Sunday 29 June 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh W-SW wind, 28C

At 1000hrs we set off around La Umbria on this year's 'semana cultural' bidwatching walk; despite the inclusion of two very enthusiastic kids and a dog amongst our number we still saw, or heard, all of our target species except Short-toed Eagle!

The Common Nightingale in the garden is still there and calling, often for long periods, throughout the day; here's a video/recording of its calls....it has been behaving like this for several weeks; there are cats in the area but to be alarm calling continually for so long seems a bit strange.

Friday 27 June 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light SE wind, 26C

At the Rio Genal from 0930-1100hrs the following of note were seen:

Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, 4x Little-ringed Plover, 4x Turtle Dove, Eurasian Jay, 80-100x European Bee-eater, Golden Oriole (at least one male plus two or three female/juvenile), Eurasian Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Sardinian Warbler and Serin.

Still a reasonable amount of water in the river

European Terrapin

Wednesday 25 June 2014, Gaucin, partly cloudy, light W wind, 22C

After the unexpected rain (31mm) and cool temperature (16C) of yesterday, today was a little more summery. A walk from Estacion de Gaucin to the Buitreras gorge from 1030-1300hrs produced the following of note:

Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Great-spotted Woodpecker, European Bee-eater, Common Kingfisher, Blue Rock Thrush, lots of Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Serin and Rock Bunting. Green Woodpecker and Golden Oriole were heard.

View along the Rio Guadiaro towards Estacion de Gaucin

Approaching the entrance to the gorge

Not a bad place to be on a Wednesday morning!

A Griffon Vulture keeping cool in the shade

There were quite a few Damselflies and Dragonflies around, too, including these two (I'm no expert so hope I'm right!):

Copper Demoiselle Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis

Small Pincertail Onychogomphus forcipatus

Sunday 22 June 2014, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light W-NW wind, 23C

A circular walk from Puerto de Espina to Algatocin and back from 1030-1200hrs produced the following of note:
Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Peregrine, Red-rumped Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, 3x Bonelli's Warbler (heard) and Serin.

Juvenile Woodchat Shrike

Pale juvenile Short-toed Eagle

View towards Sierra de las Nieves

Friday 20 June 2014, Gaucin, mostly sunny, light S-SW wind, 27C

A walk aroundLa Umbria from 1030-1200hrs produced a good record in the form of my first Turtle Dove for the village proper (I've seen them down on the river but never up here) which was 'purrring' from the dense canopy of the cork oaks; also seen were Booted Eagle, Eurasian Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Nuthatch, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap and Firecrest. At least 5x Bonelli's Warbler were heard plus one Iberian Chiffchaff.

There were a great number of butterflies around, most of which appeared to be Iberian Marbled White and also evidence of a fair few Funnel-web Spider Macrothele calpeiana.....the Sweet Chestnut Castanea satvia trees were looking good, too.

 

Thursday 19 June 2014, Gaucin, cloudy am, mostly sunny pm, light S-SE wind, 24C

For some reason the Common Nightingale, that has been hiding deep within the cover of the garden foliage, decided to go walkabout along the callejón (alleyway) this afternoon; Janys spotted it and I grabbed my camera!

Some Pallid Swifts from yesterday......

And this one......

Pallid or Common?!

Tuesday 17 June 2014, Gaucin, sunny, light-fresh SE wind, 27C

I'm happy to report that the Sierra Crestellina Bonelli's Eagle chick is alive and well and looking close to fledging. A stop at the roadside opposite the west slope of El Hacho from 1800-1900hrs produced, as well as a plague of tiny biting flies, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Peregrine, Crag Martin, Thekla/Crested Lark, Stonechat, Corn Bunting, Sardinian Warbler and Melodious Warbler.