The great wheel of nature turns again.
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And so the great return begins.
This Spring, half a billion birds passed over this point migrating from Africa to seek the living abundance of the short but intense Northern summer.
Their work in these high latitudes is now coming to an end. While there, they have paired with each other, gloriously sung the dawn chorus, bred, and raised their young.
These new families will swell the numbers on the return journey and overhead today were the outriders of this great animal movement.
These storks were seen spiralling higher and higher catching the thermals that will allow them to glide down across the perilous sea crossing of the Straights as they begin the long journey home.
The sea though, is only the first of many obstacles; fickle winds, hunters and the crossing of the great sand wastes of the Sahara are still to come.
For me, their is a joy at this tipping point in the seasons as I see this abundant new life gracefully and effortlessly using the winds to guide them on their way.
I smile and wish them bon voyage.
For nature, the wheel is already turning even before the great heat of an Andalusian summer arrives.
Photos: Storks migrating across the Straights. Courtesy of the author.