12th Dec 1988

Barn owls were hissing and tawny owls were hoot­ing close to the camper last night, and the tawn­ies were still quite vociferous again at dawn. There were two, one in the trees above and the other below where we were parked. They talked to each other in voices halfway between those of youngsters calling for food, and adults hooting.

This morning we walk uphill along a minor road, birds are similar to those on the farmland yesterday but fewer of them. We are on a very steep slope covered with evergreen holm oak and deciduous species such as sessile oak, hawthorn, hazel, field maple, and some beech and privet.

We drive on and stop for lunch at a view-point overlooking a sheer limestone cliff which is marked on the map as Cuevas de Covalanas. There are a number of cave entrances visible and signs re­questing visitors to check with the authorities before exploring them. A buzzard and a raven circle in the valley, and a couple of meadow pipits fly through. On the higher peaks on the other side of the valley are the three griffons again.

Mountain tops aere generally in the clouds but the road goes to 1000 metres at Alto de los Tornos and we follow it. Visibility is often down to 50 metres, so we stop to listen for bird sounds ‑ mostly a few unidentifi­able noises in the distance. Close to us is a chunky looking pipit with white supercilium, eyestripe and moustachial stripe, faintly striped on the back, dark legs, and white belly and outer tail feathers. The elusive (for us) water pipit found at last. There is another as we reach the viewpoint at the top, feeding along the road then bathing in a nearby puddle.