Sierra Espuña
An interesting day in more ways than one, and thrown in the mix a few good birds. The main purpose was to see some of the Wintering Thrushes which was easy.
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| Frosty Pines |
We went straight to the top of Sierra Espuña 1 586 meters up and arrived early, as we travel up the temperature plunged, it was only 2 degrees in the sun, and much colder in the shadows there was a light snow covering and a heavy frost, I was well prepared for the cold but the coldness still got to me but having said that if you could catch some sun it felt good.
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| Frosted view from the Mirador about half way up |
It was amazing to see all the pine trees covered in frost and just like a Christmas card from Currier and Ives. As the sun broke over the mountains it caused a thaw throughout the pine forest, it started as a dip but soon sounded like a stream
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| Pine Frost |
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| Ice Caves |
Perfect Start
About 70 Mouflons were on the Plato by the Ice Caves, unbelievable they've still not completed the restoration work on the ice Caves with one still in progress,
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| Mouflon |
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| Heard of Mouflon |
I managed to flush a few Ring ouzels, but they were easily disturbed,
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| Ring Ouzel |
On the Plato there was a small flock of Chaff Finch feeding on the ground and were joined by a small gathering of Cirl Buntings,( also known as Butterscotch Humbugs ) which were flighty, to say the least, one male refused to come from behind a thistle plant and I fail to get a clear photo If i only had a few more inches ( I've heard that before somewhere ) and the photo would have been in the can? But alas not today? There were at least 10 Cirl Buntings in that area and mobile.
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| Cirl Bunting |
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| Cirl Bunting |
Other Birds seen on the Mountain
Ring Ouzel, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Crossbill, Siskin, Black Redstart, Robin, Crested, Coal, Long Tailed, Great, Tits, Rock Bunting, Raven. Kestrel, Iberian Red Squirrel, So not a bad list and some good views, first breakfast was looming and enough was enough, and headed down to.
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| Redwing |
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| Iberian Red Squirrel |
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| Ring Ouzel |
Guadalentin Valley
What a difference in temperature it was 26 degrees and I was peeling off several layers of clothing to cool down
Booted Eagle, Buzzards, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, probable Golden Eagle but by the time the Heath Robinson tripod got to stand up the moment has passed! Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpipers, LRP, Iberian Green woodpeckers, lots of the little stuff like Linnet, Gold Finch, Meadow Pipits, Serin, and Southern Grey Shrike.
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| Green Sandpiper |
I've not mentioned every bird seen.
Have a great day
Cheers Bryan
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