Greetings everybody. As northern europe suffered it’s coldest winter for over 30 years, Andalucia suffered it’s wettest. Rain, rain and more rain. Christmas and the New year were a bit damp to say the least. We were just outside the village looking after our friends’ dogs & cats while they went off to northern europe to struggle in the snow.
However, in the dry periods we managed a few sightings in and around their finca of the following birds.
Robins(Petirrojo), Blackcaps(Curruca capirotada), Sardinian warbler (Curruca cabecinegra), Grey wagtail (Lavendera cascadena), Blackbirds (Mirlo), Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero comun), Crag martins ( Avion roquero), Black redstarts (Colirrojo tizon), Greenfinch (Verderon comun), Great tit (Carbonero comun), Blue tit (Herrerillo comun), Rock sparrow (Gorrion chillon) and Rock bunting ( Escribano montesino). These birds were out and about as soon as the rain stopped and the sun shone.
We heard Cettis warblers (Ruisenor bastardo-what a great name !) and also saw and heard the distinctive tinkle of Serins (Verdecillo). Normally a sign of spring approaching – do they know something we don’t, as it did not feel like spring when the sun wasn’t shining, especially when snow was covering the mountains behind the village, Sierra Prieta.
Flying over the fields we spotted a Cormorant (Cormoran) a Heron (Garza real) and Cattle egrets (Garcilla Bueyera).
Just behind the house there are resident Kestrels (Cernicalo) and these were guarding their territory as a pair of Ravens (Cuervo) flew too close to their nest area. A distinctive kronking noise alerted us to the Ravens followed by the kestrels chiding them in their high pitch call.
-Incidently, did you know that the Norse god, Odin, kept a pair of Ravens, called Huginn & Muninn – Thought & Memory, and he would send them out in the morning amongst the living and the dead and they would return in the evening to tell him of all the news and secrets of men and spirits . That’s why you always see them in pairs, although we did see four together one day! (Siblings or offspring maybe?)
We also spotted about 3 o’clock in the afternoon a bat. At first we though it was one of the Crag martins but it had a very different flying pattern. Possibly a horseshoe bat.
The dogs barking alerted us to the wild goats ( Ibex) on the rock face behind. Several Ibex were sauntering their way across the valley, making the journey across the shear rock face look easy.
Finally we heard the wonderful call of the Eagle owl (Buho real) just after dusk and again before dawn, unfortunately it was too dark to get a really clear view, only an outline of this magnificent bird.
That was a great ending to our house sitting . We are back in Casarabonela now and are watching the cheeky sparrows (Gorrion comun) trying to keep warm & dry.
