Doc.B's Nature Blog

Well,I found you a picture of a recently deceased Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis).,very distinctive plumage

Going back to yesterday,it was a stunning Autumnal day,really cool before 1st.light when emptying the moth traps but reached 26 degrees by 2 p.m.in the sun.

Too much time spent yesterday at 2 private health clinics and 2 visits to local pharmacy,nothing too serious but getting old is not the most exciting thing on the planet,cant advise it really but I dont fancy the alternative too much either!!

I did find time in between all this to pop down to the Old Castillo de La Duquesa on the coast close by to have a few mins.birding.No good in the summer as the little concreted arryo dries up but rest of time there is a little running water in it plus a bit of veg.,prob.some local sewage to add to the flavour as well,but that attracts the insects and hence a few insectivorous birds.

I found a White Wagtail (Passage/migrant) and a cracking adult male Grey Wagtail,a dead ringer for this site.More disturbing was the large numbers of Oriental Hornets coming down to drink in the arroyo.Hell,they are everywhere.Out on the Med.there were lots of gannets ,a mix of pure adults and several brown 1st winter birds a couple of winter plumaged Sandwich Terns and a Great Cormorant.

Back home from the balcony noted 5 Black Redstarts incl 1 adult male,1 Kestrel,Collared Dove,House Sparrows,1 Wood Pigeon,a migrant Goldfinch,4 migrant Serins,a local male Sardinian Warbler,plenty of adult and 1st.winter Spotless Starlings,1 male Blackbird ,a squadron of 10 Griffon Vultures floating overhead,and a passage of 27 Crag Martins (bound to have missed a whole lot more).

Well time flies,breakfast and then finishing off yesterdays moths ,a good bunch to boot and will post later