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| Melodious Warbler |
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| Black Kite |
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| Greater Flamingo |
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| Great Reed Warbler |
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| Short-toed Eagle |
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| Squacco Heron |
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| Lesser Short-toed Lark |
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| Egret/Glossy Ibis Colony |
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| A typical scene in Coto Doñana |
More photos from Coto Doñana
Friday 09 May 2014, Gaucin, hazy sunshine, light E-NE wind, 24C
Back in Gaucin after the trip to Coto Doñana and Extremadura, where we saw 171 species and heard a further 5, followed by three days in Madrid where I added Monk Parakeet to my 'trip list'! Here are a few photos from the trip.......
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Pied Avocet |
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| Thekla Lark |
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| Woodland path - Coto Doñana |
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| Beach at Matalascanas |
Sunday 04 May 2014, Finca Santa Marta, Trujillo, Extremadura, mostly sunny, light N-NE wind, 27C
Our last day in Extremadura start early as we headed to Llanos de Santa Magasca to look for Black-bellied Sandgrouse. Arriving just before sunrise we soon heard the 'raspberry' call of displaying Pin-tailed Sandgrouse but couldn't find its black-belied cousin; we did, however get some good sightings including great views of Great Bustard, also Black Vulture, Montagu's Harrier, Little Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Great White Egret, Great-spotted Cuckoo, Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear; Common Quail was heard. All well worth getting up at 0545hrs for!
After breakfast we drove up to the heathland at Jaraicejo via a river stop where we saw Little-ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, European Bee-eater at their nest colony and Cirl Bunting. At the heath we found our target species of Spectacled Warbler, including two displaying males, and also prolonged views of Dartford Warbler.
Our next stop was Arrocampo, where a nature reserve has been created from old nuclear power station cooling water ponds. Despite being quite an industrial area there were many birds around including Black Stork, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Swamphen on nest, Common Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, our first Sand Martin of the week, Savi's Warbler and Spanish Sparrow.
Finally, we returned to our hotel via Monfrague National Park which gave us another chance to look for Eagle Owl at Portillo del Tieter; this time we were not disappointed as an adult was taking advantage of the shade within a cave. Here we also saw Peregrine, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart and in the nearby wood Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper and Orphean Wabler.
During our journey we also logged our first Eurasian Jay, Common Cuckoo, Southern Grey Shrike and Hoopoe. A great day's birding to finish our trip!
After breakfast we drove up to the heathland at Jaraicejo via a river stop where we saw Little-ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, European Bee-eater at their nest colony and Cirl Bunting. At the heath we found our target species of Spectacled Warbler, including two displaying males, and also prolonged views of Dartford Warbler.
Our next stop was Arrocampo, where a nature reserve has been created from old nuclear power station cooling water ponds. Despite being quite an industrial area there were many birds around including Black Stork, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Swamphen on nest, Common Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, our first Sand Martin of the week, Savi's Warbler and Spanish Sparrow.
Finally, we returned to our hotel via Monfrague National Park which gave us another chance to look for Eagle Owl at Portillo del Tieter; this time we were not disappointed as an adult was taking advantage of the shade within a cave. Here we also saw Peregrine, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart and in the nearby wood Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper and Orphean Wabler.
During our journey we also logged our first Eurasian Jay, Common Cuckoo, Southern Grey Shrike and Hoopoe. A great day's birding to finish our trip!
Saturday 03 May 2014, Finca Santa Marta, Trujillo, sunny, light N-NW wind, 25C
Today we visited Monfrague National Park. Starting at the castillo we soon spotted Griffon and Black Vulture and a Red-legged Partridge sauntered along in front of our minibus! In the distance we saw Egyptian Vulture and a superb adult Golden Eagle; also at the castle we recorded Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Great Cormorant, Common Kestrel, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin and Black Restart. Further on at a couple of viewing points we added many Griffon Vulture, Peregrine, Black Stork on its nest, Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Stonechat and Rock Bunting.
Further into the park we stopped to look at a Spanish Imperial Eagle nest and were rewarded with views of a chick and, later on, close views of a fantastic adult. Despite looking for Eagle Owl we couldn't find one in the craggy rock face but did see a Subalpine Warbler and, in the river below, a playful Eurasian Otter.
Lastly we took a walk through a lovely cork oak wood, bordered by a river and carpeted with wild flowers, and added the following species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk (mobbed by Golden Orioles!), Little-ringed Plover, Common Cuckoo, European Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Woodlark (including its nest with eggs), Orphean Warbler, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Azure-winged Magpie, Woodchat Shrike and Hawfinch. During our journey we also logged Common Magpie, Common Raven, Rock Bunting, Melodious Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Dartford Warbler, Rock Sparrow and Cirl Bunting; Turtle Dove was heard.
A great day's birding with some superb sightings!
Further into the park we stopped to look at a Spanish Imperial Eagle nest and were rewarded with views of a chick and, later on, close views of a fantastic adult. Despite looking for Eagle Owl we couldn't find one in the craggy rock face but did see a Subalpine Warbler and, in the river below, a playful Eurasian Otter.
Lastly we took a walk through a lovely cork oak wood, bordered by a river and carpeted with wild flowers, and added the following species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk (mobbed by Golden Orioles!), Little-ringed Plover, Common Cuckoo, European Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Woodlark (including its nest with eggs), Orphean Warbler, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Azure-winged Magpie, Woodchat Shrike and Hawfinch. During our journey we also logged Common Magpie, Common Raven, Rock Bunting, Melodious Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Dartford Warbler, Rock Sparrow and Cirl Bunting; Turtle Dove was heard.
A great day's birding with some superb sightings!
Friday 02 May 2014, Finca Santa Marta, sunny, light NW wind, 26C
An early start saw us heading out to Belen Plain where we had great views of displaying Great Bustard (5 males and at least 10 females) and Little Bustard, plus Calandra Lark and Skylark; Common Quail was heard. At the Llanos de Magasca we saw Black Vulture, Black Stork, Stone Curlew and one or two Great and Little Bustard.
At the Rio Almonte in the afternoon there was another Black Stork, Black Vulture, Alpine Swift, Black Wheatear, Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow.
In the afternoon we checked out the Llanos de Caceres where sightings included 6 Montagu's Harrier, Common Raven, Azure-winged Magpie, great views of 15+ European Roller, European Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Melodious Warbler and Hawfinch.
Later we visited the Embalse de Talavan to check on a Golden Eagle nest built just 4m up in a Eucalyptus tree but there were no birds to be seen; here we did record another Black Stork and Spanish Sparrow.
During an evening walk in the hotel grounds we heard a Scops Owl calling/singing.
At the Rio Almonte in the afternoon there was another Black Stork, Black Vulture, Alpine Swift, Black Wheatear, Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow.
In the afternoon we checked out the Llanos de Caceres where sightings included 6 Montagu's Harrier, Common Raven, Azure-winged Magpie, great views of 15+ European Roller, European Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Melodious Warbler and Hawfinch.
Later we visited the Embalse de Talavan to check on a Golden Eagle nest built just 4m up in a Eucalyptus tree but there were no birds to be seen; here we did record another Black Stork and Spanish Sparrow.
During an evening walk in the hotel grounds we heard a Scops Owl calling/singing.
Thursday 01 May 2014, Finca Santa Marta, Pago San Clemente, Trujillo, Caceres, Extremadura, sunny, light N-NW wind, 26C
Today we travelled from El Rocio up to Extremadura stopping at Alence Reservoir, Vegas Altas and the Llanos de Zorita en-route. Despite limited birding time we saw many good species including; Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Common Buzzard, Gull-billed Tern, Collared Pratincole, Common Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Great-spotted Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Common Kingfisher, Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Calandra Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Northern Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Iberian Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Common Raven, Golden Oriole, Tree Sparrow, Rock Bunting, Common Waxbill and Avadavat.
Wednesday 30 April 2014, El Rocio, Sevilla, sunny, light NW wind, 32C
Our first stop this morning was the cliffs and beach at Matalascanas where there was little to report other than a Peregrine, a Whimbrel and a few passing Sandwich Tern. Moving on towards Huelva we checked the Laguna Primera de los Palos where we saw a Purple Heron and several Whiskered Tern. Next was the Marismas de Odiel where the sightings included the following: Osprey (one of a rare breeding pair in Andalucia), Marsh Harrier, superb views of a male Montagu's Harrier, Common Shelduck, Little Tern, Grey Plover, Red Knot, Little Stint, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt. Along the Punta Umbria spit we recorded Audouin's Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Pied Avocet, 100+ Collared Pratincole, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Ringed, Little-ringed and Kentish Plover, Northern Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Dartford Warbler and a surprise appearance by a striking male Common Rock Thrush.
A stop at the Laguna El Portil produced Red-rumped Swallow, Hoopoe and Common Sandpiper but not the hoped-for Ferruginous Duck. Our last stop at Castillo de Niebla to view a Lesser Kestrel colony was more successful with several birds around in and out if their nest holes in the large moorish fortress.
During our journey we also saw Booted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Eurasian Magpie and Azure-winged Magpie.
Back in Gaucin Janys reported a kettle of 19 Honey Buzzard.
A stop at the Laguna El Portil produced Red-rumped Swallow, Hoopoe and Common Sandpiper but not the hoped-for Ferruginous Duck. Our last stop at Castillo de Niebla to view a Lesser Kestrel colony was more successful with several birds around in and out if their nest holes in the large moorish fortress.
During our journey we also saw Booted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Eurasian Magpie and Azure-winged Magpie.
Back in Gaucin Janys reported a kettle of 19 Honey Buzzard.
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