Crag Martins to Vultures

We parted company with the  Rio Douro at Barca d'Alva and climbed up onto the
planalto - tableland - of the Beira Alto. This area of Portugal is strewn with boulders and feels remote; the wildflowers are impressive and fill the air with their aroma.
Pigeon houses are spread all over the landscape. They have been used since ancient times to produce Pigeons for their meat and manure, the "pombino." The International Douro Natural Park has been renovating them recently, with over one hundred critical buildings already completed.

Pigeon houses.

Castelo Rodrigo, dating back to 500 BC, has been extensively renovated under the Historic Villages scheme.

It was a lucky moment—"some may not think so." A mule had died in a field. The arrival of Vultures must have started yesterday! Judging by what was left at that early hour, more circled overhead. This one was vigilant, but we got close enough to photograph it.

The Reserva natural Serra da Malcata.

We can observe the delicate Crag Martins searching for nesting materials from the dam.

They must use their find as a nest lining; the central nest is made of small mud balls.

Occasionally, birds had to protect their finds from plundering comrades.

As we passed Southwards, heading for Alcantara in Spain, the fields were unique, filled with wildflowers.

It had been raining all day, and miniature water courses ran fast.

Walking a dirt track, we found these Tadpoles in the puddles; hopefully, it would continue to rain for them!

It may have been a wet day. Nonetheless, it was still full of colour and beauty!