Great Bustards, Little Bustards and Golden Eagles

If we we're into celebrating with bubbles then I could say that this was ‘a Champagne Birding Day, but as we only had WertherS

 so they had to do!

We changed our intended route to accommodate a friend who lives in Norway and who would like to see Bustards. John and I were fortunate that we reversed our journey and it paid off, what a terrific day it turns out to be.

Higueruela is a great location to go to and
 by the time we had arrived at 'station corner’ we had watched a dozen Great Bustards and easily viewed one male and two females Little Bustards and also a group of nine females of the same. I still don't have any good photos of this species on the ground that I am happy with due to heat shimmer, it throws the autofocus off.  Pleased that we had located these birds once more and were confident to see them again, now we have nailed the area down.

 
Little Bustard

Photo from my collection

I spotted a low flying Merlin in the distance. Both species of Sandgrouse were heard first then with a flypast of 30 Black-bellied Sandgrouse and a smaller group of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse also  Calandra larks in good numbers and a few Sky Lark.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse

We travelled on through the small town of Higueruela and across the plains to where an expanse of water is located near a major railway line. We parked on the bridge to view waterfowl and both a male and female Marsh Harrier were flying. However, we were soon distracted by the raucous voices of about thirty Red-Billed Choughs. They continued being noisy and we soon discovered why. Two Golden Eagles were flying above them. We had clear views as shutter whirred into action.

1st winter/Juvenile Golden Eagle

  They flew around and soon disappeared over the ridge. Then our attention focused on a bird on that same ridge. The two birds flying were a Subadult and a 1st winter/Juvenile. Sitting on the ridge was another 1st Winter/Juvenile that sat and sat and we watched. fantastic views through the telescope but still a little distant for the camera.

1st winter/Juvenile Golden Eagle

 Then it flew around and right over our heads. John has seen a perched one closer before, but these were stunning views of this magnificent species. Three such birds in the binoculars or scope or insight at one time. Simply wonderful.

In the same location, we had Common Buzzards too and then a Red Kite appeared. This has become one of our favourite spots and we have been lucky here before with a Black Kite on one occasion. And on another day, after discussion, it was confirmed that we saw a Spanish Imperial Eagle, does it get better than that!

Patterns in the soil

We carried on to Lagunas de Petrola to find that this major water was devoid of birds and we reasoned that there has to be a problem with the water. This opinion is supported by an area of ‘run-off’ next to the farm buildings that held the following:

Common Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Two Dunlin

Two Little Stint

Lapwing

Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover

White Wagtails.

That's a good return for a ‘large puddle’ and suggests that the water there is not tainted.

Water levels are still good and outside Corral Rubio were some waders that included a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover together with one Yellow Wagtail and several Meadow Pipits. We had hoped for more sightings of Bustards but they were not visible in some of their usual fields.

We returned home via Montealegre and the freshwater lagoon on route only contained Common Coot. We had high expectations for this water and perhaps the hunters have moved the birds on?

Obviously, we saw many small birds and we enjoyed them too.

Northern Wheatear

 It was a special day and our guest who had many firsts.

have a great day
Cheers Bryan

Just Another Common Day

On Friday 4th October we decided to visit Estepas de Yecla. Two weeks ago we went to the areas north of Almansa and found an abundance of water in the lagoons and in the run-off areas.

 

We got to wondering about Yecla but on arrival, we found it dry. We had a really good day with lots of Activity throughout the day. Which kept me energised, after last nights late night Charity Gig which got me home around 1.30. and up at 6 o'clock left me feeling a bit jaded throughout the day.

Just after 8 am with the sun starting to appear, a chilly breeze and the temperature was a mere 10 degrees. Coats on! It ended a barmy 34. degrees crazy!

We were not to be disappointed. Choughs were heard as we entered this valley and we saw numerous Mistle Thrush, a sign that winter is approaching. Swallows fed over the fields and Rock Sparrows were seen in their usual place near the farm buildings at the Claudette end.

 

 Rock Sparrows

Many crops have been harvested and there were fields with natural vegetation. A good omen for seed eaters which there were plenty to be seen.
There are lots of vineyards here and close-by In a natural area of pines with open patches of grass and low bushes we had a great find. Perched in full sun was a male Common Redstart in company with Spotted Flycatchers.

 

Common Redstart 

 

 They sat up for me enabling me to take a few photographs. I was busy with the camera and John was had some great close views. Although common in its name they are not easily seen and not at all common, and they pass through quickly on migration Indeed it was a new bird for Johns Spanish list and he was delighted with excellent views.

 

Spotted Flycatchers

 



  Also good to see them in company with Spotted Flycatchers which was special. In another location, we located another Common Redstart and also more Spotted Flycatchers.

 

Common Redstart 

2nd Bird

 

It just goes to show the birds are out there and with effort can be found. Not one of these Spotted flycatcher resembles anything like the Mediterranean flycatcher? seen in the summer.

 

Spotted flycatcher  

Early in the morning, we spotted what could have been a Sparrow Hawk which is not that common. Common Kestral flew but not one Lesser was seen. We have regularly viewed Golden Eagles near the ridge overlooking Yecla and we later saw one in the distance and our search for them yielded a clear view of a circling Red Kite. Several Common Buzzards circled and called and again we good views.
It was a busy day and we left just after 2 pm which was much more than we anticipated It was time well spent viewing and photographing some good birds, It is apparent that birds are still passing through with the Flycatchers, Swallows and one Swift seen.

 

Northern Wheatears

 

Northern Wheatears were in double figures and 50 + Calandra Larks and a few Thekla's Lark clearly seen.

 

 Thekla's Lark

I have not listed all the birds seen and some were clearly absent. Worth the miles and time spent. I wonder what the onset of winter will bring?

Have a great day

cheers Bryan

 

 

Mosquito plague Gran Alacant

Rain-ravaged Spain is facing a horror mosquito invasion as billions and billions of the bloodthirsty bugs emerge from the floodwaters covering the Costas.

The muddy lagoons are the perfect breeding ground hyper-aggressive mozzies and experts say their eggs could start hatching this weekend.

Asian tiger mosquitoes are very aggressive when they are in a feeding frenzy

 Eight people died when the torrential rain and lightning storms sparked the worst floods in 140 years across the south-east of the country.

Now hard-hit locals and ex-pats, still counting the cost of the devastating storms, face another "biblical" plague.

More than one billion biting bugs - including highly-aggressive tiger mosquitoes  could hatch in the floods,

On the Costa Calida, emergency crews are working round-the-clock to prevent mosquito larvae hatching in water-logged fields.

The regional councils of Alicante and Elche are fumigating swatches of countryside to stop a repeat of August's plague which saw hospitals inundated with bite victims.

It mad here almost housebound even in the day time, the shelves are empty of knockdown sprays and bite relief creams. There are warning from the environmental health of Spain of Dengi Fever and the Zika Virus there had been 3 recorded victims in Alicante of a virus from Africa in August.
If you visiting Costa Blanca bring the bite relief creams and repellents and cover up as much as possible

Good luck
Cheers Bryan

Torrential Rains, Floods, and the Autumn Migration

Seven days ago the rains came and drowned this part of the world.  It's the most water seen in decades descended upon the land. A Gota Fria - a cold drop, came and reduced fields to lakes, moved soil and boulders, made roads in passable
and killed. Homes and businesses were ruined and livelihoods were removed by the storm.

The torrential downpours caused rivers to burst their banks, dragging cars and people away, flooding streets, forcing thousands from their homes, and destroying at least 300,000 hectares of prime agricultural land according to early estimates.

I am going to include a few photos of the devastating after-effects of the storm from last week.

One week afterwards we headed towards Almansa via A 31 not knowing what to expect or see or how far we could go. An early start with the sun not up we were in our way.

This is how it unfolded. Coral Rubio, Bonete and Petrola we have visited this area many times only to be disappointed over these last few years by the low levels of water and lack of birds, with previously seasonal wet areas being dry.  Not so this morning for the lagoons was in good health and many folds in the land were flooded. This is what we wanted to see.
The waders now had a water stop-off point during migration.  And this autumn and winter and next spring it's going to be amazing up here with more rain to come throughout the winter months it is only going to be topped up and get better and better, if your planning to visit Costa Blanca and go birding it might be the right time to visit as now there's water. 

This is a Great Bustard country and, as always, they showed well. Just five to start with, then a group of eight followed a little later by thirteen and then two separate ones from the main bunch. We had splendid views of them walking, resting and flying. What a sight they gave us.  We love to see them fly. We never push them and give them distance and the respect these grand birds deserve.

 Great Bustard

The migration is still going on. Barn Swallows were evident and Bee-eaters were flying overhead.

On the water new arrives,  Gadwall, Shoveller, and numerous Mallard were seen. Lapwing and a couple of Ruff, a small number of Black-tailed Godwits,  Common Sandpiper, and Greenshank.  Black-necked Grebe.  There is a seasonal lake at chinchilla de Montearagon Albacete which held
lots of water but due to the viewing distance it was hard to ID anything but it held lots of waders,
Okay, not a big bird list with many species not seen and/or yet to arrive. We think, that this winter could be really good.

 Rock Sparrow

Smaller birds were Corn Bunting, Rock Sparrow, with occasional Goldfinches and then a large flock of Yellow Wagtails on passage. They helped to make it a nice afternoon with superb views.

 Yellow Wagtail

 We also had some good views of Northern Wheatears.

 Northern Wheatear

Common Kestrels with one Lesser male-identified, several Buzzards and Marsh Harriers made up the raptor count with not an eagle anywhere to be seen. A rapid flying Peregrine Falcon was an excellent sighting to complete our day.

Our plan for this morning was different from other days that we had travelled towards this area. The Embalse de Almansa received massive amounts of water due to the Gota Fria and the news item, that john viewed on TV reminded John of its existence and so we looked for the signposts on the route, John noticed the signs for the Patano de Almansa. It is a massive area lying to the south of the town and between A31 and CM412 (signed Montealegre)  We only ‘scratched the surface’ of it and we will return another time.  We like to find new areas.

One very interesting thing there was some paw footprint in the mud/tracks in the mud, See photos?

my image of paws

My image of paws

Linx paw footprint
from the internet

I've done some online research, and I admit I am no animal tracker but could these tracks be from a Linx.  It does look like it could match the footprint of the online photos I've looked at, it suggests that there very similar?  Could it be possible???

Linx paw footprint
This image from the internet

I have now sent the photos to my friends at
Doñana  National Park and waiting for their decision


Update it's now thought to be a Dog paw print as if it was a Linx it would not show claws but some other experts  think it close
We live and learn.

 Big thank you to John Edwards
 for the use of some of his words, as I am full-on, after the recent storm and in catch up mode for now?

Have fun
Make some news
Cheers Bryan

Looks like I've not been birding

Hey it looks like I've not done any  birding lately. Its been due to family and friends visiting. I've not been able to get out as much as I would have liked, but I did managed to get out on a few occasions.

It's been full-on, these last few weeks, burning the candle at both ends, as they say, birding, working, and enjoying life

 So a quick summary of what's been going on during these last few weeks and the start of the autumn migration

On Friday, 16th August we decided to stay local to see what was happening with our summer residents and what had already arrived from elsewhere. As we set off just before dawn,  a Red-necked Nightjar flashed over the road, in front of us.
We saw the sun come up over Santa Pola when we stopped at the lagoons and Salinas. It was relatively quiet, but the terns were active with Little and Whiskered, and Common. A whole tranche of 200 Sandwich plus were viewed. A Little Bittern called, plenty of  Little Grebes were on the water. We looked for Purple Herons, but only Grey was seen. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

Flying overhead we saw Swifts, Barn and Red-rumped Swallows together with a few Sand Martins.

We moved on to The Salt Tower and the small area next to it. Flamingos were abundant. Mallards were in good numbers for the first time in a while. A few Common Sandpiper called and few a Redshank was viewed distantly. A lone Marsh Harrier flew in the distance.

Juv Pratincole

El Pinet was much better, Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets were numerous. Other waders were Kentish Plover, and the first returning  Greenshank, Redshank,  Juv Pratincoles were still in good numbers.

 Black-tailed Godwit

Pratincole

We then headed inland and at Pallet Farm Road we re located the European Rollers,  good to see but looked ‘tatty’ as they moulting.

European Rollers

As it was quiet we decided to try Sante Águada. It was bone dry even after the intense rain and checking out the sky through 360 degrees, the search, yielded hardly any birds in the air at all, I guess they moved before the rain storm.

 In a dead tree a Roller, one Turtle Dove and a Little Owl.

During the summer we have seen many Woodchat Shrikes and this species showed well today. They are a very neat bird!  The Iberian Southern Grey Shrikes were perched on the high wires.

The Bee-eaters made our day. We could clearly hear them as they assembled on electric cables, and what a colourful sight they made. I love that noise and it suggests that they will be going south shortly.

Bee-eaters

San Felipe and scrapes in front of the information centre had two-metre-high growth and other areas looked neglected. We ventured along the boardwalk more in hope than anything and were rewarded with excellent views of Moustached Warblers. Sadly, there was not much to see.

The summer season is about to change and there has been a drop from the high temperatures that we have been experiencing
Thank God

 Big migration of endless hirundines on the move earlier than the previous year
Maybe because of the torrential rain


Thursday 5th September



Bee-eaters on the moves I've heard them all-day high up and moving south in their hundreds

Ravens around the Santa Pola lighthouse, have successfully bred with at least 2 Juv birds which I've seen on most days



MONTNEGRE AND MAIGMÓ

Another visit to an area that seems rooted in time. Deep ravines and gullies, steep-sided and even sheer, with high rocky crags poking up into the sky. Here the landscape is exceptionally different. It needs to be viewed to be believed.

We knew it was the end of summer and John and I certainly had the feeling we were between seasons. Nevertheless, we had a clear objective in mind. So, it was Montnegre again to see if the Trumpeter Finches were still hanging around. 

They were not where they had been previously been seen and although we spent time there, we heard and saw nothing?  Have they dispersed for the winter? Maybe even dropping into the bottom of the valleys or moving away to another location?  Never mind we will look again at some other time? But to be sure we will be keeping an eye on this area.

The list for this area has never been huge and there were some noticeable absentees. For example, the only Raptor in view was a Marsh Harrier flying high and no Griffin Vultures either.

Today's list is:
Thekla's Lark (And not a common sighting for us here)
Crested Lark
Blue Rock Thrush (at least two callings)
Black Wheatear (times three)
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
House Sparrows 

Rock Sparrows
Red-Legged Partridge
Serin
Spotted Flycatcher - a super view of

a very plain chest and a more defined head pattern individual could it be a Balearic/Iberian one?
Iberian Green Woodpecker - call only
Crag Martins loads filled the air
Bee-eaters flying over and distant

We moved on and checked both river areas with nothing to report except we did hear Chiff-Chaffs, Sardinian Warblers and a Cetti’s too.

Maigmó loomed in front of us and we travelled to the top. On way, the usual Crossbills called and flew and a Coal Tit called. It was all very quiet with only a few Magpies about and a Jay screeched.

Some rain had been forecast, but the sun was out and we stood at the top in 27 degrees, The sky was devoid of birds except for the Crag Martins.

We spoke of the absence of a response from any source regarding our reporting of the recently split of Spotted Flycatchers. We will pay more attention to this bird next spring.

These mountains will not beckon us until next spring and we definitely need to find more birds! Thankfully lower temperatures will bring in our overwintering birds. Therefore we will be going inland and once winter has arrived we'll be trekking up to see the Ring Ouzels on Sierra de Espuña.
Looking forward to making some birding news.
Have a great day

Pallid Swift's gone,

I'm gutted my Pallid Swifts that's breed successfully under my roof tiles have now departed  "The Swift's " have been very faithful to the area around my house I've seen them every day for months and watch there aerobatics and seen their courtship, mating,  feeding and the comings and goings and watched the young birds take their first flight it's been great to watch it's a bit sad there on their way south  

Have a lovely day

Cheers Bryan 

Tick tock tick tock the clock is ticking

The Inglorious 12th

IT is time to dig out the tweeds, dust off the gun and make for the hills, the 12th is upon us.

Unless you are a member of the rich elite, it may have passed you by but one wildlife expert argues the start of the grouse shooting season on August 12 should be a concern for us all.

In his book Inglorious, Mark Avery claims the practice of driven grouse shooting hits us all in the pocket and is an ecological disaster, devastating wildlife and birds of prey.

Driven grouse shooting is where beaters flush birds towards the guns and they are slaughtered in their hundreds and thousands.

As Mark puts it: “A load of rich people stand waiting while a load of poor people, beaters, walk across the hills with flags and whistles and chase a load of helpless birds past the rich people who then shoot at the birds 

Driven grouse shooting was introduced under Queen Victoria at the Balmoral Estate.

A petition has been launched to ban the practice but David Cameron, who regularly holidays on the Isle of Jura as family of the landed gentry, is unlikely to be the premier to answer the call. But Mark, a former conservation director of the RSPB, said: “In time, driven grouse shooting is doomed because it is an unsustainable land use and carried out for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many.

Driven grouse shooting happens only in the UK, although the bird is hunted in countries such as Russia and Scandinavia. Many hunters consider there to be no sport in it as, unlike shooters taking their chances in the hills, the wildlife is easy target practice.

Mark said: “It is more to do with how much money you have and what kind of gun you can afford. You don’t have to know anything about the hills or the ecology of the bird. You just have to stand there.

“It is like an arcade game, except you dress up in tweed and get to stay with a duke or a lord. There is a lot of snob value. If grouse hunting was only “walked up” shooting, there would not be the demand for the volume of birds, so there would be no need for the level of persecution of wildlife.

In January, an estate worker who killed a rare bird of prey became the first gamekeeper in Britain to be jailed for a wildlife crime against raptors. George Mutch, 48, was filmed catching birds in two traps on Kildrummy Estate near Alford in Aberdeenshire in 2012.

Named and shamed
Goshawk Killer George Mutch, 

Covert cameras set up by the RSPB showed him killing a Goshawk by taking it out of a trap and hitting it with a stick. He was also filmed putting a Buzzard and another Goshawk into white sacks.

But the level of prosecutions bears no relation to the level of persecution.

Birds such as Hen Harriers, Peregrine Falcons and Golden Eagles are considered by estates to be pests as they eat grouse.

“What we do know is that over significant areas of Scotland’s uplands and, in particular, areas intensively managed for driven grouse shooting, birds such as Hen Harriers and Peregrine rarely breed successfully, despite an abundance of suitable habitat and prey. Every year, birds of prey confirmed as being illegally killed are found on Scotland’s grouse moors.

A more accurate way to assess the impact is to compare bird numbers with what they should be.

The Hen Harrier population in Scotland should be around 1800 pairs but is actually 500.

Grouse shooting for a party of six, over three or four days, can fetch more than £35,000.

For that premium, shooters can demand in excess of 1000 birds a day and any wildlife which infringes on this numbers game, including birds of prey, is to be obliterated.

To get very high numbers of grouse, the heather has to be burned every few years, the moor drained and all predators killed – including foxes, crows, stoats and birds of prey.

Mark said: “Anything that eats a Red Grouse before a rich person can shoot it is seen as a problem.

Vast quantities of our taxes are being paid to upland landowners through farming schemes, grants and subsidies.

A study by Leeds University showed that intensive management of our uplands for driven grouse shooting is a source of peatland degradation and increased carbon emissions. It is also linked to pollution of watercourses, reduction in aquatic biodiversity and probably of increased flood risk.

Polluted water coming off grouse moors needs specialised treatment and that cost is passed to water companies and the consumer.

Mark said: “People who live in cities want to go to the countryside and see Golden Eagles, Hen Harriers and lots of wildlife. Instead, they see landscape burned to within an inch of its life and where a lot of natural wildlife is missing.

“We are all being robbed of our wildlife for centuries, for a so-called sport where people just shoot birds for fun. Driven grouse moors are places where your protected wildlife is killed and your climate damaged too.

“We shouldn’t tolerate this Victorian land use now we have 21st-century information.

The death toll peaked in 2010 with 46 kills, including 21 Buzzards, four Red Kites, two Golden Eagles and a White-tailed Eagle, which was a gift to Scotland from Norway.

The east of Scotland has the greatest shortage of birds of prey, in places like Deeside and Angus, and there are also shortages in the south, where there are the most grouse moors.

The birds are killed largely by gamekeepers through shooting, nest destruction, spring traps and poisoning.

The number of a recorded bird of prey crimes in Scotland decreased from 23 in 2013 to 19 in 2014 but the crime is largely hidden. Ian Thomson, head of investigations for RSPB Scotland, said: “We don’t know what proportion of actual incidents are discovered.

Hopefully,  time is almost up for this mindless killing for fun.

Tick tock tick tock the clock is ticking.

People can't just assume its OK to kill for entertainment

Tick tock tick tock
Tick Tock
Tick
Times up.

It's not acceptable in 2019 to killing for fun

Cheers

Bryan

No Tea Break. No 1st or Even 2 Breakfast

With signs of migration and fledged birds on the move, we thought it was time to have a look at Yecla 

We were set off before sunrise John Edwards, Ian Emmett, and myself.  About 20 minutes up the motorway the sun came up and what a sunrise it was incredible the whole sky was on fire, it was a beauty, now if I only had my camera with me, I've got to stop doing that and be more prepared.

Arriving at Yecla it was a pleasant temperature and nice to be away from the stifling 37  degrees heat of the coast, there been a population explosion of Rabbit at Yecla, I've never ever seen so many?  It going to be good for raptors in due course.

The first bird seen Juvenile Woodchat and throughout the course of the morning, we saw plenty of adults and juvenile.

 The same for Black-eared Wheatear with moulting male and females and just out the nest fledged birds. Northern Wheatears both male and female we're seen and one juvenile bird.

Newly fledged Black-eared Wheatear



  A trio of Black Wheatear put on a show for us.

In the distance was a Cronking Raven, a surprising absentee from to days visit was no Chough, Jackdaw or Calandra Lark which is always on the list for this area???

Thekla's lark

Thekla's lark,  Crested and Short-toed lark seen, a few little owls,  Rock Sparrow, Tree Sparrows, and a few Stone Curlew.

Stone Curlew

Moment of the birding day was at least 3 adult male Golden Orioles flying around a pine tree belt, Magic!

Perched on an electric pylon was a male Lesser Kestrel,  Sand Grouse were often heard but not seen. 

With the heat rising we headed to a known Golden Eagle site and after a few minutes two birds showed gliding along a ridge using the thermals, it would have been nice if they came a little closer but we always want more.  Plenty of bee-eaters which at now starting to gather together before making there move south.

Regular readers of my blog may have noticed we didn't stop for any tea or first or even second breakfast and the reason why.........is.........John forgot the tea bags  "unbelievable" how are we going to manage I said  "NO TEA"   John searched again. NO TEA  John replied.   I said to John you've let me down, you've letting Ian down, and most of all you've let your self down, John was gutted "NO TEA"

And so we missed our tea breaks, its become famous an essential part if our birding day,  you won't believe how many good birds that were spotted during our tea breaks, and so I kept on moaning about our no tea break and no 1st or even 2nd breakfast

10. unbreakable rules of making a cup of tea

1.Teabag

2.Water

3. The milk goes in last, never first

4. Teabag must remain in for at least two minutes and no more than five

5. Don't squeeze the teabag

6. Take the teabag out before drinking it

7. Put the bag in the bin

8. If someone makes you a cup, don’t complain about it

9. If you're making a cup of tea, offer everyone a cup of tea

10. If you’ve made a cup, drink It

Nothing like a bit of banter

hoopoe

Enjoy your day 

Cheers Bryan