A Northerly wind, typically bringing high humidity and cooler temperatures. Thankfully, that is what we have prevailing for the foreseeable, and as half of Spain swelters with near record breaking temperatures, we have things relatively easy. It also provides ideal conditions for our local newly fledged Kestrels to go to flying school.

I find it interesting that these urban hunters don’t hover like their country relatives. Hunting methods here are mainly strikes from perches or ledges on buildings. Swifts seem a particular favourite target but they’ll never be caught in mid-air. only when they come in to roost. I watched an adult Kestrel drop off a rooftop and bomb in to an eucalyptus more like a Sparrowhawk, going for a young Chaffinch.

A group of Ring-necked Parakeets were feeding in the treetops. There are far fewer of these cage escapees than the Monks, but are still a fairly common sight, as are Common Waxbills and other exotics

A group of House Sparrows live and nest in and around our block of flats. There is a nest just below our kitchen window in the inclosed patio. The females are the only visitors, while the dominant male bird, sits in the nearby Pomegranate tree chirping away merrily all day. I’ve called him Mighty (one for all you reggae fans).

Here is a younger male bird dispatching a rather large ant.

Billy sniffed out a young hedgehog sheltering in the gutter.

This evening I heard the first cicada of the Summer up by the high wall surrounding the fort. Within a week or so the hill will be full of the sound of rasping wing cases as the adult insects emerge and climb into the pine tops. Summer is well and truly upon us and I am already expectant for the next big bird event from my back door, the returning Honey Buzzards, but that is still a few weeks distant so for now, I will try to photograph all of the local sparrows. That has to be easier than the Turtle Dove which I have all but given up on.

I appreciate that good wildlife photography entails a lot of sitting around, plenty of patience, expensive kit and an adequate knowledge of how your camera works. Since I am normally out walking the dog with my camera slung over my shoulder, the keeping still bit is quite hard. The workings of the camera are a work in progress.

The Tour de France starts tomorrow, so I might just turn my mind to cycling for a week or two. I hope we have a race which goes down to the wire, but more importantly, all the riders get to Paris in one piece.