Tag Archives: nightingale

Where Have All the Small Birds Gone?

Posted on 06/03/2016 by nessafrance

Yesterday, we stopped by our retired farmer neighbour’s place for a chat. We remarked that it would be only a matter of weeks before the cuckoo, the first of the migratory birds, arrives. We love hearing that piping sound, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Weather | Tagged birdlife, birdsong, climate, cuckoo, frost, migratory birds, nightingale, rainfall, SW France, swallow, Weather | 15 Comments

Nightingales in Southwest France

Posted on 25/04/2014 by nessafrance

I heard the first nightingale of the year on Wednesday. Other people say they have been around for a couple of weeks but they seem to arrive later and later chez nous in recent years. The unmistakable sliding, virtuoso … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | Tagged migratory birds, nightingale, Rossignol, RSPB, SW France | 14 Comments

Spring in Southwest France

Posted on 14/04/2014 by nessafrance

Well, this year it’s easy to tell it’s arrived. The weather has generally been lovely in April – with the occasional off-day. More often, April is cold and windy. The fine weather has brought everything out early and many … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Nature | Tagged asparagus, cuckoo, garriguettes, hoopoe, nightingale, respounchous, spring, SW France | 19 Comments

Seven Signs of Spring in SW France

Posted on 14/04/2013 by nessafrance

Spring has taken a long time to arrive this year. Everything is coming out very late and the weather – up till this weekend – has generally been cooler than normal. However, we saw incontrovertible signs that spring is here … Continue reading →