Bee eaters have been another victim of the poor weather we
had for the first 6 months of this year and I’m sure there is going to be quite
a list of losers as the figures come in and verify what I have already heard, seen
or suspected.
Only 32 couples were recorded nesting in the Vienne
department this year, less than half the number we have been seeing in recent
years. Only two sites maintained their normal numbers, a quarry and a riverside
location. On the 9 sites that were used
there were between 1 and 14 pairs.
Nesting took place extremely late with no young birds
visible at the tunnel entrances as late as mid July. This species was undoubtedly severely
affected by the unusually wet and cold weather we experienced even into the
month of July resulting in a substantial loss of flying insects or decent
weather to hunt for them.
It’s more than likely that this is a situation that has been
repeated in much of France
this year.
