Friday 01 August 2014, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light-fresh W-NW wind, 24C

A cool, autumnal morning and a sunny afternoon; after the excitement of yesterday's Black Kite passage there were just 7 moving through today at 1630hrs. There was a well-marked adult Short-toed Eagle close to the village late afternoon with both pale and dark morph Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard and a small flock of European Bee-eater making appearances throughout the day.

Thursday 31 July 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-SW wind, 28C

Yesterday was an odd day with a cool, cloudy morning but clearing to be 30C and sunny by mid-afternoon. Following the big Swift passage seen over the village on Sunday, the local population has reduced significantly with perhaps only 10-20 around Calle del Pino/Calle Convento.

A misty morning in Gaucin

This morning at 0900hrs I went to look for a pair of Short-toed Eagle that were seen feeding young on Monday along Sierra Espartina, but they had moved on. Whilst there I did see small numbers of Common Swift, and a couple each of Pallid Swift and Alpine Swift. Opposite Sierra del Hacho on the road to Estacion de Gaucin a 5min watch of a 30x60cm water trough produced adult and juvenile Cirl Bunting, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Sardinian Warbler and a very nice-looking Bonelli's Warbler. Also in the area were Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Common Raven and Southern Grey Shrike.


This afternoon there was a noticeable passage of Black Kite over Gaucin with observations as folows:

1345-1400hrs: 413
1630hrs: 13
1745hrs: 60 + 1 pale morph Booted Eagle
1810hrs: 19 + 44 European Bee-eater

Griffon Vulture

Sunday 27 July 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 34C

Some significant Swift sp. movement over Gaucin today with some observations as follows:

1500hrs: 500+ including several Alpine Swift
1520hrs: 150+
1540hrs: 165
1630hrs: 140
1920hrs: 160+ also an adult Short-toed Eagle

At 1845hrs a kettle of 80 White Stork drifted from above San Martin de Tesorillo towards Castellar/Jimena and an adult Bonelli's Eagle was patrolling the northern end of Sierra Crestellina.

The post-breeding House Sparrow flock in the Calle Convento/Calle del Pino gardens is now up to 30+ individuals and the past couple of days there have been two dark morph Booted Eagle around.

Friday 25 July 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-SW wind, 33C

We are properly into summer, now; yesterday in Estepona the temperature was still 35C at 2030hrs, though thankfully the mornings remain cool, at around 18C. This morning I left at 0730hrs to bird a circular route through the Genal/Guadiaro valleys with some visitors to Gaucin. Our first stop, opposite Sierra Crestellina, produced little other than a couple of loafing Griffon Vulture as it was too early for the raptors to be up on thermals!

We carried on to the Casares-Secadero track down to the Rio Genal where there were good views of at least 4 Short-toed Eagle, all perched on their favoured pylons, and showing the full range of plumages, from very pale-chested, white-headed juvenile through to classic dark-headed adult. Also seen were Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle (dark and pale morphs), Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, 2 White Stork, 4 Little Egret, Grey Heron, at least 10 Turtle Dove, Common Swift, Pallid Swift and a single Alpine Swift, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, European Bee-eater, Little-ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Kingfisher, Spotless Starling, several juvenile Woodchat Shrike, Crested Lark, White Wagtail, Stonechat, Common Nightingale, Sardinian Warbler and many Corn Bunting; Cetti's Warbler was heard.

After a coffee and cake stop in San Martin de Tesorillo we drove on to the farmland area between San Pablo de Buceite and Marchenilla, stopping on the way to check out more Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle and a few high-drifting Griffon Vulture. It was now quite hot and generally fairly quiet but along the track we were rewarded with superb views of three Rufous Bush Robin; two juveniles and one adult, displaying and delivering short bursts of song, just 5m away (guess who left their camera in the car?!). Also seen were between 50-60 European Bee-eater, 3 Common Buzzard, one of which was giving a Short-toed Eagle a very hard time, more Booted Eagle, Peregrine, Lesser Kestrel, Woodchat Shrike and 5x Golden Oriole, including two colourful males. On the way back to San Pablo de Buceite we were treated to the lovely sight of a couple of White Stork that flew directly over the car at a height of just three or four metres.

Wednesday 23 July 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light SE wind, 30C

Of note today, an Eagle Owl calling at 0430hrs this morning from below Calle del Pino; also a report of many Alpine Swift moving through, presumably heading south.

Monday 21 July 2014, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light SE wind, 30C

After a couple of days of mainly westerly winds, the more usual summery easterly levante is back. This morning at 0845hrs there were 3 Hawfinch in the gardens between Calle Convento and Calle del Pino. Swift numbers are reducing and a large proportion of the local House Martin population has already left for the wintering areas; groups of European Bee-eater, including one of 35 individuals, to-ing and fro-ing throughout the day.

Friday 18 July 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-NW wind, 30C

An Iberian Chiffchaff, calling and singing in short bursts, visited the garden this afternoon, presumably already on its way southwards from its breeding grounds. Ann, who is on holiday in Gaucin, reported 100+ Griffon Vulture over the village mid-afternoon. Walking thorugh the mixed woodland just to the north of Gaucin at 1900hrs I noted Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Great-spotted Woodpecker, a flock of 120+ Common Swift which included 2 Alpine Swift, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper and Firecrest.

Gaucin castle and Sierra Bermeja

Funnel Web Spider web