Sunday 09 October 2016, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light W wind, 30C

It's a week since my last post and a succession of easterly levante winds have held the temperature in the high 20s centigrade throughout. Today the wind backed to westerly and the mercury hit 30C.
Although the weather hasn't changed much recently the avian landscape has with no sightings of Booted Eagle, Swift or Barn Swallow in the village for a couple of weeks whilst raptor migration is more or less over.
The highlights of a walk along the Camino de Gibraltar this morning from 08:00-09:30hrs were a female/1st summer Northern Wheatear, a female/1st summer Pied Flycatcher, Hawfinch and Firecrest. Also seen were 50+ Griffon Vulture over Sierra Crestellina, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Thekla/Crested Lark, Black Redstart (first returning bird in the 'village' area), European Robin, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, 5+ Chiffchaff sp., Sardinian Warbler, 5+ Blackcap, a flock of 25+ Goldfinch, 5+ Cirl Bunting and Corn Bunting.

Whilst having a late morning coffee at Bodeguita Chaparro there were a couple of Firecrest in an adjacent oak tree and at least one Common Crossbill flew overhead.

Northern Wheatear - adopting an uncharacteristic pose on a telephone cable