North Valley Walk

Fine day today, sky filled with high altitude streamer clouds, beautiful.

Range 6-13 degrees C, ~4 p.m. 12.2 degrees C. Humidity just 29%, winds south easterly, light.

We headed down into north valley for a change down a steep trail which leads from the north easterly tip of the neighbourhood. I always enjoy that walk, the valley bed is open and wild, just a few acacias line the stream bed and the piping of black redstarts filled the place though the birds themselves managed to stay out of view.

A small pack of five feral dogs were sniffing along in single file along the far bank when suddenly they got into some kind of quarrel. Perhaps pickings were slim and the leader less tolerant but there was clearly an encounter and much pitiful yelping by the losing dog which presently broke away and came running towards us. He crossed our path, heading under the pines and west, with the sandy coloured pack leader in hot pursuit for a few hundred yards, till he was sure the loser had got the message. The latter stopped and looked back but he knew he was in exile, at least temporarily. Two more dogs came along the trail from the east and headed up toward the first group, taking their time. We stopped to admire a boy's shaggy little dark donkey, a popular pet for some local boys.

Husband noticed a Eurasian sparrowhawk disappear under the pines after a brief glide up the valley and crows, both hooded crows and jackdaws were busy foraging on the upper slopes of the hill to the north. 25 or so headed south toward windsurfer hill but the rest of the group decided to settle again and forage a little more. As the light grew a little dimmer some 35 crows lifted up and headed south, followed by at least 15 stragglers over the next few minutes.

An adult buck gazelle was seen running across north gazelle field, presently disappearing behind the pines across the valley, heading north west. A Syrian woodpecker heard calling, stonechat in gazelle field on a tall weed and graceful warbler calling. Blackbird alarm

Garden and around buildings: House sparrows, Great tit in full song, white spectacled bulbuls, a senegal dove perched on top of our building, numbers of feral pigeons on other buildings.