A Circular Walk from Marcilly

We have just enjoyed a walk with friends, Paul and Mary, setting off from Marcilly sur Vienne. We adapted the walk slightly but it was well signposted and had some magnificent views and plenty of interest along the way.

The PDF of the walk can be found at the following link:
http://www.tourisme-saintemauredetouraine.fr/tourisme/mile/userfiles/marcilly(1).pdf

The first section was uphill, though it was a gentle enough climb and in no time the views made it all worthwhile.

 

 

Spring flowers were out in abundance. As well as violets, bluebells, white and red dead nettle and cowslips a plenty....

Bladder Campion

Wood Spurge

Speedwell

Crosswort

Orange Tip on Purple Gromwell

Then through both beautiful woodland paths and open countryside,

And down to the Vienne..

Across the river, the site of the old chateau...

Common Storksbill

An over hanging branch of willow has put out new growth...

Ground Ivy 

Orange Tip on Dandelion

 And then the best of all...Lady Orchids...

Any help with the IDs will be gratefully received. Suffice it to say it's a walk we would recommend and will certainly be doing again!

ps. Thanks to Susan for help with the identifications. (Post now edited, thanks Susan)

Another new garden visitor

This morning we saw this bird in our garden for the first time...

It is a Ring Ouzel (Turdus Torquatus) it is closely related to the common blackbird, The name Ouzel is the name for the common blackbird in Old English.

To learn more about this bird see HERE and HERE,

We look forward to seeing it again.

Spring happenings around our garden.

This morning Elizabeth photographed the greater spotted woodpecker again (See here) however this time it was the female... No red on head. We look forward to babies perhaps...

I also spotted a pair of Bramblings. I thought, like the Siskins, they had all moved on as we have seen neither since our return to France last week. More babies perhaps...

Elizabeth, despite recovering from Flu, reported chasing an Orange tip butterfly around the garden but failing to get a photograph. I succeeded as it was sheltering from the wind on our first Honesty flower...

Finally in the early hours we captured a Fox in the garden for the first time... 

We will see if we can tempt it a bit nearer the camera tonight...

Spring must be on its way!