14 November 2011
Rothes is now back in her winter quarters on Isla de Unhocomozinho in Guinea-Bissau. She left Port Maubert on 25 September. For a while there was no news of her voyage south due to a transmitter malfunction but this seems to have sorted itself (see Google Earth below).
It will be interesting to see whether she heads for Scotland next soring or back to Post Maubert. Ospreys do nest in the Loire area, but there is no record of them breeding in South West France.
18 September 2011
A not-so-wild osprey chase (see 17 September 2009 below)! Rothes, the young osprey from Loch Garten who had a lengthy stopover on her way to Africa two years ago, made her first return trip in June. But not to Loch Garten - she made her way straight to her stopover spot just inland from Port Maubert. She's now been there for over 2 months.
has photos taken of her at the end of July, and you can follow her fishing trips around the area on Google Earth.
After Sunday lunch at a restaurant inland, we decided to make a detour to Port Maubert. After only 10 minutes scouring the skies, we spotted her coming towards us across the reedbeds to the north of Port Maubert. Aboout 200 metres from us, she turned & headed back to the river. We watched her in the distance as she spent over 20 minutes repeatedly diving for fish, apparently without success, before turning south and then making for her roost spot.
21 July 2011
With the wet weather, there's been plenty of table tennis in the barn.
There are lots of other wet weather alternatives in the area - the Grottes at Meschers, the Parc de l'Estuaire, the Zoo at La Palmyre or day trips to Bordeaux & Saintes. And for grown-ups, lots of winetasting, markets and brocantes (antiques fairs).
9 July 2011
The "Fete de l'Estuaire" at Meschers celebrated not only the estuary but also its guardian, France's oldest lighthouse, the Phare de Cordouan - 400 years old this year!
Local children made a huge cardboard model that presided over the port entrance.
There were pirates a plenty, and red sails in the sunset and in the afternoon, rounded off with an open air feast of the estuary's fine products - salt marsh lamb, cheese, wine, icecreams, gourmet bread & cakes, all washed down with a helping of live music.
2 April 2011
Le Cottage has made it into the prestigious
Gault Millau guide - many congratulations to Doug & Axelle!
The Guide says that Doug & Axelle bring the warm cultural mix into the music and the food, using irish and french ingredients even in the desserts; and the 27 euro menu is described as "delightful".
17th July 2010
The procession and fireworks at Arces atttracted locals and visitors. It ended in a spectacular red smoke "fire effect" floodlighting of the church.
There were other great firework displays earlier in the week at Meschers' Plage des Vergnes and at St. Palais.
10th April 2010
The first "beau jour" of Spring. As the temperature rose to 22º, the beach was the place to go and there were queues for tables at the beach cafés.
Our neighbours, the swallows have returned for the season.
A quick trip down to Talmont marsh rewarded us with lots of migrating birds - yellow wagtails a plenty, avocets and black-winged stilts.
6 January 2010
Snow! Just a couple of centimetres fell overnight. But this was followed by a thunderstorm in the afternoon, during which 5 cm of hailstones fell.
The temperatures continued to fall, turning the roads into skating rinks,
as several motorists found out!
17 September 2009
We went on a wild osprey hunt down to near Port Maubert, just south of Mortagne. A young osprey, Rothes, from Loch Gartin, Scotland, has stopped off on her migration south. She liked the area so much that she has stayed for over 3 weeks. he has been fitted with a transmitter, and you can follow her progress on Google Earth by adding Loch Garten ospreys as a network link. You can also read more of her story on the RSPB site.
Sadly, we couldn't get close to her roost, and saw no sign of her, but we did see lots of other birds and had a good afternoon out.
26th July 2009
Meschers' market was in full swing this morning.
Isn't summer marvellous?!
25th July 2009
The sunset & evening sky this evening was spectacular.
18th July 2009
The QM2 arrived early on its first visit to Le Verdon. Looking across the fields & Gironde from Liboulas, it made a great sight! It got a terrific send-off when it left at 4.30pm.
14th June 2009
The new gas plancha has been installed and tested. Lamb fillets marinated in oil, vinegar & herbs - delicious!
The roses are in full bloom and Libellule's rear patio now has its own herb garden.
9th May 2009
Sadly, the mini-heatwave has gone.
6th May 2009
Summer seems to have arrived early - yesterday & today, the temperature has been up to 25 degrees.
4th May 2009
A stunning Giant Peacock moth appeared on the doorframe of our house, next door to Libellule. Nearly four inches across, it's the largest of the European moths.
1st May 2009
Spring is well and truly here, and the good weather in March & early April meant that the fruit trees blossomed early. We seem to have good crops of cherries, pears and apples, some apricots but no plums. A pair of great tits are installed in the nest box and are gratefully feasting on the fat balls on the bird feeder. No nightingale this year & hoopoes seem scarcer than usual.