Smokin' hot!

Quick disclamer: no hot babes in this post, unless you count the feathered ones! 😁 This week's SMAP theme is Summer Photo, so hot weather is definitely a presence. Especially where these photos were taken.

To illustrate the theme, decided to pick some shots taken a couple years ago in southern Spain, during the Summer. The Extremadura region is incredibly hot during the summer, with temperatures easily passing 40ºC; and although our feathered friends can fly to cooler places, they do suffer with heat, just as we do.

^{Turkish dove - Streptopelia turtur}

Perching in cooler areas, such as the shade of a tree, is a good strategy during the hotter hours; such as opening the beak a little bit, to help with the cooling.

Some species do hang around as if heat doesn't affect them at all. This magpie was happily jumping around near the parking lot, inspecting the tourists while foraging.

^{Eurasian magpie - Pica pica}

Other magpies though, decided to take a different approach. After all, not that far away there was a little water spot.

^{Iberian magpie - Cyanopica cooki}

And with such high temperatures, what's the best way to cool off? To go for a quick water dip!

And who says a water dip, means two or three; at least that was what this little one thought after the first one. She stood there watching the water, before deciding to jump in again.

After a couple more, she flew to a nearby basking spot, before continuing her journey.

This are was full of iberian magpies. This was the only one that I was able to photograph in the water, but as I started paying attention, I found a lot of them in the nearby trees. And judging by their feathers, it hadn't been that long they took a bath too!

Given how hot it was, it was probably wiser to cool down in the shade than in the direct sunlight; I was returning from the beach when I stopped here, so I can definitely relate to the will to jump in the water.

Summer has arrived (finally!) but still not the blazing hot temperatures... let's see which feathered friends will I be able to capture this season! :)

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