πͺπΈSaturday 19th November 2022π€ 16C ~ Wind NW @ 8MPH ~ I arrived in Spain yesterday morning in the heavy rain, very welcome rain by all accounts, for a 2-week stay at my friend's villa in Mijas. So with improved conditions, today was spent just chilling out on the terrace taking in the host of species that reside here.
Crested Tit ~ The one bird I always look forward to seeing daily. |
Crested Tits are regular visitors to the grounds and if you sit patiently (with a beer or two) there quite happy to come and pose for a photo.
The elusive Sardinian Warbler. |
Sardinian Warblers breed here and are resident all year round in the gardens and also at this time of year up to a half-dozen Black Redstarts arrive to spend the winter. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are here too in smaller numbers and Red-legged Partridge are often calling from further down the hill and can occasionally come up to the villa to forage. There's a slow but constant movement overhead with Crag Martins coming lower down the mountains for the winter months and Common Crossbills are a regular fly-by. Today a couple of Ravens, Common Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were also noted.
There are a few butterflies still on the wing and the gardens make good habitat for Lang's Short-tailed Blues, with several seen today feeding on the Lantana.