Saturday 10th Feb - Winter working

I seem to remember the same time last year when work takes over and abolishes weekends. In the last 10 days I've been to Malta and now in the French Alps for the weekend, yes with work and no I don't ski, however others do and so I've been dragged along, mainly it would seem to drink coffee and wine and arrange lunch and dinner.

Whereas, I haven't been birding for 2 weeks, I noted a few birds on the travels to list.

In Malta, the business hotel has a bit of garden (the main part of Valletta where we stayed has hardly any vegetation) and although it appears still to be under development a pre-breakfast wander notched up a few birds, Sardinian Warbler were the most numerous along with Italian Sparrow.  Two singing Chiffchaff a Blackcap and 6 Black Redstart were all quite likely birds migrating North.

Here in France, we are so high (up to 3200m) that there are hardly any trees and the snow is 3m deep,. The village has plenty of Alpine Chough, a single Alpine Accentor was seen at the top of the Furnicular and  a small flock of Snowfinch were near the hotel, the journey by minibus passed Lake Annecy where there were several Goosander flocks near the road.

At home briefly last weekend, there was no real change to the variety of birds but 3 Hawfinches which were firstly perched at the top of an Ash tree together them dropped into the nearer Oaks and Hollies next to the house, although I could only hear them calling away for several minutes before seen again in flight and 2 Egyptian Geese flew over.

No birds... just a few Huskies !

Black Redstart in Malta hotel - Poor picture but I only had my phone with me,

Even worse picture of a Genuine Italian Sparrow ... through fully curtained hotel window !