This morning Peter, Carey and I walked around the La Umbria route through the cork oaks at the Ronda end of the village. It was already quite warm by 1030hrs but we still managed to see Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, pale and dark morph Booted Eagle, 10 Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Jay, European Bee-eater, Great-spotted Woodpecker, European Nuthatch, Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff sp., Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler and Cirl Bunting; Green Woodpecker was heard.
There was a Willow Warbler in the Calle del Pino/Calle Convento gardens late afternoon.
Saturday 23 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light NW wind am, calm air-light SE wind pm, 34C
A couple of relaxing days away in Granada where, despite temperatures of 37C, the heat was dry and it felt quite pleasant out of the fierce sun; birding highlight was a pair of Red-rumped Swallow on the Rio Genil near the city centre.
On the coast at Sabinillas this morning it was very humid, though only 26C. A quick visit to the heath at Mesas de Chullera produced the first returning Northern Wheatear plus Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Common Kestrel, European Bee-eater, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat, Crested Lark and Sardinian Warbler.
Back in the village at 1915hrs there was a small 'kettle' of raptors that included 20+ Honey Buzzard and a couple of Black Kite, then at 2030hrs and 2100hrs an adult Peregrine came right up into the village from the south.
On the coast at Sabinillas this morning it was very humid, though only 26C. A quick visit to the heath at Mesas de Chullera produced the first returning Northern Wheatear plus Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Common Kestrel, European Bee-eater, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat, Crested Lark and Sardinian Warbler.
Back in the village at 1915hrs there was a small 'kettle' of raptors that included 20+ Honey Buzzard and a couple of Black Kite, then at 2030hrs and 2100hrs an adult Peregrine came right up into the village from the south.
Tuesday 19 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-NW wind, 28C
Some migration passage over Gaucin this evening with one Honey Buzzard at 1930hrs, also a single Red-rumped Swallow around calle del Pino, and at 2045hrs 8 Black Kite and 25+ Swift sp., including at least one Alpine Swift.
Monday 18 August 2014, Gaucin, mist early am then sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 27C
At 1630hrs there were 11 Black Kite and 9 Honey Buzzard heading NE-SW over the village. Starting to hear Blackcap calling from the gardens between Calle Convento and Calle del Pino as they start to disperse from their breeding areas.
Sunday 17 August 2014, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light-fresh E-SE wind, 28C
No more Honey Buzzard since the first few moving through on Friday. Swift numbers around Calle Convento/Calle del Pino are now down to less than 10, including one pair of Pallid Swift; there are approx. 20 House Martin and 4 Barn Swallow.
At 2045hrs a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk made a sortie into the House Sparrow flock that was getting ready to roost in the trees in the Parque de la Alameda next to the old convent building; I'm not sure if it was successful but 100+ House Sparrow took to the air, splitting up into several smaller groups, as they took evasive action.
At 2045hrs a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk made a sortie into the House Sparrow flock that was getting ready to roost in the trees in the Parque de la Alameda next to the old convent building; I'm not sure if it was successful but 100+ House Sparrow took to the air, splitting up into several smaller groups, as they took evasive action.
Saturday 16th August 2014
ESTEPONA RUBBISH DUMP
Some news of Black Kite passage this afternoon.
At 4pm we drove past the rubbish dump on the outskirts of Estepona heading towards Casares and saw a 'cloud' of Kites. We estimated the number at 100-150 Black Kites and several Booted Eagles in tow. They had probably been feeding all day at the tip and were now off to travel to the coast or to find a roost in nearby woods.
Some news of Black Kite passage this afternoon.
At 4pm we drove past the rubbish dump on the outskirts of Estepona heading towards Casares and saw a 'cloud' of Kites. We estimated the number at 100-150 Black Kites and several Booted Eagles in tow. They had probably been feeding all day at the tip and were now off to travel to the coast or to find a roost in nearby woods.
Friday 15 August 2014, Gaucin, light-fresh S-SE wind, 28C
At the summit of El Hacho this morning, great views, down to just 4m, of Griffon Vulture; also Booted Eagle, European Bee-eater, Crag Martin and Bonelli's Warbler. A new 'terrace tick' this afternoon as 4 Red-rumped Swallow paid a brief visit at 1715hrs. Today also saw the first Honey Buzzard returning southwards, with a single bird at 1725hrs, this was followed by two groups of 10 each at 1730hrs and 1735hrs. At 1830hrs a walk along the track that runs behind the petrol station and down to Venta Socorro produced Booted Eagle, Common Raven, Red-legged Partridge, Eurasian Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Firecrest, lots of Blackcap, Iberian Chiffchaff and a return passage Willow Warbler.
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| Well-camouflaged Red-legged Partridge |
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