Saturday 06 September 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light W-NW wind, 29C

From Wednesday to Friday, three successive days of westerly winds brought very little in the way of migrating raptors over the village with just a few Honey Buzzard to note. Temperatures of 32-34C also meant less inclination to be outside observing, too!

Today it was a little cooler and there was a flurry of activity mid-afternoon, as follows:

1600hrs: 50+ European Bee-eater
1615hrs: 15 Honey Buzzard, 1 Black Kite
1630hrs: 3 Honey Buzzard
1700hrs: 11 Honey Buzzard, 15 Black Kite, 1 pale morph Booted Eagle
1800hrs: 43 Honey Buzzard, 1 pale morph Booted Eagle, 1 adult Egyptian Vulture

There are still are still a few Swift sp. feeding at height during the day, again including one Alpine Swift today, but the last (Common) Swift in Calle Convento was seen on Thursday evening; there are a dozen or so House Martin around and a couple of Barn Swallow. There was an autumnal feel on a walk along Camino de Avedin at 0900hrs this morning as the carob or algarroba harvest was in full swing - though at a reward of just 30 centimos a kilo there wasn't much enthusiasm amongst those doing the harvesting - there were some autumnal birds, too with both Pied Flycatcher and a lovely male Common Redstart both putting in an appearance; also seen were 6 Common Raven, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Spotless Starling, several Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Crested Tit, Long-tailed Tit, European Robin (numbers increasing as wintering birds move in/through), Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff sp., and Bonelli's Warbler; Green Woodpecker was heard.

Algarroba - Carob

Pied Flycatcher - adult female

View towards Sierra Crestellina and Gibraltar

Tuesday 02 September 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 33C

After a couple of days of light SE winds and temperatures in the late 20Cs with little to report but a trickle of ones and twos Honey Buzzard sightings, today saw some interesting early afternoon passage as follows:

1600hrs: 6 Honey Buzzard, 1 Booted Eagle, 1 Common Buzzard
1650hrs: 116 Honey Buzzard, 8 Black Kite
1705hrs: 28 Honey Buzzard 2 Short-toed Eagle
1715hrs: 41 Honey Buzzard, 1 Booted Eagle
1725hrs: 30 Honey Buzzard, 1 Booted Eagle
1735hrs: 38 Honey Buzzard, 2 Montagu's Harrier
1750hrs: 30+ Swift sp. feeding high above Calle Concento, including 1 Alpine Swift, 1 Short-toed Eagle, 1 Booted Eagle

Saturday 30 August 2014, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 29C

The sun broke through around lunchtime after quite a cloudy morning. Whilst walking near Castellar de la Frontera between 0830hrs and 1130hrs there were lots of Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and Booted Eagle moving through, with great close views of all three species up near the castle; also seen was an adult Egyptian Vulture.

Back in Gaucin during the afternoon a quick look skywards at 1845hrs produced 20+ Honey Buzzard, several Black Kite and 2 male Montagu's Harrier!

Thursday 28 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light SE wind, 34C

Whilst walking near San Martin de Tersorillo during the morning sevearl groups of 20+ Honey Buzzard were seen. In Gaucin there were 12 Black Kite at 1830hrs, 9 Honey Buzzard at 1845hrs and, with half-a-dozen Common Swift at 1900hrs, a single Alpine Swift.

Wednesday 27 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh SE wind am, light W wind pm, 35C

Another hot day, particularly during the morning with the 'hairdryer' levante wind blowing. Late afternoon saw several small groups, 20-30 individuals, of Honey Buzzard heading NE-SW high up in front of Sierra Crestellina. There were also a few Swift sp. around the south of the village, including at least one Alpine Swift, but only a couple of Common Swift are now 'over-nighting' in Calle Convento.

I had a report of an Eagle Owl calling over Calle Convento at night earlier in the week and causing disquiet amongst the local cats and dogs!

Wildfire in Campo de Gibraltar this evening: taken from Gaucin, 35km away!

Tuesday 26 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light SE wind, 35C

Whilst walking near San Martin de Tesorillo at 1030hrs this morning a small group of 6 Honey Buzzard and 3 Black Kite were joined briefly by a male Montagu's Harrier. There were signs of autumn with flocks of 30+ Corn Bunting in the fields though there were still at least a couple of Common Nightingale calling from the denser shrubs.

Much quieter than yesterday in Gaucin during the, very hot, afternoon with just a couple of very high and distant groups of Honey Buzzard moving through in front of Sierra Crestellina at 1930hrs (100+) and 1945hrs (50+).

It's not always sunny in Andalucia in August - a misty start to our walk

Monday 25 August 2014, Gaucin, sunny, calm air-light SE wind, 31C

Lots of raptor passage this afternoon, the majority heading NE-SW but some on a N-S bearing. Observations as follows:
1645hrs: 21 Honey Buzzard, 2 Booted Eagle
1730hrs: 20 Honey Buzzard, 28 Black Kite
1745hrs: 14 Honey Buzzard
1800hrs: 9 Honey Buzzard, 28 Black Kite
1815hrs: 35 Honey Buzzard, 10 Black Kite
1840hrs: 2 Honey Buzzard
1850hrs: 1 adult Egyptian Vulture
1900hrs: 25 Black Kite, 1 Booted Eagle
1915hrs: 83 Honey Buzzard, 28 European Bee-eater (heading north!)
1930hrs: 15 Honey Buzzard - passing in front of Sierra Crestellina
1940hrs: 2 Booted Eagle
2000hrs: A mixed group of 60+ birds passing in front of Sierra Crestellina; mostly Honey Buzzard with 10+ Black Kite and a few Booted Eagle
2015hrs: 31 Honey Buzzard

Black Kite over Gaucin