GREATER FLAMINGOES, A RESIDENT BIRD OF SPAIN AND SURELY ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR

A couple of days ago, I had a wonderful day out bird watching in Valencia – something that none of my family thought I would do (let alone enjoy the experience).

Well, it was a revelation!

Probably like most women, I tend to get caught in the house during the Christmas period, barely able to escape from the constant round of meals, entertaining and tidying up.  And then, of course, there are the children to keep happy and my husband occupied (not that he always appreciates it!).  It all means that I end up having little time to myself to relax.

However, to my amazement, this year my husband bought me a day out with Nature Trails Spain, who run bird watching tours in Valencia!

A LONE CORMORANT BEFORE A WEATHER FRONT CAME IN BRINGING DOZENS MORE.

Well, you can imagine my surprise at receiving a bird watching tour as a present, particularly as I know next to nothing about birds.  That is not say that I do not like the countryside nor that I have no interest in wildlife, both of which I do.  However, I rarely know what I am looking at, why it is unusual and what the creature I am looking at does – making any sustained interest in local wildlife in Spain frustrating and a touch pointless.  Certainly, my husband is of no use at all, as he cannot tell the difference between a bat and a budgerigar and considers walking anywhere an insult to the inventor of the combustion engine!

In any event, with a small party, we set off last Tuesday with Dave Warrington from Nature Trails Spain as our guide.  Dave is an expert birder (I think that is the right term!) and very soon displayed an astonishing knowledge about the bird-life of Valencia and where best to go at different times of the year to see a dazzling variety of birds in Spain in their natural or migratory habitats.

Over a coffee, just before we set off, Dave described to us what we were likely to see and why – whilst warning us to keep a sharp look out for anything we considered unusual.  He then issued us with binoculars and we set off on a walk around the marshlands of northern Valencia – with me wrapped up like the proverbial Michelin man (which I was to regret later as, the day became surprisingly warm).

The plan was to take a gentle 7 km walk around the Valencian marshlands along routes that Dave clearly knew intimately, whilst visiting various hides and viewing platforms.  We would stop at these and along the way, as we spotted birds of interest.  To help us see the birds better, Dave had a large telescope and tripod, which was to prove very useful during the course of the day.

Bird watching in Spain – the stunning diversity of Valencia

In fact, I was really surprised at the number of different birds that we saw right from the start of the walk.  Moving slowly and carefully, Dave was scrupulous about not just pointing out individual birds but also describing what they were, what they were doing and their particular characteristics.  Each species we saw started to have a real personality of its own beyond simply being pretty or a curiosity.

THE VALENCIAN COASTAL WETLANDS HOLD A VAST ARRAY OF BIRD SPECIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

One of the joys of the walk was seeing a flight of Flamingoes.  These were beautiful and took on a gorgeous pink glow as their wings caught the sun.  Really tremendous!

Later on we saw a Purple Gallinule (huge red feet!), which Dave told us was a rare sight.  This was complemented by coming within almost touching distance of a beautiful Kestrel, which seemed not to care at all about our presence.  Meanwhile, for long periods of the day, a magnificent Booted Eagle circled overhead, thankfully not disturbing one of my favourite birds, the Hoopoe (which eats just about anything, including Procession Caterpillars, which I hate!).

THE WRITER WITH DAVE WARRINGTON - WATCHING A KESTREL!

In all, we saw a total of 33 different species during our bird watching tour in Valencia, which Dave considers a reasonably good number for this time of year.  Certainly, I was astonished that so many could be seen in one day and delighted by a really lovely, relaxing day out within beautiful countryside.  This was enhanced by Dave who was wonderfully good humoured and tolerant, whilst providing a day that ended with a really pleasant sense of achievement.  Lovely!

I would never have thought that I would say this but my day out with Dave, bird watching in Valencia, has sparked an interest that I shall really enjoy building upon (I have just bought a book about birds!).  I may even try to persuade my husband to accompany me next time – actually maybe not!  There is quite a lot to be said for having a selfish day out, doing something completely different…

Finally, if you want to go out with Dave on a bird watching tour then he can be found at Valencia birding or Nature Trails Spain or you can e-mail him directly at: NatureTrailSpain@gmail.com  Have a great time – and I may see you there!

Lindsay Snelling – Culture Spain

GRIFFON VULTURE - THEY BREED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF VALENCIA

The east coast of Spain, particularly the area that lies within the Valencian Community, offers some of the best bird watching in Europe.  Of course, bird life in Spain is exceptional, by anyone’s standards, but this is all the more notable in the Valencia region of Spain.  Indeed, bird watching in Valencia is unusual for its extraordinary diversity.  This is due to two key factors:

Firstly, the geographical position of Spain as a country means that it is located directly on a major migration route for a vast array of species.  The fact that many migrating birds use the coastline as an aid to navigation means that they pass over and stop off along the Valencian coast.

Secondly, the major positive influence for bird watching in Valencia is the hugely diverse habitat range.

As a result, there are terrific opportunities to see a bewildering array of bird species – so much so that many people coming for bird watching in Spain naturally head for the Valencia region.  This has a startling array of different habitats that support numerous different species:

Albufera de Valencia

Perhaps the best known birding site in the Valencian Community is the Albufera de Valencia, an internationally important coastal wetland immediately to the south of the city of Valencia.  The area covers over 21,000 hectares and is now declared a Natural Park and does enjoy some form of environmental protection (more on that later!).  Albufera de Valencia comprises a huge fresh water lake of 3,000 hectares in surface area, rice fields, reed beds, coastal wooded areas and a series of smaller ponds and canals.

IRRIGATION CANAL - ALBUFERA DE VALENCIA

There is a visitor centre with hides and an observation tower although nothing on the scale of (say) RSPB reserves in the UK.  It has to be said that there is a huge amount of excellent work being done by some exceptionally dedicated organisations, although like most birding areas in Spain, the area is still not that user-friendly to the visiting birder.  This tends to mean that you are unlikely to get the best out of your bird watching trip, unless you know exactly where to go.

The species list for Albufera is too numerous to include fully here, save to say that its Mediterranean coastal location and varied habitat means that it´s worth a visit at all times of year.  Spring and Autumn migration in Spain is always interesting.  The breeding season is superb for all the European Herons, Egrets and countless waders.  Winter, when temperatures are extremely mild, bring in an array of visitors from Northern Europe and beyond.

Needless to say, the best way to enjoy and maximise seeing the bird life in Albufera is to take a guided bird watching tour with a local professional bird watching guide.  They will know the “hotspots” and will also be aware of the optimum periods for bird watching in Albufera.  My last guiding trip to Albufera was at the end of September.  We visited the hides first then spent the day covering the whole of the Albufera area, stopping off at some favourite hotspots for birding in Valencia.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS ARE REGULAR WINTER VISITORS TO ALBUFERA

There were a surprising number of straggling summer visitors, including a few Collared Pratincoles, and numerous Black Winged Stilts (although the latter are tending to over-winter along the coast), Little Ringed Plovers and Squacco Herons.  Regulars included Avocet, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Fan Tailed Warbler and Purple Gallinule which have done well throughout the Valencian coast of Spain over the past 3 years.

BLACK WINGED STILTS ARE INCREASINGLY OVER-WINTERING IN VALENCIA

Some early winter arrivals included Snipe and Little Stint, but the best spectacle was enjoyed towards the end of the day when a group of 5 pale form Booted Eagles passed over.  As we were watching them, one dived into the rice fields and took a juvenile Moorhen!

BIRD WATCHING GROUP ENJOYING THE SIGHTS IN VALENCIA

Other Coastal Wetlands in Valencia.

THE COLLARED PRATINCOLE IS A REGULAR BREEDING BIRD ON THE VALENCIAN COASTLINEValencian Coastline

The Valencian coastline offers much more for people interested in birding in Spain than just Albufera, and within an easy day´s reach are a number of other superb sites.  Over this summer and into the autumn I´ve been fortunate enough to enjoy watching a number of superb species to be found in the coastal wet lands of Valencia including: the Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Water Rail and Purple Heron.

THE BLUETHROAT IS A REGULAR WINTER VISITOR TO THE VALENCIAN REEDBEDS

I´ve also enjoyed rare delights such as White Headed Duck and Marbled Duck in Valencia.  My winter outings have been rewarded with views of Bittern, Bluethroat, Iberian Grey Shrike and Marsh Harrier.

SPOONBILL CAN BE RECLUSIVE BUT ARE OFTEN FOUND ALONG THE VALENCIAN COASTLINE

A favourite bird watching trip in Valencia for me is one that takes in a pebble beach before heading inland, passing a number of lagoons and reed beds before returning through coastal heathland and later rice fields.  Every trip is different and there´s always some unexpected occurrence…like the time when we were sitting enjoying a sandwich in the autumn sunshine and were treated to Marbled Duck and Purple Gallinule in the same binocular field of view!

Up onto the Spanish Steppe.

Again, within an easy day´s outing lies the seemingly endless plains of Castilla de la Mancha.  Much of this vast area is given over to cereal farming with some vineyards plus a number of lagoons.  The majority of the Valencian Steppe comprises a huge area that sits at over 900 metres above sea level, making summers extremely hot and winters bitterly cold.  However, it´s always worth a birding trip to Spain and this is one of the best areas to watch Great Bustards in the country.

THE STEPPE OF SPAIN PROVIDES WILDLIFE IN SPAIN WITH A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT

The farming villages of the Spanish Steppe remain the same today as they were years ago and one can often watch as Rock Sparrows flit in and out of the old stone buildings.

THE GREAT BUSTARD IS EUROPE'S HEAVIEST BIRD AND CAN BE SEEN ON THE VALENCIAN STEPPE

Larks are also well represented with Crested and Calandra being reliable.  Dotterel often drop by on their migration routes as do Whinchat and Wheatear.  The lagoons are good for breeding Black Winged Stilt, Red Crested Pochard, Black Necked Grebe and Whiskered Tern.

FLAMINGOES ARE RESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE VALENCIAN REGION

Flamingoes are also seen in good numbers, as are waders such as Ringed Plovers, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Avocet.

Raptors are numerous owing to the rabbit population with Buzzards and Booted Eagles being regulars.

Birding in the Spanish Mountains & Heathland.

The hanging valley in which I live is bounded by craggy mountains on either side, whilst the lower reaches are covered in Mediterranean Scrub.

THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE OF LA DROVA IS SURROUNDED BY CRAGS AND SCRUBLAND WHICH HAS A HUGELY DIVERSE RANGE OF BIRD SPECIES

Although the valley is just 4km long, our recorded year round species list currently stands at 76 – which just shows how exceptional birding in the Spanish mountains and heathland can be!

Regular garden birds include Blackcap, Crested Tit, Crossbill and Black Redstart.  Higher up on the crags there are often Raven, Chough, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler and Peregrine.  Spring brings through hundreds of Bee Eaters plus Golden Oriole, Melodious Warbler, Wryneck and Red Rumped Swallow.

THE CRESTED TIT IS A REGULAR GARDEN VISITOR IN LA DROVA

As with many locations, there are often wonderful surprises, like a few weeks ago when a loud screeching interrupted the peaceful morning stillness.  I quickly grabbed my binoculars and watched as a pair of Short Toad Eagles passed through the valley.  Other passing highlights have included Golden Eagle and Griffon Vulture.

The Future of Birding in Spain

DAVID WARRINGTON - PROFESSIONAL BIRD WATCHING GUIDE

Owing to its geographical position, habitat range and climate there is outstanding bird life in Spain – as anyone who has been bird watching in Valencia, for example, will confirm.  The big challenge facing conservationists, Eco-Tourism Guides and those interested in bird watching in Europe is that of education – with this of particularly vital importance to Spain and the younger generations of Spaniards.

For centuries hunting has formed an integral part of Spanish culture, and whilst there is control and, no doubt, many law abiding hunters, there are still horror stories.  However, I do believe that the future is positive…conservation is gaining an initial foot-hold in modern Spanish culture and associations are becoming better organised with the younger generations keen to learn more.  Education and raising awareness, of course, lie at the heart of future progress.

Perhaps the most important point to appreciate, for anyone interested in birding in Europe, is that Spain has so much to offer!  Indeed, there´s so much more to this wonderful country than beaches and sun with the beautiful countryside alive with hundreds of bird species – making bird watching in Spain a paradise for any keen birder.

Let’s just hope that, as the economy struggles on, the authorities grasp the fact that Eco-Tourism and Conservation can play a significant part in the future of  Spain with the fauna of Spain of strategic importance.

Written by David Warrington who is a professional Bird Watching Guide in Spain.  David lives in the village of La Drova in Valencia and offers value for money guided bird watching tours in Spain for groups and individuals, throughout the Valencian Community.

For details of David’s Guided Bird Watching tours in the Valencia area either go to www.valenciabirding.comor email him at: NatureTrailSpain@gmail.com

Mount Tiede, Tenerife (courtesy of NASAJSC).

An institution that makes me consistently proud to be British is the wonderful Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) which has just produced a fascinating portrait of Spain as part of their new and quite extraordinary Hidden Journeys series.  If you like spectacular views of the Spanish landscape – then you really must have a look at what the RGS/IBG has just produced.  It is a marvel!

In a groundbreaking way of showing world landscape, culture and history the RGS have produced a series of stunning images along a real air plane flight path that extends from Madrid in Spain to Rio de Janerio in Brazil.  The images concentrate upon Madrid itself, the lovely city of Seville and the Canary Islands – before providing further fascinating views of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Equator, and the Brazilian urban areas of Pernambuco, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

Of course, the first thing you are likely to ask is: what on earth (pun intended!) is there to see from a flight path – particularly of the Mid-Atlantic ridge or the Equator?

Well, the RGS/IBG display their images based upon three different heights, based upon what you would see from around 10,000m and then 2,000m and finally at ground level or below sea level (as appropriate) with the images accompanied by succinct explanations.  The latter describe the history and importance of what is shown and place the images in their historical, cultural and geographical context.

Olive groves south of Madrid (© Lars Plougmann).

Did you know, for example, that Mount Teide in the Canary Islands is the third highest volcano in the world at 3718m or that the Guadalquivir Basin (around Seville) drains an area almost twice the size of Belgium? Or that Seville cathedral is the third largest cathedral in the world (and has unique Gothic architecture?  Or that Barajas airport in Madrid handles some 50 million passengers a year and has the largest terminal space in the world?

In fact, the RGS-IBG’s Hidden Journeys flight from Madrid (the highest capital in the EU!) is packed full of interesting information together with (at ground level!) images and details about the culture of Spain and the other countries and areas ‘flown’ over.

I think what I particularly liked was the feel of perspective that the RGS-IBG’s Madrid to Rio ‘flight’ provides and this is the idea behind the Hidden Journeys project – to help us all appreciate the fascinating world we live in and the huge (and often startling) geographic and cultural changes between one part of the world and another.

Madrid (courtesy of NASAASTER).

Certainly, I cannot think of a better way of illustrating differences around the world than taking a flight path between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and making that journey visually interesting – in a way that it never is from inside an air plane flying at 10,000m.  At that height even the most impressive volcano, city or landscape is reduced with any meaningful scale lost, along with any historical or cultural relevance.

Meanwhile, when flying across the sea how is one ever to know about the existence of white carbonite spires or hydrothermal vents or what deep sea jellyfish look like – let alone the constantly evolving nature of the dramatic Mid Atlantic Ridge?

Needless to say, I am biased about what the Hidden Journeys flight path shows about Spain – with seeing the sheer expanse of the country and the spectacular views of the Spanish landscape a real joy.  There is also something irresistible about seeing either the city of Seville or Madrid from 10,000m and then being able to zoom down to see the detail of individual buildings and streets.  Great fun!

Aerial view of Seville (courtesy of GeoEye).

So, if you are interested in seeing the world from a different and very original perspective then do have a look at Hidden Journeys by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).  If you are living in Spain and on the rough flight path from Madrid to Rio de Janeiro then you may be able to see your own property and have a great multi-layered view of everything around it.

Santa Cruz, Tenerife from the air (© Tony Hisgett)

Equally, if you are planning on having a holiday in Spain anywhere between Madrid, Seville and the Canary Islands then you will have a perfect opportunity to see what is on offer – whilst being able to enthuse about the trip ahead.  Just think what your children will make of it!

Nick Snelling – Culture Spain

 RELEVANT INFORMATION

Hidden Journeys (Explore the world from the air) by the Royal Geographical Society (with IGB)

The El Toro de la Vega bull hunt occurs annually during the September fiesta of Tordesillas, a small town of 9,000 people situated to the north of central Spain and close to the city of Vallodalid.   It is here that a bull is chased by 100 plus riders and a mob of people who continually spear the animal until it collapses from its injuries – before being given the coup de grace by one of the ‘heroic’ people who have chased it.

If you can bear to watch the video below showing the Tordesillas El Toro de la Vega bull hunt then you will see in detail what occurs.  I think it is shocking, disgraceful and irredeemably cruel.  Incredibly, the event has been declared of National Touristic Interest!

What does this say about Spain and the tolerance within Spain to animal cruelty?

Well, a lot, I fear, together with a totally misplaced idea of what tourists want to see from Spain.

Certainly, I would urge you to avoid the Tordesillas bull hunt and ‘vote with your feet’ to show your disgust, so that this brutal event can die from sheer lack of interest.  Indeed, maybe a damaging lack of tourist commercial support for the town will eventually persuade the Tordesillas authorities to ban the event for good.

Needless to say, the justification for the continuance of the Tordesillas bull hunt revolves around both raw commercial interest (it brings money into the town, according to the Mayor) and the fact that it is a time honoured event that has been going on since at least the 14th Century and possibly earlier.

Well, there was time when women were considered the chattels of their husbands and could be beaten without recourse to justice.  There was a time when bear baiting was acceptable and a time when public hangings and burnings were considered an excuse for a good day out.   All were ‘time honoured’, all had been going on for centuries and all, thankfully, have been abandoned by civilized societies – along with cock fighting, dog fighting, gladiatorial contests and a host of other previously acceptable events of cruelty to both animals and people.

So, why does Spain persist in allowing animal cruelty?

Truly I do not know.

That said, the sanctions for animal cruelty in Spain are pitiful, as I have written previously, with the maximum fine a paltry 100 Euros.  There are no jail sentences in Spain for those committing animal cruelty and it appears that the police have little interest in pursuing those that commit it.  Indeed, what can the police do about general animal cruelty – whilst the public torture of a bull to death remains acceptable, such as at the Tordesillas El Toro de la Vega bull hunt?

Of course, when dealing with the subject of animal cruelty in Spain, it is impossible to avoid raising the controversy of bullfighting in Spain.  I fully understand that this is not a sport and that it is considered an art form, in the eyes of the Spanish.  However, an art form that involves the injuring and death of an animal?  Would we still consider this an ‘art form’ if it was a human involved rather than an animal (as in the days of gladiatorial contests in Rome)?

Of course, not!  Cruelty is always unacceptable and death, for animals or humans alike, should be accompanied by as much dignity and ‘humanity‘ as possible.  Always – with no reasons or excuses acceptable for any other action!

The trouble is that the continuances of bullfighting in Spain makes cruelty to animals in Spain appear ‘acceptable’.  After all, for as long as bullfighting in Spain remains legal, how can the state differentiate between the spearing of a bull in an auditorium and the repeated stabbing of a dog or cat on a public street?

The crazy thing is that Spain is one of the most liberal states in Europe – and therefore the world.  Quite rightly, women’s rights and gay rights and those of disabled people are heavily enshrined in the law.  In fact, if you are a human all is fine and dandy.

But for animals in Spain it is a different matter and Spain, to its disgrace, is well behind other First World countries in ensuring that its liberalism extends to the animal world.  This needs correcting – with the sooner events like the Tordesillas bull hunt are banned the better…

Nick Snelling - Culture Spain

FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION AND ARTICLES

I feel like Cristian Ronaldo

Bullfighting In Spain

Bullfighting in Spain – the beginning of the end.

Animal cruelty in Spain  - dogs

THE BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLY ENDANGERED IBERIAN LYNX

Some time ago I wrote an article about  Spain, rabbits and the Iberian Lynx.  You may recall that the article largely revolved around the question of how Spain (España) got its name and how there is some evidence to suggest that the name of Spain originally derived from the Phoenician for ‘Land of Rabbits’.

In any event, I touched on the tragedy of the Iberian lynx which is the most endangered species of cat in the world and the most endangered carnivore in Europe.  This is a real tragedy with the Iberian Lynx having dropped in number from something like 3,000 in the 1960s to a mere 150 in 2005 and some 250 possibly now alive in the wild.

Of course, such tiny numbers mean that the species is, in theory at least doomed to extinction if for no better reason than lack of genetic diversity.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I saw an article on the BBC which challenges this assumption.  Indeed, to quote the BBC article:

‘…new research suggests that the lynx has had little genetic variability over the last 50,000 years, and this has not hampered its long-term survival.‘

This is excellent news and may suggest that the conservation work being undertaken with the few remaining breeding Iberian Lynxes in Spain may just work, long term.

 Nick Snelling – Culture Spain

PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS IN PROCESSION

Of course, now is the time of year when processionary caterpillars tend to be around – and every English language newspaper in Spain seems to be full of dire warnings about them.  So much so that it can seem a wonder that anything survives at all within the Spanish countryside…

Certainly, processionary caterpillars can be dangerous.  They have poisonous hairs that can be irritating to humans (particularly to asthmatics) and they can cause a strong allergic reaction, if they touch your skin.  Indeed, they can be dangerous to small children who must, on no account, touch them or ever mistake them for harmless creatures.

Unfortunately, processionary caterpillars can be particularly dangerous to other animals, most notably dogs, which can make the mistake of ‘playing’ with the processionary caterpillars.  This can be fatal should the dog concerned inhale the hairs of the caterpillar or, worse still, swallow one of the caterpillars.

Indeed, if your dog is unwell and you suspect that it has been close to processionary caterpillars then you should not hesitate to take it to a vet as soon as possible.

However, you should not succumb to total hysteria about processionary caterpillars in Spain.  They are not always obvious and during some of the past years here (around Gandia) we have barely seen a caterpillar, let alone a full procession (which can be a line of caterpillars, joined nose to tail with the procession as long as the width of a road).  On other years, for around a month, they seem to be everywhere that you go and are a positive plague.

PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR NEST

When we first moved into our house we had some 22 processionary caterpillar nests high in the pine trees of my garden.  These we removed by cutting off the branch concerned and then placing the nest within a plastic bag (being careful never to actually touch the nest with our hands).  The nests were then sealed into a rubbish bag and disposed of in the normal way.  We did this after trying to burn the processionary caterpillar nests within a metal barrel which, in hindsight, was unwise because the burning process can release the poisonous hairs of the processionary caterpillars into the air.  This seemed to occur when we burnt the nests, as my wife suffered a mild breathing difficulty after stoking the fire.

Needless to say, most animals will naturally avoid processionary caterpillars.  If they did not then Spain would have no wild or domestic animals around anywhere that had pine trees.  As that is not the case, their danger to animals in general is probably exaggerated.

So, the nuisance of processionary caterpillars in Spain should be put into perspective.  They are a problem and deserve ‘respect’ – you should keep away from them or remove the nests carefully from your garden when you see them.  However, in reality, they remain a minor menace and one that should not disrupt your life in Spain.

There is an excellent article on processionary caterpillars here – which is well worth reading.

FIRES IN SPAIN UPDATE

I thought that I should give a quick update following my last Post about fires in Spain, in which I described a wild fire that was occurring just the other side of my village.  Thankfully the fire is now out but it crossed over the mountainside it had set ablaze and then dropped down into the Barcheta valley causing terrible damage.

The really sad news is that there were 9 fires across Valencia Province – all of  which started around roughly the same time!

Of course, no-one reading this could possibly believe that 9 fires, starting within a few hours of each other, is a coincidence.  Tragically, you would be right.  It appears that the fires were started deliberately.  The Policia Nacional have arrested (of all people) an ex Guarda Forestal.  The latter, as you can imagine, is (when employed) one of the very people specifically working to look after the countryside.

The fires were very bad with the one in Ontinyent affecting a colossol 2,500 hectares of land – mostly park land. Indeed, the Spanish papaers are saying the the fires are the worst experienced by the Comunitat de Valencia (the three provinces of Castellon, Valencia and Alicante) since 1994.

For the record, the fires were at Simat, Alfafara, Aqullent, Bocairent, Fontanars dels Aforins, Rafelguaraf, Muro de Alcoy, Ontinyent and Barcheta (very close to where I live)

Not surprisingly, the number of fires critically diluted the effectiveness of the fire service and the water bombing planes and helicopters.  To make matters worse, at the same time there were strong breezes that fanned the flames making the fires exceptionally difficult to put out quickly.

I am sure that I am not alone in feeling appalled by anyone deliberately creating wild fires.  The dangers to people are obvious and the damage to a fragile environment tragic…

WILD FIRE IN SPAIN - BARX

Well, there has been great ‘excitement’ (if that is the right word) over the past few hours!  At the other side of our pueblo, a wild fire has been blazing away.  For hours now there has been the constant drone of planes full of water crossing overhead. These, once they reach the fire, launch themselves at it and water bomb the long base of the flames that stretch all the way up the hillside.

As soon as the planes leave, a helicopter appears dropping carefully down to a water deposit to fill its huge underslung bag with more water.  Heaving its way upwards,  the helicopter then climbs along the flaming hillside, before releasing a cascade of water onto the burning vegetation.  Meanwhile, on the ground there are many fireman who have already closed one of the roads to our village.

Unquestionably, it is a dangerous time.  Today, there is a reasonable breeze and this is sufficient to collect burning embers and throw them hundreds of metres away.  Inevitably, they land within the tinder dry undergrowth and start yet another fire further along the hillside.  For the firemen, it must be like trying to cut off the head of a Hydra!

Of course, fires in Spain are, sadly, reasonably common, despite everyone’s natural precautions.  A mere spark can be enough to set alight a fire that could almost instantly go wildly out of control.  Sometimes this happens because someone has been careless with a cigarette butt and, I dare say, ocassionally fires are started deliberately.  At other times, fires can be lit by lightening during an electrical storm.

We had our biggest fire here a few years ago.  It was massive and ran terribly out of control.  For 24 hours the fire service fought it with everything they had but it swept relentlessly down a mountainside opposite us, driven by a strong inland (Poniente) wind.  Roads were cut off and a heavy pall of black smoke immersed the whole area – with even the town of Gandia disappearing in a dense haze.

Just as the fire seemed to run out of combustible material, the wind changed direction.  Almost immediately the fire leapt over onto our side of the mountain and began returning in the direction it had come but along previously untouched vegetation and trees – at the end of which was our house and the rest of La Drova!

By ill fortune, the wind had reversed direction just as night fell.  This meant that the water bombing planes and their accompanying helicopters were powerless to help – it being far too dangerous for them to fly through steep mountains, at night, with smoke and fire everywhere.

Very efficiently, the Guardia Civil visited all our houses and placed us on immediate evacuation alert!  There was, of course, little that we could do as the night passed, except watch as giant, blood red flames advanced relentlessly in our direction.  Our car was packed, the animals were made ready to go and I had, rather vainly, drenched our garden and the exterior of our house.

However, within seconds of dawn breaking, the sky was filled again with planes and helicopters which repeatedly bombed the leaping flames.  The wind had briefly stopped and within a couple of hours the fire was under control and had been largely put out.

As you can imagine, our household breathed a universal sigh of relief – whilst feeling thankful for the well practised and excellent professionalism of the Spanish fire service.  Certainly, the expert level of the daring pilots of both the planes and helicopters was something to see.  Wheeling, circling and diving through palls of smoke through mountain passes and beside steep peaks – whilst carrying tons of water – is not for the faint hearted…

I do not want to exagerate the danger of fires in Spain – however they are one of the ever present dangers of living here.  Actually, watching the swirling smoke of our fire today, I could not really think of any other.  There are no dangerous snakes or animals likely to do us harm and we live in a peculiarly benign environment.  But fires in Spain (wherever you are) – are a different matter altogether and are an unwelcome menace to anyone living in Spain!