But only as far as the skies are concerned. Banks of low cloud have been rolling in from the sea all day, dumping the occasional shower over the Gibralfaro, all of which are most welcome, although Billy might disagree. He’s not much of a fan of getting wet, but happily he doesn’t seem to be bothered by the heat. There are flashes of lightning close by and a few huge raindrops fall as we make our way up the hill. It was an earlier start than normal, and we were treated to a lovely dawn chorus. Vocalists: Blackbird, Blackcap and Chaffinch. Backing vocals: Wood Pigeon and Collared Dove. Percussion: Sardinian Warbler.

We disturbed a mob of Monk Parakeets ground feeding, and they took off as one, up into the nearby Eucalyptus. These birds have firmly established themselves in this city as they have in many other Spanish cities including Barcelona and Madrid. They are considered more than a bit of a nuisance and some measures have been taken to reduce the burgeoning population. Locally, they like to set up communal nests in the palm trees, especially the one just outside the window of the mayor’s office! Suffice to say, that the measures haven’t worked to date, and, anyway I really like them, they add some colour and character to the local wildlife and there doesn’t seem to be any firm evidence to suggest that they adversely affect other local bird populations.

I heard the familiar but rarely around here, croak of a Grey Heron as it circled overhead, getting some grief from one of the local Yellow-Legged Gulls. It instantly transported me to a canal bank in Stroud, with low-lying mist swallowing whole Willow trees, and the Heron’s call from the bank opposite. That has to be my favourite thing about bird watching. You are constantly reminded of other places and the people you were with at the time.

A Hoopoe flew across the path and perched in a Eucalyptus. A flock of Black Starlings in formation passed on their way to their feeding grounds down the coast to the East. Their noisy roosts in the big Fiscus trees take me back to my childhood and our occasional visits to Leicester Square. The billboards and huge plane trees used to be filled to bursting and the noise something to behold. I doubt a Starling has been seen in Leicester Square for quite some time. The same goes for Battersea Park. The gas holders would be carpeted with roosting birds once upon a time. Now there are neither gas holders or Starlings. Food for thought.

A family of Crested Tits were busy in the low pines and our Turtle Dove is back and cooing away at the top of his preferred Cyprus. No sign of a mate, and it might be a little too late for that now.