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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A weekend of heavy - sometimes torrential - rain stopped visible migration in its tracks. But a break in the weather today produced 37+ sparrowhawks, 50+ red kites and 66+ short-toed eagles. The latter two probably personal day-total records here #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Quieter than expected y'day on Gioulet. But 3 wheatears, 8 mistle thrushes, 2 woodlarks, 12 kestrels, 2 black w'peckers, marsh harrier, 26+ s'hawks, 2 STEs & 31+ griffons. Best, albeit slightly underwhelming, was a heard-only citril finch flying SW #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

After a - ahem - "mishap on the mountain" last w/end, a good day of balcony birding in the Orb Valley. Tots inc 39+ kestrels, 32+ s'hawks, 7 buzzards, 6 marsh harriers, 16 red kites, 7 griffon & 1 black vultures, 10 STEs, 1 hobby & 3 red-foots! #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Just a few minutes before I took this photo from outside my kitchen window, a subadult/adult bearded vulture flew low to the W along the Caroux! In 2026 this airspace has now held griffon (many), black (2), Egyptian (2) and now bearded vultures! #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Nice visible migration on the Caroux today: 14+ swifts, 70+ bee-eaters, 3 black kites, marsh harrier, 3 short-toed eagles and 196+ honey-buzzards. Plus two black vultures on the ground, queueing to drink from a sheep's trough 😮. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Following the birds led me to a subtly different - and v. good - viewpoint on the Mont du Sialassous today...black & common restarts, 12 mistle thrushes, 2 w'ears, 2 pied flies, 35+ swifts, 4 STEs...and 131+ honey-buzzards SW. But no dotterel...yet. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Aha! A gentle SE'erly produced 218+ honey-buzzards W & SW b'tween 0905 & 1205hrs in the Orb Valley t'day. Are they early because lots have failed, or are there lots more to come by the more typical dates of 7th-10th September? We shall see... #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

A lower forest fire risk today, so could get on the tops 👍. Black woodpecker, a late-ish cuckoo, Alpine swift, 10 honey-buzzards W and SW, single red & black kites, 3 short-toed eagles, single griffon, pair of golden eagles and 102+ bee-eaters to W. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

A reduced fire risk assessment enabled an excellent days birding on the Espinouse. H'lights inc. grey wag, 5 xbills, 5 tree pips, 21+ (!!) pied flies, 19 kestrels, marsh harrier, 4 griffons, 2 STEs, 5 HBs, golden eagle & a pale Eleonora's falcon #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Some balcony birding today turned up at least two honey-buzzards, three short-toed eagles (mum, dad and youngster I think), nineteen griffons, five black kites W, one goshawk W and a cracking pale phase Eleonora's falcon N. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

A change of scenery and lower temps (!) above Lacaune (Tarn, 81) t'day. H'lights inc 9+ yellowhammers, r-backed shrike, one red & two black kites, honey-buzzard and griffon. Calling black woodpecker in the forest & six crag martins around the church #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

This rather smart short-toed eagle perched just above the house this morning. Other critters of note included 2 honey-buzzards W, two honey-buzzard "outs", 7 griffon vultures W, another short-toed eagle, 1 black kite W and one golden eagle #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

1st August on the Caroux and despite the heat, it is beginning to feel like autumn. The first robins (!), 200+ house martins, 20+ swifts, one Alpine swift, two griffons, at least four honey-buzzards and a pair of Monty's, perhaps still with a nest. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Hi Mark! Hope you're well. Yes, it's a superb area - the raptors are especially good. Luckily - touch wood - we've haven't had any substantial fires locally. We're about 400km from Bordeaux but did have a day of smoky, smelly air on Sunday. Cleared now...fingers crossed.

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

An overnight drop in the forest fire risk meant some time on top today! Good BoPs inc 10+ black kites, s-t eagle, 13+ griffons, juvenile golden eagle & 12+ honey-buzzards, two of which mobbed furiously by three Eleonora's falcons (1 dark, 2 pale)😎! #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

It's actually raining (a bit) here today! July h'lights to date inc black stork E on 11th, regular foraging honey-buzzards & STEs, golden & booted eagles, goshawk, black vulture W on 21st, kingfisher on 23rd & the first 90+ black kites heading off #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

After a run of hot, near-windless days & poor visibility, things picked up this pm in a light Tramontane - red kite, honey-buzzard, STE, 26 griffons W, a pair of golden eagles and a very intriguing 20 minutes-worth of pale phase booted eagle...hmmm. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Three days birding in the Pyrenees under hot conditions 2/3 of the way through June! Not very high either, but rock bunting, quail, r-b shrikes, common rock thrush, citril finches, s-t eagles, griffon vultures, two golden eagles & two bearded vultures #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirdinginthePyrenees !

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

An excellent w'end's birding on the Caroux/Espinouse. H'lights inc. 1 m. pipit (rare), 4 garden warblers, 5 y'hammers, 2+ corn bunts, 6 red-backed shrikes, 3 quail, r&b kites, 2 hobbies, 14 griffons, 5 STEs, 3 Monty's, 5 honey-buzzards, 1 female gos #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

A glorious w'end on the Espinouse. Birding h'lights inc. garden warbler, bullfinches, yellowhammer, 2 common rock thrushes, r-b shrikes (pr+1-2 males), 2 black & 1 lesser sp. w'peckers, 13 griffons, 3 honey-buzzards and 1 ad & 1 subad golden eagles #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

More balcony birding today with a strengthening Tramontane and building cloud. 70+ individuals of ten raptor species seen, with highlights inc. 1 hobby, 4 red kites, 5 honey-buzzards, one pale phase booted eagle, 50+ griffons and one black vulture #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Over fifty individuals of ten species of raptor from the house today, including marsh harrier, 10+ black kites, 2 red kites, 30+ griffons, a late osprey east and...my first Eleonora's falcon of the summer, a cracking dark phase male. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

A top day on the Montagne d'Aret. H'lights inc. 2 mm r-b shrikes, 7 mm common rock thrushes, b-eater, 2 black & 1 red kites, 21 griffons, peregrine, honey-buzzard, 1 subad & 1-2 ad golden eagles, pr of hen harriers & a 2nd/3rd CY Egyptian vulture N #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Cooler on la Grande Plaine y'day (26th) than in the Orb Valley. Quiet-ish, but local rare breeders y'hammer (pair+1), meadow pipit (ditto) & 2 garden warblers. Plus black w'peckers, hobby, s-toed eagle, 10 griffons & 2 likely breeding honey-buzzards #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirder #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

A brief change of scenery over two days (24th & 25th) on and near the coast at Leucate & Fitou. Saw some of the regular Med coastal spp., lots of corn bunts & woodchat shrikes, plus 3+ western black-eared wheatears (rubbish photo!) & 2 Thekla's larks #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirder #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

An excellent rock thrush day (22nd) on the Montagne d'Aret and surrounds. Seven to eight common rock thrushes (2 pairs + 3-4 males) and a pair of blue rock thrushes. Plus bonus rufous female cuckoo, tawny pipit (v. rare here) and red-backed shrike #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

After I watched an immature Egyptian vulture flying east over the Caroux from the house on Tuesday, two days later I saw a cracking black-and-white adult flying in exactly the same direction today! Presumably a migrating non-breeder? #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Excellent day (20th) searching for rock thrushes on the Serre de More. Three common and 2 blue rock thrush territories found. Also W'ern subalp., Bonelli's & orphean w'blers, black w'pecker, red kite, pr of peregrines, 2 short-t'd and 1 golden eagles #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirder #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

More Balcony Birding in the Orb Valley y'day (19th May) turned up singing cirl bunt. & melodious w'bler, hobby & peregrine, 3 STEs, 1 golden eagle, 13 griffons, 5 honey-buzzards and...a 2nd or 3rd calendar-year Egyptian vulture heading NE! #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

An excellent, but cold, day on the Espinouse in the Hérault. Top birds inc pr of bullfinches, 1+ crossbill, 5 yellowhammers, 6 garden warblers, 2 pairs + 1 male red-backed shrikes, black woodpecker & wryneck, 3+ honey-buzzards & a female Monty's #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Another balcony birding day in the Orb Valley yesterday but despite apparently ideal conditions, just 17 honey-buzzards E. Also cirl bunting, 2 golden orioles, 2 hobbies, 7 griffons, 3 short-toed eagles, goshawk, golden eagle and a late-ish osprey E #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

This rather splendid male golden oriole from the balcony yesterday evening #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

An astonishing 72+ honey-buzzards through the Orb Valley today - on the 1st May!!! How many are on the way?!? Plus 10 griffon vultures and singles of marsh harrier, peregrine, goshawk and golden eagle #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Super birding from the house y'day. Early birds included three yellow-legged gulls W (not common here!) and a marsh harrier E. Later in the day up to four (!) golden eagles, a single honey-buzzard E and a black-winged kite W - my third local record #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

An ex'llent w'end's birding on Caroux/Espinouse. H'lights inc 5 wheatears, yellowhammer, hobby, 6-7 rock thrushes, 3+ black woodpeckers, Monty's & marsh harriers, displaying golden eagle, 9 griffon & 2 black vultures & 1 honey-buzzard (1st of 2026) #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Now up to four to five occupied common rock thrush territories on the Espinouse, with more expected. Also my first one or two wheatears of the spring, plus two to three female ring ouzels. Very few BoPs today #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

My first seriously singing common rock thrush of spring y'day (17th)...more to follow 🤞. Plus cuckoos, woodlarks, skylarks, tree pipits, 5 STEs, 3 griffons & golden eagle. Male whinchat and especially flyby yellow wagtail were major local rarities #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

An excellent day on the East side of the Gorges de Colombiéres. Western subalpine & Bonelli's warblers, a heard-only ring ouzel, my first common rock thrush of 2026 (hurrah!), lesser spotted w'pecker and up to three black vultures #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Excellent birding from the house yesterday (11th). My first swift and bee-eater(s) of 2026, hoopoe, lesser sp. w'pecker, melodious w'bler, 2 marsh harriers, red & 6 black kites, peregrine, booted & s/t eagles, osprey, adult male gos and black stork. #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Hoping for my first common rock thrush(es) on the Montagne d'Aret today, but no joy. Did see/hear tree pipits, skylarks & woodlarks, cuckoo & black woodpecker. BoPs inc. griffon, 5 short-toed eagles, ad male gos & 2-3 golden eagles. Next time then 🤞 #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Change of scenery t'day at a limestone plateau E of my regular patch. Newly arrived redstart, n'gales, Western Bonelli's warbler & 17+ Western subalpine warblers. Also singles of woodlark, cirl & corn bunts. Top BoP was a super golden eagle overhead #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Another cracking day (6th) on the Espinouse... skylarks, woodlarks, cuckoos, my first tree pipits, two red kites, five short-toed eagles & seven griffon vultures. But top of the pops were a single ring ouzel and a pair of rock buntings #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

A sparkling day on the Espinouse. Darties, skylarks, woodlarks, dunnocks (!), 2+ cuckoos, 3 black woodpeckers, short-toed (4) booted & golden eagles, 7 Alpine swifts NE #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The Tramontane finally dropped - a bit - y'day, and bingo, some birds! H'lights inc. 1 red & 9 black kites, 3 marsh harriers, 3 short-toed eagles, 1 pale booted eagle, 3 ospreys & up to 3 golden eagles, inc spectacular dogfight between two of them #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Another good day's (24th) birding in the Orb Valley before the Tramontane blocks visible migration for a bit. My first swallows, 7+ sparrowhawks, 5+ short-toed eagles, 1 female gos, 1 golden eagle, 6 marsh harriers and a surprising 90+ black kites #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

V. good BoP birding from the house this w/e. Tots inc 6+ kestrels, 11+ s'hawks, 5+ buzzards, 7+ blk & 1 red kites, 3 m. harriers, 11+ STEs (inc mating pair), 15+ griffons, 1+ p'grine, 1 osprey, 3 goshawks & 2 golden eagles. Plus g'crest & f'crest! #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Sunny but hazy & a cool SE'erly on the Montagne d'Aret turned up a typical early spring selection. Four-plus meadow pipits, singing skylarks, woodlarks, Darties, dunnocks & stonechats. Plus 2 house martins N, 4+ STEs, 8 griffons & two golden eagles #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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Dave Burges @orbvalleybirder.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

A good day on the Espinouse (17th). Best birds inc. yellowhammer, crossbill, meadow pipits, skylarks, woodlark, stonechats, marsh & crested tits, black woodpecker, 2 red kites, 7+ sparrowhawks, 8+ short-toed & 2 golden eagles and a female goshawk #birds #birding #OrbValleyBirding #orbvalleyflyway

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