Sunday 10 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W wind, 34C

A very warm weekend for the annual feria; the wind on Saturday switched from SE to SW during the afternoon with a temperature of 32C. Just a flock of 94 Black Kite at 1900hrs to report.

Today was even warmer, with less of a cooling breeze; watching from 1800-1900hrs two groups of Black Kite were seen, one of 224 at 1805hrs and one of 40 at 1830hrs. As with most of the recent Black Kite movement, it was very high and following a NE-SW route to the north of Gaucin.

In the absence of any bird photos, here are a couple from the feria....!

Thursday 07 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh S-SE wind, 30C

Coming back from Estepona at 1230hrs there was some Black Kite movement E-W along the coast just north of Manilva.

Back in Gaucin, watching from 1600-1730hrs, Black Kite numbers as follows:

1635hrs: 1
1640hrs: 4
1655hrs: 115
1700hrs: 5
1705hrs: 6

Nowhere near the numbers of yesterday despite virtually identical local weather conditions; also, most individuals were very high to the NW of the village.

At 1730hrs 130+ Swift sp. moved through.

Wednesday 06 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 30C

Over 1000 Black Kite moving through this afternoon, the majority heading NE-SW. Watching for less than 2hrs, the numbers were as follows;

1600hrs: 44
1610hrs: 49
1635hrs: 132
1655hrs: 411
1710hrs: 296
1725hrs: 102, + 2 Griffon Vulture and 2 Booted Eagle
1735hrs: 50
1740hrs: 1 adult Egyptian Vulture

There was also some significant movement of Swift sp., with several groups of 50+ seen.

Tuesday 05 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-SW wind, 32C

This afternoon I had a 'first' for the garden as a Eurasian Hoopoe flew low over the terrace (heading north!) at 1330hrs; fifteen minutes later 30+ European Bee-eater flew past. Between 1840-1850hrs 62 Black Kite moved through to the north of the village; I hadn't seen any all day during frequent short observations but these were only visible from the 'top terrace' so maybe more had been sneaking through out of sight!

Sunday 03 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, fresh SE wind, 28C

After westerly winds yesterday once again the easterly levante is back; I can't remember a summer when the wind changed direction with such frequency. Today just a couple of Black Kite observations, with 14 moving through at 1500hrs and 12 at 1910hrs.

It was interesting to note that the Black Kites that were coming over a couple of days ago appeared to be using Gaucin as a geographical landmark as they were flying more or less E-W then kettling above the village before heading off due south.
 
There are a few House Martin chicks still being fed around the village and a family of Barn Swallow are busy flying up and down Calle Convento towards the taxi rank.

House Martin chick

And another....

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