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Looking to spot a lifer in the next couple of months? Looking for a special early Christmas present for your twitcher partner? This week in Pressigny, a hundred or so metres from Le Prieuré one of our keen birdwatching guests has photographed, in a field full of wild flowers edged with oak, walnut and hawthorn, a lesser spotted woodpecker, a greater spotted woodpecker, a meadow pipit, a spotted flycatcher, a female black cap, a whinchat and a stonechat in the branches of the trees bordering the meadow. And, on the day that a Golden Oriole featured on the BBC on Radio 4’s Tweet of the Day, a Golden Oriole was photographed, having been spotted in the field for the previous few days.
A kilometre from the house, a great plain begins where the topography completely changes and the wooded valleys are left behind. Over the fields fly hen harriers. In Deux-Sevres stone crosses have been erected on the corners of many of the roads and kestrels can be seen perching on the top of the crosses. Marsh Harriers and Montague Harriers can be spotted on almost every journey to the supermarket in Airvault, often flying low searching for prey in the fields. Many of the farmers here leave sacrificial strips along the edges of the fields and although the hedges have long disappeared on the plain there are valleys with fresh water rivers fed by springs such as the one at La Grimaudiere, where the Divine Valley supports an abundance of wildlife. This week, following the sound of the birds, a juvenile sparrowhawk could be seen chasing its mother, the cries of the birds echoing over the fields.
For birdwatchers wishing to come and see the wonderful birdlife here, Paula Dormer is offering Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal in the beautiful 14th century Le Prieuré from September 24th until 30th September and 7th October to 19th October.
Nightly rates, including a four course dinner are 250 euros per couple, 190 euros per person. Packed lunches are available on request. Paula can be contacted by WhatsApp on +33 (0)6 74 04 53 15.
The house can be seen on www.uniquelyfrench.com. Groups are very welcome. Flights are available three times a week from Stansted to Poitiers (an hour and twenty minutes) where Paula can meet guests for the 30 minute car drive to the house.
And for those siesta moments, the short walk back to the house will give you chance to sample the simply delicious afternoon teas the Priory takes great pride in offering to guests!