Mandy
@mandywest.bsky.social
Free Spirit. Folkie. Foodie. Forager. Traveler. Photographer. Nature Lover. Always has a stash of upcoming gig tickets :-)
Lots of flamingos today!
October 12, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Lots of flamingos today!
Wonderful 10 hours out (birding and eating 😁) with Jose to the Salinas de San Pedro today ♥️ Saw a lot of birds!
Harbour side lunch was fab as always 😋
Harbour side lunch was fab as always 😋
October 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Wonderful 10 hours out (birding and eating 😁) with Jose to the Salinas de San Pedro today ♥️ Saw a lot of birds!
Harbour side lunch was fab as always 😋
Harbour side lunch was fab as always 😋
After breakfast we shall be heading to the salt pans.. always good for birding and we shall enjoy our usual harbour side lunch there too ♥️
🦩🐤🦐🫒🥘
(Photo of me there taken many moons ago )
🦩🐤🦐🫒🥘
(Photo of me there taken many moons ago )
October 12, 2026 at 5:25 AM
After breakfast we shall be heading to the salt pans.. always good for birding and we shall enjoy our usual harbour side lunch there too ♥️
🦩🐤🦐🫒🥘
(Photo of me there taken many moons ago )
🦩🐤🦐🫒🥘
(Photo of me there taken many moons ago )
Brilliant few hours out with our lovely Jose looking for raptors. European Eagle Owl was the main target but for the first time ever here we couldn’t locate one…but… we had privileged views of 2 Golden Eagles and 4 Bonelli’s Eagles!!!! 🤩♥️
Very very hot here today ☀️
Very very hot here today ☀️
October 11, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Brilliant few hours out with our lovely Jose looking for raptors. European Eagle Owl was the main target but for the first time ever here we couldn’t locate one…but… we had privileged views of 2 Golden Eagles and 4 Bonelli’s Eagles!!!! 🤩♥️
Very very hot here today ☀️
Very very hot here today ☀️
So spoiled we are.. delicious food and another beautiful sunset ♥️
October 10, 2026 at 6:33 PM
So spoiled we are.. delicious food and another beautiful sunset ♥️
Really good chance of Aurora in the UK tonight folks! No bright moon - after 8pm where skies are clear is your best chance. Good luck!!
I remember the same day 2 years ago - had great views!
I remember the same day 2 years ago - had great views!
October 10, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Really good chance of Aurora in the UK tonight folks! No bright moon - after 8pm where skies are clear is your best chance. Good luck!!
I remember the same day 2 years ago - had great views!
I remember the same day 2 years ago - had great views!
Splendid 90 min evening walk - circular around our base - an astonishing 15 Hoopoes!!! 🥰🤩
2 new bird species for this trip were Northern Wheatear (1)and Black Redstart (2)
Also saw Iberian Grey Shrike (aka Southern Grey Shrike)
Flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch too. Many ( as always) Crested Lark.
2 new bird species for this trip were Northern Wheatear (1)and Black Redstart (2)
Also saw Iberian Grey Shrike (aka Southern Grey Shrike)
Flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch too. Many ( as always) Crested Lark.
October 10, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Splendid 90 min evening walk - circular around our base - an astonishing 15 Hoopoes!!! 🥰🤩
2 new bird species for this trip were Northern Wheatear (1)and Black Redstart (2)
Also saw Iberian Grey Shrike (aka Southern Grey Shrike)
Flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch too. Many ( as always) Crested Lark.
2 new bird species for this trip were Northern Wheatear (1)and Black Redstart (2)
Also saw Iberian Grey Shrike (aka Southern Grey Shrike)
Flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch too. Many ( as always) Crested Lark.
Interesting and varied morning out. Love a Spanish market 🛍️
Coffee stops too ( and delicious toffee/pistachio mousse cake 😋)
At our second coffee stop we met a dozen blokes from Manchester who are here on a boy’s cycling trip around the area.🚵
Coffee stops too ( and delicious toffee/pistachio mousse cake 😋)
At our second coffee stop we met a dozen blokes from Manchester who are here on a boy’s cycling trip around the area.🚵
October 10, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Interesting and varied morning out. Love a Spanish market 🛍️
Coffee stops too ( and delicious toffee/pistachio mousse cake 😋)
At our second coffee stop we met a dozen blokes from Manchester who are here on a boy’s cycling trip around the area.🚵
Coffee stops too ( and delicious toffee/pistachio mousse cake 😋)
At our second coffee stop we met a dozen blokes from Manchester who are here on a boy’s cycling trip around the area.🚵
Another beautiful dawn … after breakfast we are going out to Fuente Alamo with our lovely host, Ros. Local market and coffee 💕
October 10, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Another beautiful dawn … after breakfast we are going out to Fuente Alamo with our lovely host, Ros. Local market and coffee 💕
No M&S picky bits 😂 but Carrefour goodies were enjoyed this evening..… and happy earlier to have a Hoopoe flying alongside the car ( my all time favourite bird 🥰)
October 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
No M&S picky bits 😂 but Carrefour goodies were enjoyed this evening..… and happy earlier to have a Hoopoe flying alongside the car ( my all time favourite bird 🥰)
After a day sightseeing/exploring what could be better than a Friday teatime swim and hot tub session 😀
October 9, 2026 at 4:51 PM
After a day sightseeing/exploring what could be better than a Friday teatime swim and hot tub session 😀
Wonderful (as always) visit to Cartagena. Rather busy as two massive cruise ships in port 😬
Very tasty lunch and made a start on my Christmas shopping.. only 3 bags worth 😅
Very tasty lunch and made a start on my Christmas shopping.. only 3 bags worth 😅
October 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Wonderful (as always) visit to Cartagena. Rather busy as two massive cruise ships in port 😬
Very tasty lunch and made a start on my Christmas shopping.. only 3 bags worth 😅
Very tasty lunch and made a start on my Christmas shopping.. only 3 bags worth 😅
It is our tradition on arriving in Cartagena to have churros with hot choc to dip (and a cafe con leche) We shall then go off on our own to explore before regrouping for a tapas lunch♥️
October 9, 2026 at 8:47 AM
It is our tradition on arriving in Cartagena to have churros with hot choc to dip (and a cafe con leche) We shall then go off on our own to explore before regrouping for a tapas lunch♥️
After breakfast today we shall swap our rural idyll for a sea port. A few hours planned in the wonderful Roman city of Cartagena - a favourite spot to hang out . Always a great vibe to the place and an eclectic mix of old and new. Looking forward to the day ahead ♥️
October 9, 2026 at 4:50 AM
After breakfast today we shall swap our rural idyll for a sea port. A few hours planned in the wonderful Roman city of Cartagena - a favourite spot to hang out . Always a great vibe to the place and an eclectic mix of old and new. Looking forward to the day ahead ♥️
A wonderful first day here…chilling, relaxing, strolling, reading, birding, swimming, eating. Warm, sunny weather and in good company. Blissful actually ♥️
October 8, 2026 at 7:47 PM
A wonderful first day here…chilling, relaxing, strolling, reading, birding, swimming, eating. Warm, sunny weather and in good company. Blissful actually ♥️
Fabulous sunset, wine on the rooftop. Had the best Shakshuka for our evening meal 😋
Hoping to see Draconids after dark 💫💫
Hoping to see Draconids after dark 💫💫
October 8, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Fabulous sunset, wine on the rooftop. Had the best Shakshuka for our evening meal 😋
Hoping to see Draconids after dark 💫💫
Hoping to see Draconids after dark 💫💫
Go see if you can! ( Ropewalk for us 😁)
October 8, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Go see if you can! ( Ropewalk for us 😁)
He’s a big ‘un ( locust )
October 8, 2026 at 4:22 PM
He’s a big ‘un ( locust )
Swim. Read. Bird. Chill. Repeat. 😁 🩱🏊♀️📖🐦⬛☀️🕶️
October 8, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Swim. Read. Bird. Chill. Repeat. 😁 🩱🏊♀️📖🐦⬛☀️🕶️
Oh, my darling.. oh, my darling….🎶
😁🍊🧡
😁🍊🧡
October 8, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Oh, my darling.. oh, my darling….🎶
😁🍊🧡
😁🍊🧡
We have a friendly escapee keeping us company around the pool. We have called him Carlos the cockatiel 🥰😁
October 8, 2026 at 8:08 AM
We have a friendly escapee keeping us company around the pool. We have called him Carlos the cockatiel 🥰😁
A wander before breakfast. Peace 🥰
A flock of c100 Chough over was nice to see/hear 😁
A flock of c100 Chough over was nice to see/hear 😁
October 8, 2026 at 7:02 AM
A wander before breakfast. Peace 🥰
A flock of c100 Chough over was nice to see/hear 😁
A flock of c100 Chough over was nice to see/hear 😁
Safely here and so good to be back 🥰
October 7, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Safely here and so good to be back 🥰
Just leaving for the airport… not excited at all 😂🇪🇸✈️
October 7, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Just leaving for the airport… not excited at all 😂🇪🇸✈️
Heavy rain here this morning. ‘Tis needed. Good that I won’t have to water my garden - one less job to do! Pleased I don’t have to walk to work in it this morning too 😁 ☔️
October 7, 2026 at 5:54 AM
Heavy rain here this morning. ‘Tis needed. Good that I won’t have to water my garden - one less job to do! Pleased I don’t have to walk to work in it this morning too 😁 ☔️