I had to go down to Olonzac early in the morning and was amazed to see 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos fly across the street near the Gendarmarie. I have never seen this species so far east before. I had to wait for an insurance assessor to look at my damaged vehicle so I sat in the very pleasant park for a while. Nightingale song in here was thunderous interspersed with a competing Hoopoe. Overhead hundreds of Swifts were gathered feeding above the town.
Returning home I followed a gorgeous male Golden Oriole flying along the lane for a few metres. Back in the garden I sat a while watching and listening. Turtle Doves were now purring all around and a couple of Honey Buzzards passed over with dozens of Swifts. Shortly after a pair of Short-toed Eagles displayed overhead with much calling.
This was enough to get out after lunch to see what else was happening. Firstly I came across a young man birding called Olivier Lizot and as we chatted 2 Red-rumped Swallows passed by and a female Montagu's Harrier sparred angrily with a passing Buzzard. Another Short-toed Eagle also flew by.
I moved on to Minerve where a couple of Alpine Swifts had at last arrived and were already prospecting their nesting caves. Continuing to the garrigue I then spent at an hour watching at least 6 Montagu's Harriers displaying. What a marvellous sight as they sky danced together calling frantically. There seemed to be 3 pairs with one male still in "ring-tail" plumage.
I then went up to the meadows near Bois Bas where a Tawny Pipit fed close by the car. I found nothing else so moved home.
As we sat eating supper on the terrace the Short-toed Eagles gave us another superb show soaring and diving together above the property. On the grass Black Redstarts fed as the light faded.
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