Bird Watching - Ibiza

Now I know that my regular readers will now be saying "ooh yes, bird watching, really"? Well let me tell you I have been really spotting birds, wild birds that is and not those at the clubs wild because they can't get in or wild because they could and the prices are too high. No, these are the genuine feathered variety and there are many to choose from and see each day.

When we first arrived here we were driven to distraction by the "squeaky" Owl that squeaked day and night until I was ready to go and hunt it down. Then there were the spectacularly coloured ones that came and went, the Hoopoo, an odd bird at first glance but a sight to behold. Then we had the partridges up in the small field behind the house that my daughters dog decided were to be played with, they didn't think so though. But most spectacular of all have been the Hawks/Kestrels/ Falcons.... I have packed my "Birds of Ibiza" book now so I can't be precise but I think we have two varieties lurking about the place. There is a rather large one that soars high into the sky with its wings spread like a Spitfire (a WW2 Fighter for those too young to know what I mean) using the thermals to rise into the sky and slowly circle down to earth in a most leisurely fashion, sweeping back into the sky as soon as it gets to near to the ground again. The other afternoon and I know I have mentioned in some detail in "it's Another Sunday Morning" posting, was the spectacular sight that swept past V as she was unlocking the gate when the falcon swooped down and over her head by no more than about 5 feet. Today, it happened again but this time it was hunting a small and very agile bird that flew in as erratic fashion as possible but the Sparrow Hawk (? ) never lost it in flight although we didn't see if the bird was caught...

Anyway, it's back to the beach tomorrow for some proper bird watching although I think someone may be going to look at the muscular and tanned bloke who managed the pedalos and banana boats (He is easily spotted by the very large tattoo of a lizard that covers most of his back) and its NOT me doing the watching either!!!

I regret to remind you that "Failed medical experiments" posing as drivers in small very fast cars still give cause for concern as we negotiate the highways and byeways of Ibiza. Clearly these are highly specialised cars that are equipped with two pedals, "Go" and "Stop", one big lever that says "Fast Forward", a great big RED button in the center of the steering wheel that says "beep beep beep" and of course the vital missing component of all these cars (apart from a driver with a brain), the Rear View Mirror!

Crossing the road one day at a perfectly visible pedestrian crossing one such "experiment" approached us in a large version of this special type of vehicle (a 4x4 or SUV I am never sure which) and bearing in mind that we were on the crossing it was with some speed that he approached whilst gazing out to his left at the bevy of newly arrived beauties who were standing on the corner. His passenger kindly beckoned us to cross, but we being human and not "failed medical experiments" chose to stop and wait to see if he would stop... he didn't. It was only at the last minute that he spotted us out of the corner of his eye and managed to stop but only with the typical lack of grace a Orangutan driving an SUV could manage. I wanted to call out and quote an expression I caught in a TV series we have been watching here in TV called "Ed" - I wanted to call out and say "Hey, you upright St Bernard" or "you knuckle dragging cretin" but being of sound mind I erred in the favour of discretion And simply glowered belligerently and strolled across the road - who's macho now?

With D Day looming we will start the second phase of packing and then really feel the 30 degree heat and 70% humidity - but will we lose weight?

We will have to wait and see.