Gites South Brittany

Another beautiful, sunny winter's day, although there was a brief snowfall around 5pm and again at 5.30 pm, with the snow only settling on the ploughed fields, giving them a dusting of white. We have been unable to walk the dogs for a couple of weeks now, due to Ficelle being on heat. This has rather limited our nature notes. Although the garden here at La Belle Vilaine holiday cottages has a remarkable list of 72 birds recorded during 2005 (click on the link "Wildlife in Morbihan" for full list in French and English), the main players at the moment have all been mentioned over the past weeks (see link to our Daily Nature Notes on our main website).

Of interest today was a small flock of Cattle Egret, which were feeding in a field by the side of the road between St. Cry and Nivillac.

Here in France, today is a normal, working day - as Boxing Day doesn't exist! In addition, the French system does not allow for a day-in-lieu when a Bank Holiday (or "jour férié") falls on a weekend. Consequently, for the French this year, Christmas week has been a normal, working week. Although, some companies offer to "faire le pont" (literally "make the bridge") when a Bank Holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday - i.e. giving Friday or Monday as a holiday, to save opening for one day only.

Another beautiful, sunny day here in Brittany. We had a large, mixed flock of thrushes (Redwing, Fieldfare and Song) and Starlings feeding on the lawn as we opened our presents this morning. We have noticed that the Starlings here never approach the feeding station - obviously they find enough natural food to sustain them - a far cry from the familiar free-for-all frenzied feeding we were used to from this species in the UK. Walking back home from our local bar this evening, we caught a glimpse of a fox as it crossed the lane ahead of us.

The fog continued throughout Wednesday and Thursday. A sunny, frosty start to Friday made the garden and surrounding countryside look breathtaking. The hungry garden birds were congregated in the hedgerow near to the feeding station and flew impatiently around our heads as we re-filled them. Christmas Eve again dawned frosty, but sunny. A large flock (30+) of Meadow Pipits fed on the lawn. We have also noticed that 2 Robins are happily sharing the garden and the feeders - is this through necessity due to the cold or is it because they are already beginning to pair-up for the coming breeding season?

A foggy day here on the Morbihan (South Brittany) and Loire Atlantique border. A Reed Bunting was busy feeding with the sparrows just outside the office window - a new bird to add to our garden list of over 70 species in just one year! For full list of birds and butterflies that have visited our holiday cottage gardens during 2005 - together with their French names - click on the link (bottom left of page) to our main website's wildlife page.