WAGS 2026 04 08: Aquas Belas Bird Song, or Making a Bit Of a Splash

The Walk 

At the appointed hour of 09.30 am, there were only three of us. Were the others overly concerned about getting wet in some rain? The skies above Para e Fica were blue. The Acu-weather forecast was positive. But then, five minutes later, both Lesley and Yves arrived, so we were able to have a reasonably respectable Starter pic and to set off by 10.05 am.

The first part of the walk was steadily up hill. Mercifully, the pace was slow, partly because Hazel´s mobile had been playing up, not been receiving inward calls, and fixing this, which was accomplished on the hoof, thanks to a solution proposed by Maria, meant more frequent pauses than is usual, even on a WAGS walk.

During these technical breaks, Lesley busied herself identifying bird calls on her mobile bird song App. She told us proudly that she had identified a Dartford Warbler. None of us were much the wiser at the time, but subsequently Wikepaedia research informs us that Dartford is a town in Kent where a Welsh ornithologist first pinpointed the Dartford Warbler in 1776. Since then, that area´s environment has not particularly suited this poor wee birdie and it hasn´t actually been spotted in Dartford for nigh on a hundred years. About the only other famous native of Dartford is a certain Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Jagger, aka The Dartford Wobbler, has a particularly abrasive style of singing, not at all as mellifluous as the Warbler´s, which may explain why it has chosen to quit Kent and take up residence in Portugal instead. 

Then, Lesley told us that she had just heard a nightingale too, whereupon Yves and JohnH crooned "Berkeley Square" - "I could be right, I could be wrong", etc., etc..none of which meant anything to her and she confessed that she didn´t know the song we were referring to. "Didn´t know !!!" Well, what can  one say ? That´s the younger generation for you – no appreciation of the classic olden goldies – no knowledge of the Great American Song Book. Hey-ho ! What to do?

Just as we were reaching the top of the hill, we were overtaken by a pick-up driven by two bee-keepers. 

They were, of course, known to Maria. They were busy going round checking on their many bee-hives in the area, and loading frames into them ready to collect the summer´s production of honey. They warned us that the bees would have become very agitated by their visit. So they cautioned us to be careful were we to come near any hives. 

We had already passed a row of their hives a few minutes earlier, luckily before their visit. But we were turning left downhill immediately at the top of the hill and would have no problem with their hives further along the ridge.

 There was however a bit of a problem as we went down the hill because some guy had put up “Private” notices on this well- established track. 

One such notice was bunged into the undergrowth, but down at the bottom, at the river crossing, there was a more elaborate and immovable chain fence complete with a notice warning of "building works in process."

What nonsense ! What right has he got to privatise this space ?

Anyway, we all managed to cross the river and to remain dry-footed. On we went, splashing our way through several lengthy stretches of water. The three ladies indulged themselves in throwing large rocks into the water ahead of them to where they hoped to walk; we guys just ploughed ahead regardless. This is the sport known in Dubai as wadi-bashing. Nobody got soaked or really wet boots.

The Track

Possibly one of the shortest and slowest WAGS walks, so far.

The Lunch

By the time we sat down, Para e Fica was very busy -must have been at least fifty customers there. Myriam joined us for lunch. The best choices of the day had already sold out: Hazel disappointed that no fish remained available, nor pork leg either. The other alternatives were giblets or roast chicken leg which were both very good.

While we were eating, Manuel Rodrigues, an old friend of Maria, Hazel and JohnH´s, passed by our table to say hallo, greeting Myriam particularly warmly. She, who had never met him before, took all these expressions of eternal friendship in her stride with her customary aplomb.. Then, a few minutes later, Manuel passed by our table again, and this time he spotted Hazel and realised his mistake - can´t blame him - two Chinese women -they all look alike, don´t they?

Then two local ladies came up to the table, to leaf through the communal mail box which Para e Fica provides for the neighbourhood, to see if there was anything in it for them.

 Must be a constant source of interest to see what letters one´s neighbours are getting.

After lunch, Myriam stopped at the little bridge to clean the caracóis from the Maurice Clyde plaque. 

Next time she will bring some paint to cover the graffiti.

Thanks to Hazel, Maria, Myriam and Yves for their photographic contributions. Now for that song,  just to let  Lesley know that there´s more to life than Rock an´ Roll.

                             "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square"

                           with Mel Tormé (vocal) and George Shearing (piano)

The best version!!