Our final weekend of our 2016/17 winter sojourn was jam-packed with delights. One of the extra special ones was lunch with some lovely friends in the barrocal. We knew lunch would be marvellous in terms of their company, the location and the food but we hadn’t quite realised how memorable it would be because of decision to walk to theirs from the main road. Rather cloudy when we arrived and the rain looked likely so off we trooped with full weather gear in our back packs.
Fortunately we had the camera and binoculars out as we hadn’t gone far when we saw a Papa-figos. The literal translation is fig-eater, but the name you’ll probably recognise is Golden Oriole. Our friends had seen them in the days leading up to our visit, so I was hopeful we might see them too. And we did! A male flew ahead of us, and perched long enough on a tree for us to photograph him. He was quite a distance away which probably explains why he was happily in view as normally they are quite a secretive bird. Isn’t he gorgeous though!
Fortunately he flew off after a while as if he hadn’t we would have been even later for lunch than we were! Was such a delicious lunch. After lunch we were treated to a garden tour. They have done quite a bit of work since we last visited and so we were keen to see what has been achieved. It was during the tour that the next birding moment occurred. High above were two eagles. I even managed to get a close up of one. Well maybe not quite a close-up!
And as the eagles departed they took the cloud with them. What a difference a bit of sunshine makes to the landscape.
I had written everything up to this point this time last week, and had meant to return to it last weekend to finish. But then last Friday Mum rang to say Dad had suddenly deteriorated and so off I was to Somerset (England). Dad never recovered and died last Sunday with us by his bedside, but please don’t be sad. It was a release for him and for us as he had end stage dementia. The Dad I will be remembering left us a year ago, and so this week the dominant feeling is one of relief. He is at peace. He died with a smile on his face, and I now have a smile on mine as I recall what an amazing man he was.
He would have loved this post with my stories of wildlife, gardens and an afternoon with lovely friends and fabulous food and wine. And he would have also loved what we did next, which was taking a walk in the countryside and then on to party. He loved celebrations, and spending time with family and friends. Cheers Dad!
Cheers, Becky’s dad. <3
oh thank you 🙂 was thinking about him lots today so coming across your lovely comment this afternoon is just wonderful
Sorry to hear about your Dad, but so pleased that he knew he was loved and treasured by you all. Best wishes.
thank you x
Hope all is as well as can be expected in difficult times x
thank you x
I hope you always see Golden Orioles when you’re in Portugal Becky, and cheers ‘Becky’s Dad’, a much loved man with a good sense of timing. Take care honey, Gx
so do I now! And thank you x
I can understand the feeling of relief and so good that you could be with him at the end. Such a beautiful bird to give him a send-off with and I hope that you and your mum can remain positive in the weeks to come.
Thank you so much . . . . x
The name papafigos is enough to make me love this bird. How lucky that he spent long enough in your company for you to get a photograph. Loved the post. Hope your Mum can be as positive as you. Best.
oh thank you so much, and yes she is. All of us feel the time was right, and being there when he died helps enormously 🙂
PS It is such a brilliant name isn’t it
Bless him, Becky! I’m so glad you’re staying positive. Dad would be proud of you 🙂 🙂
Thanks Jo 🙂
Oh, Becky, what a lovely post. I feel honoured to share it with your father. I’m happy to learn that he had a good death and that you were with him. It’s such a precious thing. I love your photos too – especially the papafigos and the dangling eagle leg.
Thank you 🙂 so much . . .thought it quite appropriate that the one I had half written was the one about our wonderful afternoon with you both. dad would have loved it 🙂