Philippa has spent much of her life in France and is retiring from birding Languedoc this year, but handing on to an excellent team. She was motivated to found Birding in Languedoc when she realised that despite excellent birdwatching opportunities in France, the birding offer was very underdeveloped yet is a big niche in tourism.
France has more than twice as many breeding birds as the UK, more than four times as many butterfly species and nearly four times as many reptile species.
The Mediterranean Basin is one of the world's 35 biodiversity hotspots. Occitanie is blessed with a wide variety of landscape including coastal dunes and cliffs, marsh, plains, vineyards, garrigue, gorges and mountain and is on the Western Migratory Flyway for birds migrating between northern and eastern Europe, North Africa and Africa south of the Sahara. The variety of landscape means there are species to be enjoyed all year, but spring and autumn migration sightings can be very dramatic - 2000 honey buzzards circling up in thermals! A tramontane (north westerly wind) concentrates birds in very narrow corridors, otherwise they can be spread over a 50 km airspace.
There are very good spots to see particular species, such as rock thrushes, all year round in Minerva (male has blue chest marking) and in winter, alpine birds such as wall creepers (little grey birds on grey rocks, until they open their wings) or Portiragne on the Grand Maire for greater flamingos, black winged stilts, terns and more, and Lespignan, where lesser kestrels (bit smaller, no dark moustache, yellow toenails instead of grey) have been reintroduced. But you may not have to go far. Until recently there was a magnificent eagle owl (1.8 metre wingspan) who used to perch in full view in a local carpark!
Philippa showed us many excellent photos and talked about how to distinguish different raptors in the air (eg Bonelli's eagle has darkish underwings, short-toed eagles' are largely white). She showed us photos of birds we could commonly see in our gardens and on roadsides, and at what time of year, including serins, zitting citicolas (formerly fan- tailed warblers), Sardinian warblers, black redstarts, rollers and bee-eaters (which sound like an old British telephone). Philippa played us some of their songs and calls, the former mainly heard in springtime.
Philippa ended by telling an enthusiastic audience how to get started, including putting water out in the garden, good binoculars, 10 by 32 is plenty good enough, Collins Field Guide, still the best, and what not to do (drones near nests!). The Merlin app is great for identifying birdsong, which is the best way to begin to identify birds. Participating in guided trips will whet your appetite. Birding Languedoc has trained guides who know where to go and can identify what birds are around by their sound, as soon as they step out of the car. For those who prefer wildflowers, there are trips for that too!
With St Patrick's Day coming up on the 17th March, Mickael welcomed us in Gaelic and then asked what we know of St.Patrick. Everyone immediately thinks of the parades. The first parade was in 1601 in St Augustine in Florida! Then in 1731 in Boston and 1762 in New York - all associated with high populations of Irish diaspora. Today, even the rivers go green for the day in Chicago! The first Irish parade was in Waterford in 1903.
Myths - St Patrick banished snakes from Ireland? There were none. He dressed in green? Up until the rise of Irish nationalism in the 18c Patrick was always depicted in pale blue. And his use of shamrock to explain the Trinity - there is no historical record of this. Most Irish people would report that Patrick was captured in Wales and taken to Ireland where he spent 6 years as a slave. In fact it is much more likely that he was captured by Irish pirates in Brittany.
We have two letters written by St Patrick in which he tells us something of his life. He was born in 385 to Romanised Celtic parents, - Father from Strathclyde and Mother from Gaul. Aged 16, he was captured into slavery by Irish pirates and lived as a shepherd somewhere in Ireland. He felt called by God to ministry, escaped, and joined family in Brittany who had left Britain with the withdrawal of some Roman troops. He spent years in France studying for the priesthood, first with the community of St Martin of Tours, then as a barefoot monk and finally with St.Germanus of Auxerre, before returning to Ireland as a missionary. Ireland was ruled by Chieftains and Druids were responsible for the oral history, poetry, law, and religious ceremonies. Patrick first successfully converting a clan chieftain in Antrim, in the north of Ireland, before travelling all around the northern half of the island. He Christianised existing festivals and druid practices - for example blessing sacred wells, and then using them for baptism. Patrick finally died in Antrim, and is buried in Downpatrick.
Michael told us stories of Patrick's miracles and amusing encounters - including being asked to suck the nipples of some brigands - a Celtic gesture of friendship (he refused). He concluded by offering us all a tot of Connemara whiskey and a copy of St Patrick's prayer - the Breastplate or "the Deer's Call" as it is known.
Helen, Gill and Sandra talked about the Tuesday Club. They focused on the origins, early years and purpose of the Club. Six current or past presidents were in attendance!
Helen talked about the first full year of the Club in 2009-10, when it had its articles of association, officers (unpaid) and purpose of not-for-profit space to enjoy each other's company and to make friends, not just for 'ex-pats', but for all and everyone. All three speakers emphasised how valuable the Tuesday Club was in ensuring that newcomers to the area could meet people regularly, and for those arriving without speaking French, how important that is in breaking social isolation. Right from the start, there was a wide range of weekly talks and trips. Members have a wealth of hobbies, interests, lived experience and contacts to contribute.
Gill talked about the origins of the Club in 2008, when Carol's English bookshop was a great place to bump into people, and Carol had many contacts in the arts. It was she who had the idea of the Club, which began upstairs in the Blah Blah cafe, developed a newsletter in English and French, and put on British bands on a Friday night. She helped develop and write articles for the English/French magazine which was issued monthly for about two years giving information on all the local events and she encouraged through the English community live music which became weekly events throughout a couple of summers.
The Club met later in Hotel Moliere, Cinema Moliere, Salle Bonnafous and Hotel St Germain. The Club was always looking for a bright, ground floor venue with parking, preferably free! Today, thanks to Pezenas Mairie, we have all of that in Salle Ginette Michel.
Sandra spoke about her experience in various officer roles in those years, and the logistics of organising events, transport. venues, lunches. Gill and Sandra separated out some of the officer roles, to reduce individuals' workload. Sandra spoke of the difficulties when the Club had to stop meeting during COVID, but how important it was that members continued to support each other. And how Jackie and Kevin relaunched the Club post- COVID, so that it is thriving today.
The speakers had fond memories of trips such as the little train in the Pyrenees, Abbey de Valmagne, table top fairs and summer parties and Christmas lunches. All the speakers mentioned that not every talk interests everyone, and occasional trips don't go to plan. But as Helen reminisced about the boat trip in awful weather, members' camaraderie made the best of it. She finished by saying God Bless the Tuesday Club and all who sail in her.
Wednesday 25 February 2026: Afshin Hosseiny: Towers of silence. Afshin spoke about the Parsee custom of sky burial in Mumbai. He thanked Robert for the source podcast by the International Women’s Foundation.
When the Arab-Islamic armies conquered Persia, many Persians (Parsees or Parsis) in 7-10th century migrated to India to protect their religious beliefs. Parsees originally settled in Gujarat, them some moved to Mumbai , where they were able to practice their Zoroastrian religious (centred on fire as the representation of the divine) . A legend said that the local Hindu king had showed them a pan full of milk, saying, suggesting that there was no room for Parsees, the Parsee leader addedsome sugar in the milk which didn't overflow, showing there was room for the Parsees. Today, the number of Parsees in Mumbai is in decline, to around 57,000. Parsees are a highly urban, educated community, with strong representation in businesses, law, education and the arts.
Afshin's talk focused on the Parsee custom of exposing their dead at the top of large towers, each 15 - 30m tall, to be consumed by vultures - in 30 minutes! The remaining clean bones are brushed into a central hollow in the tower. The custom arose from Parsee beliefs on of good and the impurity of evil, which are in constant battle. The souls of the departed had already gone to await the last judgement. Since cadavers are impure, they cannot be consumed by fire or buried in earth. The Parsees bought large area of land, called Doongerwadi , and built their sky towers in it. Special workers, who could not leave that land, live in Doongerwadi perform the rituals.
Over the years the population of vultures (40 million) in India has reduced by 99% due to the increased use of Diclofenac painkiller for animal husbandry and humans. In addition a complex mix of the rise of ethno-nationalism, the literal rise of high-rise apartment blocks overlooking the sky towers, and housing demand, put political pressure on the Parsee cemetery. The Parsees tried alternative methods to accelerate decomposition, including putting solar panels on the towers, but to limited effect, meaning the decomposing bodies remain for too long on the towers. For now, the Parsees of Mumbai have managed to hold on to their 2000-year-old custom, but smaller communities of Parsees elsewhere have had to abandon it. Helen noted that Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was a Parsee, from Zanzibar, whose funeral service in London was conducted by a Zoroastrian priest, but Freddie was cremated. Denis remarked that in the middle of the 20c the Catholic church had to accept cremation due to shortage of burial plots.
Our rather mature membership was very interested in the topic - as Afshin said - a dying tradition!
And welcome to Irini, new member who joined today.
There were lots of games to choose from. For example, there were people playing a complicated kind of dominoes; others playing 'up words' a bit like Scrabble except you can stack the words, eg changing luck to suck; Connect4, a bit like noughts and crosses; Magnetic, where going in low can attract or repel other people's counters and Slayjo card game, lowest score wins. Many apologies to the Jenga players; I interrupted their concentration to ask a question about rules and their tower bit the dust.
But first, Denis presented our cheque for 300 euros to Theo from Cancer Support Languedoc (csflanguedoc.com). They do very valuable work in Herault and Aveyron, supporting cancer patients and their close family:- everything from medical liaison to language and emotional support, wellness activities and driving people to appointments and events. Support is free for the users - and the charity are always looking for volunteers. Over the year, we collect the money from the donations you make for your weekly tea and coffee, and this is the main source of our contribution to Cancer Support, so, as Theo said, keep on drinking!
We watched a slideshow (many thanks to Afshin for organising the slides) of magnificent photographs Colette took during a 2 months' road trip to the UK last summer. Just Colette and her trusty van and Frenchwoman's can-do attitude, including driving the van in narrow, twisty roads to remote Highlands' hamlets. The van got a ding or two, but got her home safely.
It was an incredible journey, up through France then driving right round the UK, from the Cotswolds through York, Durham and Edinburgh, to Ullapool in the very north of Scotland and down the west coast from the Highlands and Isle of Skye to the Lake District, North Wales and London.
Colette encouraged us to ask questions and speak about the places we had visited - from Cotswolds pubs, to swimming! in freezing Loch Ness! to touring the magnificent Bodnant gardens, one of Colette's favourite memories. It was an enjoyable trip down memory lane for many of us and a stimulus for some of us to take a look at the maps and think about a trip of our own.
With a focus on English black and white cottages and Scottish baronial mansions, hills, heather, coasts and lowering, rainy skies (it was the UK summer after all), the UK looked curiously empty of people...except for a surprisingly large number of photos of rather attractive Scotsmen in kilts ...
In 1968, 22-year-old Trevor decided to see the world. He signed up for the merchant navy as a junior officer engineer. To see the Americas and the Caribbean, he worked for banana companies trading through the Panama Canal. Life on board was hard work with long watches, and often boring. It could be dangerous ashore (he was held up at gunpoint) or the rum too tempting for young men - he and 2 others found their ship had sailed without them, so had to fly and take the train to catch up. We learnt a lot about the technical challenges of getting ships through the Canal, illustrated with photos, and a video about growing and processing bananas.
Our western bananas are almost all Cavendish, from Chatsworth greenhouse 180 years ago. Banana growers are the bigger users of pesticides, more than 200, and very bad for workers' health, though safe for consumers and very healthy. They ripen in ethylene at the retail end of their journey and there is a big banana shed in Perpignan.
The presentation had lots of enjoyably groan-worthy jokes. Why did the banana go out with the prune? Because she couldn't get a date. How does a banana answer the phone? Yellow? Trevor finished his talk by showing us lots of yummy banana desserts - but in the words of the 1923 US hit-song - yes we had no bananas!
Elfie Majoie made a presentation about Occitanie
Christiane Bouissié of the Pézenas Twinning Association talked to us about the activities of one of our fellow Pézenas associations which is forging links between our town and Market Drayton in the UK
The Western Isles where it hardly ever goes below 7c or above 17c: fresh air, white sand beaches, excellent seafood, flowery fields, ancient history! The only part of Britain where the majority of the population speak Gaelic. Join Katherine for a 'tour' of the landscape, language, music, migration, tragedy, tweed, and brief stories of two women native to the islands whose actions resonate to the present day...
The Magical Kingdom at the Roof of the World. Tucked between Tibet and Bhutan, annexed by India in 1975, famous for its monasteries and mountains, its temples and its tea. Our globetrotting friend brings us photos and tales of this ancient and remote gem.
YPRES 1914 “Paris by Xmas!” exclaim the German papers. Ypres, Belgium, November 1914. French, British and Belgian troops have been desperately resisting the advance of the massive German Army. Now the Germans target the tattered remnants of the British Army for a break-through. A break-through that can win the War. The Kaiser himself travels to the battlefield to encourage the troops and watch their triumphal march into Ypres……
Little spoken of today, this battle was of great significance for World War One. George Calder, leader of many battlefield tours to Belgium and France, explains the story of the 1st Battle of Ypres.
Lee Summerall: In 1622, the fabled Spanish “treasure ship” sank in the Florida Straits. Part of the annual fleet of loot sent to Spain, the disaster nearly destabilized the Spanish Empire. Over 350 years later, treasure hunter Mel Fisher found it. But the State of Florida wanted it all
How does one come to know a place without local language? I began by observing slowly evolving, silent parts: buildings, small streets, cascading gardens. Walk with me through a day in the old town. Resist human contact-outside of a few haunting exchanges. Enjoy a (mostly) quiet view of old Pézenas.
We took a private tour of the 17th century château, visiting its frescoed chapel, gardens and vineyards and the wine making facilities. After the tour was an optional picnic - olives, cheeses, charcuterie, bread with tomatoes and garlic accompanied by six wines.
The unusual legacies of a caring French businesswoman, an influential English Lord, and Congo gorillas. Against all odds, Yvette Leroy restored to health orphaned baby gorillas till their release into their natural habitat. The feat wouldn’t have been possible without the help of John Aspinall, a charismatic and wealthy aristocrat.
Sarah Mortimer shared her fascinating experiences as a producer. Starting as a go-fer at BBC but quickly rising into production, Sarah’s creative life was enhanced by unique opportunities to film lives of both “ordinary” people and celebrities. And feed wild hyenas!
Under the nom de plume of Jocelyn de Labry. Jonathan will talk about his recently published satirical novel about reckless and corrupt behaviour in the financial world.
Count Patrick D’Arcy, born in his village, Kiltullagh, Co.Galway. He had a very interesting c.v. Including having a holiday in the Tower of London, becoming director of the Royal Academy of Science in Paris and being elevated to a general in the Kings army, eventually being created a count by Louis XVI.
Steve looked at how the introduction of real railways created an interest in the whole population of owning models of railways/railroads, how the business adjusted to social changes, and where we are now. At the end, we looked at a few famous modellers and what they've created.
Remembering the East Lancashire Loom Breakers of 1826: Catherine Boyle. In an age when we are seeking to understand the benefits and threats of AI for our lives and work, some are reflecting on whether there are historical parallels in the widespread uprisings of the 19th century as Britain became the world’s first industrialised nation. As we approach the 200th anniversary of these events, Catherine will tell the story of her 4 x great grandfather, Simeon Wright, convicted in 1826 as one of the East Lancashire ‘rioters’. This has been the start of a journey, leading Catherine to discover other aspects of her Lancashire heritage from poetry in desperate times to the uplifting and still thriving brass band tradition.
Denis Anthony: A short history of computers and connecting computers together.
Claude Alranq is the Founder of the “Théâtre de la Carriera” (1968) and an artisan of the renaissance of southern French and Occitan theatre. Alranq wrote, directed and performed some fifty works closely linked to local and international events, in the diverse Francophone settings, both in France (Pays d'oc, Bretagne, Catalogne, Pays Basque...) and elsewhere (Mali, Kanaky and Outremer...).
Wednesday February 19 2025 Canal du Midi: Raymonde Fourcade: history ,construction, its impact and the canal today.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 The Bomb that didn't Explode: Robert Scarborough: A podcast on global population with discussion afterwards
Wednesday 5 February Would I lie to you? Mark Wilson: A game where we had to guess which of three statements given by a member was false
Wednesay 29 January 2025 The Commando Poet: An Irreverent Memoir Jackie Keefe
Denis Anthony/Katherine Duffy: The home of Lady Jane Grey - queen of nine days, and the only village to have moved a motorway (M1) which would have destroyed Bradgate Park - given for the quiet enjoyment of the people of Leicestershire by industialist Charles Bennion.
Wednesday 9 October 2024 “Call of Duty-Free” Robert Scarborough
Wednesday 2 October 2024 “Dr Dave does serious ! Vaccines, Why, how, the past the future?” David Leather
Wednesday, 18 September 2024 “The Balkans: Violence, Mystery and Romance.” Jonathan Bradley
Wednesday 19 June 2024 Lesley Lewis - Street
Elfie Majoie: Elfie gave us an insight into the mysteries which can be unravelled via DNA testing. She explained how the tests work and how testing can be used to trace close relatives. She shared with us the story of how, such a test unravelled a family secret which had been hidden for decades.
Wednesday, 22 May 2024: Languedoc Solidarité avec les Réfugiés Pete Cowan
15 May 2024 Visit to Chateau Lauren
8 May 2024 “The Cardinal, Cleopatra and the Pasha” (Butterflies) Jonathan Bradley
1 May 2024 The Old Flax Mill Sandra Jones
24 April 2024 Visit to Domaine de la Font des Ormes
17 April 2024 Favourite Bakes Afshin Hosseiny
20 MArch 2024 Nowruz Team Hosseiny
6 March 2024 Louis Paulhan Tony Swainsbury
28 February 2024 Amnesty International
21 Februay 2024 Frida Kahlo Tania
14 February 2024 Myths of Writing Life Lee Summerall
7 February 2024 A life in medical media Dave Leather
24 January 2024 St. Dominic Helen Clapham
17 January 2024 The Wall Denise Hosseiny
10 January 2024: Galettes de Rois Afshin Hosseiny