2nd - 4th July 2007

2nd July, Just after 6 p.m. Wind W , 7kt, humidity 56%, temp 24.3 deg C

Gazelles - 2 in eastern field beyond the orchard, seemed to be a mom and quite well grown young. amongst maze of dry stone walls , not far from security fence. They ran a little to the south, Young ran further, mom stayed under small stand of olive trees, both grazed a while, she looking out. till the youngster decided to rejoin her.. presently he sproinged back to join her.

Turtle doves: Some cooing

Bee-eaters: prob same flock as yesterday, at least two dozen over path to bunker, over young pine grove.. perched on lines, shifted to the older growth at far east of north valley.

Great spotted cuckoo, calling and being fed top of pine in the pine and cypress grove to east of gaz field. (now will be called north gaz field as opposed to east gaz field

Hoopoes , one flying over part of gazelle field, two foraging on path by orchard

HOBBY! Great to see again, I thought they'd all moved on. Gliding approx over cistern and tree, or a little further east. Head 'hood' clearly visible, back wings lighter grey than adult.

House sparrows, Senegal doves, Hooded crows: Eurasian Jays, Feral pigeons as usual

Jackdaws: small flock on lowest slopes of hill other side of fence to west- heard over street at 7. 30 p.m. ish. are they back? Not seen after that. Would be almost ironic if they 'migrate' just across the valley.

Greenfinches: family group in pines by bunker, Blackbirds: foraging various locations throughout woods

Chukars: none; Collared doves: much activity, foraging , over fore part of n gaz field, pomegranate trees, flight calls,

Stone curlews: some calls, Sunbirds: vocal in our Bauhinia as usual, especially dawn and dusk but other visits.

Graceful warblers: foraging in grasses and pines, We usually see them because they're as quick as wrens, but when we get them in bino view they are just so cute! Stripey heads and perky long graduated tail. Syrian woodpeckers: calls, alarm calls, quite vocal, some drumming in pine w malfoy

I skipped 3rd July because I was feeling blah.

4th July: 26.9 and falling, 39% and rising, W 10.4 kt

Gazelle- just after 7 p.m. 1 female or well grown young, without horns but with clear markings, v nice.. about 100ft behind cistern in eastern end of gazelle field, probably came down from behind the pine grove.. saw it lick its flank back left flank a few times but no obvious site of injury. About an hour checking both fields found no sign of others.

Turtle doves: plenty coos

Bee-eaters: several hunting over gazelle fore field, lots of prrps to west.

House sparrows: Senegal doves:Hooded crows:Feral pigeons: pretty much as usual

Jackdaws: small flock at foot of hill to east again, just beyond the security fence.

Jays: Busy as usual on field and dry stone walls both fields, Collared doves, coos, active over north field especially around the cistern.

Greenfinches: plenty twittering and cheeing, not on thistles today.

Blackbirds: song and foraging in usual territories. There's a regular songster in the north valley just down from the houses and another regular in a pine stand picnic area where the valley road turns south

Stone curlews: vocal and nice view of one flying over slopes of hill to north between north field and the village of Adam. Always great to actually see them.

Sunbirds: Vocally active today in Bauhinia, in centre of wood along trail between valley road and cistern and along valley road.. I'd estimate maybe five territories between the bunker and the pumping station. We saw one today foraging in the top of a cypress, probably for insects. Along our street at least as many territories given they can use many ornamental plants for nesting and feeding. Despite the fact that our local 'sapphireness' was lovey dovey with his mate all summer so far, nothing to show for it.. well at least he's had a good time and no responsibilities, but sad no success, probably the cats the neighbours encourage kept them from breeding this year. Seems they managed last year.

Graceful warblers: calls

Syrian woodpeckers: quite active today.. plenty calls and alarm calls and some noticed in flight

Bulbuls: Quite vocal today

Great tits, wheatears, chukars: none noticed.