Mole excavations!

 Whilst we've been busy decorating in the house and gites, this year the moles have been extremely busy doing their own bit of landscaping work for us! When looking at what they'd achieved something caught my eye as the sun reflected off whatever it was that had been thrown up to the surface by our excavating friend!

After picking it up and brushing off the dirt, turning it over this is what I found, a very thin coin made of (I think) silver with very clear markings. LUD XV is the marking for King Louis 15th of France who reigned from 1715 to 1774. After research on the internet I think this may well be part of a counterfeit coin or gaming token as on the reverse it looks as though a different metal has eroded away leaving the silver face. Needless to say, I'm now looking through the other mole hills to try and find the other half!!

Happy days!

We've had a lovely week of weather which consequently has made everything spring (sorry for the pun) into life. Temperatures touching 20 degrees has meant not just the appearance of seasonal flowers but the early return of birds to our area. A few Crag Martins, Bullfinches and Black Kites are back plus many of our favourite Black Redstarts are here jostling for territory! All we're waiting for now is our Swallows to return which I'm sure won't be too long.
Following the mass fly over by the Cranes last week we have only seen one more group fly over and that was only a group of 8 or 9, so it looks like that display is over until they fly south in the autumn.

New gates have arrived!

Yesterday saw the arrival of our latest purchase in our continued programme of refurbishment. The old gates that separate the house and gite areas had finally had their day and were consequently burned on a bonfire in the afternoon!  

Made in chestnut wood by the same carpenter, Gerald Delpit of Montignac, who also hand made the superb house front door, they are also made in the traditional local perigordine style. Time now to get on with the next project.....!

Early return of the Cranes.

Yesterday afternoon was amazing, after putting on my last post about our first sighting of Cranes, hundreds if not thousands flew over us on their journey north. Wave after wave kept appearing over Le Roque St Christophe, the noise was incredible. Click on the picture below and you can see them.    

Every now and then, for whatever reason, the formations would break up and circle (picture below) as if no one could decide which way they should be going, until 4 or 5 set off and all the rest followed!

Who's that knocking!

 After hearing a loud knocking noise outside, we discovered the reason why after spotting a Nuthatch on the nest box next to the Roque Terrace gite, hammering away at the entrance to what is normally the box the blue tits nest in. In fact it's even rounded the corners of the dark top lid as you can see on the picture above.
Finally, after many days of work, it has managed to squeeze itself into the box only then to continue its work from inside of the box!

Yesterday we spotted our first mass formation of Cranes heading north after their winter break, which shows spring is definitely very nearly here at last, no picture I'm afraid as I was too late finding the camera!