Agaricus macrosporus 20081224, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
… and then got home to find these Agaricus macrosporus on the lawn.
Agaricus macrosporus
Christmas Day Swim
Christmas Day Swim 20081225, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Of course we had to have The Christmas Swim … well I say “we” when I should say “the brave ones” – personally I don’t go in till the water’s a tad warmer!
Sardinian Warbler (Silvia melanocephala)
Sardinian Warbler (Silvia melanocephala) 20081217, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
The Quinta’s garden was designed to attract birds, and we’re able to leave a lot of the fruit we grow on the trees, which attracts a varied and increasing number of species.
This is a Sardinian Warbler, (one of a flock of 5 in the same tree), I snapped this evening just as the sun went down, stocking up on pomegranate seeds before roosting for the night …
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalus caudatus)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalus caudatus) 20081217, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
…. and here’s a southern Iberian Long-tailed Tit, which love the olives we leave on the trees around the Quinta.
Cabbage
Cabbage 20081212_2045, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Sometimes the simplest things just make the most startling photos … Waiting for the children to come out of school yesterday, the sun just dipped below the clouds and picked out this cabbage with its last rays. It seemed a pity not to share it.
Common Waxbills
Common Waxbills 20081212_2038 copy, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Flocks of Common Waxbills very, well, common really right now! They seem to form flocks separated by age, with juveniles keeping to themselves. I always check them to see if there are any black beaks in red-beaked flocks and vice versa but never seem to find any ….
Iberian Magpie
Iberian Magpie 20081212_2037 copy, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
A quick snap of an Iberian Magpie in flight; I love the way they fan their tales. One day maybe I’ll get a better shot than this though!
Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff 20081212_2034 copy, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
Had time on my hands yesterday waiting to pick the kids up from school and managed to bag this little critter right out in the open. Fantastic feeling to at last get one like this instead of the usual “blur in a bush”!
Fungi dinner
20081206_2027, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
And then Daniela transformed our days pickings into the starter for dinner, Wood Blewit and Chanterelle Pasties …. Delicious!
Sunset over the lake
Sunset over the lake, originally uploaded by Paradise in Portugal.
We had one of these this evening … ’nuff said really.
Lovely thing about living here is that you get these and also get to meet amazing people like Carlos last weekend – here’s his blog http://www.vai5.blogspot.com/ …. I never thought my first pictures on someone else’s blog would be from the old days despatching in London …. aaahhhh! “Those were the days my friends ….”