Somehow I
just didn't get around to writing a blog in October, although I did
spend time composing a 'Calaverita' for the Day of the Dead
(satirical verses often critical of politicians: well, who else?),
but that's another story...
...So all
of a sudden it's November and the temperature's dropped from around
26º to just over 12º in 24 hours. Now it really does feel like
Autumn.
Highlights
of October had to be the funghi we came across on two of our routes
in the Sierra de Francia and Quilama. Stunning colours and all looking like
major players in a Grimm fairytale. The birds weren't abundant on
those particular days but as we spent most of our time looking
downwards nobody really minded. Here's a few photos and if anyone
knows what they're called I'll be happy to hear from you. When
someone asked if they were edible, the reply was: 'well, they are at
least once'. Needless to say we didn't try any.
We also saw
Iberian and Marbled Newts, a Ghekko, a Weasel, a Ladder Snake, a Praying Mantis and an intriguing creature,
possibly the nymph stage of some Orthoptera but again if anyone can
i.d. it I'd be very glad to hear.
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| Ghekko |
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| Praying Mantis |
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| Orthoptera Nymph? |
We went
through Oak and Chestnut forests, moors of Cistus ladanifer, Heather
and Broom, Fern and Pinewoods. We stopped
by a centenary Chestnut, sadly dead but still very imposing, where
years ago the village bandit had stored his loot of hams and
chorizos...until the neighbourhood dogs sniffed them out!
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| The Bandit's Chestnut |
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Cistus ladanifer - Jara
|
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East towards the Sierra Quilama
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| Sierra de Quilama |
|
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| South overlooking Sierra de Francia |
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| Baloo the dog |
We started
off and ended at the beautiful casas rurales Jardines del Robledo,
where we were welcomed back by the delightful owner Manolo who
invited us in for a hot drink and a look around the gardens and the
houses.
Close to
San Miguel is the village of San Martin, where we went the following
week to explore a ruined monastery and where last year we saw Crested
Tit and Firecrest.
The last
day of October we saw our first group of Cranes wheeling over the
dehesas near the reservoir. Looking forward to seeing them again in their hundreds soon.
