Wed 31 Oct

Wednesday 31 Oct

Mostly clear skies, some high altitude clouds but last night half filled with cumulus but didn't drop any more rain yet. Today's temp range: 14-23 degrees C

~4 p.m. 21.3 degrees C, 3.5 kt NNW, humidity 61% and rising.

Gazelles 2 today: Individual without horns at the eastern edge of the north valley woods looking into the field where a handsome adult buck gazelle stood, by the largest of the scattered trees amongst the dry stone walls. The buck was looking back and had clearly seen her.. presently he ran over to join her and the two frisked about under the trees briefly. He then moved north, breaking into a little run now and again. Looked like she wanted to go to the sweet grazing spot by the dry stone walls and soon reemerged and made her way over there.
It was almost as if the buck was being a chivalrous gentleman and saying, 'I'm done there, go take your turn!' or more likely he was just being sociable.

Hyrax: Alarm call by the pumping station
Sunbirds: singing and calling in the garden very prettily.

House sparrows: active approaching sunset in the cypresses next to us as usual

Hooded crows: Several returning south to roost, very spread out

Jackdaws: about 80 flocking above Hizmeh, wheeling around for some minutes before settling to roost

Eurasian Jays: Usual activity of generally individual birds scattered over woods and fields

Feral pigeons: Around buildings especially along the little walls/fences guarding the flat roofs , of course I don't use binos to watch these because of the privacy issue.

Blackbirds: 'Chack chack' calls in the pinewoods

Graceful warblers: Some calls along valley road

Syrian woodpeckers: Some calls heard from the pine woods

Yellow vented Bulbuls: Gardens as usual and a group of 3 up on the fence where stonechats were. No stonechat calls or sightings today. No more white wagtails seen or heard for sure anywhere today. (husband travelled to west side of town (office) and back and saw none. He works from home mostly but when he goes in he can report from other urban and suburban areas of Jerusalem.