July 17,18 Late afternoon walks

July 17 6-7 p.m.: 24.9 degrees C, 60% 9.6 kt wnw

Gazelles: 6 altogether today:) - 1 in meadow foot of slopes nr trees and pylon as usual, 5 ranged higher on slope probably along a goat trail

hyrax some activity

Bee-eaters: much activity, about 20 on ground nr cistern, some on ground nr orchard, busy all over groves, orchard and cistern area. 40 or so swarming over east end of north valley.. in total 50-60

Hoopoes several foraging on dirt trails , by creek and central trail

House sparrows: street, gardens, Senegal doves: valley road, street, gardens

Hooded crows: two distinct flocks at least 50 each, some territorial rivalry on windsurfer hill ? Went back to small group windsurfing on western upper slopes as usual

Jackdaws: some calls, one heard from here, other from east hill

Jays: activity and calls in woods and fields as usual

Feral pigeons: overhead and on buildings as usual

Greenfinches: activity high in eucalyptus and pines as usual, twittering again toward dusk, many juveniles

Blackbirds: some song off middle valley road in east valley

Collared doves: some cooing, flight calls

Stone curlews: some calls north valley hill slopes

Sunbirds: woods some calls, garden as usual

Graceful warblers: calls

Syrian woodpeckers: plenty calls and alarm calls in pines

Bulbuls: quite vocal esp along valley road, foraging

Great tits: some calls

July 18th 6-7 p.m. 27.3 degrees C and falling, humidity 51% and rising, wind WNW 5.2 kt

Gazelles, 2 on lower slopes of hill to north of gazelle field, one with short thin horns, one without

hyrax, some activity

Turtle doves: none heard

Bee-eaters: all over orchard, groves and gazelle field but perched and staying low, little flying, many vocalisations.

Hoopoe- 1 flying over corner of valley road toward north valley

House sparrows, Senegal doves: street

Hooded crows: much flocking activity on hill east of east valley, some windsurfing, some play 'dive bombing' of other crows. Several score crows up there, hard to tell, many on ground between rocks and vegetation at any time.

Jackdaws: calls coming from flock on hillslopes east of east valley.

Jays: Much foraging activity on gazelle field and in pine woods, some vocal

Feral pigeons: cooing from buildings, comings and goings over valley and street as usual

Greenfinches: Lots of 'chee' calls coming from pines near cistern and grove, movements of family groups between trees.

Blackbirds: Some alarm calls, no song at all today.

Collared doves: Some cooing and flight calls, activity around cistern and over fields.

Stone curlews: calls from across north valley

Sunbirds: calls in garden as usual, also calls from grove near the bunker ruins.

Graceful warblers: calls and family group near beginning of bunker road.

Syrian woodpeckers: Plenty calls all over woods and groves, activity

Bulbuls: Very vocal today in garden, along valley road, street, foraging.

Great tits: Some calls in the pines.