I'm sticking to wild animals, but if exotic fish and terrapins are your thing be sure to check out my post on the inhabitants of Canet Aquarium and if you like farm animals, see my post about Collioure Christmas Market.
I hope you enjoy this zoological tour of France and Spain!
Firstly, there were the lizards that swarmed the pavements during my muggy autumn in Perpignan. They were one of the few good things to come out of the boiling heat that first October - one of the not so good things being, of course, the mosquitoes!
Then there were the critters of Cabestany, the village near Perpignan where I lived when I first arrived.
A fine specimen of a spider
An ant on a mission by the look of things!
Of course, the kings and queens of the critter scene in Perpignan have to be the pine processionary caterpillars, which emerge from their tree nests in spring.
They are hated by many due to their destruction of trees and the allergic reaction their hairs can cause, and I totally understand that. However, you can't watch them march in their perfect lines and not be slightly mesmerised - for me they are the definition of a miracle of nature.
We also have the ducks of Collioure...
... And the pigeons of Perpignan and of, well, everywhere! You can't really escape them wherever you may go across France or Spain.
Ruling the roost
Nathan and Cristina feeding pigeons - part of my perfect day
One of the highlights of my time in Perpignan was the evenings spent watching the bunnies hop and leap and dance around while the sun set.
Moving out of Perpignan now, there is the confused seagull of the Camargue...
... and the magnificent swarms of Béziers.
Moving on to Spain, in Salamanca we have the super storks, the sweet sparrow, the ant determined to carry a piece of paper many times his size, a pair of fine pigeons, and a hornet - I think! - chilling by the River Tormes.
Another ant!
There was also this round little baby that lived outside my window - I hoped he might be a cuckoo but wasn't sure. Either way, he was adorable.
Then there is the booted eagle I spotted near La Granja Palace - one of my proudest sightings!
One of the best parts of my year abroad was going to Girona to meet up with my mother. We saw some fine fish...
... a handsome cricket...
... a regal Red Admiral...
.... and a rare Catalan giraffe!
Of course, no animal can beat my gorgeous Kitt or her long-suffering butterfly.
I hope you enjoyed this post and seeing the wild side of the places I lived and visited.
Thanks for reading,
Liz x
