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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Peewit" data-source="post: 1505908" data-attributes="member: 57492">South Bay of Ses Salines, Fornells Part 2 of 2South Bay of Ses Salines, Fornells - Part 2 of 2A Cuckoo starts to make his call heard once more, and I had a feeling this was the same bird that I could hear across the bay from our Chalet.  There was not much of a distance between the two established areas. It just showed how small the bay area is when it came to wildlife species in the local area.  A few old ruins where dotted about the area.  The stones showed the internal shapes of the building that once where important to the area, and the communities of people that must have lived in them.  The rooms, still presented in their former shapes, and sizes that where once lived in. There was an air of the place being steeped in history.  It was eerie in a way, ghostly, and the spirits of the past will be present in this area forever.  A lot of reed like grass covered the plots of buildings.  The grass rustled in the slight wind.We where told some of the environmental history of the area.  It had taken 15 years to put forward plans to establish areas of the island reserves.  It was good that the work done to help the island keep its heritage, and it was a positive result at the end of the day.  Local people, and tourists alike where reaping the benefits of being able to roam freely where they anyone wanted to be.  Tourists who want to access areas to walk around as part of the whole enjoyment of visiting Menorca in the first place.  It is a bird watchers paradise, and a lot of pleasure would be gained from accessing the area on foot.  Now the whole area is turning to be a bird watchers delight. As we walked along the old uneven ‘bridle’ track we could see lots more Corn buntings flitting between bushes in the nearby fields.  Each area of land has its hedge to divide areas of land from one another.  Most of the land was subdivided by either a drystone wall or shrubby trees.  Not a wire fence was seen at all in any direction.  I just love the wooden rustic gates that give the look of old world charm of the whole  area.  There is a sense of pride about how the land is looked after, visually, or otherwise by the local people.  There is a definite rich love for the land,We stopped to observe one or two insects which where seen on the roadway, close to the surrounding areas.  There was an endless source of fascination going on with Insects, Flora and Frogs. One frog sitting close to the track was very interesting to see as it was not a UK species.  It hopped off and into the undergrowth, after it had enough of seeing stared at by so many people – who could blame it.  It was still, muggy, hot evening, and plenty of water was consumed by people.Another discussion we had as a group was future problems with the Processionary Moth Caterpiller to the local district of Menorca.  There have been lots of boxes placed on trees to check the extent of the problem within the area.  So hopefully there will be a way of keeping pests in check in the near future.  The Gypsy Moths Caterpillers are the local pests at the moment.  There are lots of them everywhere on the island, there is not a place you can go where they are not noticeable.  It must be a bumper year for them.Another 'watery' place for the group to stop, look, ponder, talk  and gaze over the south end of the bay.  We where told that this was the area that Flamingo's have been seen in the past.  Now it appeared devoid of wildlife while we where there.  Lots of rocks cut into strange shapes.  It was like looking at an area from another planet with all the divisions and pools cut onto boulders scattered all over the bay.  Lots of holes and stones looking weather beaten and well crafted.  It was like being at a Art exhibition of stone sculptures.  Magic place, and it felt different to any other part of the bay  area.In winter I was told that Flamingo's have been seen along with the resident Cetti's Warbler to name but a few local birds,  We have witnessed seeing the Cett’is Warbler in May time at Parc de S’Albufera Des Grau. That was good enough for us.  There seems to be a regular all year group of birds.  They share the area along with the migrants that keep coming back to the island at specialised time of the year.  It makes for a lot more interest for  bird watching.  Menorca must be a different place to be in the winter months.  We may come back in wintertime to bird watch to see what is around at this point in the year.  I was told that it does not get too cold so that would suit us for an extra holiday.We started to head back to the cars, and drove back to Ses Salines.  We could see a Egytian Vulture circling in the sky, above us, nearby, as we drove along the roadway.  The sighting caused a bit of a stir in the group.  Then another BoP appeared, and it was a Red Kite once more.  That tail was a giveaway to us.  Great to see sop many BoP’s in Menorca.  It gave a feeling that there is a healthy population of them at the moment.  We recovered form our walk and relaxed for a while in the heat.  Then we went for another walk around to the Salt Pans at Ses Saline.  The Kentish Plovers where there scuttling around as always looking very busy.  They look like fast mechanical toys.  A evening air had set in and the birds where calling to one another in the distance once more.  The water shimmered in the light, and the place gave the feeling of complete calm and peace .  This is my favourite patch to relax in and take in the sea air, and take in all the beautiful surroundings.Last report is the Wild Flowers, and an update on the connecting Butterfly thread.Picture 5- Fornells road Picture 6 - Rustic Gate</blockquote>

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