'Lunatic' by Ivor Cutler

'Living creatures, completely unaware of Man's immortal soul see him only as a vicious destructive creature with an infinite capacity for making a mess, unable to relate to The Earth and without aesthetics. As a dying butterfly was heard to whisper: - "He's a fucking lunatic!" '

Aquatic bats

Yesterday my daughter and I joined a group of other enthusiastic people in the village of Aiguafreda for a talk about bats and, more specifically, the aquatic bat species that are found in Catalonia and which are being studied by the Projecte QuiroRius. Specifically this includes Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) which is called the Ratpenat d'Aigua (Water Bat) in Catalan and the Long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii) which, in Catalan, is called the Ratpenat de Peus Grans (the Bat with Big Feet).

After the talk we all went to the Font dels Enamorats where we ate our picnic supper as the sun set and the bats started to appear. Then, with head torches on, we headed off into the woods following the path until a small turning which lead us down to a pool where we saw an aquatic bat racing around above the surface. With our arrival it quickly disappeared but we had been able to hear it on the bat detector.

Some other bats also registered on the bat detectors as we waited there (probably pipistrelles). After waiting a while and realising that no more bats were going to come back (maybe we were making too much noise or showing too many lights), the majority of the party headed off for an excursion in the dark. We decided it was time to head home and on the way back to the car saw a Common Midwife Toad (Alytes obstetricans). In Catalan this species is called the Tòtil. We also heard something large moving around in the bushes but we couldn't see what it was. It was great to be out in nature at night time!

Baby pigeons

Yesterday the kids and I spotted two baby pigeons, that look like they will soon by ready to fledge, flapping their wings frantically on the small ledge that is their nest. While we were watching them, in flew the adult to feed them. I went back a bit later to take a couple of photos but the light was not good and the photos are not of high quality. It is a shame that we hadn't seen them earlier when they were smaller. However they still have some of their downy feathers and do not look completely like adult pigeons just yet.

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