This time we went to the section of the river between Casares and Secadera, it was an evening excursion, Dawn and I were joined by Sophie (Dawn's daughter) and Paul and Janys from the village.
It was a lovely evening, the temperature stayed above 28C all the time, but a lovely cooling Westerly breeze was blowing upriver. Paul had his bins with him, of course, so we watched a few birdies: Common and Green Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, White Wagtail and Corn Buntings were on the river. Lots of Turtle Doves flew back and forth across the river, a White Stork drifted over, we also saw Common Buzzard, Black Kite and Booted Eagle drifting by. A couple of Little Egrets dashed about about after tiddlers and a few Mallards landed nearby.
Paul and I took a short walk as the light began to fade, many Common Swifts came down to drink and several Red-rumped Swallows joined House Martins and Barn Swallows in the air above us. A large number of Bee-eaters covered the wires all along the valley on the way down to the river and now a few of them called above us as they took their last feed before roosting. On the walk we added Spotted Flycatcher to our eveining sightings.
It was as we drove home in the semi-dark that the real excitement happened. We stopped to watch a Red-necked Nightjar as it sat in the middle of the track - why do they do that - it can't be for warmth? The air temperature was still 28C. Anyway we had great views of it and I got out of the car to photograph the bird, they will alow close approach as long as leave your headlights on!
After a few minutes the bird flew off, I must have got too close. As we pulled away Dawn shouted "Owl, owl" (I thought she had cramp or something ) I stopped the car and looked to where she was pointing and sure enough a large shape was sitting on a fence post to our right. There was enough light to see it well in the bins, it was a Tawny Owl, I tried to photograph it without flash but it turned out all blurry. this sighting completed my 'Owl' list for the year - I had now seen all the Owls you can possibly see in Spain in this year - I could have kissed her - But I manged to control myself and patted her on the leg instead!
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