Report from 17 to 19 July 2024

I have very little to report this time.

The Common Sandpiper always reappears around mid-July, and it was right on schedule this year, unlike the Green Sandpiper I mentioned in last week’s report.

A Black-winged Stilt also put in a fleeting appearance.

And that was it: nothing is moving, and all is silent. Meanwhile, the heat has become oppressive and under these conditions, birdwatching is a chore: I am going on a mountain holiday for a bit.

Cacyreus marshalli  is a small butterfly native to South Africa. It was introduced to Europe several decades ago due to the trade in potted flowers: their larvae feed on the geraniums so many of us grow on our balconies and gardens, and the Geranium Bronze, as this butterfly is know in English, has become a real pest. The summer heat greatly accelerates its development.