North valley walk

I took these two pics to show the contrast in colour between two cushions of Israeli thyme flowers. Disregard the relative sizes, the flowers are the same size, lighting conditions were exactly the same but those below are significantly deeper in colour. I also notice now there are noticeable differences in form too, especially of the lower petals, those these are same species. Most of the thyme is like that above but the deeper purple clump was growing close to the north valley dirt road close to other clumps.

Moth on the spines on the lower part of a globe thistle.

Fruiting bodies of cat thyme germander- Teucrium.

A view up the north valley dirt road, the way to the quarry at about 7.30 p.m. today (S.T. )

Gazelle: No luck today. Hyrax: Did not pass main colonies.

Bee-eaters: A flock active and vocal through the whole walk over north valley, at least 25 birds.

Blackbirds: song heard in the woods

Collared doves: coos and activity

Eurasian Jays: screeches and activity
*Kestrels: At least two hunting across the valley between A Ram and tall buildings in upper part of neighbourhood, some kind of interaction but unclear if family or territorial, husband glimpsed third individual.

Graceful warblers: vocal and active by valley road

Hooded crows: about and active as usual

House sparrows:calling, active around edges of neighbourhood, foraging, chirping

Stone curlews: calls from fields after sunset

Sunbirds: active and vocal in the garden

White spectacled Bulbuls: harsh calls heard near dark from north valley watercourse, family calls.

By contrast many of the usual birds were relatively quiet today. There was a nice breeze coming down north valley blowing the globe thistles about but warm, not hot, similar to yesterday.