There is a change in the air. The last of the gull chicks have fledged and their parents are less fussed by the presence of dogs and dog walkers. The Common Swifts are thinning out and the majority have already made their way back to Africa. The Pallid Swifts are often amongst the last to leave us, alongside the flycatchers which are still plentiful up in the pine woods.

As the migration season gets into full swing, it is always worth having a scan overhead to see what might be passing through. I am yet to see any of the tens of thousands of Honey Buzzards which will be heading down the coast to Tarifa and the shortest flight path possible over the sea. I did see a young Marsh Harrier circling over the ramparts, the sun glinting off its golden head feathers.

We have had some hot weather and being our first Summer together I was anxious about how Billy would cope when the temperature doesn’t drop below 35ºC at midnight. I think he is better equipped than I am despite the hair.

He still bounds around, chasing squirrels and playing with his buddies. At home he has developed a liking for ice cubes and gazpacho! He is also learning to help out when it comes to rubbish clearance…

I hope to bring you news of mass migration events any day now, but for now things are fairly quiet on the avian front, so here is some gruesome insect action involving ants, an unfortunate hornet, and an obliging cicada, which normally hang out in the high branches.