The busy, beautiful Bauhinia

Bauhinias have recently started blooming again in the neighbourhood in various shades of pink and purple but in the case of the lovely tree outside my window, pure white. This bloom was photographed a couple of days ago. This is not a native wild tree but it is a popular ornamental tree and many local gardens and parks have them. They are also planted along some streets.

I've mentioned this tree many times in previous entries as it's quite busy, a regular venue for house sparrows, (pretty much constant), laughing doves, (their coos seemed to have stepped up in intensity lately), white spectacled bulbuls, (at least a passing visit today), orange tufted sunbirds (heard about 8.30 a.m. this morning squeaking and 'tut-tutting' confidently ), and this morning by 'Squeaker' as we've dubbed him, a ring necked parakeet who woke us all up at about 8 a.m. squawking and squiking loudly. He stayed up there for at least three quarters of an hour, nice bright caterpillar green and coral red bill, as my 12 year old son and I observed him. My son had the impression there was another across the street it had been 'talking to' earlier but had departed. This was the same individual we'd observed not long ago as it had the same messed up tail.. seems at some stage it had a sight tail feather accident.. I'm sure they'll grow back.

I also heard intermittent rhythmic hoarse squeaks from somewhere out of the window, probably house sparrow nestlings from a nest shoved into the side of the building somewhere.

Sparrows weren't the only birds producing young, the graceful warblers had obviously been busy as we noticed a family in the high grasses just off valley road today. The parents were foraging in the area and returning as often as they could and the little downy chicks popped up their tiny heads now and again, at least three of them, probably quite a few more down and out of sight.

Down in the valley today we made quite a few pleasing sightings. Poppies are having a second wind and are blooming everywhere as a is a purple hyssop/oregano type plant, by the roadside.
We also noticed three groups of bee-eaters, each group about 20 individuals, and two of these groups merging to hunt quite high over east field. Chukars heard calling briefly from the trail. Stone curlews also vocal about sunset, as were plenty blackbirds, (song), some great tits, Eurasian jays, hooded crows and collared doves.

We noticed a falcon hovering right over windsurfer hill.. with that hunting strategy would be a common kestrel, I've never heard of hobbies doing that. We did hear raptor like calls in the valley, both sparrowhawk and hobby like (even their typical calls sound quite similar, atypical calls are not so easy to tell from each other) though no definite sightings of either. We also heard great spotted cuckoo calls, and some of their calls sound raptor like too, though others more obviously grating and more obvious GS cuckoo in quality. We heard some hooded crow 'grok grok' calls coming from the direction of windsurfer hill and noticed a hoodie harassing a Buteo not much bigger than itself. The raptor continued on its way unmolested as soon as it was far enough away from the crow's 'territory', not in migration, just passing over, likely looking for a good roosting spot. Common swifts were screaming high overhead, sounded like they were having a wild party up there.

Searched for gazelle but none found. Some Hyrax active near the pumping station.

Humidity low today.. reached a peak of 70,80% late afternoon/sunset but fell quickly after that and was down to 33% after 10 p.m. , as it was early afternoon. Temps peaked at 23 degrees C early afternoon, already down to 18 degrees C approaching sunset. Winds N, NW approaching sunset, N, NE early afternoon.