Thursday 7th June (Hello from Haro)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into an evergreen oak where a great tit sat. Better still on a nearby pine tree two golden orioles flirted and called. In the shaded wood their feathers looked golden.
Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady were on the road travelling towards the Roman ruins of Clunia Sulpicia. Perched in a hollow at more than 1000 metres overlooking a plain the remains were the impressive remains of a Roman City.
Then Mr. Kite and His Lady followed the tourist route through the mountains towards Burgos. At one point about fifty griffon vultures circled around the side of a mountain.
Soon Mr. Kite was on a camp-site in Haro sitting in pleasant warm sunshine. Looking around Mr. Kite watched griffon vultures, white storks, black kites and a booted eagle. In the warm air the booted eagle soared to a great height before dropping down rapidly.
In the evening Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple or two of San Miguel. Cheers from the Rioja region of Spain.
Friday, 8 June 2012
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Wednesday 6th June (A Cooler Day)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. A scop's owl had just finished calling and a golden oriole now started as a woodpecker drummed quietly on a tree. It was cloudy and cool under the evergreen oak trees.
Later in the morning Mr. Kite set out along the BU-925 through Quemada, Zazuar and onto the impressive skyline of Penaranda de Duero. Overhead booted eagles mixed with black kites and two honey buzzards made an appearance.
On the ground crested larks and woodlarks were plentiful. One golden oriole made a flight across a road. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite did not watch too many birds. Returning to the camp-site via Aranda de Duero Mr. Kite went into a local park to see lots of captive ducks. Poor things.
With more than forty miles covered Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a cloudy sky. A scop's owl had just finished calling and a golden oriole now started as a woodpecker drummed quietly on a tree. It was cloudy and cool under the evergreen oak trees.
Later in the morning Mr. Kite set out along the BU-925 through Quemada, Zazuar and onto the impressive skyline of Penaranda de Duero. Overhead booted eagles mixed with black kites and two honey buzzards made an appearance.
On the ground crested larks and woodlarks were plentiful. One golden oriole made a flight across a road. To cut a long story short Mr. Kite did not watch too many birds. Returning to the camp-site via Aranda de Duero Mr. Kite went into a local park to see lots of captive ducks. Poor things.
With more than forty miles covered Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers.
Tuesday 5th June (Plenty of Bird Song)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a lightening sky. A scop'sowl was desperately calling for a friend. A nightingale sat in a low bush singing.
In the morning Mr. Kite had a trip along a road to Banos deValearados stopping on the way to watch more wodlarks, northern wheatears, booted eagles, griffon vultures and crested larks. On a church in Banos de Valearados a pair of white storks 'smackered' for a godd half hour. Their loud clackig of beaks could be heard all over the town.
Mr. Kite returned slowly down a quiet road and into Villanvea de Gumiel where cetti's warblers called from the banks a of a trickle of water that was once a river.
Following a warm day cycling Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Ambar 1900. Cheers from a place where the Romans had left their mark.
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a lightening sky. A scop'sowl was desperately calling for a friend. A nightingale sat in a low bush singing.
In the morning Mr. Kite had a trip along a road to Banos deValearados stopping on the way to watch more wodlarks, northern wheatears, booted eagles, griffon vultures and crested larks. On a church in Banos de Valearados a pair of white storks 'smackered' for a godd half hour. Their loud clackig of beaks could be heard all over the town.
Mr. Kite returned slowly down a quiet road and into Villanvea de Gumiel where cetti's warblers called from the banks a of a trickle of water that was once a river.
Following a warm day cycling Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Ambar 1900. Cheers from a place where the Romans had left their mark.
Monday 4th June (A Few More Azure-winged Magpies)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the nest of a spotless starling. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady would be traveling to Aranda de Deuro.
Just after lunch-time Mr. Kite and His Lady sat on a camp site amongst pine trees listening to golden orioles, hoopoes and chaffinch.
In the late afternoon Mr. Kite went for a short trip in the warm sunshine and watched woodlarks.
Returning to the camp site Mr. Kite once again met an old friend; the azure-winged magpie. Now Mr. Kite was surprised to find these birds so far north.
Soon it was time for a Mahou Classica. Cheers.
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into the nest of a spotless starling. Soon Mr. Kite and His Lady would be traveling to Aranda de Deuro.
Just after lunch-time Mr. Kite and His Lady sat on a camp site amongst pine trees listening to golden orioles, hoopoes and chaffinch.
In the late afternoon Mr. Kite went for a short trip in the warm sunshine and watched woodlarks.
Returning to the camp site Mr. Kite once again met an old friend; the azure-winged magpie. Now Mr. Kite was surprised to find these birds so far north.
Soon it was time for a Mahou Classica. Cheers.
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Sunday 3rd June (Sunday in Sunny Spain)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a bit of blue sky. Twenty metres away a golden oriole called before moving to another trees. The house sparrows were chirping and a hoopoe was calling for a mate.
The black kite was scouring the sheep pasture for food. This was a sunny Sunday in Spain.
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a bit of blue sky. Twenty metres away a golden oriole called before moving to another trees. The house sparrows were chirping and a hoopoe was calling for a mate.
The black kite was scouring the sheep pasture for food. This was a sunny Sunday in Spain.
Saturday 2nd June (El Acueducto)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window and in the distance the mountains still had some snow. A black kite flew slowly over a meadow looking for food.
Later in the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady travelled on the bus into Segovia. The bus stopped by a splendid acueducto. The Romans and their slaves had made a good job of it.
Then it was to The Cathedral for the six euro walk. Now Mr. Kite can say it was worth every penny; not quite every penny but every cent. The Cathedral was impressive in art history and extravagance. but standing in the cloisters Mr. Kite heard jackdaws and then a much more chattering racous cry. That was a chough thought Mr. Kite. Looking around Mr. Kite then saw red-billed chough. These gregarious birds were making a noise and flying quickly around the area.
Soon it was too hot for sight-seeing and Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Joint. This time the starter was salad in sherry vinegar and oil dressing. The main course was potatoes bravas with broad beans. Once again the house sparrows joined in and once again they were a pleasure to eat with. This time they invited a spotless starling who occasionally made a shrilling noise.
Mr. Kite enjoyed a Mahou Classica. Cheers to the birds of Segovia and the Romans.
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window and in the distance the mountains still had some snow. A black kite flew slowly over a meadow looking for food.
Later in the morning Mr. Kite and His Lady travelled on the bus into Segovia. The bus stopped by a splendid acueducto. The Romans and their slaves had made a good job of it.
Then it was to The Cathedral for the six euro walk. Now Mr. Kite can say it was worth every penny; not quite every penny but every cent. The Cathedral was impressive in art history and extravagance. but standing in the cloisters Mr. Kite heard jackdaws and then a much more chattering racous cry. That was a chough thought Mr. Kite. Looking around Mr. Kite then saw red-billed chough. These gregarious birds were making a noise and flying quickly around the area.
Soon it was too hot for sight-seeing and Mr. Kite and His Lady returned to The Joint. This time the starter was salad in sherry vinegar and oil dressing. The main course was potatoes bravas with broad beans. Once again the house sparrows joined in and once again they were a pleasure to eat with. This time they invited a spotless starling who occasionally made a shrilling noise.
Mr. Kite enjoyed a Mahou Classica. Cheers to the birds of Segovia and the Romans.
Friday 1st June (The Spadgers Join Mr. Kite for Tea)
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear blue sky. A black redstart was singing from a tree.
Today Mr. Kite and His Lady travelled to Segovia. On the way they stopped to watch black kites, red kites and a booted eagle.
In the late afternoon Mr. Kite sat down for tea. Starters were a salad with sherry vinegar dressing from Jerez. The main course was aubergine and red peppers in a rich tomato sauce and mashed potatoes. Lots of Spanish bread and butter was on hand.
As soon as the food was placed on the table dozens of spanish house sparrows joined Mr. Kite and His Lady for tea. When the bread was broken the crumbs were soon eaten by the foragers. Enjoying the quality of the picking some house sparrows soon sat on the table picking at the morsels that had dropped from the serving spoons.
Their manners were very good for the first time with Mr. Kite and His Lady. There was not too much squabbling and they did not talk with their mouths full. With water on hand they seemed to enjoy the meal and ate until the last crumb was gone.
Now the house sparrow is a very attractive bird when studied closely; as are all birds. A nice greyish head with tinges of white and a streaked back of brown, black and white.
Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers and good health to all those chirpy house sparrows.
Mr. Kite looked out of The Joint window into a clear blue sky. A black redstart was singing from a tree.
Today Mr. Kite and His Lady travelled to Segovia. On the way they stopped to watch black kites, red kites and a booted eagle.
In the late afternoon Mr. Kite sat down for tea. Starters were a salad with sherry vinegar dressing from Jerez. The main course was aubergine and red peppers in a rich tomato sauce and mashed potatoes. Lots of Spanish bread and butter was on hand.
As soon as the food was placed on the table dozens of spanish house sparrows joined Mr. Kite and His Lady for tea. When the bread was broken the crumbs were soon eaten by the foragers. Enjoying the quality of the picking some house sparrows soon sat on the table picking at the morsels that had dropped from the serving spoons.
Their manners were very good for the first time with Mr. Kite and His Lady. There was not too much squabbling and they did not talk with their mouths full. With water on hand they seemed to enjoy the meal and ate until the last crumb was gone.
Now the house sparrow is a very attractive bird when studied closely; as are all birds. A nice greyish head with tinges of white and a streaked back of brown, black and white.
Mr. Kite enjoyed a tipple of Mahou Classica. Cheers and good health to all those chirpy house sparrows.
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