Villanueva del Trabuco

Common Redstart Collirojo Real Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Friday 13 September

No sooner home from a day at the Guadalhorce than John and Jenny Wainwright were out once more on their next birding venture.  So much for a quick nip down the road; no such thing once the birding bug gets into the system as can be seen from John's report.


All photographs by and courtesy of John Wainwright


Villanueva del Trabuco


Had to go to Villanueva del Trabuco today so took a trip into the mountains in the area over towards Alfanate.  A very windy day here which kept the temperatures down.  After our visit to Trabuco village, we headed for the one hundred pipes area (SE of the village), but instead of going to the "pipes" we continued up to the very top of the mountain.  Here there was still a good amount of water in the depression.  We saw Sardinian and Dartford Warblers, Chaffinches, Common Kestrel, Willow Warblers and three huge flocks (possibly 200 +) of Goldfinches, mostly juveniles.  We also saw nine Griffon Vultures heading south.

Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio machaon

We went over the top and about 200m further down we had to make a nerve racking U-turn as the road has been closed off.  A few butterflies here including The Hermit (Chazara briseis), Common Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and a few Marbled Skippers (Carcharodus alceae).  A huge Bush Cricket was found; I haven´t ID'd it yet but have included the picture.
 

Saddle-backed Bush Cricket  Ephippiger ephippiger

We went over the top and about 200m further down we had to make a nerve racking U-turn as the road has been closed off.  A few butterflies here including The Hermit (Chazara briseis), Common Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and a few Marbled Skippers (Carcharodus alceae).  A huge Bush Cricket was found; I haven´t ID'd it yet but have included the picture.
 

Pied Flycatcher papamoscas Cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca

We headed down until we reached the access track for the old camping site.  Just after entering we could hear Crossbills and further down the track past the wire slides etc. we came across Nuthatch, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great and Blue Tits, a Mistle Thrush and Chaffinches. At the end of the track a large clearing was found and here we had terrific views of Male and female Common Redstarts, Short-toed Treecreeper and more Spotted Flycatchers.  In the firs surrounding the clearing were two Common Buzzards, also a Jay and House Sparrows.

Sub-adult Golden Eagle Aguila Real Aquila chrysaetos

Back down to the main road towards Loja (A341) we saw more Common Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers, Wood Pigeons, Spotless Starlings, Chough and two sub-adult Golden Eagles.
This was only supposed top be a short trip instead of the eventual four hours.

Seems to me like a very good way to spend four hour. Great report, John and lots of good birds seen.

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