No change in the weather pattern as we move into October and the calm, sunny and warm conditions prevail. Gaucin avoided the violent rain events that hit Ronda and surrounding areas last week and, apart from a couple of very light showers, it has remained dry.
This morning Alan (staying in Estepona on holiday) and I went up to the Encinas Borrachas track near Ronda and spent a few hours birding the limestone cliffs and plateau of rocky fields. On our way we stopped off to check the cliffs above Algatocin where we saw a handful of Griffon Vulture, a
Lesser Kestrel, Blue Rock Thrush, a lovely male
Common Redstart, 50+ House Martin,
Crag Martin, Cirl Bunting and several
Serin. Although the bulk of autumn migration is over, we still picked up some nice transient species including a juvenile
Marsh Harrier, 2
Northern Wheatear, at least 3
Whinchat and a female
Common Redstart. Also seen were 20+ Griffon Vulture,
Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, 30+ Red-billed Chough,
Southern Grey Shrike, Thekla Lark, Woodlark, Blue Rock Thrush,
Black Wheatear, lots of House Martin, Barn Swallow,
Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Sardinian Warbler,
Dartford Warbler, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch,
Serin, 6+ Corn Bunting and
Rock Bunting; Common Buzzard and Red-legged Partridge were heard.
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| Moon above the limestone cliffs above Algatocin |
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| a shy Whinchat |
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| Whinchat still refusing to pose for the camera |
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| Ronda from Encinas Borrachas |
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