Thursday, December 30, 2021

Lightning does strike twice


We planned to do our normal route we do this route often, as it's good indication of what's going on in the area?

Unfinished Business 

 The Great Spotted Eagle's favourite perch is where we decided to go and get some photos that I didn't take a week or so ago, more of that later.

And so our route across Santa Pola Salinas  produced a very nice Peregrine Falcon, 6+ Great White Egret, an amazing count of Widgeon 75+ a canteen of Spoonbills, 24+ a scattering of different Waders including Dunlin, Little Stint, Redshank, Turnstone etc,


 Turnstone

 at one of the Gull roost's there were good number Slender Bill, Black-headed, and Audouin's, Thousands of Greater Flamingo, hundreds of Avocet.


 Widgeon 

We headed inland to the Spotted Eagle Tree,  heading down the track and Bingo lightning does strike twice!   The bird was there, in the same tree, same branch, this time I took some record photos, terrible lighting almost straight into the sun but I think you get an idea of the size, and shape, still a way off but better and closer than going into El Hondo on a Saturday its a no brainer.


Spotted Eagle


Spotted Eagle

 Definitely a Werther's moment ?

but sadly no Werther's moments to suck on, so we had to make do with frangipane mince pies. ( it's a hard life )  John suggested San Felipe, ok let's go, "good call"  lots of Black-Winged Stilt,  quite few Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 6 Whiskered Tern, Wood Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Water Pipits, Meadow Pipits, Other birds seen Blue Throat Marsh Harrier Booted Eagle, Buzzard, Skylark.


Wood Sandpiper

 Temminck's Stint


 Temminck's Stint

Not mention ever species seen

San Felipe

It was busy there lots and lots of campervans, people sunbathing, making lunch,  why oh why do they cycle around the boardwalk on electric bikes, also walking a yappy dog around, 

unbelievable

I know it's a visitor Centre but it's also a Bird Reserve

Very annoying!

Whiskered Tern

 Very Happy New Year to Everybody.

Glossy Ibis

Massive thanks to J E





Friday, December 17, 2021

Sub Ad Great Spotted Eagle

It's with regret is didn't lug the 12 + kilos of lens & camera down the track?

I'd mention on route to John, I've got a good idea where we should start looking for Spotted Eagle and the Common Cranes?

It was quiet as a graveyard hardly any birds flying,  No traffic? small birds keeping low and temperature at only 12 degrees. It felt colder in the brisk wind, and with the exception of European Starlings in their thousands and Crag Martin, there was very little else.

We arrived at the place, i'd thought would be as good as any to start the search?

And so as first breakfast was brewing, and thick slab of lemon drizzle was waiting, and I wander off down a track, but after 200mt or so I stopped!

A large raptor was perched in a dead open tree? It was a long way off.

I sort of guess what it was? It was big.

I Tracked back to John, first breakfast was put on hold, we grabbed the scope and quickly set off. Its the first time in a very long time for John to get a tramp on?

We work our way back down the track with john's Swarovski Telescope, and got closer and then closer, but still a bit distant but excellent views in the scope, we had great views no doubt it was a Sub Adult Spotted Eagle. Although it was back on to us for all the time it was perched up, we took turns viewing through the scope, we could easily see all the features needed to confirm the ID and even the pale patch in the mantle.

A Major Result

(Well for us anyway)

And now the search for Common Crane, 

 lucky for us being in the right place right time, 10 birds flew towards us over our heads and away!

1st flypast

 they flew a long way away and almost landed? But amazingly they turned around and headed back towards us


On their way back

 and eventually came right overhead yet again, we could hear the sound of their wing beats and the wind passing through them.  A moment to remember,  cronking as they went on their way as they struggled against the strong headwind.

It reminded me of a similar moment in time, with Trevor at Monfragüe with Griffon Vulture that was forever Magic.


Getting closer

Closer still?

Above us

 Unbelievable

I love it when a plan comes together.

Sorry about the photos there just crap. In my excitement,  I forgot to change the exposure setting, again operator error,  sometimes there very little or no time to react but just hope and press, must try harder?

Kama

Not a big bird list, Who Cares!!!! We see what we see 100 percent.  A few other raptors and waders were also seen

See John Edwards blog for a different view on today's events link below

John Edwards 

Have fun if you can 

Get jabbed

Cheers Bryan



Wednesday, December 08, 2021

No Shortage of Effort


Good morning everybody

Thanks to all for following Birding Costa Blanca Blog, now headings towards Thirty-five thousand hits, occasionally in the top 250 of 1000 fat birder watched websites? 

The most read blogs Plastic Birds and Fake News and Crested vs Thekla's Lark ID future 

 I'd like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas a Happy New Year. 

Tuesday 7th

Today John and I thought we would check out as many places as possible, 6+ hours in the field "we covered some ground"

El Clot 

 A Kingfisher almost landed beside hide several times "fantastic fly past"  and the White-headed Duck 20+ were amazing. Plenty of Common Pochard. 


Common Pochard

 Since the heavy rain a few weeks ago, the water levels have risen, but there's now there are fewer wildfowl and no Flamingos, Marbled Duck, Gadwall, or Shoveller they could be on one of the other pools that are not visible, however, the water is now deep, and there's more than enough water to get these seasonal lakes and through the next summer and with more downpours predicted to come throughout the winter.   Is a Win-Win-Win? At some point, El Clot will turn up a good bird?

 Keep saying that? I just hope it's me who finds it?


Juv White-headed Duck

I am amazed how popular the clot has become, it is a holiday today, so there were many Birders there mostly with camera and lens,  that's great! as I previously mentioned the more eyes the better.


Ad Eclipse White-headed Duck


Also, there are Titty things and Bluethroats, Linnet, Greenfinch, Serin, which are now starting to sing? on the nice warm days.

Urba Nova Salt Pans

Nice place for a Tea stop? it can be good here occasionally, today just a few wintering waders, and a stunning Stonechat.

Stonechat

Inland

The Dry Areas

Booted Eagles, including one dark phase,  Buzzards, Marsh Harriers  (8) an unidentified  Falcon, Golden Plover (14) Water pipits, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover (6) Mega flocks of European Starling and Glossy Ibis, Common Cranes (3)


One of Three Common Cranes 


Glossy Ibis

I've not mentioned every bird seen.


Bluethroat
with rings 

For a different view of today's birding visit John Edwards excellent blog, Notes from a Birder and Writer.
Coming  soon a photo review of this year and mostly unseen images I always keep some images back for this review

 Click the link below

 John Edwards blog


Have Fun

Cheers Bryan 

Monday, December 06, 2021

John Miles RIp


Just found out that legend John Miles, Musician, Compose, Singer Song Writer, died on Sunday, at only 72, so sad for his family and friends an exceptional Singer Song Writer and amazing Musican meet him once at a concert with 10cc when I was on the bill, I love that song "Music"  nice guy.

John Miles 


link below just watch

John miles

RIP

John Miles

Thursday, December 02, 2021

Feliz Navidad

Tuesday 30th

Sierra Espuna 


Why do I feel disappointed after we found an Alpine Accentor? As we drove along the Long And Winding Road road ( Good name for a Song ) leading up to the summit, we were gaining height and John was driving slowly and taking time as not to miss anything, and as we passed a rocky outcrop an Alpine Accentor was hopping around on the rock, I had a clear view and knew instantly what it was! And called it, we travelled another 20 meters or so before we stopped and pulled off the narrow track,  we quickly jumped out of the car, but we never connected again with the bird despite a concerted effort. 

Dooh

I really hate it when we lose a bird, all I want to do is share the bird,  its so important for me to get everybody on the bird, and prove that what is claimed is proven! It's makes me I have major doubt about other claimed? sighting without collaborative proof???  importantly there's never any photos to prove other than some very old fake historical photos!!!! Nicked from other web sites

More Fake news to follow

Alpine Accentor
 from the Pyrenees 2017

After a very early start to get to the top of Sierra Espuna, and full of optimism of what we might potentially see?

( Don't build your hopes up? )

It gets worse?

On route to the Ice Caves.

It's a bit of a hike to get there and we were all double insulated against the cold, (I was overheating?)  Having at least two layers of everything on, when a white van passed us by, as we plodded along the snowy and frosty track to the Ice Caves?

I thought nothing of it, and presumed it was a Park Ranger?  half an hour later we arrived at the Ice Caves.

  I said were up Schitt's Creek

      More bad language followed........

 It was like a Masa building site, but much worse with heavy lifting equipment, dumper trucks, a JCB digger, half a dozen vehicles including the white van, major scaffolding all around the ice caves, and Tons of building blocks, all surrounded by a high-security barrier (why)

 Fieldfare

7 workmen making a substantial noise, (I thought they were singing Heigh-ho, Heigh go it's of to work we go ) A generator and cement mixer chugging away! and radio pumping out Feliz Navidad,  that all I needed to listen to!

You couldn't write it, could you? You just couldn't?

And not a Thrush in sight! and the winterberry, trees / bushes are covered in fruit just waiting to be eaten.

And so this historical site was a washout? If only there was some birding news about this site and the renovations and disruptions?  We could have easily saved about 4 hours of travel time there and back and better spent our time birding elsewhere.

Gutted and Unbelievable

 All was not lost though? We did a Boris /  Cumming's and goings and went to plan B? We did connect with Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush, and Fieldfare,  lots of the Titty things and a few Creepers, 2 Golden Eagle and a Peregrine Falcon, Jay, Crossbill, Mouflon, Iberian Grey Squirrel, and Hare, heard only Firecrest?

Crossbill


Crossbill


 Masa building Site

We did head down to Guadalentin very briefly and picked up Spectacled, Dartford, Sardinian Warblers, but time was against us so we headed off home.

And so if you thought it's a good idea to visit the ice caves for the Winter Thrushes don't bother, try next winter of 2022-2023 when the renovations will be completed? for different view on today's birding see John Edwards blog link below

John Edwards

Not mention ever species seen just the more interesting ones

Where next?

Have a fun day

Cheers

Bryan


Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Common Crane, dream on?

 Today we thought we might get lucky with Common Crane, dream on?

No sign of them despite putting the miles in, a few Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, 5 Golden Plover, Waterpipits, 5 Booted Eagle including one Dark phase, Marsh Harriers, quite a few Black Caps heard, Corn Bunting and plenty of Kestrel.


Skylark

My moment on the day was a exultation of Skylark, (probably 40+) nothing mega I know, but these birds act like mice, hugging the contours of the land,  disappearing and  reappearing elsewhere,

Skylark

They can be flighty. When flushed they keep close to the ground, unlike the similar Meadow Pipit which typically rises straight-up calling, if one Skylark gets spooked they all go.

Skylark

 So it was good to get some reasonable view today.

Booted Eagle

Have fun

Bryan

BEYOND THE LAST MAN


My cousin the Fly

I've come from a big family, sadly there are not many of us left there were lots of aunts and uncles, cousins, second cousin, but there one who deserves  recognition my cousin Graham Vearncombe he was Cardiff City FC and Wales first choice goal keeper during the late fifties and 60s, when Cardiff was in the first division he was also in the squad, the last time Wales went to the FiFa World Cup in Sweden 1958.

The tournament also marked the arrival of a then 17-year-old Pele on the world stage.

And so it congratulation to Wales we're on our way and to the World Cup play offs


The Fly his nick name

Graham Vearncombe: Helped Cardiff to promotion to Division One in 1958-59, made more than 200 appearances and was also a member of the 1958 Wales World Cup squad



Tuesday, November 09, 2021

Guadalentín Valley


Operator error!

OoPs!

  Good days birding in the end after a sluggish start, unfortunately, I cocked up! somehow I had accidentally selected a focusing point that was off-centre so when I aimed the camera using the centre focusing point it was actually using a focusing point below the centre point. Which went unnoticed foremost of the birding day, so all the photos are out of focus, bugger it?

it could of been worse though as some time ago I forgot the batteries for the camera and left them all at home. And everything that day was point-blank, you couldn't write it

Could you?

Notice how the grasses are sharp in front of the bird and below?

Black-bellied Sandgrouse



Black-bellied Sandgrouse



Black-bellied Sandgrouse

Probably the best-prolonged views of 5 Black-bellied Sandgrouse ever! and some minutes later another 4.  A Golden Eagle drifted by followed by 2 more Black-bellied Sandgrouse then a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier quarter the fields also seen Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel,  and unidentified medium-sized all Dark raptor? I'm still trying to figure out what it was? And a few other big raptors which were just too far away to be sure of an ID


Golden Eagle 

Meadow Pipit 


Plenty of small seed eaters Green, Gold Finch, Linnet, Serin, small flocks of  Meadow Pipit A single Water Pipit, Crested Lark, Flocks of Sky Lark, Tree Sparrows, Spectacled Warblers, Fan Tailed Warbler, Black Redstarts and Chough,

Crested Lark

So all in all a good day, worth the effort of getting there, we'll go back at some point soonish 


Fan Tailed Warbler

Have a great day

Cheers 

Bryan 


Friday, November 05, 2021

Big Sky lighting up over Alicante

Major night sky tonight Thunder, Lightening, Hail and heavy  Rain 

We need it 

Get the buckets out Mark




Tuesday, November 02, 2021

Tonight this Bad Boy came Black for Another Look


He's always around ? but for some reason he likes my Casa

Black Wheatear 
revisited 


Long Day for little Reward



So it was always going to be a longish day for NBBC as we headed off at first light to the surrounding areas around Yecla and the A 31 Road, it was very overcast with black threatening clouds and patchy light rain, and the light was very bad so no chance for photography.


It's not what was forecast and only 13 degrees and the brisk wind which made it feel a lot colder.

On a lighter note, the biscuits we had were just a delight and the slab of chocolate and banana cake at first breakfast would have made Gareth wished he was here?

It was Quiet and not much moving, the odd Meadow Pipit flock and Crested Larks.

 We search the tracks with hardly any reward, so we cut our losses and went to  Yecla.  By the time we arrived the light had improved a little but still cloudy, the moment of the day was almost our last bird seen a Red Kite ( it seems we always leave the best for last ) it drifted in, and not a bad bird for us to find, it was distant at first and disappeared high up, in the clouds only to return a few minutes later very low down by the Lesser Kestrel Barn and then land on the ground briefly.

 Red Kite


Other birds seen Calandra Lark, Sky Lark, Thekla's Lark,  a possible Peregrine Falcon, which I was a bit slow to call it!  Black Wheatear,  Black Redstart. Mistle Thrush, Marsh Harrier, Hoopoe, crap really 


 Red Kite

I was glad the Red Kite showed again as it was just a dot when it first appeared and happy I got the ID correct.

 Red Kite

and when i got home this little beauty was sat on the wall

Black Wheatear

Lots more fun next week

But where next? Where will we go out to play?

If it was easy it wouldn't be fun

Cheers Bryan


Saturday, October 30, 2021

Coca-Cola’s 100 Billion Bottle Problem



The main facts summarised:
470 billion single-use plastic bottles are sold worldwide per year
25% of which are Coca Cola owned brands
50% of the 470bn are burned, dumped or littered each year.
Last year, Coca Cola produced a $20bn profit.


Pepsi and Danone and many other manufacturers DO NOT publish their annual results of collection and recycling of their used bottles. Coca Cola, however, do.
2020, Coca Cola sold 112 billion single-use bottles worldwide. That's 14 per person currently living on our planet!
Of this 112 bn, 56% made it back to recycling.
Meaning 49 bn were unaccounted for and that's just Coca Cola


Coca Cola problematic past with plastic
Coca-Cola has repeatedly come under fire for its dizzying plastic use. 


Last year, the company revealed that more than 1.9 billion servings of its drinks are consumed in more than 200 countries every day.


And this link to

link

Very import link above please click

Break Free From Plastic – an anti-plastic movement with more than 11,000 organizations and individual supporters – recently released a report tracking corporate plastic pollution.

It included 440 brand audits across six continents, and involved the collection of more than 330,000 pieces of plastic pollution.

The report named Coca-Cola as the world’s top corporate polluter for the fourth consecutive year. This is despite the company’s 2018 pledge to collect one bottle for every one sold.




Imagine that you are constantly eating, but slowly starving to death. Hundreds of species of marine mammals, fish, birds, and sea turtles face this risk every day when they mistake plastic debris for food. 


Plastic debris can be found in oceans around the world. Scientists have estimated that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic weighing more than a quarter of a million tons floating at sea globally. 


Most of this plastic debris comes from sources on land and ends up in oceans and bays due largely to poor waste management.
Plastic does not biodegrade, but at sea large pieces of plastic break down into increasingly smaller fragments that are easy for birds to consume. 


A nose for sulfur
in the early 1970s showed that tube-nosed seabirds use their powerful sense of smell, or olfaction, seabirds are attracted to dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a natural scented sulfur compound. DMS comes from marine algae.


However, in a study just published propose a new explanation: For many imperilled species, marine plastic debris also produces an odour that the birds associate with food and is very similar DMS


So much plastic trash is flowing into the oceans than 90 per cent of seabirds eat it now and virtually everyone will be consuming it by 2050 In a new study published this week, tracks for the first time how widespread plastics have become inside seabirds around the world.

Scientists have been tracking plastic ingestion by seabirds for decades. In 1960, plastic was found in the stomachs of fewer than five per cent, but by 1980, it had jumped to 80 per cent. 

The most disturbing finding is. 

“Global plastic production doubles every 11 years “So in the next 11 years, we’ll make as much plastic as we’ve made since plastic was invented. 

The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite invented in New York in 1907, by Leo Baekeland who coined the term "plastics" Dozens of different types of plastics are produced today, such as polyethene which is widely used in product packaging,
and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used in construction and pipes because of its strength and durability. Many chemists have contributed to the materials science of plastics, including Nobel laureate Hermann Staudinger, 
who has been called "the father of polymer chemistry.


So it's his fault?



You can help: pay attention to how much plastic you throw away grocery bags, Styrofoam cups, water bottles, packaging and try to use less and recycle and dispose of plastic correctly




sometimes I get a feeling that it is all's a bit too late

Images use with permission.