tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84951842529606872002024-03-06T08:03:20.696+01:00Birdwatch GaucinThe aim of this blog is to record bird sightings in and around Gaucin. We have a fantastic variety of birds that live in and visit the area and it would be great to have somewhere where we can publish observations for others to see. If you'd like to contribute on a regular basis please ask and I can add you as an author or send me your sightings or other observations by email pmconvento@gmail.com (the usual stuff...date, bird, location, etc.) and I'll add them to the blog.
Happy birding!
PaulPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.comBlogger1231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-37400287028483010512023-07-23T13:36:00.001+02:002023-07-23T13:36:16.307+02:00Saturday 08-Saturday 22 July 2023Back in Gaucin for a couple of weeks. During our stay it was mostly sunny and 32-36C during the day, with a peak of 40C on Wednesday 19th. Not the best time for birding, nor ideal weather, but here are a few things of interest that I saw:<div><br /></div><div><b>In and around the village</b></div><div>Griffon vulture (mostly fairly small groups of 2-6 birds)</div><div>Booted Eagle (dark and pale phases)</div><div>Short-toed eagle</div><div>Sparrowhawk </div><div>Bee-eater (noisy flocks of up to 20 birds just south of, and over, the village)</div><div>Common swift </div><div>Pallid swift </div><div>Alpine swift (over the <i>paseo</i>, west of the village, with other swifts)</div><div>Barn swallow </div><div>House martin<br /><div>Pied/white wagtail </div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b>South of the village/Camino de Gibraltar </b></div></div></div><div>Short-toed treecreeper (family party)</div><div>Firecrest </div><div>Stonechat </div><div>Bonelli's warbler</div><div>Melodious warbler </div><div>Sardinian warbler </div><div>Blackcap</div><div>Nightingale (calls heard)</div><div>Greenfinch </div><div>Goldfinch </div><div>Chaffinch </div><div>Linnet</div><div>Cirl bunting </div><div>Spotless starling</div><div>Jay</div><div>Great-spotted woodpecker </div><div>Green woodpecker (heard)</div><div>Golden oriole (heard only, in trees in the valley below the village)</div><div>Woodchat shrike (adult and at least two juveniles)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>West slopes of El Hacho</b></div><div>Rock bunting</div><div>Southern grey shrike (male singing from top of shrub - possible breeding territory? One was beginning to hang around there back in 2016.....).</div><div>Blue rock thrush (including two juveniles)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Woodland behind the <i>gasolinera</i> </b></div><div>Crested tit </div><div>Long-tailed tit</div><div>Firecrest </div><div>Nuthatch (heard)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-6539857257094146312017-09-20T20:29:00.000+02:002017-09-20T20:29:07.310+02:00Wednesday 20 September 2017, Wokingham, partly cloudy, light S wind, 15CAs the weather here begins to turn autumnal, the Common Swifts have already left us and small groups of Barn Swallow and House Martin pass overhead on their way to warmer southern climes, it seems as good a time as any to call a halt to the Birdwatch Gaucin blog. I'm going to be based in the UK for the foreseeable future so it seems like the right thing to do. I've really enjoyed reporting on Gaucin bird sightings for the past 8 years and sincerely hope that someone else will fall in love with the village and it's bird-life and take up the mantle.<br />
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Anyway, enough of that; who needs to be in Gaucin when you can see mega-cool birds like Grey Phalarope (or should I call it 'Red' as it now seems to be named?) in your own 'back yard'? An absolute beauty that dropped in for just a couple of hours last week!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Phalarope</td></tr>
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The local Common Buzzards, Red Kites and Mistle Thrushes aren't bad either....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Buzzard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I don't look at them they'll all go away! Magpies intimidate a Buzzard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite having a wake up wing stretch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather handsome Mistle Thrush </td></tr>
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All the best,<br />
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PaulPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-90147322230279425472017-08-22T16:11:00.002+02:002017-08-22T16:13:46.028+02:00Tuesday 22 August 2017, Wokingham, cloudy, calm air, 22CIt may not have rained every day in August, as one of the more unreliable tabloid newspapers forecast, but we haven't exactly been reaching for the sun cream, either. Today has been fairly typical of late, largely overcast and humid.<br />
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Birding at the local gravel pit (now a nature reserve) has been pedestrian as all the lovely wader-friendly shallow pools have coalesced into one large lake just in time for Autumn migration. Common Tern and Sand Martin have had a good breeding season but a pair of Great-crested Grebe are now on their third attempt following previous lost nests as a result of a (probable) mink attack and flooding.<br />
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There are a few post-breeding mixed Tit flocks (Great, Blue, Long-tailed and Coal) around now with the occasional Chiffchaff amongst them and they are always worth checking through just in case there's something more interesting in there. In fact I added Coal Tit to my Wokingham 'garden list' just at the weekend!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Common Tern</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBFfhLO498megbCZy0_iv7H9pg-WiOuCvLyL4jtcvsVnUmlflXgzLGrTNIyEwKHGjIgETAJBlPdtb0ftfWqHOIl2lD4U3vukMvC6KZfD-iHqD9RlOE4pSuigmJV945iy1jx9NcqzHz1mJ/s1600/IMG_7269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBFfhLO498megbCZy0_iv7H9pg-WiOuCvLyL4jtcvsVnUmlflXgzLGrTNIyEwKHGjIgETAJBlPdtb0ftfWqHOIl2lD4U3vukMvC6KZfD-iHqD9RlOE4pSuigmJV945iy1jx9NcqzHz1mJ/s320/IMG_7269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher - almost the classic 'No Fishing' photo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9yCZY7vHb7qaZS1tSmkXnBGj3UezimvzyXVIl_GCdTD8Wb0ECByMtkPSW96fReu-3FQpzfkaXfJ7_xHgMINACAwcui1Mv6edlZ-BuXo0JvSYFmRAFWUyr3ldY3Von1IQumcNxztixc7L/s1600/IMG_7270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9yCZY7vHb7qaZS1tSmkXnBGj3UezimvzyXVIl_GCdTD8Wb0ECByMtkPSW96fReu-3FQpzfkaXfJ7_xHgMINACAwcui1Mv6edlZ-BuXo0JvSYFmRAFWUyr3ldY3Von1IQumcNxztixc7L/s320/IMG_7270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite in the gloom</td></tr>
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Good news for Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) in Andalucia, as two chicks fledge, click on link to read more:<br />
<a href="https://www.4vultures.org/2017/08/20/two-bearded-vulture-chicks-fledge-in-the-wild-in-andalusia/">Bearded Vulture successes</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-68403400336583518152017-07-26T12:12:00.003+02:002017-07-26T12:12:50.511+02:00Tuesday 25 July 2017, Wokingham, partly cloudy, calm air-light W-NW wind, 23CA cool start to the day but cheering up late afternoon to leave a nice warm evening. During the last couple of weeks of changeable weather I've managed to 'dip' on yet another local Mediterranean Gull - this one a summer plumaged adult, too! Wader passage has been slow, with just a few Green and Common Sandpiper and a very small bird, that we eventually agreed was a tiny Dunlin, through (and one fly-over Black-tailed Godwit).<br />
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Good to see some interesting juveniles around with the nearby woods/hedgrows producing young Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Wren. There are still agood number of Common Swift here, though the rain forecast for tomorrow may send a few on their way south.<br />
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When not birding there have been some lovely early Blackberries to snack on!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBGWVLxrehUGNDh1YMnm1hU-xcG3a5opUAhNrB_bGr9hqtpdD2D81CJpjJoWGlUtq2Wkpt4F6FZMqqJsJ2_i49xAY4LZUznzdYyGhiMHqkOnK9FNadTzvZXg142fEmcCbRuPolAct6Ek3/s1600/IMG_7225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBGWVLxrehUGNDh1YMnm1hU-xcG3a5opUAhNrB_bGr9hqtpdD2D81CJpjJoWGlUtq2Wkpt4F6FZMqqJsJ2_i49xAY4LZUznzdYyGhiMHqkOnK9FNadTzvZXg142fEmcCbRuPolAct6Ek3/s320/IMG_7225.JPG" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8U1FFGXz8itp9HJS3IRhot2mCUZlyPkwU434xke9wW2qs_SU8TqfuXmjYyA8OgroMEQNS_uMlBBtp2GAD5ipoliJ_E8g85BNoCln1SuDmXT2qP6LLwGFWbUjIbP7BIlMgYyzutO1boI2/s1600/IMG_7236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1600" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8U1FFGXz8itp9HJS3IRhot2mCUZlyPkwU434xke9wW2qs_SU8TqfuXmjYyA8OgroMEQNS_uMlBBtp2GAD5ipoliJ_E8g85BNoCln1SuDmXT2qP6LLwGFWbUjIbP7BIlMgYyzutO1boI2/s320/IMG_7236.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">juvenile Common Whitethroat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o_zTY2Blty-UN71SlwstsZkn6wAoTnXEmnnkSoeOV0jKRQ3RTY2MkdQ2flJKR4BPuLo5XsVCQMCgEoOERRBqJnUR-KAnFLtgvc3yXBH5bLhAYXKsUPKJqkY-FdOI6QDzGNXYE5QhS38v/s1600/IMG_7237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o_zTY2Blty-UN71SlwstsZkn6wAoTnXEmnnkSoeOV0jKRQ3RTY2MkdQ2flJKR4BPuLo5XsVCQMCgEoOERRBqJnUR-KAnFLtgvc3yXBH5bLhAYXKsUPKJqkY-FdOI6QDzGNXYE5QhS38v/s320/IMG_7237.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adult Common Whitethroat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo19FuaKdpmew7bjKQRwW9qU111ryRlyRb1CgzxpQeMk45NR4WkS9zn3nlpFAFUUxS_vbmYcyExp0Tf-SFuyBGctuIU8nAdZDR9ytXDaEYw2uQy8RDZscl4zn1b5zK3sqP4Jr3NaNPaW4/s1600/IMG_7239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo19FuaKdpmew7bjKQRwW9qU111ryRlyRb1CgzxpQeMk45NR4WkS9zn3nlpFAFUUxS_vbmYcyExp0Tf-SFuyBGctuIU8nAdZDR9ytXDaEYw2uQy8RDZscl4zn1b5zK3sqP4Jr3NaNPaW4/s320/IMG_7239.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Blackberries!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-82350067450882532982017-07-08T18:18:00.001+02:002017-07-08T18:18:08.790+02:00Saturday 08 Jul 2017, Wokingham, mostly sunny, light N-NW wind, 27CToday's light breeze and lower temperatures were a bit of relief after a couple of very still, hot and humid days when temperatures hit 32C. This may be the UK, but there is a risk that this may turn into a 'proper' summer! <br />
As is normal for this time of year, birds activity is reduced as they concentrate on breeding and feeding the resultant progeny.<br />
Locally we have a pair of Barn Owl, of which I've only managed to get the following distant photo. They have four chicks, that should be fledging soon, so maybe I'll have more luck later on. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL_Bs9WPpLvEDC2MsR92dVmZBl8NAnnKd9boPdWESQKYls3g-iFmN65LWhAxL5qO-JjUZt5x9I5rldXBRAUlTdYDwIjcApEblhJMPXkXdtP7q0ZEYn1k5oBduIHKN5bmRDWveRuiauRwR/s1600/07+17+Barn+Owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL_Bs9WPpLvEDC2MsR92dVmZBl8NAnnKd9boPdWESQKYls3g-iFmN65LWhAxL5qO-JjUZt5x9I5rldXBRAUlTdYDwIjcApEblhJMPXkXdtP7q0ZEYn1k5oBduIHKN5bmRDWveRuiauRwR/s320/07+17+Barn+Owl.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult Barn Owl</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As 'reverse' wader passage begins we've seen Redshank, Ringed Plover, up to 6 Little-ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper but, as yet, nothing 'exciting'.<br />
Today saw the highest count of Little Egret of the summer with 8 gracing the ex-gravel pit shallows:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hjhahv_zWhM3jNypiaQFi5He9mrWz9KaK08fZj9XI_f9MEnBHDpRS0EHXdvx0eK12ZbZCJERWi3JuHXg47866h-hXQ2bns8MXExDtmqGNkuZOOMKffVjsnPvxb-k_KZi4JRSXyfM95Zx/s1600/07+17+Egrets+Heron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hjhahv_zWhM3jNypiaQFi5He9mrWz9KaK08fZj9XI_f9MEnBHDpRS0EHXdvx0eK12ZbZCJERWi3JuHXg47866h-hXQ2bns8MXExDtmqGNkuZOOMKffVjsnPvxb-k_KZi4JRSXyfM95Zx/s320/07+17+Egrets+Heron.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of 8 Little Egret and a Grey Heron - interesting how posture changed the apparent size of the (same-sized) Egrets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUl-5liMERmEhnIsZHMeDBCxiIFRySYdQC60_y4BWVgJit7LS5p-0q6K-CFOX1uFm00gF-_jecqnHCoSDb9XT-jMNzZeNUSPwzZ7aMeBhfeXy9QEoqj2J8_dl2xVIhg2FRRv9e4m2rXsh/s1600/07+17+Green+Sand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUl-5liMERmEhnIsZHMeDBCxiIFRySYdQC60_y4BWVgJit7LS5p-0q6K-CFOX1uFm00gF-_jecqnHCoSDb9XT-jMNzZeNUSPwzZ7aMeBhfeXy9QEoqj2J8_dl2xVIhg2FRRv9e4m2rXsh/s320/07+17+Green+Sand.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Sandpiper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1GxnksPuyynBaQd2wb20_uytrMF6xv98EBFeCye3MdxebRaJ6jbIxEJzsL2Arz_oMG6WAmxIV6MoNCO9fJjNIXbOEyUqYyslK4flVPR_TA_LcQ7ezdc_F2vqi8Nrii4CBhrYIOBaCNo5/s1600/07+17+Heron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1GxnksPuyynBaQd2wb20_uytrMF6xv98EBFeCye3MdxebRaJ6jbIxEJzsL2Arz_oMG6WAmxIV6MoNCO9fJjNIXbOEyUqYyslK4flVPR_TA_LcQ7ezdc_F2vqi8Nrii4CBhrYIOBaCNo5/s320/07+17+Heron.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tG5UjLP45a3SG2vlW18u6gJsPJ2bVtlL3K1jrjbs0KTfSdUw7i-uFa3y5gfqCsCrtlk2B7uQQgYzshMHrpWQNTJVLiCrVoE7pn96DBK8vwqpw3WhguRPLBVMrzvlNZkbu2i4ZbwWKiWg/s1600/07+17+juv+Grey+Wag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tG5UjLP45a3SG2vlW18u6gJsPJ2bVtlL3K1jrjbs0KTfSdUw7i-uFa3y5gfqCsCrtlk2B7uQQgYzshMHrpWQNTJVLiCrVoE7pn96DBK8vwqpw3WhguRPLBVMrzvlNZkbu2i4ZbwWKiWg/s320/07+17+juv+Grey+Wag.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">juvenile Grey Wagtail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQkLNDoIwJaTWFb6xljg0345I6Ghvoo9Q6ESo90zBtZ7azw_PdkZXOvfd4OLk-m5dcA8cIfqabQ79DkxfuiLyt1PShl2zgwqyfRlSwnLUmu8yxzojnnUKxFNoR_E1jRz6_xHvg9_jMcNi/s1600/07+17+L+Egret.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQkLNDoIwJaTWFb6xljg0345I6Ghvoo9Q6ESo90zBtZ7azw_PdkZXOvfd4OLk-m5dcA8cIfqabQ79DkxfuiLyt1PShl2zgwqyfRlSwnLUmu8yxzojnnUKxFNoR_E1jRz6_xHvg9_jMcNi/s320/07+17+L+Egret.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Beyond the lake is a landfill area with Methane release valves. Not sure if this was just a heat thing or if Methane escape was a factor, but recently cut grass was picked up in a mini-whirlwind.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCVdm8QgjX8tsmSna7XisLFJho8XNzQaSDvIN0IPnrDYHcU5qWom11seUEqBfIGDGhi1Gfv2KOTdoanr_e9A2VPDlK3sszjf4MTrOvV1Vumvwe0lwdnf3bKkULgkaFCnXdrST1p8LtLqZ/s1600/07+17+Methane+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCVdm8QgjX8tsmSna7XisLFJho8XNzQaSDvIN0IPnrDYHcU5qWom11seUEqBfIGDGhi1Gfv2KOTdoanr_e9A2VPDlK3sszjf4MTrOvV1Vumvwe0lwdnf3bKkULgkaFCnXdrST1p8LtLqZ/s320/07+17+Methane+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landfill Methane valve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV4R9SlpKU4hOkmDe5MvMpWwghFDQusE_Vuryi8QfyBfdUVgvIvNY4Ae1M4txCutx7LwEsmNBGHMMUqnO-Kpa6jpy9eWsyEVpJwIF7x1nkERHB9sT7Jz6Sd8pTLgD0Fy6ALV_lu0hF9B9/s1600/07+17+Methane+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV4R9SlpKU4hOkmDe5MvMpWwghFDQusE_Vuryi8QfyBfdUVgvIvNY4Ae1M4txCutx7LwEsmNBGHMMUqnO-Kpa6jpy9eWsyEVpJwIF7x1nkERHB9sT7Jz6Sd8pTLgD0Fy6ALV_lu0hF9B9/s320/07+17+Methane+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass cuttings pulled up by a 'whirlwind'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The reason for a bird-free 'scrape' was explained by a visiting young Red Fox!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NBrr9BUct0yqk0sXfkYGg19U2QVqZkRctccb5yzg8zrzioW-Y4c9D8VlhHQ6cGqaH0_cULuD3r_25se5AUX_xiHBT2E8fDm7b8WWVeZTn38ypspjhCFw2JAjHubkoQsfadP9RhKA4CF0/s1600/07+17+Red+Fox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NBrr9BUct0yqk0sXfkYGg19U2QVqZkRctccb5yzg8zrzioW-Y4c9D8VlhHQ6cGqaH0_cULuD3r_25se5AUX_xiHBT2E8fDm7b8WWVeZTn38ypspjhCFw2JAjHubkoQsfadP9RhKA4CF0/s320/07+17+Red+Fox.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Fox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-13471945257028457872017-06-21T18:10:00.000+02:002017-06-21T18:10:00.419+02:00Some good news for Andalucia's Bearded Vultures<span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="Calibri" size="3" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">This
year a total of 6 Bearded Vultures will be released in Andalucia, as
part of the
reintroduction project there. Last weekend one bird named Larva was
released in Cazorla, and yesterday two birds were released in mountains
of Castril.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="Calibri" size="3" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Click here: <a href="https://www.4vultures.org/2017/06/09/two-more-bearded-vultures-released-yesterday-in-andalusia/">Bearded Vultures</a> to read more:</span></span><br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="Calibri" size="3" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-3142405808803798052017-06-21T18:07:00.000+02:002017-06-21T18:24:07.031+02:00Wednesday 21 June 2017, Wokingham, sunny, light S-SW wind, 32CFlaming June it is as the warm spell continues into Midsummer's Day.<br />
The recent local birding highlight was a 1st summer<b> Mediterranean Gull</b> but excuse me if I'm not overly excited having seen plenty in Spain over the years! Also, despite being 'ever present', it manages to time its absences perfectly with my visits....<br />
A male<b> Kingfisher</b> was showing well this morning, and there was a brief glimpse of a Barn Owl, hunting low over the reedbed no doubt looking for breakfast for its 4 chicks.<br />
On the 14 June I finally got a good look at a local <b>Hobby</b> then a couple of days later was treated to the spectacle of 5 of these wonderful raptors hawking insects over water near Stodmarsh in Kent.<br />
There are still lots of dragonflies around which is great to see.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUJNMTruhySD9TkjDcFsJN-rZ4gt0f3WmfAn-1u2expgPzwEhmPlr6gnINXU59gISLUnxaS-FvnlzLQFcbKAJq8N0zFl3GocLWVx1jGOENJUsYBAVOIaYKqE0azw-JdisrrjJChJrsopb/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUJNMTruhySD9TkjDcFsJN-rZ4gt0f3WmfAn-1u2expgPzwEhmPlr6gnINXU59gISLUnxaS-FvnlzLQFcbKAJq8N0zFl3GocLWVx1jGOENJUsYBAVOIaYKqE0azw-JdisrrjJChJrsopb/s320/IMG_7128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">male Kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX94wf-RWLNLezK9DK67WB-5KwqaajRt52hC7iM389sL4TQR5Z8rWmOeri5N64h9EXIZ9_NcnYD7XquxTHxmMcrGdOvUWbfuEzvvGslaLy9J5QStpsMnv2PhGclK8kGwR2lpz-jW1OmjTj/s1600/IMG_7081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX94wf-RWLNLezK9DK67WB-5KwqaajRt52hC7iM389sL4TQR5Z8rWmOeri5N64h9EXIZ9_NcnYD7XquxTHxmMcrGdOvUWbfuEzvvGslaLy9J5QStpsMnv2PhGclK8kGwR2lpz-jW1OmjTj/s320/IMG_7081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Blue Damselfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C3tzja8PzydHplmubDvzm7LaGiq-Lrfv0eJ5GT8wgr42L52BQPYDsofCdMmQr83mg8LCRzYK91uYZd0YlUh58JgbvxUC5QC2zSLP1aBk8KjdhPEcR8Nuw75rxnSNkIm32JdXzvKnViKD/s1600/IMG_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C3tzja8PzydHplmubDvzm7LaGiq-Lrfv0eJ5GT8wgr42L52BQPYDsofCdMmQr83mg8LCRzYK91uYZd0YlUh58JgbvxUC5QC2zSLP1aBk8KjdhPEcR8Nuw75rxnSNkIm32JdXzvKnViKD/s320/IMG_7115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shy Muntjac Deer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCOwzRejs_PbO_RtIx2lr7obylpLxj8HW0hLIV8eNYgrDnIA5uIp1Xh2dw8NAlrHKXFB2Njblj6VRjfKrtKdT0g4C5xjtEfsL6rlqMjPc6PZMtRU67XcerDy0VRsUZDU-iZPIN9FNj5tm/s1600/IMG_7121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCOwzRejs_PbO_RtIx2lr7obylpLxj8HW0hLIV8eNYgrDnIA5uIp1Xh2dw8NAlrHKXFB2Njblj6VRjfKrtKdT0g4C5xjtEfsL6rlqMjPc6PZMtRU67XcerDy0VRsUZDU-iZPIN9FNj5tm/s320/IMG_7121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">male Kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTqx7zG4Q2q-d0nTR5MmKP7ihmZqsQHICIsk9NtgYTGrLo9g6-UzBilCzWs805IkPSSX68Er_qzwaqZXTyFCBikA1DZjbcHvZotnLzXUDbuA2KVzRoH4K55KJiI1gbQpj5KnHuVbIDE8g/s1600/06+17+Hobby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTqx7zG4Q2q-d0nTR5MmKP7ihmZqsQHICIsk9NtgYTGrLo9g6-UzBilCzWs805IkPSSX68Er_qzwaqZXTyFCBikA1DZjbcHvZotnLzXUDbuA2KVzRoH4K55KJiI1gbQpj5KnHuVbIDE8g/s320/06+17+Hobby.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a Hobby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl9EJYq6-iZ6N6J4C660yeQfB0YqtcvDQ_a8awqhIDnJkOlLQ41Gv7iftgxzDcOMJwt4MMhqHLq27gR7xwB9zxwPQo2wA33uCR7pCe-wgztMy8JqXwpdfX5LldItO37yqMzfu9QnLoDtH/s1600/06+17+Whitethroat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl9EJYq6-iZ6N6J4C660yeQfB0YqtcvDQ_a8awqhIDnJkOlLQ41Gv7iftgxzDcOMJwt4MMhqHLq27gR7xwB9zxwPQo2wA33uCR7pCe-wgztMy8JqXwpdfX5LldItO37yqMzfu9QnLoDtH/s320/06+17+Whitethroat.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Whitethroat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9SKbP9UgU2ZSFrEB6NjOgQ4wCU2MVBDijBOI_GNIdVvMNtH4QhUulocsG8I9GNG0mdlMV62Nwl6OYhzOcC1U1gubps60tX6_3vDTGIAoYV_6PXEZv4Qd0ltalOQwaFs66Myi9OvnCVex/s1600/IMG_7036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9SKbP9UgU2ZSFrEB6NjOgQ4wCU2MVBDijBOI_GNIdVvMNtH4QhUulocsG8I9GNG0mdlMV62Nwl6OYhzOcC1U1gubps60tX6_3vDTGIAoYV_6PXEZv4Qd0ltalOQwaFs66Myi9OvnCVex/s320/IMG_7036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The local wheat field</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-41207573218951991742017-06-06T13:28:00.001+02:002017-06-06T13:28:18.291+02:00Monday 05 June 2017, Wokingham, scattered rain showers, light-fresh S wind, 16CA bit quiet bird-wise here, though I was delighted to find a <b>Little Tern </b>at the local reserve (just the 2nd for Berkshire this year).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhv8IViXrWlYtkdVl8gISAq4NvugEvOuy4RTZ8XUAScTHKIP8MrXRgtiuxU-_7af7FhukZ9WoUMXeH5IKDPesocNv5kIni_N4MXyeolRQ3uC7MXyS4CiuasUsGFW95OHe0GriMlhWg3GQ/s1600/IMG_7008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhv8IViXrWlYtkdVl8gISAq4NvugEvOuy4RTZ8XUAScTHKIP8MrXRgtiuxU-_7af7FhukZ9WoUMXeH5IKDPesocNv5kIni_N4MXyeolRQ3uC7MXyS4CiuasUsGFW95OHe0GriMlhWg3GQ/s320/IMG_7008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Tern - very much a 'record shot'!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <b>Lesser Whitethroat</b> is still singing away in a nearby hedgerow and, as well as the many Red Kite, there are at least 3 <b>Common Buzzard</b> in the area.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXCoWSOaAokFUCXk9uJ6FayBlLTRI4QEZp60pZ9-R1s6omob7M4fjRT7_LxkzoLwoYzCdXulxcs6R8D7J6api1pztEf8V9HX0E_liZyZCxA1gIKCj6aTA1M7WyorofubKNNRtzwyCw29c/s1600/IMG_7054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXCoWSOaAokFUCXk9uJ6FayBlLTRI4QEZp60pZ9-R1s6omob7M4fjRT7_LxkzoLwoYzCdXulxcs6R8D7J6api1pztEf8V9HX0E_liZyZCxA1gIKCj6aTA1M7WyorofubKNNRtzwyCw29c/s320/IMG_7054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Buzzard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The recent warm spell brought out a good number of Butterflies and Dragonflies. Here are a few of them:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGE9EYPBuJpJMxhVyFXy75aXnbTVLu5R5q5XiBZgBfQlyCx-MXAmDhXOut0VV9GAv7Xovn1Yf1_a_wBe_kwPjYyp9CheWL-w1MfTx0Bx-qsSPGKdJoNGgFVieZ5x8OnCc4VMKTQ_rRjgh/s1600/IMG_7006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGE9EYPBuJpJMxhVyFXy75aXnbTVLu5R5q5XiBZgBfQlyCx-MXAmDhXOut0VV9GAv7Xovn1Yf1_a_wBe_kwPjYyp9CheWL-w1MfTx0Bx-qsSPGKdJoNGgFVieZ5x8OnCc4VMKTQ_rRjgh/s320/IMG_7006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speckled Wood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheqF4HRDVbjp3l1C_FLF3mp04Mege8kpu0MbsLIIn5Zj6RjKKEKMpJswfsXucaU9njEKFOIV01thwgEwgYdpF_6rvwBCWItTk7wzqHTn-99jGMjdwG-JiFUhS_VWlL6JvAZslOtqc3LzK/s1600/IMG_7034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheqF4HRDVbjp3l1C_FLF3mp04Mege8kpu0MbsLIIn5Zj6RjKKEKMpJswfsXucaU9njEKFOIV01thwgEwgYdpF_6rvwBCWItTk7wzqHTn-99jGMjdwG-JiFUhS_VWlL6JvAZslOtqc3LzK/s320/IMG_7034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banded Demoiselle - male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijABk6o9v7CyZt_Ri7_Is_vUpPd-mjQShuycZrobo-Hl5-1gSxaP-4zwyOgBoUo8btpUNvWz6XfsjGDRg00gUPnaYqIBpV34_rInPqLLcyJtKhQLe6IrzId10bKpxJL9icmclzN9xIc0_s/s1600/IMG_7042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijABk6o9v7CyZt_Ri7_Is_vUpPd-mjQShuycZrobo-Hl5-1gSxaP-4zwyOgBoUo8btpUNvWz6XfsjGDRg00gUPnaYqIBpV34_rInPqLLcyJtKhQLe6IrzId10bKpxJL9icmclzN9xIc0_s/s320/IMG_7042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Demoiselle - female</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrtaWNyc2rug5qnHK8RwgSswC_cbaA0psoXzT9PSJylJLQzKUFH3PaSI-epAWcFtUpPpcnTGzfd0ymCGffNiHNW5SNfy18b_nND3wt9QWIsTBfhTSR9f5QdR2XMR_9c78zqNFbYjwPuby/s1600/IMG_7047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrtaWNyc2rug5qnHK8RwgSswC_cbaA0psoXzT9PSJylJLQzKUFH3PaSI-epAWcFtUpPpcnTGzfd0ymCGffNiHNW5SNfy18b_nND3wt9QWIsTBfhTSR9f5QdR2XMR_9c78zqNFbYjwPuby/s320/IMG_7047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaser sp.?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE4UCFgiUQ9mUooUQhE2bU-kIISfwjhu9TTR9Fi-R7u1zIqzIohxDcgYHO2n5X3HBjQANuLZInpgzVqVzVjRoHhprTryIJd5JWfF04EdtYeSF1rtqQcYZwlnNY2RZAgUyD434XyYWPPOZ/s1600/IMG_7069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE4UCFgiUQ9mUooUQhE2bU-kIISfwjhu9TTR9Fi-R7u1zIqzIohxDcgYHO2n5X3HBjQANuLZInpgzVqVzVjRoHhprTryIJd5JWfF04EdtYeSF1rtqQcYZwlnNY2RZAgUyD434XyYWPPOZ/s320/IMG_7069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald Damselfly?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnhi6qkVftGpFjBGK2m-y1swZLPdYE3xrev_ZmbjdiF9n57c8NA2FsL_tQKlrR-dBkvbSPrPL75Qnh3NbZrmtmowT_yUwtIsRtF53r55j4XxlJirUqJpuCli1en5KjA1qZtjqNKAFAcVU/s1600/IMG_7071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnhi6qkVftGpFjBGK2m-y1swZLPdYE3xrev_ZmbjdiF9n57c8NA2FsL_tQKlrR-dBkvbSPrPL75Qnh3NbZrmtmowT_yUwtIsRtF53r55j4XxlJirUqJpuCli1en5KjA1qZtjqNKAFAcVU/s320/IMG_7071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Admiral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-11487706415863700332017-05-23T19:37:00.003+02:002017-05-23T19:37:42.467+02:00Monday 22 May 2017, Wokingham, mostly sunny, light S-SW wind, 23CA lovely warm late Spring day today with a couple of good sightings in the morning and a bit of excitement during the afternoon as I heard what I thought might be an Iberian Chiffchaff.<br />
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A 15 min bike ride to the local lake nature reserve at 08:00hrs produced several Red Kite, a Common Buzzard, a Common Tern, a <b>Red-legged Partridge</b> (not that common a sight hereabouts), 2 singing Whitethroat, 1 singing <b>Lesser Whitethroat</b>, 2 singing Garden Warber and a singing <b>Nightingale</b>.<br />
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An afternoon walk around nearby crop fields/woods/stream produced another Common Buzzard, more Red Kite, a <b>Little Egret</b> and a strange <i>phylloscopus</i> warbler......Initially I heard a bit of a Willow Warbler-like cascade (would be late for a passing Willow Warbler) but it soon became apparent, as it began its song with <i>chiff, chiff</i>, that it was a Chiffchaff sp. My initial thoughts were <i>Iberian </i>but something about it wasn't quite right - the flourish was too strong and the song concluded with a couple more <i>chiffs</i> for good measure. I didn't get a good look at it and as I tried to record its song, someone appeared, calling after their dog, and the bird fell silent! Another look an hour or so later was fruitless. I alerted local birders, just in case, but spent a night doubting that it really was an Iberian!<br />
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I managed to hear it with another birder this morning (Tuesday 23 May) and our consensus was that it was a mixed singing Common Chiffchaff (a mix of Chiffchaff and Willow Warber). A new experience for me!<br />
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A couple of shots of a Roe Deer in the fields:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglitdyaDZy9fBo2ge1syGTjhqmk7pDTTqOYDr6syg0V4DsSowMVFU4TatOwWXOQ5W3lb3v8DPRVSyNjOtx9t_-jXucUedPFR6uh21QKtBs944dNduC3PKIjFdoi-qbbxJ9p9oUyrFCXG6U/s1600/IMG_6993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglitdyaDZy9fBo2ge1syGTjhqmk7pDTTqOYDr6syg0V4DsSowMVFU4TatOwWXOQ5W3lb3v8DPRVSyNjOtx9t_-jXucUedPFR6uh21QKtBs944dNduC3PKIjFdoi-qbbxJ9p9oUyrFCXG6U/s320/IMG_6993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3RZn8pt7IDBa5jo8ap-ptoZ1SRg8qnnYu_0cm5ztQmPsiM5SStbtmifmXYxFanjD-8j4lGnRxNT4c7-3jYTSaT2ZfNLNfuE8vI1DCGHuiPDCAtW6WQVCZuWNZ8_X4EhcpJBygN96qn2A/s1600/IMG_6995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3RZn8pt7IDBa5jo8ap-ptoZ1SRg8qnnYu_0cm5ztQmPsiM5SStbtmifmXYxFanjD-8j4lGnRxNT4c7-3jYTSaT2ZfNLNfuE8vI1DCGHuiPDCAtW6WQVCZuWNZ8_X4EhcpJBygN96qn2A/s320/IMG_6995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-56629875266628040242017-05-13T22:56:00.000+02:002017-05-13T23:02:30.546+02:00Saturday 13 May 2017, Wokingham, mostly cloudy, light SW wind, 18CAn early morning visit to Lea Farm gravel pit in search of a Lesser Whitethroat (according to reports, "...always singing loudly in the field next to the car park.." but not today!) produced a <b>Hobby</b> and a possible Great White Egret (seen at a distance by three of us but none got a good enough look to be 100% certain). Also seen were Red Kite, 19 Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Little-ringed Plover, Cuckoo and 10+ Sand Martin; a (presumably different) Lesser Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Garden Warbler were all heard.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfnX1omA3xuFApUmANX07hmsdzmC7gdErzwCfR6dvIV_fUUUfgQpUCRRgAfuASuMqT3OHMBJEkrCPj-XSQiMnyTNNFdBJeEbbB-fADL4oi3jq7RoUaiUoWIyPQqL89NkmM6aPCRTBEPt1/s1600/IMG_6970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfnX1omA3xuFApUmANX07hmsdzmC7gdErzwCfR6dvIV_fUUUfgQpUCRRgAfuASuMqT3OHMBJEkrCPj-XSQiMnyTNNFdBJeEbbB-fADL4oi3jq7RoUaiUoWIyPQqL89NkmM6aPCRTBEPt1/s320/IMG_6970.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar-headed Goose (Escape!) on nearby Black Swan Lake, Dinton Pastures</td></tr>
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<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-50967160252728068542017-05-13T22:41:00.000+02:002017-05-13T22:41:34.883+02:00Last Black Vulture in Alinyà shot by poacherThe last surviving Black Vulture in the Alinyà area of Catalunya was recently found dead, shot by a poacher.......<br />
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/15b39b4434a26a3d">Vulture Conservation Foundation article</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-10769824205846397192017-05-13T22:33:00.000+02:002017-05-13T22:33:00.881+02:00New project relating to veterinary NSAIDs: ArticleThe following article looks at a new project to look at the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory use, including Diclofenac, on scavenging avian species in the Iberian peninsular:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/15b15a817e438dbe">Vulture Conservation Foundation Article</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-34957066694825243582017-05-13T22:24:00.000+02:002017-05-13T22:24:48.572+02:00Peter E's visit to Sevilla....<div>
Thanks to Peter E for the following resume of a recent trip to Sevilla:<br />
<br />
"Sevilla is a beautiful city, and the Alcazar Real and gardens is
surely one of the wonders of the world! Sevilla is not a great place for birds
however, although we did see the Lesser Kestrel colony from our hotel
roof-terrace and circling the Giralda. Swifts, swallows and martins were
everywhere, and blackbirds, spotless starlings and monk parakeets common.
Greenfinch and hoopoe were also seen as was just one white stork flying over. In
the river Guadalquivir, a night heron was spotted along with other
ducks, and many turtles or terrapins had clambered out of the water to bask
in the sun.</div>
<div>
One day was spent in the Donana National Park where greater flamingo,
spoonbill, glossy ibis, little, cattle and great white egrets were plentiful on
the El Rocio lagoon, together with black-winged stilt, egyptian goose, shelduck,
and one black swan (which must surely be an escape). Black kites were
everywhere.</div>
<div>
At El Acebuche, azure-winged magpie were in the picnic area (as they were
on my last visit 15 years ago) and we added bee-eaters, corn bunting and
woodchat shrike to our list. A beautiful pale booted eagle was overhead. Donana
is surely another of the world's great wonders!"</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-76967507709168359232017-05-11T09:40:00.002+02:002017-05-13T22:56:56.638+02:00Wednesday 10 May 2017, Wokingham, partly cloudy, light SE wind, 17CI hear from Gaucin that the Honey Buzzards are in full flow heading north towards their breeding grounds.....<br />
<br />
Here, today's excitement was generated by a species that wouldn't cause much of a stir in Andalucia....a <b>Cattle Egret</b>! First spotted mid-morning in Twyford, a few miles down the road, there seemed a fair chance that it might drop in to our local lake at some time. After a morning dumping rubbish at the municipal tip in Reading (balanced by a nice sandwich and a pint of Brakspear's at the Green Man pub in Hurst!) I headed off on my shiny new bike for the 10-15min ride to the Dinton Pastures/Lavells Lake/Lea Farm gravel pit complex; such is the traffic around here that it would take a good 20min to drive and then there's nowhere to park.<br />
<br />
Dinton was quiet, other than a few noisy Egyptian Goose, but at Lavell's there was a very handsome <b>Greenshank</b> plus 1 Shelduck, a Sedge Warbler in full song and a pair of Reed Bunting. Of note at Lea Farm there were 2 Red Kite, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 pair of Great-crested Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 2 pairs of Common Tern (there were 16 birds yesterday making an incredible noise as they squabbled with each other and a couple of Black-headed Gulls), 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little-ringed Plover, 3 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, 3 Swallow and 1, presumed escaped, Bar-headed Goose. Just as I was thinking of leaving I spotted a distant egret, with only my binoculars (haven't worked out how to carry the 'scope on my bike yet!) I had to look very carefully but it was clearly a <b>Cattle Egret</b>, just the 10th record for the county of Berkshire and the 2nd for this site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5taDqJtxN-QabtPd5RrZXyv9A7LXpzKYMnXlIkwaNfJsxnv9n_53TiwNmAUBM4BLRDV5IDeK3L0fUOfzqYyN3W3R_Nyi76bq5lwMiJ54BVXh1pqOTqMJZX8xxHca7I8d8qea2hPqXnXy/s1600/IMG_6955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5taDqJtxN-QabtPd5RrZXyv9A7LXpzKYMnXlIkwaNfJsxnv9n_53TiwNmAUBM4BLRDV5IDeK3L0fUOfzqYyN3W3R_Nyi76bq5lwMiJ54BVXh1pqOTqMJZX8xxHca7I8d8qea2hPqXnXy/s320/IMG_6955.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenshank</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTlhBQan3J1JfAw62FX0voO-eYDXOHxk8ZyrxgRcrQtTDQGGZr4pge_lxz9YnaQ8oPYb_P3nyJLheesyuTXbYuzO3otxvyP7jW4uvD7m-gWtJN4wgzT0UJnagV7GDJIDwVAAmsmdUl7TK/s1600/IMG_6957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTlhBQan3J1JfAw62FX0voO-eYDXOHxk8ZyrxgRcrQtTDQGGZr4pge_lxz9YnaQ8oPYb_P3nyJLheesyuTXbYuzO3otxvyP7jW4uvD7m-gWtJN4wgzT0UJnagV7GDJIDwVAAmsmdUl7TK/s320/IMG_6957.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenshank and Little Egret (a few days ago)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR-RkBNEQH2n0Mt50zaQr6fc8Di2DC1DLahQ0AsEsfCmmg3kKder73bogwYpWXoAbXczQSsuRKgBwHxtjQxhVVScr4E9gJaoiUa7rvu2Iz9msG54El6zHJUUPUOcl_BQD7kiUEWv2aIZS/s1600/IMG_6963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR-RkBNEQH2n0Mt50zaQr6fc8Di2DC1DLahQ0AsEsfCmmg3kKder73bogwYpWXoAbXczQSsuRKgBwHxtjQxhVVScr4E9gJaoiUa7rvu2Iz9msG54El6zHJUUPUOcl_BQD7kiUEWv2aIZS/s320/IMG_6963.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Tern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUP3t_NQ8TfP4YQx79baTS3trN8tJvCN9pdpKCJSSP0gvaa3B9kExm0lA311rk5Vu4B9eCkOFLcVUvE0xbnIote0JkbRotInr8Bi3eyRn2G1K-iOYlAj9cRqWST59ZVtUMcgbDL3YpwOa/s1600/IMG_6968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUP3t_NQ8TfP4YQx79baTS3trN8tJvCN9pdpKCJSSP0gvaa3B9kExm0lA311rk5Vu4B9eCkOFLcVUvE0xbnIote0JkbRotInr8Bi3eyRn2G1K-iOYlAj9cRqWST59ZVtUMcgbDL3YpwOa/s320/IMG_6968.JPG" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret (it was a long way off!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-79588059372566926142017-04-29T17:29:00.001+02:002017-04-29T17:32:46.629+02:00Saturday 29 April 2017, Wokingham, partly cloudy, light S-SE wind, 14CHaven't been out much for the past couple of weeks due to various appointments and the small matter of redecorating the flat! The sighting of a superb drake <b>Garganey</b> on the local gravel pit/lake was the highlight.<br />
I'm missing the raptor migration over Gaucin, though I need to be vigilant as someone saw two Hobby over their house just a couple of km from us!<br />
Some photos from the local pits/lakes.....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky9wSHOeOddI6zZDLy8yG28k-1jERNucblF8zIvkJXqmTOzecCoMS8BUhrD6kODYY9HzUHfTlsDjZ7yRyl4tc3fI9KfAjbkB4L9-zfZh-xLR8HS7fQO1hjUuWwTkJ-6X_Y7Ql0_GSTX2t/s1600/04+17+Garg+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky9wSHOeOddI6zZDLy8yG28k-1jERNucblF8zIvkJXqmTOzecCoMS8BUhrD6kODYY9HzUHfTlsDjZ7yRyl4tc3fI9KfAjbkB4L9-zfZh-xLR8HS7fQO1hjUuWwTkJ-6X_Y7Ql0_GSTX2t/s320/04+17+Garg+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drake Garganey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH1TAYTW2kDqKyZ-xkmnRznomtAP5jVQagmhvHWnnEjGlcoK3bhFlwJKSJCE5V8_BUYE3Crs-19aO1rsNHIe11zp5NLd3HBZgNpN0I_VRjxME7G0ApjhoAQ-B9_kP0CSEHe94gjoOAbhQ/s1600/04+17+Garg+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH1TAYTW2kDqKyZ-xkmnRznomtAP5jVQagmhvHWnnEjGlcoK3bhFlwJKSJCE5V8_BUYE3Crs-19aO1rsNHIe11zp5NLd3HBZgNpN0I_VRjxME7G0ApjhoAQ-B9_kP0CSEHe94gjoOAbhQ/s320/04+17+Garg+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drake Garganey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruh_sQh4BuFFJ77KUDdSscYxvneuWWxwx-OAoDaU1pczI_J_ldaTwlY0wJRKM9SDg-YDgp8sIBOfITtpLPB2115icyldEPXIVclhWwuFRN9PIZkhUkmUr0JLwns29LVZT31Jr9cu3NgbM/s1600/04+17+Garganey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruh_sQh4BuFFJ77KUDdSscYxvneuWWxwx-OAoDaU1pczI_J_ldaTwlY0wJRKM9SDg-YDgp8sIBOfITtpLPB2115icyldEPXIVclhWwuFRN9PIZkhUkmUr0JLwns29LVZT31Jr9cu3NgbM/s320/04+17+Garganey.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drake Garganey with Tufted Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfXS6NuxAyLjvylL3u0MTFaAiO52ww-K7DKhPrJCxZh_c3518HH36yxl9GY4TgBrqhbsxKjxcpH3yx7EJFXRsk4WvWFcUO4xY-0799D1J2F-YBxqJOkg7M1fTbHUlw6AfKQbH591WTlDU/s1600/04+17+GSW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfXS6NuxAyLjvylL3u0MTFaAiO52ww-K7DKhPrJCxZh_c3518HH36yxl9GY4TgBrqhbsxKjxcpH3yx7EJFXRsk4WvWFcUO4xY-0799D1J2F-YBxqJOkg7M1fTbHUlw6AfKQbH591WTlDU/s320/04+17+GSW.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great-spotted Woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jvuX2-e8w8b7nSjO5ZlmW6N-aKpizGIAeVR4lYXc9nH52CIfJmgX2B1p6P86sCgk2nzmCIf-ftGlFrTx6XmX2x3erV294s_eM3qCrrHn2RW6YOfVXMjHSFWUQoWNosNzmQgmH1hboUvi/s1600/04+17+Lapw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jvuX2-e8w8b7nSjO5ZlmW6N-aKpizGIAeVR4lYXc9nH52CIfJmgX2B1p6P86sCgk2nzmCIf-ftGlFrTx6XmX2x3erV294s_eM3qCrrHn2RW6YOfVXMjHSFWUQoWNosNzmQgmH1hboUvi/s320/04+17+Lapw.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapwing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ7voPkaNoY8y1_qWi3WTwgdAYZlXosGFbZ9isNX8hMlv6eaRqrBFC6l1UO0XfFiITymCf8ykRKlAk12NHYDvMUZ0qDyhiqxWA7JwFAgkAmXjcOpdaPKt_b0iRvGvRo7r4kCBQ753Sf20/s1600/04+17+Lavells+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ7voPkaNoY8y1_qWi3WTwgdAYZlXosGFbZ9isNX8hMlv6eaRqrBFC6l1UO0XfFiITymCf8ykRKlAk12NHYDvMUZ0qDyhiqxWA7JwFAgkAmXjcOpdaPKt_b0iRvGvRo7r4kCBQ753Sf20/s320/04+17+Lavells+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavell's Lake in the early morning mist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAXdIyGtJ8d3YSKX4rRQQA_2F7rujzwKCvDRGKyW06O4I2baRgS3YotqqGGjK0oQVncc3BlOa3FmXYhaz1T9ASq13AMaW-oxHNl7DPXfA4XTVAvw0FNfBoE4s2Zqk10lo1hl0tvvy2ca8/s1600/04+17+Lavells+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAXdIyGtJ8d3YSKX4rRQQA_2F7rujzwKCvDRGKyW06O4I2baRgS3YotqqGGjK0oQVncc3BlOa3FmXYhaz1T9ASq13AMaW-oxHNl7DPXfA4XTVAvw0FNfBoE4s2Zqk10lo1hl0tvvy2ca8/s320/04+17+Lavells+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footpath to the hide</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmvo-jx4nzGsWpX4hCyxtAnZvlljR2X6nyfwmpOuwRZZDkRTPtmxtQY9SnZ8t_q9hLX4CqGo0p4kngzrkZGSJAMiMSfdWBW4a9ylTdfvh4XS7z7crhrS0987JUhPwdBsN3NayDH3srq8h/s1600/04+17+Lavells+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmvo-jx4nzGsWpX4hCyxtAnZvlljR2X6nyfwmpOuwRZZDkRTPtmxtQY9SnZ8t_q9hLX4CqGo0p4kngzrkZGSJAMiMSfdWBW4a9ylTdfvh4XS7z7crhrS0987JUhPwdBsN3NayDH3srq8h/s320/04+17+Lavells+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Loddon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAdM-yWXOi2_MK055wuBMRdnDRKeRQOAC13ev3kZAXwiFczFnAwaK4T2XuQWTtOoVRORwhLxBVIeEyYdazPPjvEpLIqu_B5YdugNlzPu-39TaEF6znvOeoGdBQd2Vmll7mtrX90wAg76J/s1600/04+17+RNP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAdM-yWXOi2_MK055wuBMRdnDRKeRQOAC13ev3kZAXwiFczFnAwaK4T2XuQWTtOoVRORwhLxBVIeEyYdazPPjvEpLIqu_B5YdugNlzPu-39TaEF6znvOeoGdBQd2Vmll7mtrX90wAg76J/s320/04+17+RNP.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring-necked Parakeet</td></tr>
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<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018194561353661605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-37590487412859155372017-04-15T22:52:00.000+02:002017-04-15T22:52:04.195+02:004 - DAY BIRDING TOUR (based in Gaucin) - DAY 4<div class="article-blurb">
SAN PABLO PIG FARM – MARCHENILLA TRACK – RIO HOZGARGANTE – LA JANDA – VEJER – BARBATE MARSHES</div>
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WEATHER: sunshine all day, light westerly wind. Top temp 23C.<br />
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We were back down to just the two of us today, Jimmy and I left Gaucin at 8am and headed towards the coast along the Algeciras road. At San Pablo we turned onto the San Martin road and headed for the pig farm. Jimmy wanted a better picture of Bee-eater and an early morning visit would give us the right light conditions. Jimmy had a choice of over 100 Bee-eaters to choose from, he took his time and got some great shots. We also saw Raven, Booted Eagle and Griffon Vulture whilst at the pig-pens.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/7542402770031af1dc225647cb9c248e3cd7a302/beater.content.jpg" style="height: 463px; width: 600px;" /><br />
European Bee-eater<br />
<br />
The Marchenilla Track was close by and offered a short-cut back to the Algeciras road so we drove the entire track into the ‘hamlet’ of Marchenilla. We made many short stops along the way, Jimmy went berserk with his camera, his best shots were of Corn Bunting, Stonechat and Tawny Pipit.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/2a8b4ed08d8979ac9bf1882d6cb5a243fa5081c0/raven.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Common or Northern Ravens<br />
<br />
A quick visit to the Rio Hozgargante was made as we arrived at the Algeciras road, we simply hopped across the main road and drove a couple of hundred meters to the river. We had hoped to see Golden Oriole but having heard one calling we couldn’t locate it. Other species seen included Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Jay, Blackcap, Robin, Blue Tit and several, unseen Common Nightingales sang out loud.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/611dcd3c52481da574afa22345f4bff7d6056bfe/tawny_1.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Tawny Pipit<br />
<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/91d501a3a69b63924c6126c26423f056431186f1/tawny_2.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
<br />
It was approaching 10:30 when we finally set off for Tarifa, but even then a couple of stops delayed us. The first was at the Lesser Kestrel Colony near Castellar where we watched only 4 or 5 Kestrels and the second was at the San Roque White Stork colony where we got great views of the newly hatched Stork chicks in the nest. A seasonal pool nearby held 4 Little Grebes and 5 Little Egrets.<br />
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We by-passed Tarifa and headed directly for La Janda where we spent a couple of hours driving along the central track and then the road to Benalup. I can’t say that there were too many highlights because it was quite barren with no water in the newly ploughed rice fields. A couple of Marsh Harriers drifted by, also White Storks, a single Glossy Ibis and innumerable Cattle Egrets. Lots of Corn Buntings, Linnets, Goldfinches and a few Zitting Cisticola were seen.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b30c344030a2069abcd43e92fa882a6807afc7c9/rr_swallow.content.jpg" /><br />
Red-rumped Swallow<br />
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The huge Cattle Egret colony found on the Benalup track is now in full swing, full of noise, movement and territorial squabbles, a few pairs of Glossy Ibis were also nest-building. We also had great views of both Red-legged Partridge and Red-rumped Swallows at the end of the track.<br />
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A brief stop at Montonmedia Golf Course produced nothing more than a single Hoopoe, lots of Jackdaws and several Woodpigeons. The Bald Ibis colony at Vejer was fairly quiet as all the birds are sitting on eggs at the moment, a couple of birds were seen in flight.<br />
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At Barbate marshes we had wonderful afternoon light and plenty of birds to look at. There are probably over 100 pairs of Collared Pratincoles breeding on the islands and about 3 pairs of Stone Curlew. Lots of Short-toed Larks joined Crested Larks, Tawny Pipits and Northern Wheatears onto our sightings list. Many Western Yellow Wagtails could be seen of three races, <em>iberiae, flava and flavissimo. </em><br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/bbbbf4ed1de0d8c39120247718a796c38b254b4a/prats.content.jpg" /><br />
Collared Pratincoles<br />
<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/a8a23c8c4970ff98f277f7ac5af65972a0118982/prat.content.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Lots of waders were out on the marsh we logged Pied Avocet, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed and Kentish Plover and Black-winged Stilt. We also found Calandra Larks, Woodchat Shrikes and a single Orphean Warbler fed in the bushes.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/342f577233a1f9658aaafef28da273dbda6753ca/wagtail.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Western Yellow Wagtail - the British version <em>flavissimo</em><br />
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We left Barbate at 4pm making a stop at the Mirador de Estrecho where Jimmy took some pictures of Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. We arrived back to a very busy Gaucin, crowds were gathering in preparation for Easter celebrations including a ‘Bull Run’, how nice – I’m so glad we are off to Coto Donana early tomorrow morning.<br />
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This ended our min-tour around Gaucin, we had seen just under 120 species and had some wonderful weather during the tour.<br />
<br />
IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES IN COTO DONANA THEN CHECK OUT THE WINGSPAN BLOG AT:<br />
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WWW.WINGSPANBIRDTOURS.COM/BLOG<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-52719741865992272322017-04-15T21:31:00.002+02:002017-04-15T21:31:28.330+02:004 - DAY BIRDING TOUR (based in Gaucin) - DAY 3<div class="article-blurb">
GAUCIN SWEET-CHESTNUT WOODS – ENCINAS BORRACHAS TRACK – SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES NATURAL PARK</div>
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WEATHER: Sunshine all day, very nice cooling breeze, top temp 23C<br />
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It was a lovely, windless, beautiful sunny morning. Today we were joined by Paul and Claire, regular visitors to the village and also home owners in Gaucin. They have participated in several previous trips and they arrived on time at 8am.<br />
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Our first stop was at the chestnut woods about 2km east of the village. There was quite a lot of bird activity in the bare branches of these ancient chestnut, deciduous trees. We quickly found Blue Tit, Great Tit, European Robin, Serin, Crested Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming) and Common Chaffinch.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/647586c9cc3c1270d8add69661ed6b503a4afd6d/c_and_p.content.jpg" style="height: 481px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Claire and Paul<br />
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We had to walk a few meters into the cork oak woods in order to find our first target bird, it took a short while before we heard one. At first it was difficult to locate a singing Iberian Chiffchaff but when we did it showed very well. As did a Firecrest later in the walk.<br />
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Our journey towards Ronda and our next birding destination was interrupted by a couple of impromptu stops, first we jumped out of the car to look for a Rock Sparrow which promptly disappeared and a little later a second bird was seen on a roadside wall. This second stop proved quite productive as we found a number of species including Rock Bunting, Red-legged Partridge, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Linnet and another brief glimpse of Rock Sparrow. As we pulled away from this site a Rock Bunting perched very close to the car and gave us all great views of it.<br />
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We arrived at the Encinas Borrachas track not long after 9:30am, the weather was just perfect with sunshine, no wind and superb light, we could see and identify birds perched about ½ a mile away up on the mountains. We spent the next 3 hours walking through some beautiful scenery across a number of habitats. Open grass meadows gave way to rocky scree then rocky slopes gave way to the huge cliff-faces of limestone mountains. In this area we found more Black-eared Wheatears, Iberian Shrike, Goldfinches, Linnets and Thekla Larks. Up on the mountain peaks we noted Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush and a couple of raptors, Griffon Vulture and Common Kestrel.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/272b87849e14f368cb7ac318c7f54459e27905e4/orphean.content.jpg" style="height: 477px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Western Orphean Warbler<br /> <br />
The landscape changed as we continued our walk, the open grass meadow gave way to scattered tamarisk and broom shrubs which in turn gave way to heathland scrub with more densely packed low gorse scrub. There we found Common Stonechat, Spectacled Warbler and a couple more Rock Buntings. A Common Cuckoo perched on a fence calling and a Woodlark fed on the grass verge.<br />
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The heathland changed abruptly over the next ridge as we walked into a steeply-sloped gorge covered in oak trees, a different set of birds was seen and heard there. It was ‘warbler-day’ today as over the next hour we had fantastic sightings of Orphean, Subalpine and Bonelli’s Warbler, they were all out in full view singing their little hearts out. A pair of Woodchat Shrikes was nice to see too and up in the sky we saw Red-billed Chough, Booted Eagle, Marsh Harrier and a few Barn Swallows, some distant swifts were too far away to identify.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/4696807ee9c5d2d74260678a70d583bde8b48955/subby.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Subalpine Warbler<br />
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It was 1pm as we returned to the car, we drove to the Sierra de las Nieves natural park near Ronda. We sat and ate lunch at the picnic site near the entrance along with quite a number of other people who were out enjoying the Good Friday Easter Holiday.<br />
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We spent our last 2-3 hours walking tracks and trails and we ventured through both oak and pine woodland, rocky gorges and open heathland. Our warbler theme continued as we had excellent views of Willow Warbler and Cirl Bunting at a drinking trough and even better views of Dartford Warbler on the heath.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/9a151ba3e423fed2b34fa481c410a52b87ca9a84/darty_1.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Dartford Warbler<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b2f7af618f03950b7b0e2a3dc7ab451cc496d051/darty.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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We spent the last hour or so in pine woods where we found Firecrest, Coal Tit, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper and a possible Goshawk, it gave us short, tiny glimpses as it flew low over the pine forest.<br />
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We left the park around 5pm and headed back to Gaucin, it had been a lovely day and although we had only seen 45 species we had had some quality sightings to cherish forever. It was really nice to meet up with Paul and Claire once again.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-59935142609118796762017-04-15T07:34:00.004+02:002017-04-15T21:33:06.565+02:004 - DAY BIRDING TOUR (based in Gaucin) - DAY 2<div class="article-blurb">
RIO GENAL – RIO GUADIARO – SAN ENRIQUE WOODS – MARCHENILLA TRACK</div>
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WEATHER: another day of sunshine, very little wind. Top temp 31C<br />
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Considering that this is the peak migration period it was very quiet at the Rio Genal, in fact as far as migrant bird species was concerned it was dead. We saw Serin, Blackcap, White Wagtail and we heard a couple of Cetti’s Warblers and we had a brief view of Common Nightingale. We added a Woodchat Shrike as we continued along the track and a Short-toed Eagle sat on a pylon.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/9c2e31bef0ccf3466745e4875e947d8f85b8839c/scenery.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
view of Sierra Crestellina from the Rio Genal track<br />
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On our way back to the car we watched two Eurasian Sparrowhawks fighting an aerial battle whilst Griffon Vultures drifted passed very high up and four Grey Herons moved slowly up the river.<br />
By the time we reached the Guadiaro Valley-Track leading to Secadero the temperature was over 20C. We stopped several times as we worked our way down to the river; we watched Cirl Buntings, Corn Buntings, Crested Larks, Stonechats, Tawny Pipits, Linnets and lots of Goldfinches.<br />
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At the river we saw several parties of European Bee-eater, also our first Turtle Dove, a few more Blackcaps, Sardinian Warbler, Little-ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Great Cormorant and a single Marsh Harrier. The sky was devoid of raptors except for small numbers of Griffon Vultures.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/1ceabb9ac3c9edabfd76e3b3406c5cdd124d5275/nighter.content.jpg" style="height: 469px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Common Nightingale<br />
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Further down the track we searched for Olivaceous Warbler without success, Common Stonechats were everywhere, also Greenfinches and Goldfinches. A Green Sandpiper, two White Storks and a Booted Eagle was all we added before we drove to Secadero and on to San Enrique.<br />
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San Enrique Woods was also quiet except for small numbers of Serins feeding in the grass. We sat in the car and ate our picnic lunch before going for a stroll! After 10 minutes we found a Wryneck up in the trees, it showed well at times but never stopped in one place long enough for us to take a picture. An Iberian Chiffchaff was tracked down after we heard it singing, that bird did show well as did a Eurasian Jay.<br />
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A quick scan of a ploughed field outside the wood produced both House and Tree Sparrows, Spotless Starlings, Bee-eaters and Goldfinches, we also found a Spotted Flycatcher near the sewer works.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/741ce20908b48d1095308774ff808eeab8509ee8/zitter.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Zitting Cisticola<br />
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From San Enrique we drove through San Martin towards San Pablo stopping twice, the first time to admire a couple of Little Owls and then for a coffee. From there we walked to the Marchenilla track where we spent a couple of hours in lovely afternoon sunlight. We found at least 4 singing Melodious Warblers, considering just a few days ago there wasn’t a single one there, migration must be happening. Some quite showy Common Nightingales filled the air with their beautiful songs, Common Whitethroat, Zitting Cisticola, Greenfinch, Sardinian Warbler and Blackcap added their best efforts too.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/14c19296854747dd82d29b564a1147651259d21e/melod.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Melodious Warbler<br />
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Our last birding of the day was at a pig farm not far away. Jimmy was determined to get a good photograph of a European Bee-eater and at least 40 pairs were nesting in the steep sloping fields of the pig farm. After nearly an hour of frustration Jimmy gave up, it wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t get his picture, it was the light, the camera and the birds, they kept moving!!<br />
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This concluded our birding, it was a little disappointing as far as migrants was concerned but I could see a definite improvement over last week’s efforts.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-87071784799605426672017-04-13T18:13:00.000+02:002017-04-13T18:14:46.468+02:004 - DAY BIRDING TOUR (based in Gaucin) - DAY 1<div class="article-blurb">
MALAGA AIRPORT – DESEMBOCADURA DE GUADALHORCE NATURAL PARK – GAUCIN</div>
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WEATHER: wall to wall sunshine, light breeze, top temp 23C<br />
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The weather was back to being just beautiful, with lovely light and a cooling breeze. At Malaga Airport I dropped Mike off at departures and after a short break I went down to arrivals to collect Jimmy, a Scottish guy, who lives in Switzerland and teaches languages.<br />
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Jimmy is staying with us for four day before he joins part of my tour of Coto Donana and Extremadura, he arrived on time at 2pm. Once in the car we drove straight round to the local nature reserve at Guadalmar, called Desembocadura de Guadalhorce.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/97c24bf4a6df19b631aab573a214448c9878c4ca/map.content.jpg" style="height: 560px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Map of the Desembocadura de Guadalhorce - The binocular symbol denotes the hides<br />
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We had a great two hours walking along the tracks and visiting the hides that overlook a number of lagoons, we recorded over 40 species a couple of Red-rumped Swallows were our first birds, they sat obligingly in a nearby tree.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/19669a8c6e007805403850f4cf812018561fd466/rumped_1.content.jpg" style="height: 466px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Red-rumped Swallow<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/5a0ba1f6ebd73eb26479064a6134e4c784e9d159/hoopoe.content.jpg" style="height: 464px; width: 600px;" /><br />
A Eurasian Hoopoe on the track was nice to see too, especially one with its crest raised.<br />
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The first lagoon did not produce much, we saw Common Pochard, Little Grebes, Moorhens and Eurasian Coots. We searched for the <strong>RED-KNOBBED COOT</strong> which was a mega find here last week but alas it must have gone.<br />
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The next lagoon had a large number of Black-winged Stilts, a single Common Redshank and a single Common Snipe, but not much else, so we moved onto the third lagoon which is far more open and has more exposed muddy banks. A good number of waders were feeding there with several species present. We listed; Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt and Pied Avocet.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/2e49332ac3650c53cf4dbc8a9d993be129a48a5d/blue_h_d.content.jpg" /><br />
White-headed Duck washing.<br />
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On our return walk we watched Zitting Cisticola, Cetti’s Warbler (heard), Greenfinches and a few groups of Monk Parakeets. From a raised mound we had great views of Laguna de la Casilla from where we found two PURPLE HERONS.<br />
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We visited two more hides but it was the Laguna Grande that produced the most, new species, from a raised hide we watched; Eurasian Spoonbill, Common Tern, Gadwall, Black-headed Gull, Great Cormorant, Little Ringed Plover and lots more Stilts.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0aa6d18d9ab7f44d0dfe5a7686ebbdf9ab4ba665/scene.content.jpg" /><br />
View of Rio Vieja (old river) looking down towards the beach<br />
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During our walked back we bumped into another Eurasian Hoopoe, some Serins, Sardinian Warbler, Common Kestrel and Red-rumped Swallows.<br />
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After stopping to buy supplies we set off at 5pm for Gaucin, my home village in Andalucia. We never had time to stop but we saw several Griffon Vultures circling above Sierra Crestellina.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/c38b71d74cecc8cdaaf84e2b032fb8b793b44efc/stilt.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
some of the Stilts are sitting on eggs<br />
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We eventually arrived at Gaucin around 6:30pm where we enjoyed a cold drink and a delicious home-cooked fish dinner, provided by my lovely wife Dawn.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-29644953050574492022017-04-11T21:41:00.004+02:002017-04-11T21:41:42.039+02:007 - Day Birding Tour (based in Gaucin) - Day 7<div class="article-blurb">
TARIFA – LOS LANCES BEACH – LA JANDA – VEJER - BARBATE MARSHES</div>
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WEATHER: cloudy to start then unbroken sunshine, moderate to strong easterly wind, top temp 19C<br />
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Our final day had arrived and we hoped that the strong wind which had hampered our birding throughout the week had abated! As we left Gaucin at 8am we noticed it was calm, no wind so far, but by the time we had reached the coast at Algeciras it was very windy once again.<br />
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At Tarifa it was windy but bearable, we walked to the hide on Los Lances beach from the main N340/A7. En-route we had notched up a list of several species; White Stork, Griffon Vulture, Common Kestrel, Crested Lark and lots of Barn Swallows.<br />
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Corn Buntings sang from fence-posts, a Skylark sat on the grass and a Northern Wheatear dashed in front of us as we walked to the beach. From the hide we found a good number of Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Grey Plover, there were fewer numbers of Common Redshank and Kentish Plover.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/46f6b3586f984b6bbe0e7d96403838ad96dbca56/kentish.content.jpg" style="height: 641px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Kentish Plover<br />
7<br />
A group of distant Sandwich Terns sat on the beach with a single Mediterranean Gull, even further away were groups of both Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls. A few Northern Gannets battled against the wind out at sea.<br />
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During our return walk we added Greater Short-toed Lark to our trip list and saw very little else. Next stop was La Janda, I have never recorded so few species in any of my previous visits! I think that the current ploughed rice fields has a lot to do with bird numbers, it was like a barren, dry desert. We did see Woodchat Shrike, a very obliging Calandra Lark, lots of Linnets, Goldfinches, House Sparrows and Corn Buntings.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/9df71b0ff06d8344df714991bf43e2e29ffffb83/calandra_1.content.jpg" style="height: 462px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Calandra Lark - taken by Mike Ream<br />
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Dozens of Cattle Egrets followed the tractors as they farrowed the fields, but not a single stork, heron, ibis, spoonbill or raptor was seen as we drove along the central track. Turning onto the Benalup track we crawled passed the ‘egret nesting-colony’ where hundreds of Cattle Egrets tried to stay perched in the strong winds.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/038012e8febde8d3b94f6fb8b8be7ed6167ebeb9/cattle.content.jpg" /><br />
Cattle Egret in full breeding plumage - another of Mike's photos<br />
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We ate lunch near the ‘smelly farm’ where Red-legged Partridges, Common Pheasant, Eurasian Jackdaw, Marsh Harrier, a dozen Black Kites and a swirling ‘kettle’ of some 200 White Storks was seen. A single Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle and more Black Kites were also seen from near the farm. As we drove off La Janda we stopped to watch a female Montagu’s Harrier and another Marsh Harrier.<br />
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At Montonmedia Golf Course we searched the mixed woodland for migrant warblers, but all we got was 2 Eurasian Hoopoes and a single Pied Flycatcher. Vejer provided our sighting of Bald Ibis, we viewed one of the nesting colonies where 11 pairs were sitting on eggs alongside dozens of Eurasian Jackdaws.<br />
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Barbate Marshes provided the venue for our best birding of the day. We watched over 70 Collared Pratincoles, a pair of Stone Curlews and our only sighting of Audouin’s Gull. Along the track around the marsh we saw a dozen Northern Wheatears, 4 Tawny Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, Corn Buntings and several Crested Larks.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/862db4baf8a048b9791012e21abcd85d3414e22a/prats.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Collared Pratincoles - Mike Ream<br />
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Other birds seen out on the marsh include: Great Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Dunlin, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Stint and Black-winged Stilt.<br />
We made our way back to Gaucin stopping at the Mirador de Estrecho where we looked over to Morocco through hazy cloud. Several raptors were working their way eastward against the wind, we saw Black Kites, Booted Eagles, a single Sparrowhawk and lots of Griffon Vultures.<br />
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Well that ended our 7-day tour, we headed back to Gaucin arriving around 5pm. Our trip count had reached 153 with another 5 species heard but not seen. It had been a tough week, we had endured 4 days of very windy conditions and I’m sure that bird migration had been disrupted because of this. Tomorrow I take Mike back to Malaga Airport and collect Jimmy who is staying for a 4-day birding tour.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-17134544673729025172017-04-11T07:50:00.001+02:002017-04-11T07:50:11.738+02:007-Day Birding Tour (based in Gaucin) Day 6<div class="article-blurb">
LAGUNA MEDINA – LAGUNA JUNCOSA – SANLUCAR POOLS – BONANZA SALT PANS – TREBUJENA MARSHES – CHIPIONA SEAFRONT – CASARES</div>
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WEATHER: sunshine all day, windy at first. Top temp 28C.<br />
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A full-on day today we were out from 7:15am until 10:15pm and we travelled quite a distance! We set off after an early breakfast and headed for the coast along the Gaucin-Algeciras Road, noting plenty of White Storks around Castellar and San Roque. It got light as we turned inland at Los Barrios and headed for Jerez. Further sightings along this road included Griffon Vultures, Common Buzzard, Cattle Egret and lots of Jackdaws.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/a2aa5d2f17a9d589cd026b51e36595791918a6dc/wagger.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Yellow Wagtail<br />
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At Laguna Medina, near Jerez, it was quite windy so our sightings of small passerines was limited. We could hear plenty of Common Nightingales, Cetti’s Warblers, Blackcaps and Sardinian Warblers but only got brief views of them. Gold and Greenfinches were everywhere and along with Crested Lark and Zitting Cisticola were the most common sightings.<br />
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From the only hide we scanned this huge laguna which held precious little bird-life, the water level was quite high but birds were scarce. Two Common Shelduck, three Black-necked Grebes and two Great-crested Grebes were out on the main body of water. Common Coot, Common Moorhen and a few Mallards fed around the edges, in the far corner a flock of Northern Shoveler fed. A single Glossy Ibis made a lovely fly-pass its glossy sheen of iridescent greens and blues looked lovely in the morning light.<br />
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Further walking along the main track produced Common Cuckoo (heard), Reed Warbler (heard) and Marsh Harrier, none of the expected migrant flycatchers, redstarts or sylvia warblers were present, we left a bit disappointed. This laguna used to be covered in birds but since Common Carp were put in there bird numbers have plummeted, the greedy carp have eaten everything!<br />
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After a coffee stop we visited a small seasonal pool near Sanlucar where we watched both Common and Red-crested Pochard but not much more. A distant Collared Pratincole sat in a ploughed field, a beautiful Montagu’s Harrier quartered another field whilst Little and Cattle Egrets fed around the pool edges. Lots of Common Swifts joined Sand Martins, Barn Swallows, and House Martins in the sky above the pool.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/8213e08f3b9408e5407558aba98db2edf393d76b/gulls.content.jpg" /><br />
Slender-billed Gulls<br />
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The much smaller pools around Sanlucar held too much water they seemed to be bursting their banks, this had a negative effect on the number of waders present and the lack of Purple Swamphen sightings. Lots of White-headed Ducks joined the two Pochard species with many Coots and Moorhens, Little Grebes and Little Egrets. I saw a Little Bittern in flight but Mike missed it and we both watched Common Waxbills in the reeds.<br />
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At Bonanza salt pans we spent a good two hours watching a good number of species, the wind had dropped here, it was very warm with just a light breeze, the light and heat-haze was a bit intense. We added many new species to our list including: Osprey, Caspian, Little and Gull-billed Terns, Slender-billed Gulls, lots of waders and plenty of Yellow Wagtails. A flock of some 50+ Collared Pratincoles hawked for insects high above the pans and Black Kites appeared constantly and a single Whinchat sat on a fen cline.<br />
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Laguna Tarelo at the back of the salt pans held a lot of birds, no new ducks for us but a ‘herony’ on the island was a busy place. We watched Night Herons, Squacco Herons, Eurasian Spoonbills, Little and Cattle Egrets all vying for real estate space! We found a couple of Mediterranean Chameleons in the tamarisk bushes there.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/629187437eae0c22aeb19b761af22d4fe0269319/chameleon.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Mediterranean Chameleon<br />
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We passed through Algaida Pine Woods and onto the Marshes at Trebujena, it was there that we found a ROLLER sitting on a powerline, a Common Cuckoo did likewise. A few Northern Wheatears and a flock of some twenty Eurasian Spoonbills joined White Storks and Black Kites up on the thermals were our other sightings.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/3a0a908128bebb33b5d19b722a7be5e37fd46044/ibis.content.jpg" style="height: 483px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Can you see: Spoonbill, Little and Cattle Egrets, Night Heron and a Glossy Ibis?<br />
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From Trebujena we drove to Chipiona some 30 kilometers away, Chipiona is a lovely seaside town and has hosted a colony of the rare LITTLE SWIFT for some years now, we arrived at 4:30pm. It was well worth the effort as we had great views of about 20 Little Swifts as they visited their nests in an active warehouse building near the marina. We also noted our first Ruddy Turnstones of the trip.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b09b99c8ea0e0598caeb55f5ed48a96b27d23f58/ruddy.content.jpg" style="height: 374px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Ruddy Turnstones<br />
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Our day wasn’t over yet! We drove back to Algeciras and along the coast to Manilva where had dinner, Marlow’s Fish and Chip restaurant serve the best F and C’s in the whole of Spain! We left there at 8pm and drove to Casares to visit my good friends Penny and John. They have regular visits and sightings of Eurasian Eagle Owl on their plot near the town of Casares. We waited until dusk, two Owls called but alas they failed to show, so we left slightly disappointed.<br />
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Two very tired birders returned to Gaucin at 10:15pm, good night!<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-66562397926423821012017-04-09T21:26:00.000+02:002017-04-09T21:26:45.270+02:007 - Day Birding Tour (based in Gaucin) Day 5<div itemprop="child" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/Breadcrumb">
MARCHENILLA TRACK – PALMONES SALT MARSH – LAGUNA TORREGUADIARO – SAN ENRIQUE WOODS</div>
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WEATHER: Broken sunshine, strong easterly wind, top temp. 19C<br />
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The cold easterly wind continued today albeit a little weaker than yesterday, it still had a negative effect on our birding enjoyment and results!<br />
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We left Gaucin and drove down the Algeciras Road to San Pablo where we turned off towards San Martin, our first stop was some 4km along this road where a colony of European Bee-eaters has been established in a pig-sty. What a contrast, beauty and the beast springs to mind! We saw plenty of pigs and many Bee-eaters. Twenty eight colourful Bee-eaters sat along a wire fence in the morning sun another 80+ birds flew out of a nearby Eucalyptus trees. Noise colour, movement – a lovely experience to start our birding day.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/c2f28a515360efe570417b22e9cb5b0cb0d2996a/beaters.content.jpg" style="height: 470px; width: 600px;" /><br />
European Bee-eaters on the fence of the pig compound<br />
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Further along the road we turned off to visit the river Guadiaro, we hoped for a sighting of Western Olivaceous Warbler, we heard Cetti’s Warbler, Common Nightingale, Blackcap and Greenfinches but I don’t think the Olivaceous Warblers are back on their breeding grounds just yet.<br />
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Along the Marchenilla Track we saw very little migration movement except for groups of Bee-eaters. The wind kept a lot of the smaller birds down in the scrub and bushes. We saw lots of Corn Buntings, Greenfinches, Sardinian Warblers, Goldfinches, Serins, Linnets, House Sparrows and Griffon Vultures.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/bbde4a44837d4deb7be1a40902dca30634d70329/corn.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Corn Bunting - don't I just love this species?<br />
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I watched a Melodious Warbler when I returned to fetch the car whilst Mike found an Egyptian Vulture during the same time period. A couple of Tawny Pipits, several Crested Larks, Stonechats, a Black-eared Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and a White Stork made up the rest of our sightings.<br />
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At Palmones Salt Marsh we were again disappointed, I have never seen so few species there! Singles of Grey Plover, Greenshank and Kentish Plover was the grand total of waders, a Sandwich Tern, 3 Eurasian Spoonbills, 4 Grey Herons and a dozen or so of Yellow Wagtails (<em>Iberiae</em>) was the sum total of our findings.<br />
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The Laguna at Torreguadiaro was equally as bad, 6 Common Moorhens and 2 Little Grebes was a poor tally, so we went round to the woods at San Enrique where we ate our lunch. A short walk produced our best bird of the day when we tracked down a Wryneck. This bird eventually showed very well and apart from Blue Tit, Serin and Blackcap we saw very little else.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b7e7e5ef846f86030d7ff847a7999d4b6215bd13/wryneck.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Wryneck<br />
<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/7485149417f67e8e1c63b955cb1e51126388a047/wryneck_1.content.jpg" style="height: 478px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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From the track leading to the woods we watched Bee-eaters, Spotless Starlings and a Booted Eagle drifted over us. From there we drove through San Martin heading towards San Pablo making one stop to watch a Little Owl.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/19178d4e5d3e3b86eb0ccfede6a261c63a65be16/beater.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
allegedly the most colourful bird in the world with 16 different colours - European Bee-eater<br />
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After a short second visit to the Marchenilla Track to try to relocate the Melodious Warbler, without success we drove back towards Gaucin via a series of dusty dirt tracks. We had hoped for Turtle Dove sightings or even Golden Oriole, perhaps a Cuckoo, but alas none of the above appeared.<br />
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We finished early, a short day, however the next two days are going to be much longer so a rest now will help!<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-32745948037741199732017-04-09T05:25:00.000+02:002017-04-09T05:25:03.168+02:007 - Day Birding Tour (based in Gaucin) Day 4<div class="article-blurb">
ENCINAS BORRACHAS TRACK NEAR RONDA – SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES NATURAL PARQUE – RONDA</div>
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WEATHER: sunshine all day with a gusting, bitter cold wind for most of the day. Top temp 19C felt like 5C at times.<br />
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We arrived at the Encinas Borrachas track not long after 8:30am, a cold gusting wind greeted us as we left the car. Not surprisingly very birds were on show, we saw distant Northern and Black-eared Wheatears, also Linnets and Goldfinches, a single Rock Bunting sat in a bush, but nothing else showed.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/121993a071aa176a59eefd997284282b85c8779e/encinas.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
The start of the Encinas Borrachas (drunken oaks) track - you can see how exposed we were to the cold wind<br />
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Our walk across the heathland produced nothing at all but we found shelter from the wind over the brow of a hill where a few birds began to appear. We heard an Iberian Shrike singing, it flew off just as we located it, a distant Common Cuckoo also called.<br />
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The wind reduced somewhat with longer, calm gaps between the gusts, during these calm periods it was quite warm and birding became enjoyable once again. We tracked down an Orphean Warbler as it sang in the cork oaks, the same happened with Subalpine Warbler.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/1e08c52ccfea2c304131d3920ec3046dbf04f5b7/mike.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Mike - full of enthusiasm, waiting for the Orphean Warbler to show<br />
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Mike got onto two Ring Ouzels, I saw them in flight and agreed with their identification. Distant Black Wheatears sat on the mountain tops whilst several Griffon Vultures drifted over.<br />
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Our return walk was much more rewarding, mainly due to the reduced wind gusts. We managed to find Spectacled Warblers, Dartford Warblers (one male without a tail) and a couple of Thekla Larks. Mike found a Woodchat Shrike as we neared the car.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b564fd4ae39c2b209229f9d12adce599350925f7/dartford.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Dartford Warbler, a tail-less male!<br />
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Our next port of call was a roadside restaurant where we enjoyed a nice coffee break, from there we drove into the Sierra de las Nieves natural parque. Again it was very quiet with very few migrant species to see. We found Cirl Bunting, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Subalpine Warbler and a Mistle Thrush. It was colder there and still windy, we drove deeper into the reserve but never ventured out of the car very much. One stop produced Wren and Coal Tit but not much more.<br />
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At 2pm we drove into the centre of Ronda and became ‘tourists’ for a couple of hours. During our walk around the famous Ronda Bridge and gorge we logged Red-billed Chough, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, a few Serins and a thousand people of innumerable different nationalities. <br />
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<img alt="" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/43b1444dd33a8b46cb3aefa99eed17f246c08a3a/view.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
view from the famous Ronda Bridge<br />
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Our return journey to Gaucin included a second stop at the Encinas Borrachas track hoping for a better view of Iberian Shrike, but we never found one. A couple of Short-toed Eagles were noted on the way back to Gaucin.<br />
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Today we logged only 10 new species, but I am sure that the weather played a big part in our misfortune.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-38677095410024658122017-04-07T22:13:00.000+02:002017-04-07T22:13:07.141+02:007 - Day Birding Tour (based in Gaucin) - Day 3WEATHER: Sunshine all day, very cold easterly wind, top temp 19C<br />
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It was bitter cold in the sweet chestnut wood even though we were sheltered from the brisk wind. Surprisingly there was quite a lot of bird activity in the bare branches of these ancient deciduous trees. We quickly found Blue Tit, Crested Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Chaffinch.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/81fe41a02f3cb765bf99048e1dbd903be6c0fd16/nutter.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/81fe41a02f3cb765bf99048e1dbd903be6c0fd16/nutter.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Eurasian Nuthatch in the morning sunlight<br />
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We had to walk a few hundred meters into the cork oak woods in order to find our main target bird, it took quite a while before we heard one. The swirling, windy conditions made it difficult to locate our first Iberian Chiffchaff of the trip but when we did it showed very well. We also tried to track down a singing Coal Tit but failed to find it in the tall pines nearby.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/59416755b4c0bb64174a002a058cf05c8f53dded/chiffy_mike.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/59416755b4c0bb64174a002a058cf05c8f53dded/chiffy_mike.content.jpg" style="height: 491px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Iberian Ciffchaff taken by Mike Ream<br />
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On the return walk we found two Short-toed Treecreepers, another Great-spotted Woodpecker and a very obliging Firecrest. A nice sighting, albeit brief, was made of a Hobby, it dashed along above the trees and quickly out of sight.<br />
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By the time we got down to the Rio Guadiaro at Estacion Cortes the sun was higher and we warmed up, the wind was greatly reduced in this sheltered valley. We spent an hour or so walking beside the river noting: Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Nightingale, Greenfinch, Cirl Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Great Cormorant and White Wagtail.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/028c6b594712022427fc73f069ff945a16dc66ff/rio_guad.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/028c6b594712022427fc73f069ff945a16dc66ff/rio_guad.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
the Rio Guadiaro near Estacion de Cortes<br />
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Generally it was quiet, lots of House Martins, a few Red-rumped and Barn Swallows flew all around us and higher up we counted over 40 Griffon Vultures, two Short-toed Eagles and we heard distant Bee-eaters.<br />
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After a coffee stop in Cortes de la Frontera we made it to Montejaque and the Llanos de Libar by lunchtime, we ate our picnic in the sunshine sitting on some rocks. Spanish Festoon, Cleopatra and Clouded Yellow Butterflies were noted during lunch.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0607c3ba81b0026a12e9339e677ed9590cccf7f6/festoon.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0607c3ba81b0026a12e9339e677ed9590cccf7f6/festoon.content.jpg" style="height: 485px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Spanish Festoon butterfly<br />
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We walked up the track towards the Llanos de Libar scanning the mountain tops and steep rock faces looking for anything that moved. We found Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Red-billed Chough, Crag Martins and dozens of Griffon Vultures. Lower down we were kept busy watching Sardinian Warbler, Stonechats, Eurasian Linnets, Goldfinches and more Black Wheatears. A male Ring Ouzel was a bonus find but unfortunately Mike didn’t get onto it before it disappeared behind some bushes.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/348cc92f316df0a273fe2ccefac97a3740f3c0af/llanos_track.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/348cc92f316df0a273fe2ccefac97a3740f3c0af/llanos_track.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
the track leading up to the Llanos de Libar<br />
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Driving further up the valley we entered the wide open valley (Llanos) which has some rocky scree and some cultivated fields. We added Mistle Thrush, Rock Sparrow (Petronia) but we failed to find Black-eared Wheatear. During the return journey we stopped to watch a superb male Black Redstart and we continued our search for other wheatears. Other butterfly sightings included; Large Tortoiseshell, Small Heath and a guy we met had just being tracking a Chapman's Green Hairstreak, a new species for me if only I had seen it!<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b916c954a7396753ae3a8b50393ed1cd44b55320/linnet.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/b916c954a7396753ae3a8b50393ed1cd44b55320/linnet.content.jpg" /><br />
Eurasian Linnet<br />
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A short roadside stop near Montejaque was made to look for more Orchids, we found three species.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0fc10d41f5d1b9490ecdc83672b8acf433568a83/man.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0fc10d41f5d1b9490ecdc83672b8acf433568a83/man.content.jpg" style="height: 557px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Naked Man Orchid<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/77984ea6c81c938360ce3bab96ecd3d6fd20a934/lutea.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/77984ea6c81c938360ce3bab96ecd3d6fd20a934/lutea.content.jpg" /><br />
Yellow Orchid<br />
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Cueva de Gato (Cat’s Cave) near Benaojan is the best and most reliable place to find Alpine Swifts, we saw four as we emerged from the car in the car park. Our walk to the near-deserted beauty spot at the cave’s entrance was punctuated with stops to watch the swifts and martins. At the blue-pool below the cave we watched Grey Wagtail, Blackcap and not much else. Mike pointed out two large raptors circling behind us, wow! They were Bonelli’s Eagles, a great find, I’d been searching for those beauties all day.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/d862e408190e70d9666fd0f7de24a10db7f39bbb/8.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/d862e408190e70d9666fd0f7de24a10db7f39bbb/8.content.jpg" style="height: 488px; width: 600px;" /><br />
the Blue-pool below the entrance to the Cueva de Gato<br />
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We walked along the river hoping for sightings of Dipper without success, we did hear a distant Golden Oriole caliing but we dipped on the Dipper. It was now 5:15pm so we decided to call it a day, our drive back was speedy along empty roads, we arrived back in Gaucin at 6pm.<br />
Dinner was taken at 7:30pm followed by our bird log, we had now recorded 100 species (including 3 heard not seen), not a bad tally but certainly lacking in migrant species.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495184252960687200.post-45451218036886255142017-04-06T22:23:00.002+02:002017-04-06T22:23:14.939+02:00 7-day Birding Tour (based in Gaucin) Day 2WEATHER: another day of sunshine but a brisk easterly wind kept the temp quite cool. Top temp 21C<br />
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At the Rio Genal things were much quieter than I expected, but the coast-road repair work was noisy and water extraction using large tractors towing water tanks was on-going near the bridge, maybe too much disruption?<br />
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Our walk lasted an hour during time which we heard only 4 species singing; Common Nightingale, Blackcap, Serin and Cetti’s Warbler. Actual sightings were minimal, Blue Tit, Serin, Long-tailed Tit, Grey Heron and above us we saw only Booted Eagle and Griffon Vulture, not a single Wagtail, no sight nor sound of Golden Oriole or Hawfinch.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/6742d1c05dd96e42b428109dac2ef1b4908a81b4/scene.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/6742d1c05dd96e42b428109dac2ef1b4908a81b4/scene.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
looking up to Gaucin's Castle (Castillo de Aguila) from the Rio Genal<br />
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By the time we reached the Guadiaro Valley track leading to Secadero the wind had picked up, it was quite blustery at times. We saw several parties of European Bee-eater, also Crested Larks, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Little-ringed Plover, Great Cormorant and not much else. The sky began to fill with raptors but only with Booted Eagles and Griffon Vultures.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/ee76289dc431c616b7c51bc98bbd60f53cca2baa/beeters.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/ee76289dc431c616b7c51bc98bbd60f53cca2baa/beeters.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
European Bee-eaters<br />
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Further down the track we had one inspirational sighting in the form of a GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO, this bird was perched on the roadside fence but unfortunately it saw us before we ‘spotted’ it, the bird was off over the hill before we could say “camera”. Nevertheless it was a great sighting and my first of this species for this valley.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/131a1c49c6497e04f7fa54573aa407248e0785f2/lrp.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/131a1c49c6497e04f7fa54573aa407248e0785f2/lrp.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Little Ringed Plover<br />
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We continued, encouraged by our find, but things didn’t get much better! We added Corn Bunting, Common Stonechat, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and another stop at the river produced a Black Kite sighting and a Common Kingfisher.<br />
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After a coffee stop in Secadero we drove to San Enrique Woods where we sat in the car and ate our picnic lunch next to the sewerage works, how nice!<br />
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A quick scan of a ploughed field produced both House and Tree Sparrows, Spotless Starlings, Bee-eaters and Goldfinches. Walking in the windy woods we added Bonelli’s Warbler, Great-spotted Woodpecker and lots of Serins.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0fc97047537e53ebbd07b74eaf3bfa64f61d587b/woody.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/0fc97047537e53ebbd07b74eaf3bfa64f61d587b/woody.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Great Spotted Woodpecker<br />
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Next we drove to the ‘umbrella’ pine-woods near San Roque, we first looked for Orchids along the main track, we found both Sombre and Sawfly Orchids. We also saw Small Copper, Spanish Festoon, Speckled Wood and Cleopatra Butterflies.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/a9a6c0ac3ebf2075bf63f57cb0ddb34937a8c92d/orchis.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/a9a6c0ac3ebf2075bf63f57cb0ddb34937a8c92d/orchis.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Sombre Orchid<br />
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Back to birding, we spent an hour or so searching the pine trees and areas of cork oak for new species. Our efforts were rewarded with good sightings of all four target species: Firecrest, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper and Bonelli’s Warbler. Other species seen were Eurasian Jay, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird and Blackcap.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/3a67e8370fbbc995fec5acd65648a57455e056fc/jay.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/3a67e8370fbbc995fec5acd65648a57455e056fc/jay.content.jpg" style="height: 470px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Eurasian Jay<br />
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From the elevated roadside just north of San Roque we viewed many White Storks on their nests, it is incubation time right now in the 70+ nests in this area.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/90a2bdf5fc1cb482384e5639e0f1683ca312e0ba/stork.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/90a2bdf5fc1cb482384e5639e0f1683ca312e0ba/stork.content.jpg" style="height: 450px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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We also stopped near a railway bridge to look at a Lesser Kestrel colony, my fears of last year were abated somewhat with the encouraging sight of new ‘kestrel’ nesting boxes attached to the bridge walls. I feared last year that repair work on the bridge walls would discourage these delightful falcons from further breeding, we saw six individuals, one of which came down to a nesting hole with food, smashing!<br />
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Our last stop was just outside of Jimena de la Frontera where we walked along a dirt track looking for Tawny Pipits. We found Stonechats, Serins, Goldfinches and our first Short-toed Eagle but no pipits.<br />
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<img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/a6936d13d97f4327b7bb27904da6d3042c5766d3/stoner.content.jpg" src="https://wingspan-bird-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/a6936d13d97f4327b7bb27904da6d3042c5766d3/stoner.content.jpg" style="height: 461px; width: 600px;" /><br />
Common Stonechat<br />
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This concluded our birding, it was a little disappointing, the lack of raptor passage and of migrants in general is a concern, perhaps the east wind is having a greater effect than I thought it would!<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />WINGSPANNERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704008804734146687noreply@blogger.com0