Evora is one of several World Heritage sites in Portugal with remains dating from the Palaeolithic. It was inhabited by the Romans who built an aqueduct (later maintained by the Arabs). Near the aqueduct I was studying plants one morning [Anyone recognise this?
When there was a strange noise and two large raptors took off from near the aqueduct:
The one behind was making the noise so I assumed it was a youngster being taken out for flying instruction. They gradually soared way up into the sky before disappearing:
However, as they were fading into the distance, another appeared, then another two ... could this have been a large family?
My first assumption was buzzard (
Buteo buteo) but the underwing pattern doesn't look right and they were perhaps a little large ...... any suggestions?