Wildlife

Birdlife

I could type in a huge list of birds if I knew how to identify all those little brown birds that dart between the trees and confirm all the raptors that soar around the surrounding hills. We do have our Buzzards that hang around our end of the valley. Griffon Vultures are common and further down the valley are some Booted Eagles. I'm pretty certain that we saw an Egyptian Vulture. Sparrowhawks and Kestrels are around and in spring, Honey Buzzards. Owls are, usually, heard and not seen.

During the summer months, Golden Orioles live just above the house and Beeaters gather down in the valley. The noise of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers is always present attacking our almond crop - leave some for us! Pretty little Golden Finches and Hawfinches come and nibble the seed heads.  

Sometimes Red Legged Partridges scatter in front of the car and Hoopoes are slow to get off the track.  

Animals

Pigs! Lots of the blighters. Otherwise, different sizes of deer, a cat-like genet, mongoose and foxes are typically out and about. Lots of different types of droppings can be found around the site but, as yet, I'm not up to rubbing it between my fingers, having a lusty sniff and pronouncing 'Mouflon about four hours ago!' Maybe next year.

Insects and Scary Things

Undoubtedly a major grouping. Scary things particularly. The snakes aren't poisonous, apparantly. But I don't intend to test this. Scorpions are ouchy and the horrible centipedes and monstrous millepedes are big time ouchy. The large black spiders are to be avoided but the big brown ones just look nasty.

Lots of flying things. The big black Carpenter Bees do not sting but its worthwhile ducking when one drones by. Apart from the occasional ordinary hornet, there is a giant sized one that buzzes around - no not buzz, more like rumble. Easily spotted (because of the shadow it casts!) and not aggressive. Unlike the annoying horse flies that really do mount an attack and give a painful nip. I spend a lot of time swatting these things. Otherwise, lots of flies and wasps of all shapes and sizes during the summer months.

More pleasantly, a lepidologist would have a field day chasing around with a little fishing net catcher thingy after all the different butterflies and moths.