Things to make and do in the french countryside

I had intended telling you all about our experiences to date of renovating our French farmhouse and barn but at this time of year there are so many other distractions in our garden that I think I'll put that on hold for now.

The Dordogne countryside is teeming with wildlife. This year, though, is a bit special. We've been blessed with a visit from a very rare visitor to British shores, the Golden Oriole.

They seem to be more frequent summer visitors to France but are rarely seen.

We spotted a pair through the kitchen window of the barn feeding in our heavily laden fig tree the other day while having breakfast.

They seem to have made their summer home high in the canopy of a very old cherry tree in the wood behind our barn.

They would have been hard to miss. Not least because of their bright yellow body and jet black wings but they also sing beautifully.

Since then we've discovered that it migrates from Asia in the summer to nest in Europe in July.

What a sight!

You can find out more about this bird at the RSPB site

photo: RSPB