EVERY morning we are woken by the noisy lodgers up stairs doing their house work ready for the spring season new arrivals. I am referring to the House Sparrows who are clearing out old material from the nests used last year.

The field behind the house has been home to a flock of sheep this last couple of months, together with a pair of Cattle Egrets, who follow the sheep pouncing on all the insects that are disturbed by the constant tramping of the animals around the field. Also dining in the field was a Cuckoo, who was tugging at worms that had come to the surface to enjoy a recent downpour.

Patrolling above were a squadron of Bee-eaters, competing for airspace with next door’s pigeons. On the ground are the tail wagging, Pied Wagtails constantly twitching their tails around last years grasses that still have some seeds left for the small flocks of Goldfinch and Chaffinch to feed on. The Sardinian Warblers are trying to out-sing the Stonechat that calls from the roof of the terrace.

A bird that seems to be more noticeable in the fields and surrounding area is the Blackbird. Around the village this bird seems to be more numerous than previous years and more vocal along with the other local singers that can always be heard.

Down by the river the Kingfishers are still scouting the banks, l have seen three birds together at any one time.

Further down stream a Black Kite was spotted flying up the valley along with the more common Booted Eagle.

Herons are also still feeding along the river around the village.

The Cuckoo are now calling across the valley and the Nightingale can be heard at night along with the crickets and frogs.

While visiting a favourite spot down by the river l noticed something scurrying across the ground heading towards a nearby Orange tree. Under the tree was orange peel and some discarded oranges with the inside eaten away. Looking up at into the tree l could see, what looked like the white fluffy underside of a Squirrel, but was in fact a rat.The rodent had been eating its way into the oranges, some still hanging from the tree, with contents completely gone.

I wonder what are his other four of his five-a-day.

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Jim Nitchen's Spring 'Tales From The Riverbank'
Monday, 30 April 2012
EVERY morning we are woken by the noisy lodgers up stairs doing their house work ready for the spring season new arrivals. I am referring to the...

© 2013 - Secret Andalucia - Guadiaro Valley, near Ronda

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