Monday 11 June, sunny, very warm, 32C, light-fresh NW wind: An early morning walk below Sierra Crestellina near Casares produced Griffon Vulture, an adult Egyptian Vulture, pale morph Booted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, 3 Bonelli's Warbler and Sardinian Warbler.

Sunday 10 June, Gaucin, a very warm day today, it was already 26C by 1000hrs and reached 33C during the afternoon: A good record of a Hobby passing over the village from the south at 0930hrs.

Friday 08 June....some more photos from Extremadura.... In the rice fields...Collared Pratincole, Common Waxbill and European Tree Frog: In Monfrague National Park...Red-rumped Swallow and Griffon Vulture:

Thursday 07 June, mostly sunny, light-fresh NW wind, 26C: back to more usual early June temperatures and feeling cooler in the NW wind. Walked down the Camino de Gibraltar from 1800-1930. An unusual sighting was a late Honey Buzzard flying North over the village, other birds logged were Griffon Vulture, Common and Pallid Swift, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Cirl Bunting (two males having a 'sing-off', see one in photo), Woodchat Shrike, Melodious Warbler, Bonelli's Warbler, White Wagtail, a couple of small flocks of Serin (10-15 birds), Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Corn Bunting. Nightingale and Cetti's Warbler were heard.

Wednesday 06 June....more photos from Extremadura.... Two views from Monfrague Castillo: A male Avadavat moving into full red summer plumage: An Azure-winged Magpie on the rice fields...we saw many of these birds and they were flitting around Finca Santa Marta all day, but they hardly ever stood still!

Wednesday 06 June, sunny, light S-SW wind, 33C: Another hot day....yesterday a Sparrowhawk tried it's luck mid-afternoon with the swifts just above our terrace in Calle Convento; with a loud 'whoosh' the predator dived amongst the prey but with a couple of quick direction changes the swifts were gone and the Sparrowhawk was left hungry - as it has been everytime I've seen it chasing swifts! A couple of photos from Extremadura last week....a bridge over the Rio Almonte and the White Stork nests in the grounds of Finca Santa Marta:

Monday 04 June, Gaucin, light W wind, sunny, hot, 28C: Not much to report for the last few days. It has been very warm, 34C nearer the coast today, and I've had other things to do after being away for a week! A couple of Red-billed Chough flew across the valley just to the south of the village; the Swifts are here in great numbers, enjoying the abundance of small flies; both Cuckoo and Nightingale are singing regularly in the valley to the south; occasional Booted Eagle sightings throughout the day. Hoping to put some of my Extremadura photos up soon - there are not many good bird ones due to viewing distances and the constant heat haze!