Memorable moments 3.
27th August 2024
In May 2013 after flying to Seville and driving up the almost empty Via de la Plata toll road into Extremadura was a unique experience, because to travel a motorway in the UK that has virtually no vehicles on it is unthinkable. We were staying in very remote accommodation with no neighbours and a really rough track about a mile long to access it. The first time we drove there I exited our car and walked for a few hundred yards further on up the track because I firmly believed we had gone the wrong way, however, we hadn’t made a mistake and the ‘Finca’ we were staying in was very nice and proved to be a veritable wildlife haven.
Hoopoes nested nearby, Bee Eaters flew over all day long, Hawfinches were seen in the various orchards, Golden Orioles sang their fluty song, Azure-winged Magpies were common, Serins and Sardinian Warblers nested by the front gate and up the hill Blue Rock Thrushes occupied a large rocky outcrop. Common Cuckoos, Red-necked Nightjars and Nightingales were very evident in the evening, singing continuously.
Sitting out on the veranda on such an evening with a very good bottle (or two) of local wine bought very cheaply from a shop in a little village on a hillside about five miles away was a very pleasant way to end the day. Extremadura is undoubtably one of the great open spaces of the European continent, early one morning we drove for three hours right into the heart of the plains without seeing another car or person, imagine that in the UK!!
One afternoon at the Finca after a lunch of fresh salad, local ham, cheese and freshly baked bread we decided to go for a walk up the track which was a haven for birds. After numerous encounters with lovely birds and butterflies we headed back down and as we turned a corner and were a crossing a flower filled meadow suddenly an animal appeared right in front of us, out of nowhere. I can’t remember who was the most surprised us or the Egyptian Mongoose standing before us and remarkably holding a large frog in its mouth. It was half wet probably after predating the frog from some nearby water. There was a bit of a ‘Mexican Standoff’ for ten seconds which thankfully allowed me to take a quick shot before it disappeared never to be seen again.
A one off really memorable moment!!
Hoopoes nested nearby, Bee Eaters flew over all day long, Hawfinches were seen in the various orchards, Golden Orioles sang their fluty song, Azure-winged Magpies were common, Serins and Sardinian Warblers nested by the front gate and up the hill Blue Rock Thrushes occupied a large rocky outcrop. Common Cuckoos, Red-necked Nightjars and Nightingales were very evident in the evening, singing continuously.
Sitting out on the veranda on such an evening with a very good bottle (or two) of local wine bought very cheaply from a shop in a little village on a hillside about five miles away was a very pleasant way to end the day. Extremadura is undoubtably one of the great open spaces of the European continent, early one morning we drove for three hours right into the heart of the plains without seeing another car or person, imagine that in the UK!!
One afternoon at the Finca after a lunch of fresh salad, local ham, cheese and freshly baked bread we decided to go for a walk up the track which was a haven for birds. After numerous encounters with lovely birds and butterflies we headed back down and as we turned a corner and were a crossing a flower filled meadow suddenly an animal appeared right in front of us, out of nowhere. I can’t remember who was the most surprised us or the Egyptian Mongoose standing before us and remarkably holding a large frog in its mouth. It was half wet probably after predating the frog from some nearby water. There was a bit of a ‘Mexican Standoff’ for ten seconds which thankfully allowed me to take a quick shot before it disappeared never to be seen again.
A one off really memorable moment!!