Le Teich (2)

Continuing my blog on the Parc Ornithologique du Teich ...

Out on the furthermost side of the reserve, near the shores of Arcachon Basin, I spotted a Common Sandpiper.  It was very near the limit of my lens's range.

I think I could have stayed all day photographing the beautiful Black-winged Stilt out at the edge of the park.  They're just like it says on the label  –  black wings; long, stilt-like legs.

There is one final wader to include in this blog.  I turned a corner; we saw each other; I raised the camera; it was off.  The camera was not set to continuous, so this is the only frame I got.

Little Egret

If you want to know what the sounds are in the vegetated parts of the park, you can't do better than visit the website, http://www.parc-ornithologique-du-teich.com, and listen to the sound track.  During my visit the choral competition was between Bluethroat and Nightingale.  I did see a pair of Bluethroat at one point, but not enough to be able to photograph them.  However, later, after lingering for several minutes and enjoying some nearby music, but not seeing the singer ... ...

Nightingale

Nightingale

... it emerged from the undergrowth and serenaded me.  ♫ ♫  What a privilege.

To be continued ... ...

Le Teich (3)

Continued from Le Teich (2) ...

This blog is devoted to one individual bird  –  a Red Kite.

Eye-contact established

Which way is front?

Thinks

Where?

What?

It's here somewhere

That looks better

Ready, steady, ...

Unfortunately, my arc of vision was severely restricted to the right and that's the direction from which the wind was blowing.  When the bird took off, the best I could manage was ...

... go!

... and I couldn't follow it round for any better-composed images.  (It would also have been useful to have had a faster shutter-speed.  The exif data for this image is 1/400s, f8, ISO 200, EC = -0.33, FL = 400mm.)

I found myself with teaching responsibilities during this photo-shoot.  A young French family came into the hide  –  father, mother, child in pushchair, and 2 boys aged about 10-12.  The boys (the elder in particular) were mad keen about birds.  Black Kite is fairly common there, but Red Kite is not listed in the information in the hide and the elder boy turned to me for help!  He asked if it was a (Common) Kestrel  –  "Monsieur, ... ...?"  (Why is it that, when you have a long lens, people assume you know all about the birds?)  Luckily, my knowledge both of the species and the relevant French in this instance was up to the task.  Phew!  Later, outside the hide, the parents were greatly amused when I told them that I'd felt very conscious about getting my vowel-sounds right when describing the bird for the boys.  I hadn't wanted to confuse them with reference to a Parisian hot-spot!  (viz. the bird was not the more familiar milan noir, but a milan rouge – called in French un milan royal.)

Le Teich (1)

This is the first blog about the Parc Ornithologique du Teich on the Arcachon Basin near Bordeaux, France.

I first visited this excellent reserve in SW France two years ago.  29th April 2012 was the occasion of my second visit.  It is worth noting that RSPB Members are entitled to a 30% discount here.  You have to ask for it at the entrance and, or course, produce evidence of current membership.  That becomes an immediate topic of conversation, if there isn't a queue.

I'd travelled through storms east of Bordeaux on the A89 and it was still raining quite hard when I arrived.  The forecast had said the weather would be OK west of Bordeaux  –  the 'other side' of the narrow band of heavy weather that was hammering northeasterly from the Pyrenees across central France towards SE England and the Low Countries.  I had my fingers crossed.

One of first species you encounter after entry is White Stork.  I reached them and the rain stopped.  In an instant it was blue skies with lots of fluffy white clouds.  The dirty stuff was soon barely discernable on the eastern horizon.  I unpacked the camera.

They're very graceful on the wing:

"What?  No bundle?"

Well, most of the time!

There wasn't a great deal of activity and I moved on.  I was in a hide overlooking another, smaller lagoon, when I was startled by bill-clappering that seemed to be right on top of me.  I investigated and found that there was a nest immediately over the hide.  I wriggled about a bit and found a reasonably clear line of sight.

A tuck here; a tuck there

Moving on ... ...

Spotted Redshank  –  a first for me.

... and some of its cousins  –  (Common) Redshank.

This bird seemed to have an injured right leg.  It certainly seemed unable to put any weight on that leg and appeared to be using the log as a sort of support.

The lower-angled shots were made possible by the extremely useful provision of a viewing-port situated very near the floor of the hide.  It was possible to kneel right down or lie down on the floor and take photographs through this.  A French photographer and I took turns to use this facility.  Take note, UK hide builders.

To be continued ...