Gazelle weaning time June 15th

This interesting shot caught by my 11 yr old son shows hoopoe with wings and crest spread.

5.45 p.m. clear skies, 24.4 degrees C and falling, 60% humidity rising, wind 2.6 knots WSW (but generally tends to funnel down the north valley from the NW. )

Out just about an hour.. central valley path to 'look-out corner' and back. 'Look-out' corner is near the 'bee eucalyptus' where path to ruined bunker &cistern, creek path and central forest paths meet and is at the corner of gazelle field, orchard and woods.

6.40 p.m. 5 gazelle in gazelle field today.. One mother followed by a well grown young liked to graze near mom and once tried to nurse, rather awkwardly. He seemed to be leaning over past her left shoulder to reach underneath. It was clear that mom was trying to wean because she soon moved off, young one following eagerly, very amusing. One of the others was clearly a buck.. had horns and darker more distinct markings and he grazed further back from the others.. seemed he wanted a little 'space'. The other two were either very well grown young or females.

Bee-eaters- definitely three, possibly four or more judging from direction from which calls seemed to be coming, hawking for insects over orchard and perching in the high eucalyptus next to it.

Hoopoes.. one taking dust bath on creek trail, another pair perched high in eucalyptus near orchard where a pair of bee-eaters had been. Could have been fourth individual in vicinity unless it was the same bird that was dustbathing.

Turtle doves: Cooing from up in the 'bee eucalyptus' or close by.. regular bird.

House sparrows, Senegal doves, Hooded crows (1 by cistern) , Feral pigeons, : activity as usual

Jackdaws: absent

Jays: Two family groups seen near look out corner, one more toward orchard, other back towards woods.

Greenfinches: Much song and seen eating from thistle heads.

Blackbirds: Some song and foraging on ground

Chukars, sunbirds, very quiet today. Our garden bird came to the Bauhinia and called about sunset, no song.

Collared doves: Some cooing, flight calling and one by cistern

Stone curlews: some calls over to north

Graceful warblers: calls and song

Syrian woodpeckers: Quite vocal, alarm calls in a number of locations

Falcon over north valley, flying to north west and clearly struggling against the wind. Hard to ID, young bird I think.. seemed dark brownish on top, not typical terracotta colour of kestrel and not dark grey enough to be hobby. Young hobby? hard to tell.