Small handsome jobs

Beautiful photo of Black Redstart : Rene Demoulin

Temp: 14-23 degrees C , ~19 at 4 p.m. 70% humidity and rising, wind WSW 7 kt. Sky clear but for some small cumulus and some high altitude clouds. Jordan almost invisible.

Gazelles: One fully grown without horns grazing under almond tree, not the usual spot in north gazelle field but not far off, about 100 metres to north east.

Two birds-of-the- day today, two returnees! First was the one in the photograph (though we don't take credit for Rene's gorgeous picture. ) Seen at the edge of the bunker ruins. I was delighted! Husband noticed him first of course. A black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros haunted the ruins all last winter and was gone for the summer. Could be he's the same individual but this is the kind of place black redstarts love and naturally gravitate to- building sites and ruins with plenty insect hunting habitat around. We called him Blackjack last year so whether he's the same little chap or not, Blackjack he is.

Secondly, as I'd intended we headed north on the east edge of gazelle field, carefully because we didn't want to spook the gazelle grazing by the almond tree. Presently I heard a whistle-chack call from up the slope and was determined to find the cause this time. He came up from the scrub and sat on top of the nearer security fence in nice full view, a beautiful European stonechat Saxicola rubicola I've always seen these pretty little chats as the jems of the scrub, coal black heads, bright white collar and topaz beneath. I'd hoped for these but haven't succeeded on finding any in some time. They often winter here and that whistle-chat call gives them away every time, that and the bold sitting up on top of the scrub really helps. Presently he dived back into the scrub, then reemerged a few feet along, where we saw another individual, a female this time, flicking her tail like anything. The male moved along to join her, then flew down the slope to take up position on another cushion of scrub vegetation.

White wagtail: Heard over or near or garden early afternoon
Eurasian sparrowhawk spotted flying over valley road from our neighbourhood and down to his usual haunts, I'm sure the sparrow flock in the neighbours' cypress would attract him, would be interesting to see a dramatic hunt literally in our back yard.
Falcon, winging up over the hill to the east of gazelle field, silhouette, not possible to make out species but the shape and mode of flight identified it as Falco
House sparrows: Activity round houses as usual.
Hooded crows: Some calls, small group flying from northern foraging grounds to roost just after sunset, after the jackdaws
Jackdaws: Group of about 50, then group of 20 returning from foraging north of Adam to roost by Hizmeh, about sunset.
Jays: Plenty activity as usual
Feral pigeons: Active around the buildings
Collared doves: a few up on the wire over north east gazelle field, pretty quiet and still
Syrian woodpeckers: Some calls
Yellow vented Bulbuls: Calls in the garden, both melodious and coarse.
Great tits: Alarm calls coming from eucalyptus grove/pine grove area.