AT this time of the year, when the date of All Saints or Halloween is approaching, all things night time and spooky come to mind.

While sitting in the garden with a glass of blood red wine waiting for friends to arrive for dinner, a low humming sound was heard coming from the flowers of the blue plumbago bush to my left.

As it was quite dark apart from candle light being thrown out by a nearby, very weird, ornate looking  Moroccan lamp which was bought, very reasonably, at an unusual craft market on the coast near Tarifa, from a mysterious looking merchant trader of the mystical land to the south across the sea… Er, where was I? Oh yes! In the darkness l could see a large moth visiting each flower in turn. It was not very distinguishable so l got the camera and managed to take a photograph using the flash which turned out good enough to identify the species, a White Lined Sphinx Moth. Another species which visits this bush quite regularly is the Humming bird Hawk Moth. These moths are unique in the world of moths as apparently they and their relative species are the only moths that feed like hummingbirds from flowers on the wing.

The moon was low over the mountains so it looked bigger than normal, the dogs next door were howling and barking - all twenty five of them! There are only six, but it sounds like more. Like me they could hear a blood curdling screech in the field opposite. I walked onto the track outside the gate to get a better view and saw a large bird fly into one of the two trees next to the house, it had a large wing span and the shape was unmistakeably owl like but did not look like it was carrying any prey. I moved to get a better look but it made two haunting hoots and took off again towards the house. Looking like it had landed on the terrace at the back l grabbed my torch and ran upstairs hoping to get a glimpse. I looked through the window onto the terrace, it was dark but l could see the outline of the bird sitting on the wall. I aimed the torch at the shape and turned it on. For a few seconds l had the perfect view of a Tawny Owl from about two metres. Disturbed it took off displaying the clear pattern of feathers on its wingspan of a metre or so. These birds breed and are present here all year round living in the oak forest across the river, l have heard them often, but that was the closest l have been to one in the wild. The body of the prey was never found!

Walking down the eerily silent drive which was flagged by overhanging trees throwing strange shadows on to the track, the villa came into view. The gate into the courtyard was stiff and awkward to open; it had obviously not been used very often.

Plants in the courtyard had overgrown across the moss covered tiles and up the paint peeling walls winding their way through rust covered rejas. Entering through open patio doors, there, in the kitchen, stood the semi-wild creature, the object of the mission, a very friendly black and white cat called BoyBoy, which had to be fed every couple of days as the owner no longer lived here.

The latest visitor making its way through the valley was a Montague’s Harrier seen for a couple of days gliding across the fields along the Guadiaro. I also spotted a Hobby following the river just upstream of the bridge at Estacion de Cortes, probably hunting some of the many dragonflies around at the moment.  Lots of Stonechats still around and the ever present flocks of Goldfinch still feeding on what’s left of the dried thistle seeds. Also spotted around the garden was a lone Blackstart. Lots of various warblers are also present along the banks of the river, but these small birds are more often heard than seen. There seem to be a lot more Blackbirds around this year than last and l hear a lot more squawking Jay’s in the surrounding woodland than previous years. The roost of sparrows that use the old pine tree next door was a lot quieter this summer, and there did not seem so many nesting in the roof this season.

If you’re out Halloween be alert.

Out of the corner of my eye, l saw a bird flapping in the tree, this looked different but on closer inspection it was just the ‘witches’ knickers’ caught on a branch. Some people think they are plastic carrier bags but don’t be fooled - there could be a commando witch living in your area!

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Jim Nitchen's October 'Tales From The Riverbank'
Friday, 28 October 2011
AT this time of the year, when the date of All Saints or Halloween is approaching, all things night time and spooky come to mind. While...

© 2012 - Secret Andalucia - Guadiaro Valley, near Ronda

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