WRITERS BEWARE OF THIS CHALLENGE!

It's coming to you from the safest part of Spain, not quite Covid free, but who knows? So get on with it and challenge yourself.

 

Attention all writers! Is the pandemic getting you down? Are you bored? Lack motivation? Need some writing ideas? We have the answer.

Writer´s Ink, a writer´s group in Alicante, Spain, has devised an exciting international competition to help us out of the doldrums. There is no entry fee and you do not have to leave the comfort and safety of your home. All it will cost you is your time, of which we seem to have plenty of right now.

The contest will run over three periods in the year and will consist of teams from three different Circles either locally or internationally. Writers will be given the ingredients of a story to be written in a particular genre. The individual writers from each circle will use their imagination and clever use of words to come up with the best two page story. The stories will be judged and winners selected by their own peers. Then each winning story will be sent to the main judge who will decide upon the Grand Winner. Judging will be based on creativity and imagination, the more bizarre the better.

Attempts to enlist Circles in France, Great Britain and Spain are ongoing. So far, comments from those who have replied include – intriguing, unique, sounds like fun.

The competition was not devised with Covid19 in mind. But it may well have been as the pandemic doesn’t hinder it in anyway. The two-meter personal spacing restrictions are not required as two -kilometres or more would be more likely. Wash your hands by all means but leave your mask off while you write away!

For more information about this entertaining competition, please contact Drummond Marvin, dmarvin@hotmail.co.uk

  

STILL THE QUEEN OF CRIME?

 Book Review

Title.             The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Author.          Agatha Christie 

Publisher.      By Agatha Christie Ltd/Planet Three Publishing, London

Published in 1920 and introduced a Belgian detective, Monsieur Hercule Poirot to the English ‘upper classes’. On screen many well known actors have portrayed the super sleuth, but there is one who sits over the heads of others. David Suchet, of course. So, the story is over one hundred years old and it is still being read.

Without wishing to state the obvious it is a master class in story telling, in character creation and for plot. It requires concentration as the characters are introduced to the reader. And of course

all the details as both Hastings and Poirot give the reader information.

It would be ridiculous for me to be other than complimentary as both Agatha Christie and her Belgian detective have been lauded by many. It is set before the end of The Great War in 1918 when some Belgian nationals were in England.

The plot is detailed and attention to it is paramount. There is no rush to reach a conclusion and in doing that the reader should enjoy the writing; the style of it and ‘wordage’.

It is narrated by Hastings who is convalescing after being invalided from the Front. He bumps into an old friend John Cavendish who lives with his mother at ‘Styles’. A country pile of Englishness. Having nothing better to do Hastings goes to stay with his friend, his recently married mother and her husband Alfred Inglethorp.

Basically, the woman of the dies unexpectedly and automatically the husband is suspected. But it is not as easy as that because there are other plots to become entangled with. Of course the writer wants her readers to, not necessarily to be fooled, but to work hard at solving the riddles she has created.

Then, if you haven't quite got it, there is a chapter at the end where Hastings voices his confusion and all is revealed to him by Monsieur Poirot. He has to be right.

For me Agatha Christie retains the crown of ‘Queen of the Plot’ and maybe still ‘The Queen of Crime!’

SPOOF VIDEO RIDICULING THE GROUSE SHOOTING INDUSTRY

 It's a wonderful idea by REVIVE who want to protect Scotland’s Grouse Moors and not destroy them.

28th October the campaigners launched a SPOOF video/film ridiculing the Grouse Shooting Industry. It's brilliant. Very much worth the watch.

They ask the question ‘ Find the case for driven Grouse shooting in Scotland’. (There's non of course).

https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2020/10/28/campaigners-launch-spoof-dragons-den-film-ridiculing-grouse-shooting-industry/

The applicants failed to convince the MSP’s in this spoof scenario. What a shame. I wonder what the responses will be given their views will have already been trashed.

YEAR BIRD, REPTILE AND THREE TIGERS

That's not bad for a cool windy morning in and around the farming and marsh area close to El Hondo. We met in Gran Alicant around 8am at 17 degrees and and a strong northerly wind. We did our usual route as we felt we were still ‘between seasons’. The lagoons opposite Playa Las Brisas offered very little except Bryan spotted two Sandwich Terns - Charrán Patinegro The Salt Tower area showed us little close by. ‘The  Stones pull -off gave us a good number of Spoonbills - Espátula Común but distant, a very good number, as usual, of Great Crested Grebes - Sormrmujo Lavanco and again Large White Egrets - Garceta Grande.

We quickly moved onto El Pinet. Some of the fence has been replaced and work is ongoing. Sandwich Terns - again were seen. We were disappointed at first, and with water levels relatively high, muddy areas seemed few. In a corner close to the fence we got really lucky. A few feet of mud and several species were feeding vigorously. Little Stint - Correlomos Menudo , three Dunlins - Correlimos Común, a Ringed Plover - Chorlitejo Grande and two Shanks, a Redshank-  Archibebe Común and a Greenshank -Archibebe Claro. Then with this little group Bryan spotted a Grey Plover - Chorlito Gris.  A first for us this year and that shows our visitors from up-north are around. Great news! Meadow Pipits - Bisbita Común flew up and around in the gusting wind.

We now headed in land aiming to visit Santa Águada which we did. On way the flooded fields of last week contained non of the birds of last week and were in luxuriant growth. In the margins, Serín - Verdecillo , Greenfinch - Verderón Común White Wagtails -Lavandera Blanca and Meadow Pipits once more. We carried on and had great views of a circling male pale morph Booted Eagle - Agililla Calzado. It showed well. 

Then crossing the road our first snake of the year- a two foot plus Western Whip Snake we think. Only a quick look as it disappeared into the vegetation. Butterflies were mostly absent but there was the odd Small White and several Plain Tigers. I think we were lucky to see them in the windy conditions.

Once through the village non of the fields contained that much, but the protected area and pool gave us good views of one Water Pipit - Bisbita Alpino and eventually two Snipe - Agachadiza Común . Firstly obscured in the reeds and then in clear water. The water level here is only in pools and with no new water being pumped in, lets hope for rain. One Glossy Ibis - Morito Común flew over. Where are the others?

We did a second visit of the year to the wetlands near Urbanova and although there was water there it contained nothing that we could see. The shallower lagoons had become dry, but we won't give up on this area as we feel it could come good this winter. In the scrub areas there were thousands of Starlings swirling in the wind and mobbing the Olive Trees. Like any other murmuration it is a spectacle. The photos should prove they are visitors from up north Estornino Europea, but they could have Spotless mixed in (Estornino Negre).

The murmuration added to our pleasure and that little bit of mud at El Pinet really made our day. Now all we want is something really special. We will keep looking.

Book Review: Five Days in London, May 1940 by John Lukacs

Title.            Five Days in London

                    May 1940

Author.        John Lukacs 

It doesn't matter how you can come by a book, but this one was different and us different. We were in Salamanca for two days and found a second-hand book shop with an English section.  Within ten minutes we had bought six books at a ridiculous cost of 12€.

Michelle saw the book and handed it to me. I realized the significance of the title and read the two page preface. I was hooked and it felt so good in my hand.

John Lukacs was professor of history at Chesnut Hill College, Philadelphia and has been a European historian of many books including those on Adolf Hitler. I found these five days and his telling of it compelling, not only because I understand the importance of that time in our history, but because it is our history and in consequence of that, how we can lead our lives freely to this day.

I quote: “The days from May 24 to May 28, 1940, altered the course of the history of this century, as members of the British War Cabinet debated whether to negotiate with or continue the war against Hitler. The decisive importance of these five days is the focus of John Lukacs’s magisterial new book”.

Anyone considers that Sir Winston Churchill’s journey to become the Prime Minister of Britain to be easy and untroubled does need to read that period. He had made his views clear on Germany’s rise under Hitler where he was a lone voice standing against the appeasers and the elements of Fascism within Britain. 

Lukacs also investigated the mood of the British people, drawing on newspaper and Mass Observation reports that show how the citizenry, though only partly informed about the dangers that faced them, nevertheless began to support Churchill’s determination to stand fast.

I can liken his battle to succeed in his views as a war he had to win within the cabinet with the same determination he continually showed during World War Two.

It was not an easy read as there is so much detail with many footnotes. It is a complete view of what was going on not just in London, but also deals with Roosevelt’s determination not to become involved until he was sure that Churchill intended to fight on regardless. And then he loaned us 50 Battle Ships. The rest is history!

 

FLOODED FIELDS NO MORE

 On Sunday 18th October we decided to revisit two of the areas where we saw a multitude of birds only two days previously. We were lucky to ‘hit-it-just-right’ on that day because by Sunday the fields had no standing water and no birds. However we were lucky as nearby, Yellow Wagtails, were flitting around. The next day they could be further south.

Not a great photo as the sun was in the wrong place as was the twig!  A great bird to see.

Santa Águeda still contains water in the main pool, but there was no ‘in-flow’ on Sunday and, fortunately, in a muddy corner feeding busily was one Green Sandpiper that remained there to be photographed.

We will be checking all the areas again and I expect that more water will be on some fields at some time. There are fields where the growth is lush. Here's to another great visit.

FLOODED FIELDS MADE US SMILE

Friday 16th October

 We decided that we would stay local and do the usual sites. 31st August was the last time we had gone to El Hondon and when arriving there we quickly left due to mosquitos. This morning we had travelled our usual route and it was our last stop. It seems to be a destination for visitors to stroll around and not for ‘birders’. The vegetation restricts seeing what is out there and the water quality seems poor; it is cloudy. Fortunately, the journey was very productive. 

I will quickly dispense with stops on the way. The Lagunas opposite Playa Las Brisas did not offer much and we moved on. The Salt Tower and ‘the stones’ layby yielded at least 10 Great White Egrets - Garceta Grande a good number of Grey Herons - Garza Real and on the water, but distant, a large number of Great Crested Grebe - Somormujo Lavanco, which are usual to see, Cormorants - Cormorán Grande have returned in numbers.

No waders we could watch but there were some on the smaller pools which we could not stop for.  A Marsh Harrier  - Aguilucho Luganero flew over.

El Pinet was a disappointment. The protective fencing in the first lagoon was down and the wire netting rolled up. Possibly storm damage and needs work. At the beach 20 Grey Herons flew over, presumably on their way inland from the fish farms. A Linnet - Pardillo Común sang in a tree.

We now went inland and there we saw Magpies - Urraca   ,Common Kestrels - Cernejalo Común, Southern Grey Shrike - Alcaudón Real Meridional , both male and female Stonechats - Tarabilla Europea and not much else.

We knew that the end of the summer was just about over, but still Barn Swallows - Golondrina Común were passing through and what we want is rain. We had a little, but we knew we could rely, at some time, on a  flooded field or more accurately a field that was irrigated. That's when the trumps turned up!

A field, turning green, and very wet yielded numerous Yellow Wagtails  - Lavandera Boyera and the photos should show which variation? There were also 5 Wood Sandpipers - Andarrios Bastardo and that is a good result - let alone that fall of wagtails. In a corner of it one Green Sandpiper - Andarrios Grande. Add into this total Jackdaws - Grajilla, Glossy Ibis - Morito Común, Cattle Egrets - Garcilla Bueyera, and it was a wonderful sight. Bryan searched diligently for that one bird; a vagrant from afar! But without a result and strangely, not one Pipit! (Bisbita)

Santa Águeda looked different. It had been cleaned up. The scrub and scrapes had been sanitized and were wet. Maybe from the recent rain and maybe because it is being flooded. Maybe the answer is to leave it alone and let the Stints enjoy. The Tamarisk had been pruned back and everywhere had been tidied up. The main pool was having water flooded in and that is a good sign. A Kingfisher - Martin Pescador .called and flew and we counted five Blue Throats - Pechiazul around this pool. No Sandpipers or any Eagles around this part of the Marsh. I surmise that we have high hopes for Santa Águada in future.

On the way and between San Felipe and the turnoff to the information centre two more flooded fields. What a sight. Here we had Mediterranean Gulls - Gaviota Reidora with Black headed - Gaviota Cabecinegra and Glossy Ibis in many numbers, Jackdaws raucous as usual. It would have been great to see a different Gull from the normal. We did look. Now the important stuff with more Yellow Wagtails, obviously on their way south. What a result, flooded fields in two locations with other evidence of recent irrigation too. Just what we wanted.

Two Marsh Harriers - One a male and a male white morph Booted Eagle - Aguililla Calzada was our Raptor count for the day.

THE SALINAS AT SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR

 If you don't go out you won't know and we found that these Salinas were as quiet as usual. But they can turn up the occasional interesting bird. So, on Wednesday, 14th October we went out in the early morning sun to San Pedro Del Pinatar. The Nikon Coolpix P900 came with us and was used. It's becoming an invaluable tool.

The Salinas with their great expanses of water could offer a tremendous amount in birding terms, but the numbers are never great. But we looked again, just in case…….

Almost everything in the lagoon by the large car park was distant. However we picked out one Redshank- Archibebe Común, one Greenshank - Archibebe Claro, several Little Ringed Plovers - Chorlitejo Chico and Dunlin - Correlimos Común . Shelduck - Tarro Blanco showed with the the usual Black-Winged Stilts- Cigüeñuela Común present as well. A notable absentee, again were Kentish Plovers - Chirlitejo Patinegro. However, Yellow-legged Gulls - Gaviota Patuamarilla were easy to see but Slender-Billed - Gaviota Picofina were few.

The lagoon opposite this car park is currently being harvested for salt. 

We moved on and, frankly, did not see much. One lone Black-necked Grebe- Zampullin Cuellinegro, a couple of Black-tailed Godwits - Aguja Colinegre, a smattering of Avocet and Flamingo, but neither in great numbers. 

Black-Tailed Godwit

Two Turnstones - Vuelvepiedras Común were spotted. The canal edges by the small carpark have been strimmed of its reeds. No Kingfisher - Martin Pescador this time, a Sardinian Warbler - Carruca Cabecinegra rattled away and the canal provided the usual Moorhens - Gallineta Común and Coots Focha Común with House Sparrows - Gorrión Común. 

We searched the surfaces and skies for any sign of a passing vagrant or anything rare. Maybe next time?

We went into Lagunas del lo Monté just to see what it was like. It should be an important site, but apart from Mallard - Ánade Azulón - the water contained nothing else. Our only piece of joy was a very neat looking Stonechat - Tarabilla - maybe a first year and it was photographed. Michelle also took some Flamingo shots, for a change.

THE CLOT YET AGAIN

Friday morning, 9th October, we again went to Clot de Galvany. It's been amazing so far and today we found it much calmer with pleasant temperatures and a very light breeze. As usual we didn't go for the view, but for the birds.

Autumn is approaching fast, but there has been not enough inclement weather  to bring those northern birds south to us - yet. We are waiting.

Evidence of the migration is around with the occasional House Martin - Avión Común and Barn Swallow - Golondrina  Común passing through. On the water were Shovelers - Cuchara Común, both Marbled Teal - Cerceta Pardilla and Teal - Cerceta Común with a small number of Common Pochard - Porrón Europeo and only a pair of Great Crested Grebe - Somormujo Lavanco. Kingfishers - Martin Pescador flew over and perched close by us. Several Reed Warblers - Carricero Común flitted in and out of the bushes by the hide.

In the distance a Black-Crowned Night Heron  Martinete Común , Squaccos - Garcilla Cangrejera flew and Little Bittern - Avetorillo Común was heard. Little Grebes - Zampullin and Black-necked - Zampullin Cuellinegro were there as usual. A Wood or Green Sandpiper (Andarrios) called to let us know that they are around. Later a Snipe - Agachadiza Común flew past our vision twice and that is advice that winter is coming.

In the distance and over the reeds a large number of Little Egrets - Garceta Común perched, fed and were disturbed by a Marsh Harrier - Lagunero who eventually got a feed  We searched for the WRH X Little Egret but this area is vast and so it could have been anywhere. Bryan with his sharp eyes saw a Grey Wagtail - Lavandera Cascadeña and a Blue Tit - Herrerillo Común perched far away.

Cetti’s - Ruiseñor Bastardo and Sardinian Warblers -Curruca Cabecinegra were heard everywhere.

We enjoyed our observations and moved on to the ‘old hide’ where we found that the edges had been strimmed and the water levels were high. There was nothing exceptional here and with no muddy margins, no waders. Marbled Teal numbered about 10 with one nearby showing that it was ‘sat-tagged’.  

Two pristine very white - White Wagtails - Lavandera Blanca flitted around the posts. Coots - Focha  and Moorhens -  Gallinetas are underrated birds but they are always smart looking. Photograph to prove it too and note the raised foot!

We were treated to a fly past of two King Fishers, Martin Pescador and a Little Bittern flew and landed in the reeds.  

A quiet morning, but peaceful and as we are never satisfied we will be out there again. Let's hope for rain, a flooded field or two, or both that could bring the birds in

FROM THE COSTAS TO EXTREMADURA & CASTILLA LA MANCHA AND BACK

There is an interesting degree of difference between ‘The Costas’ and the massive areas northwards. It's a different world and the changes are remarkable. The wide open spaces between farmed land, woods and mountains accentuate the differences. The sightings of wildlife increase, and that is not to say it is all safe for them. But we see more as we travel along.

Plasencia is a small provincial town with Roman history and we already had some knowledge of what we could expect when we visited Trujillo four years ago.

The weather was excellent and so we spent time in the area of Arrocampo Ornithological Park, which surrounds the Embalse De Arrocampo y Almaraz.  The information center is in the village of Saucedilla.  We found found information on birding-holidays.com as shown below.

ARROCAMPO  ORNITHOLOGICAL PARK

Arrocampo reservoir is the most important wetland area of Extremadura. Situated in the northeast of the region has been designated an Ornithology Park in the recent times . This is the location of the best population of Black Winged Kite and also some of the less common birds to Extremadura like the Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Little Bittern, Purple Swamp Hen, Spotted Crake, Gull-billed Tern, Black Tern, Bearded Reedling, Savi’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Spoonbill, Red-crested Pochard and Garganey.

There are marked routes and information can be gained from the information near the small town of  Saucedilla. It's an easy area to traverse with solid tracks to walk through or drive. The surrounding areas can be driven around too.

Another area is this one which we didn’t explore on this trip.

ALAGÓN RIVER VALLEY

Alagon Valley a region of intensive farming that has its own interesting birdlife. Several species over winter here including Hen Harrier, Great Egret, Squacco Heron, Avocet, Bluethroat, Stock Dove and perhaps more interestingly Red Avadavat, Common Waxbill, Penduline Tit and the Iberian Yellow Wagtail. The rice fields of Galisteo are excellent for migrating Avocet, Curlew, Little Stint, Dunlin, Greenshank, Shelduck, Redshank and very occasionally Glossy Ibis.

There are other sites that will be found Arrocampo’ is put into Google.

We will do more research and hope to glean more information through Juan and Jose and other sites.

To round our trip up without listing the birds seen and reflecting upon some magnificent sightings here I go.

At Saucedilla we had a swarm of House Martins with Barn Swallows feeding low over the water. This was another indication that we are on the cusp of late summer and autumn. 

Nearby we had a first winter Bluethroat - Pechiazul that we worked hard to see cleanly and to record on Nikon Coolpix P 900 purchased just before we left home. 

We had a cluster of Northern Wheatears - Collalba Gris as we drove along a track. Further on we had a swarm of Spotless Starlings - Estornino Negro.  Our best ever sightings on several occasions were the Azur-Winged Magpies - Rabilargo. They are smart birds to see. Of course there were many others, Eagles & Kites, Vultures and a good number of White Storks - Cigüeña Blanca. Of course there was the Franklin's Gull.

Michelle’s bird of the trip was the day roosting Eagle Owl Búho Real.  For me it was the Osprey- Agüilla Pescador on passage somewhere north down to Gambia and Senegal.

Great memories and we plan a spring visit.  A return to some areas and hopefully to see new areas.

Toledo to Salamanca

 On Friday 2nd we left Toledo behind as Storm Alex found us on way to Ávila. We chose to avoid the motorway and the option was the original road before the motor way had been built thus giving us more time to look. On route we had fleeting sightings of Black Kites - Milano Negro, two Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar and a Common Buzzard - Busardo Ratonero. We had intended to visit the town, but with the storm we decided otherwise and carried on. One quick photo for FB was the only record, but we did see the massive walls.

On the way to Salamanca we passed through stubble fields, wooded areas of Pines, and moorland with Cattle. We could have been in Cornwall and the weather was typical too. Later we passed fields of maize. The university City of Salamanca is something else. It’s spectacular and well worth seeing. It was cold, much colder than we anticipated and tomorrow is another day.

Saturday morning was bright, less wind and chilly. We are alongside Rio Tormes and this river and environs must be a magnet for wildlife. We walked out and immediately heard Black Cap - Carruca Capirotada singing and we eventually saw both male and female from the bridge. Also Chiffs too - Mosquitero Común. The Roman Bridge is worth the walk. Two thousand years old and in fine nick. It's amazing to see so many people running, cycling, walking and talking and paying little heed to what's around them. They appear happy to walk over the souls of the builders, slaves and workmen. I appreciated it all. Looking over the side of it into the riverside habitat a Kingfisher - Martin Pescador flew away. Blackcaps kempt on singing and on the side of the bridge were Tree Sparrows - Gorrión Molinero. They obligingly perched for my best ever views and to be photographed. Excellent.

 Flying fast over the river were two Sand Martins - Avión Zapador and they made it so difficult to get a good view of them as they were so fast. They are in their way to Africa.

We were at the end of the bridge when a flock of doves flew up and with them was a Black Kite - Milano Negro. Sometimes town birding pays off! 

Also tame Wood Pigeons - Paloma Torcaz and our first view of a Collared Dove - Tórtola Turca since leaving home. 

A little later a Robin - Petirrojo and a female Chaffinch - Pinzón Vulgar. A flock of Goldfinches - Jilgueros flew into the trees.

Salamanca by night.

Day Two, Part Three!

I am still reflecting on our day out with Jose Luis and Juan. When we were watching from the viewpoints at Embalse de Castrejon there was a conversation about a gull. This morning we received confirmation from Jose and Juan that the bird the other birders were intending to photograph was a Franklin’s Gull - Gaviota Pipizcan. It is similar to a Black-headed Gull - Gaviota Reidora but with a full black hood as with a Mediterranean Gull - Gaviota Cabecinegra. We hope that they get their ‘record’ shot. There was talk of two Little Gulls - Gaviota Enana seen at the same location. That is a special site and I wish we could have stayed longer.

Parts of the country have a very rough terrain with large outcrops of granite boulders. At one very much an off-road spot the boys took us to where the exposed granite had been adapted as a coffin but referred to as ‘tumbas moras’ locally This was in the period of the Visigoths. Photographs taken of course.

Everywhere that we went there was evidence of human involvement. Water sources are vital and in one location granite had been cut into channels for the animals to drink from. 

In another spot a water trough was situated with a picnic area. Tracks radiated from it indicating that animals drink from here. Also where some can be predates upon. 

It's tough out there. But someone did have time for a bit of fun!