Spain Day 7. Fuengirola

 A beautiful morning again. Out for a run early and finally found the 'right' route. The wind had dropped right away and the sea was flat calm. It was beautiful to be out. A local day today. M&M went into Fuengirola and Heather and I decided to wander down to the beach restaurant for lunch. Walking down we heard a cetti's warbler and later, on the beach, we saw and heard a whimbrel. As before, we really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere in the restaurant and the views, including a flock of sanderling running in and out of the tide. We walked back along the beach enjoying the plants and I finally steeled myself to go in the pool. The water turned out to be not too bad but I had swum two lengths before I realised that I was still wearing my hearing aids. Doh!!! 😟 I put them in the sun to dry out but they were dead!!! 😭

Spain, Day 6. Casares and Vultures

 A trip to Casares today, one of the 'white towns of Andalucia' but one off the tourist trail and very quiet when we were there. What a fabulous place it is, gleamingly white with narrow alleyways and steeply cobbled streets. On the far side of the town on top of the oppostite is the monastery and castle ruins where we had lunch. From the terrace here we were able to watch at least 30 vultures giving very close views. I had a very entertaining hour or so with the camera.. Also saw serin, raven and two storks. A superb day.

 

Spain, Day 5. Fuengirola Feria.

 A cloudy start but clearing to give a hot and cloudless afternoon. It was International Feria day today so we went down to watch the parade and wander around the food festival before more grilled sardines on the seafront. Smashing. 

Then it was back to the villa and a walk up into the hills behind. This area is part of the Sierra de Mijas and is thermo-meditarranean and predesert scrub. I loved it. It supports many unfamiliar and aromatic plants as well as plenty of birds and butterflies, notably sardinian warbler, thekla's lark, pallid swift, woodchat shrike, southern speckled wood and painted lady butterflies. We had excellent, though distant, views of woodchat shrike and sardinian warbler.