Late July in the park
Up in the pine trees, the hectic sawing of the cicadas almost drowns out the parakeets. The sprinklers are on in force, hissing curtains of recycled rain water. When puddles form on the paths, magpies and parakeets waddle over to bathe. A Tree rat emerges from the undergrowth, spruce and bright-eyed, and wants to join in, but is driven off by a magpie. Tail-pecking is a tried and trusted technique, often used on cats.
I get to see my first ever cicada. It seems ludicrous that I’d never seen one before. Fixed quite low on the tree, its body vibrates without pause, long wings curved like sycamore seeds.
Over in the pond, an inevitable Red-eared slider swims ponderously past. Someone’s also introduced shoals of small gold fish – several days hunting for any kingfisher passing by next autumn. Dragonflies sunbathe on the stone slabs round the edge and I try to sneak up for a closer look.
The Broad Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) is almost transluscent under the hot sun. It’s saturated with colour, which spills over to the wings, where the veins near the body are like red netting. The amber pterostygma at the tips are like small stained glass windows.
There’s another basking dragonfly – the Blacktailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) – stocky and powder blue.
So many male dragonflies – where are the females? I spot two Scarlet Darters coupled up in the wheel position. Once released, the beige-coloured female oviposits pogoing across the water, dangerously oblivious to the group of young mallards. One lunges at her, but she’s away.
It’s the time of year for unusual sightings in unexpected places. Recent observations recorded on 
Shortly after being born, this year’s brood of Peregrine falcon chicks were stolen from their nest in one of the Sagrada Familia towers. The robbery took place out of range of the web cam installed. Visitors have no access to this tower, but there are always plenty of workers milling around, since the Sagrada Familia is still under construction. Eduard Durany, responsible for monitoring Barcelona’s Peregrine falcons, emphasises the need for better security. Last year suspicious individuals were spotted trying to take food up to the falcons, who fetch a high price on the black market. After the theft, two chicks born in a wildlife recuperation centre were placed in the nest, but sadly the intended foster parents rejected them. See also the report on the ringing of 
After considerable procrastination, 
The areas of Barcelona nearest to the Collserola hills are now quite used to visits from the natural park’s thriving boar population, particularly at the end of summer when the ground is rock-hard and food supplies scarce. But on Saturday night a family of boars was seen trotting through Gràcia, a central barrio of the city, accessible only after crossing an extremely busy ring road. The same family has been observed this August exploring Gaudí’s Güell Park. There’s a 
