… and a Golden Oriole calling this morning reminded me of the approaching heat of Summer. We are very fortunate to have the wooded slopes close by, where the temperature stays comfortable even during the hottest hours. These days the woods are full of fledglings and their parents desperately foraging for the necessary insects to feed them, but before long the quiet will reign, and only the doves, flycatchers and parakeets will be heard.

For now, the gulls are as protective as ever, being very vocal, and putting off the sightseers with their swooping dives. Views out over the port and Mediterranean are worth running the gauntlet.

We have a local meteorological phenomenon called Terral. A hot wind that blows in from the North-West, which is the predominant wind direction around here. The dry air in the high Summer can get pretty uncomfortable, and for those without air-conditioning at home, sometimes the only option is to decamp to the local woods or the beach at night. We have a couple of days of Terral and the temperature could well be up in the mid-thirties Celsius tomorrow afternoon.

Back to the birds, I will have to add the Common Crossbill to my list of residents, although I’m not sure that they are nesting here.

Although in silhouette, you can just make out the peculiar but practical tools these birds have for extracting the pine kernels.

I’ve managed to blag a day off tomorrow so I plan to take Billy on a longer walk, with hat and plenty of water. in the meantime, here’s a squirrel with a juicy pine cone…