What A Day For A Daydream - Lovin' Spoonful

After yet another great evening followed by an early morning walk to photograph Black Wheatear; I have come to the realisation that given enough time I could get really fed up with this series of parties, classic birding, fine food and wine, great company etc, etc. For now I will have to grit my teeth and follow on for yet another adventure, starting with this

Grasshopper? just outside John & Marion's front door. From here we headed for the market at Ayora which was by and large clothing and nicknacks, not at all my bag, but followed by a visit to

This establishment has its foundations in Rock 'n' Roll and it wasn't long before

we, along with friend Barrie, settled down to a couple of drinks and a track or two of serious Boogie! We were met by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers classic American Girl, followed by The Who, Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Kinks, Floyd et al, accompanied by chicken neck and prawns, curried chicken, chorizo & cheese and lashings of wine - yum, yum.

We were amazed by photographs of such legends as (my all-time hero) Jimi Hendrix and the Experience,

while our most knowledgable host (born after his time) Pablo looked after us in traditional Spanish fashion.

Also on the walls were Led Zeppelin in full swing, my guess is that this photograph was taken about 1970, but couldn't venture as to which number they are doing!

After we took a look around and at the centre piece of Ayora town before heading for the Campo,

an area of agricultural land between Ayora and Teresa de Cofrentes. Here we found a goat / sheep herder plus Reed Bunting, an addition to the trip list, as was

Corn Bunting at close quarters. With confirmation of Collared Dove earlier in the day, this brought the Trip Total to 49. My 1976 edition of Heinzel, Fitter & Parslow describes this Dove as absent from the Iberian Penninsular, but over the passage of time it would seem, like Great Britain, they have colonised!

Further along we came across this home, complete with miniature windmill, and by 16-00 we were at Steve and Linda's for tapas and just a thimble full of wine. More of that tomorrow if I get up, good night, hic!

Choughed To Bits

Our evening was taken up yesterday by a fine dinner produced by John and Marion (I'm sure he won't mind me saying, mostly the latter), shared by some equally fine guests. From left and around the table Linda, Don and wife Annie, Steve (Linda's husband), John, Barrie and Moi. Again Marion was left to do the work! With an endless supply of wine we enjoyed a tasty pate, an even more delicious taragon chicken and sure to agree with everyone a steamed (orange) pudding.

Our day started on a wonderful high as the dense early morning fog cleared quickly leaving a cloudless sky and bright sunshine. Enjoying my coffee on the patio, I looked over the 30 foot high wall to see c5 Sardinian Warblers foraging in the roadside bushes. I hurried down but by the time I arrived only this female remained but did allow me this shot.

A better photograph of the still very nervy Spotless Starling

The public wash house, complete with fixed wash boards, in the nearby village of Jarafuel

Just outside of Alcala del Jucar we stopped at this Romanesque monument

for a photo call

and a look of utter amazment as I first clapped eyes on the beautiful little town, of the same name, nestled on a hillside.

A closer view of Alcala del Jucar Castle


Climbing the steep streets towards the church


Familiar to all, a male Mallard on the River Jucar


and the town bridge over the same river

Running the length of the valley another Moorish aquaduct

The entrance to the Cuevas del Diablo (The Cave of the Devil). This extensive cave and chamber system was single-handedly hewn from the rock face by one man who became known locally as 'The Devil'. The price, 3 Euros, included a drink which we picked up at the bar before heading for the veradah and where John and Marion had a lovely surprise for me.

Firstly, we were treated to some aerobatics by a Lesser Kestrel

before the stars of the show turned up by way of c4 Chough.

All of the birds stayed at great distance but a few 'manual focus' shots were possible before gaining altitude, thought to have been over 1,000 feet, and then disappeared. Later in the afternoon we did stop and counted 6 which we considered to be the originals plus 2.

A view from the verandah

The cave was a museum of collectables ranging from postage stamps to farming tools, but this fish particularly caught my eye. The question for Andy Lindsay is it a Zander?

The verandah where the previous photographs were taken from centre picture, taken across the other side of the valley.

This region is home to the Troglodytes, with many homes

carved out of the cliffside,

many of them looking quite ornate.

Finally, there were other birds added to the trip list today namely:-

Nightingale, Little Owl (still not on my GB list this year), Raven, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Red-legged Partridge (seen by John alone), a much bedraggled single Spanish Sparrow and a Moorhen.

Over The Hills & Far Away - Led Zeppelin

We had a whale of a time last night at the bar run by Carlos just up the street, and despite pulsating and loud techno music we enjoyed some convivial conversation.

Ill-at-ease would be the term I would use to describe the birds hereabouts, not making for very good photographic subjects, with even the humble House Sparrow disappearing at great distance. John and Marion had to busy themselves this morning with shopping for and preparing the dinner party for this evening, so I set out alone to discover more about the local area here at Teresa de Cofrentes.

It would seem the best time to encounter the local Spotless Starling population is early morning as they fly from their roost on the church to set off in seach of food. Poor light saw to it that the images were not of the best, but I'll plug away in the hope of producing some better ones.

Both Black Wheatear were in attendance again,

in a compount just behind the house

and a little further on up the hill I was able to get this shot of Teresa de Cofrentes.

A 'Bracket' type fungus on a fruit tree caught my eye,

as did a Short-toed Eagle as it began its upward 'thermaling', again I guess in search of food?

There were 8 additions to the 'trip list' today, one being the Eagle above and a couple of

Crested Lark which were initially seen perched on a house before flying to a nearby Olive Grove where they were displaying and calling.

In the same grove I found this strange looking plant

while these delicate flowers were in abundance along every roadside.

Blue Tit was addition number 3 confirming a suspicion of one yesterday.

Some of the rugged terrain throughout these hills, and at lower elevation arable land which supports

Mistle Thrush,

what I believe to be Cordiline or Aloe Vera,

Meadow Pipit

Stonechat and this species

of Cactus.

Some time after mid-day I called in to see Mine Host Carlos at the local beer bar, for a pint, smoked fish and a plate of locally produced papas (crisps).

There was a warm welcome plus a random snapshot of some of the people in the bar who, it turned out, to be a number of local dignitaries as identified by John & Marion. From left, the town Mayor, unknown, the Blacksmith, the Judge, unknown, the Blacksmith's wife, unknown and the Mayor's wife.

The other additions to the 'list' were Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler (both vocal), Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail and Coal Tit. I was almost sure a Collared Dove flew into the same tree as the Tit, but firstly the field guide states they do not occur here and second there was no follow up confirmation of my brief glipmse.