Hippos don't live in trees, mum!

This morning I saw two hoopoes (Upupa epops) flitting around in the treetops in Corro d'Amunt. As I called out to the kids "Look at the hoopoes in the trees" my daughter replied "Hippos don't live in trees, mum!"

I love these birds as I don't see them very often and they just look so stunning with their wonderful crests and striking colour and patterns. In Catalan the hoopoe is called the 'puput' which is a great name as it reflects the sound that they make. I remember last summer hearing one from the garden but never actually seeing it.

This photo was taken a few years ago in Sant Pere Pescador.

Hoopoe / Puput (Upupa epops)

A spring morning

While my daughter was doing her horse-riding class this morning I took advantage to have a short walk near the stables. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and there were many butterflies fluttering around the wild flowers at the roadside. Here are some photos that I took. I have tried to identify the flowers and butterflies.

Two butterflies flutter by

Countryside in Corro d'Amunt

Common Poppy / Rosella (Papaver rhoeas)

Common Fumitory / Fumdeterra (Fumaria officinalis)

Spring pea / Guixó vernal (Lathyrus vernus)

Swallowtail / Papallona reina (Papilio macaon)

Cabbage white / Blanca de la Col (Pieris brassicae)

Blossom

Poppy

A short post today simply to share a photo of a poppy (Papaver rhoeas) that I took this afternoon in the beautiful spring sunshine.

Common poppy / Rosella (Papaver rhoeas)

BLAST FROM THE PAST - 2008 - Montseny

In June 2008 a group of us (all families with small children) went to spend a weekend at Can Pareras Vell in Montseny. Here are some extracts from my diary describing our stay there:

" The views are spectacular - across to Montnegre and Sant Celoni and the sea beyond. It's not entirely silent, but there is a general feeling of real tranquility. There are not any neighbours to speak of and we are deep in the countryside. There are geese and hens and fruit trees. I've seen a jay and heard a cuckoo."

"The view this morning was amazing; sunny but with fog settled in the valley below. I went for a run through the woods and saw little waterfalls and heard cow bells. It was very peaceful."

Dead salamanders

Fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) are generally nocturnal, although they can be seen during the day when it is wet and rainy. This morning it was exceptionally rainy and therefore perfect weather for salamanders. Sadly the only salamander I saw whilst out walking in the hills was dead; it had risked crossing the track and been squashed by a vehicle. This is the second dead fire salamander I have seen in the hills surrounding La Garriga. Perhaps people using the forests tracks in cars or on bikes should take more care when the conditions are wet and there is a risk of squashing one of these interesting little amphibians.

Fire salamander / Salamandra (Salamandra salamandra) photographed 21/3/15 

Fire salamander / Salamandra (Salamandra salamandra) photographed 17/2/13

Success!

My first attempts with my new trail cam were a success. I got some footage of small rodents (too small to see what they were but it was fun watching their little glowing eyes whizzing across the screen!) and birds but I hit the jackpot with a visit from my favourite small mammal - the genet. So here's a video from this week for you to enjoy.

Spring by the river

Yesterday I took a short stroll by the River Congost in La Garriga. The sun was shining and spring was definitely in the air. The steady drone of traffic on the dual carriageway which passes over the river did not detract from the beauty of the day and the clear birdsong. In fact in the short time that I was there, I saw magpies, mallards, a pied wagtail, a coal tit, blackbirds and various other small birds. I was also pleased to hear a splash when I went down to the riverbank and to see a frog swimming quickly away. I'm sorry I disturbed him but it was a lovely spring sight. Some pretty wild flowers brought the river path to life with their vibrant colours. I have tried to identify them but I'm not too sure about the violets that I saw. I've plumped for Viola alba but would be happy to be corrected if someone thinks I am wrong. Could their English name really be "white violet" when they are clearly purple in colour? I've also found websites that call them "parma violets"which I find funny as, to me, parma violets are those funny soapy flavoured sweets that nobody really likes!

River Congost 

White violet (Parma violet?) / Viola d'alzinar (Viola alba)

Lesser celandine / Gatassa (Ranunculus ficaria)

Spring blossom

Spring is here!

I have recently returned from a trip to the United Kingdom. Before I left things were still feeling decidedly wintry so I was surprised to find, on my return, that there were clear signs of spring such as this beautiful blossom.

New camera!

I am very excited because I am the proud owner of a new trail camera. I can't wait to get out and to set it up and see what I can film and photograph. Watch this space!

BLAST FROM THE PAST - 2006 - A trip to Gósol and Pedraforca

Every now and then I want to use this blog to share photos and memories from past adventures in Catalonia.

This post remembers a short trip to Gósol in Berguedà (Lleida) which we took in May 2006. In my diary I wrote about visiting the 11th century castle ruins and finding no one there. "It was very peaceful to be there listening to the birds and the distant clang of cowbells." With two friends I went out to walk at 6.30am, making it part of the way up the mountain of Pedraforca. "It was really special being up so early, seeing the sun slowly creeping up behind the mountains and casting its shadows across the hills and valley."