious Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap etc...
Highlight however was not a bird for a change, but was 3 Wild Boar that were foraging along the edge of a marshy area. Also rescued a terrapin that was walking down the middle of the road! It thanked me by weeing down my leg! Again there was also masses of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies everywhere.
This afternoon/evening we spent some time relaxing around the garden/Gite area connecting with all the regulars Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike (3 pairs - I found the nest of one of these this evening), Quail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard, Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Nuthatch, Nightingale, Melodious Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Stonechat, Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, White Wagtail etc..
Over the two weeks we've been here now its noticeable how much the vegetation has grown, and also that there is a wave of fledglings appearing all over the place. Finally the Nightingales seem to be less vocal too, presumably some have settled down...
Tomorrow will be a long drive back north but hopefully will connect with something along the route...
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