20th May

Meanwhile, on safari….


We have actually left Castelsarrasin!! We have travelled on and are now in Toulouse as we start our trip south.

Seems like a good time to reflect on amazing wildlife which continues to fascinate us…

Coypu are a regular sight swimming about in the canal
Terrapin, although not so often, also live in the canal and nearby lakes
Bittern - this was flying around the port in Toulouse, landing on various boats
Night Heron - crouching under some bushes on the canal side
Purple Heron - seen all along the canal
Golden Oriole - two males flying in a riot of bright yellow in the woods near the house
Osprey?? - now this doesn’t seem right but something big grabbed a fish in it’s claws out of the canal right in front of me!!
Hoopoe - just a glimpse of one in flight, but definitely heard them
Frogs - so many frogs!! And so noisy!!
Buzzards - everywhere
Black Kites - I think. Dull, brown, big with kite shape tail
Red Kite - I think. Big, kite tails, in a flock, circling and soaring [ all these big birds are difficult to identify]
Storks - only in flight
Black dragon flies - don’t know exactly what they are, butt hey are everywhere at the moment

…….AMAZING!!!