Barn Owl?

My observations have been limited recently by a bout of flu, but, the other evening, I ventured down the garden at about 9pm to get some fresh air into my lungs. Standing and looking, an owl suddenly swept up the garden flying past just five meters from me. Turning its head towards me as it passed I am convinced that what I saw in the half light was the rounded features of a barn owl. Never having seen any hint of the presence of one in the local area in the two years we have been here, it would be an astonishing but very welcome development. I shall be going out at twilight to look for it.

There are still large numbers of linnets around and I spotted a flock of around thirty goldfinches feeding on thistles. A covey of grey partridges could be recently released birds or  maybe some wild birds passing through.

Following a few days with mists at morning and evening and heavy still afternoons, some fresher weather has now reached us.

Turkey 2

Went to a different golf course today. It was lined with fir trees and the consequence of that was that it has caucasian squirrels. There actually were feed stations provided for them. Also saw a hoopoe which is one bird I really hoped to see here. Also  a flock of about forty yellow wagtails, many of which appeared to be immature birds.
Back at the hotel a bulbul was in the grounds outside my room, which could readily be identified as a white spectacled bulbul.

Turkey

Lots of the birdlife can be seen and heard around the golf courses. With plenty of fresh water lakes, the black necked grebes with young can commonly be seen and heard. Moorhens and coots are the other main water birds, though two cormorant and a heron flew over today.
Hooded crows are the commonest birds to be seen on the course. There also some as yet, unidentifiable but colorful and loud woodpeckers. Other birds can be heard calling but are difficult to see in the eucalyptus canopy.
Lots of small lizards around but also some much larger geckos with their colourful flapping 'wings'. A tortoise was also seen by others/

Passing Migrants

Weather permitting, the skies hereabouts have been full of the local swallows. (I haven't seen a swift for some time, so they must have departed). But there have also been swallows that have apparently been flying directly over, usually in an eastwards direction. These birds I am sure are from more northern regions and are already on their way to Africa.
A chiffchaff was singing the other day, (the first to be heard for some weeks); again it is very likely that it was a bird on migration.
Large groups of tits are now flitting about our hedgerows. One party of long tailed tits must have amounted to more than twenty individuals.

Playful Kestrels

Watched two juvenile kestrels over the stubble fields. A parent kept a watching brief whilst these two youngsters tested out their flying skills.
Although I am hesitant to anthropomorphize, there seemed little doubt but that these birds were playing. One after the other, they would swoop down upon each other trying to catch them unawares. Of course, at the last moment, the lower bird would glide out of reach. It was mock hunting and display flying all in one spectacular display.