This Common buzzard thought it had found the right spot to observe quietly its surroundings but….  Du riffifi chez les Buses variables: Elle pensait être tranquille pour observer “son” territoire mais… …une concurrente décide de l’évincer pour prendre sa place: … a competitor wants the place: …pourtant elle est bien décidée […]
Tag: France
Eurasian spoonbills bathing
Nikon 500 mm + convert 1/4 – Platalea leucorodia This series of pictures was taken near the Arcachon basin at Le Teich. The preserve extends on 110 hectares of wooded areas, reed beds, meadows, saltmarsh and water stretch out between the mainland sector right up to the coastline. This wide variety of natural habitats is […]
Pyrenean stags
I will not talk again about this magnificent animal, my point will be different, bear with me. These photos were taken in a 37 hectare animal park in the oriental Pyrenees mountains at 1800 meters high where the animals live in semi freedom in natural surroundings. It is neither a zoo with animals confined in […]
Common buzzard landing
I have presented at length this species on my blog 1000 pattes-1000 tracks. We monitor it each year, especially the northern buzzards wintering in our area south of France. This specific individual lives here year round with its partner and we see them both together quite often; it looks like they hunt field mice as […]
The Eurasian eagle owl
Bubo bubo – Protected in France since 1964, it is the largest nocturnal top predator with its 75 cm high. Uncomfortable in broad day light its vision is unbelievable, it hunts at dawn and dusk; omnivorous, it eats anything alive including snakes, birds, fish, beetles, rodents and even fawns thanks to very strong claws. More […]
Greylag geese, in for winter…
Anser anser –  About 200 Greylag geese arrived on the site at Mazères in the south of France in a frantic commotion! They settled far, out of reach for our lenses, but in the middle of morning small groups formed to graze on the banks. One of those came towards us and settled to feed […]
The Eurasian wren
I love the Eurasian wren but it comes all too seldom in front of my lens! The 14th of November was superbly sunny contrary to the weather predictions, so I decided to get into the garden hide for an hour and see who would appear! Bingo, curiosity had a name, the wren! He inspected every […]
Lapwings and Water rail: mirror, shine and attitudes
Vanellus vanellus – 3 Northern lapwings landed about 60 m from the hide, the distance was a pity but the show was great! 3 Vanneaux huppés se sont posés peu avant que le râle n’apparaisse, à environ 60 mètres de nous: même avec le 500 mm c’était juste en distance. Rallus aquaticus – […]