Mystery bird in southern France

hitchglitch
hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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edited June 2016 in Wildlife, Nature & the Great Outdoors #1

A question for the ornithologists. We are staying by a beautiful river, north of Avignon. Wildlife abounds, including beavers in the river. We heard talk of a rare bird and for the first time after about ten visits we spotted a pair yesterday. Description:

About the size of a blackbird but very slender, a bit like a woodpecker. Beautiful red crest and long plume and also a long beak. Black and white striped body under brown/rust feathers. It was foraging in the grass bank.

Answers on a postcard please!

Comments

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #2

    Sounds pretty much like a hoopoe Hitch

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited June 2016 #3

    Thats it! Many thanks. It looked like it had escaped from a zoo; very exotic. 

  • jimd
    jimd Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited June 2016 #4

    I saw one at Pavillon Royal site near Biarritz a few years back.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited June 2016 #5

    Definitely a hoopooe.  We have lots around the area we live, and they often hop in front of you along a pathway, keeping just enough distance for you not to get a good photograph!

    A few weeks ago, down near Fleury in the Aude, we saw Rollers, Bee-eaters, and a Grey Shrike all sitting in the same shrub, and then watched the Rollers flying to and from their nest box on a telegraph pole.  Bee eaters and Rollers are also very exotic looking birds.

    Nearby, in previous years, we've seen a Greater Spotted Cuckoo in the same area, rare Lesser Kestrels and of course there are always exotic looking flamingoes in the lagoons.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #6

    This Hoopoe hung around Norwich for about 3 months last winter. 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,958 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #7

    What a coincidence we arrived at San Pere Pescador yesterday and saw these birds going round the pitches wondered what they were.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited June 2016 #8

    Seems they are not so rare after all! We have beavers in the river and they do their nightly foraging run, but I know that they are seen in several rivers in France. Last year a Brit. staying here insisted that they must be otters - until he actually spotted
    one and had to eat humble pie. 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #9

    Other thing I've seen in rivers in France is coypu.  Used to be lots in Norfolk but they have been eradicated here now.  They are about as big as Beavers.

    There is a Hoopoe back in Norfolk again.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited June 2016 #10

    Our hoopoe friend was back again today. Same place. Felt that now I know his name I could introduce myself. 

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited June 2016 #11

    Our hoopoe friend was back again today. Same place. Felt that now I know his name I could introduce myself. 

    Try talking to him / her. They usually make the sound "hooo, hooo, hooo". Honest! 

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