Saturday, October 6, 2007

Walk 6th October

Walk starting about 4.30 p.m.
Temp range today 15-24 degrees C. Start of walk: ~21 degrees C
humidity: over 60% and rising, wind west veering northwest ~6kt

Gazelles
- At about sunset adult buck emerged from behind the pine grove by the security fence on the east and made his way west across the far end of gazelle field.. not grazing, just taking a few paces then stopping still, head raised at full attention.. probably trying to pick up scent of the group. At one point he squatted, then moved on. By the time he got to the single trees at the far end of gazelle field where the group usually graze he stopped to graze himself. At that point light too dim to watch through binoculars and time to go back.

hyrax- some high pitched alarm calls from colony by the valley road/cypress slum area- probably a cat alert.
feral dogs. Much barking from the security fence by east field area, sounds like the pack were around there somewhere.

Several swallows Hirundo rustica, noticed flying low at the beginning of valley road next to north valley. When swallows pass through that spot seems a favourite spot for them to stop by and hunt

Immature shrike, Masked, Lanius nubicus, I believe, perched low outer edge of a large acacia just up from valley road, not far from the large hyrax colony. Still mostly greyish.

Hoopoes. One flew from cistern area to the pines and eucalyptus of the east valley.
House sparrows: Around houses as usual
Senegal doves, Feral pigeons: quiet lately, not noticed.
Hooded crows: Around and vocal, flock of 60 spooked and rose from 'windsurfer hill', settled back soon after.
Jackdaws: Some calls.
Eurasian Jays: Very vocal and much activity in the pines and on the fields, small groups and singly
Greenfinches: Group in the large pine by the ruined bunker, keeping quiet, chirped and moved around in there a little when we arrived.
Blackbirds: Alarm calls heard, both the 'chack chack' and 'sreeet' calls along the dry creek trail.
Chukars, stone curlews, graceful warbler :silent during our walk.
Collared doves: At least a couple deep in the pine foliage over the ruined bunker some vocalisations similar to the harsh flight call, another flying between trees
Sunbirds: Beautiful full song of iridescent male, violet and green, in flowering shrub next door's garden, then he flew into the cape honeysuckle
Syrian woodpeckers: Some calls in various parts of the pine woods.
Bulbuls: Harsh calls in the garden. 4 in the abandonned orchard.
Great tits: Calls along valley road, harsh alarm call and a musical three tone call a few times. First musical call I've heard from them in some time.

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