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| Bottlenose Dolphins Turciops truncatus |
Monday 21 March
Just back from three days birding in the Tarifa area and some wonderful birds seen with a finally tally of
105 species. Great company, rain at night but no problem during the day either Saturday or Sunday and all sorts of bonuses including a number of
Pilot Whales Globicephala melas and many
Bottlenose Dolphins Turciops truncatus during the "Whale Watch" early Saturday afternoon which also produced both
Balearic and
Cory's Shearwaters,
Gannet and a small flock of 15
Razorbills.
Having stayed overnight in Fuengirola following attendance at the local theatre to see a production of "Jesus Christ, Superstar", we were away early and met up with Barbara and Derek Etherton plus Steven and Elena Powell for breakfast just before reaching La Janda. Glorious weather with clear, sunny skies as we headed off for a few hours at
Barbate. No sooner had we arrived, passing the very many
Cattle Egrets, than a large flock of
Bald Ibis passed over the cars and then we were looking at newly-arrived
Collared Pratincoles not more than ten metres away. What a way to start the morning!
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| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola |
The tour round the water at back produced numerous
Flamingos and
Cormorants to the rear along with
Great White Egret,
Little Egret,
Grey Heron and a single
Avocet whereas nearer to us we had many
Black-winged Stilts and
Redshanks along with
Kentish Plover,
Grey Plover,
Little Stint and
Stone Curlews. On the shore we had
Crested Larks and
Corn Buntings plus regular sightings of
Blue-headed Wagtail,
Linnet,
Goldfinches and
Meadow Pipits. Both
Lesser Black-backed and
Yellow-legged Gulls plus a single
Audouin's Gull were to be seen along with a couple of
Caspian and a handful of
Sandwich Terns.
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| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus |
Then the warblers started to appear which produced a number of
Subalpine along with
Chiffchaff,
Sardinian and at least one
Spectacled Warbler. A
Yellow Wagtail of the British
flavisima race passed over before the
Hoopoe took off and a small number of
Sky Larks were seen before we also encountered both
Lesser Short-toed and
Calandra Larks. Whilst we expected to see the many
Stonechats, it was certainly lovely to pick up a very close view of a
Black-eared Wheatear and a few, also recently-arrived,
Woodchat Shrikes. But for me it was not the female
Black Redstart but, rather, the most handsome male
Common Redstart that put in appearance at the very far end of the track. Other sightings included a female
Cirl Bunting and
Green Sandpiper.
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| Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator (above) and Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans (below) |
Leaving Barbate and with more
Bald Ibis sightings, we made our way back to
Huerta Grande, midway between Tarifa and Algeciras so that we could prepare the stand for the
Andalucia Bird Society at the annual
Estrecho Nature Fair. Whilst on site we also added
Robin,
Blue Tit and
Blackbird along with the first
Griffon Vultures,
Short-toed Eagle and
Sparrowhawk to add to the
Common Kestrel previously seen. Both
Pallid and
Common Swift were seen overhead and as we departed we had a noisy calling
Cetti's Warbler followed by at least four
Firecrests in the trees immediately above us. A very good way to end the day with about 70 birds recorded.
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| Part of the re-introduced and free-breeding Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita flock |
Following the heavy overnight rain and knowing that we had to be at the Tarifa port to catch our "Whale Watching" boat by 12.15, we decided upon a return visit to
Barbate and were joined by visiting ABS members from Canada, Giselle D'Entremont and Judy O'Brien. Again, both the
Bald Ibis and
Collared Pratincoles were waiting for us and as we made our way along the back track we continued to find both
Black-eared Wheatear and
Subalpine Warblers. However, on the way to Barbate a very short call in at a known site near Zaharra produced both a
Little Swift and a number of
Barn Swallows before we saw overhead a
Sparrowhawk and an
Osprey.
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| A newly-arrived Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica |
Back at Barbate we had a
Stone Curlew but also this time
Spoonbills. A
Red-legged Partridge was a new sighting along with both
Serin and a single
Willow Warbler. Waders included
Sanderling,
Redshank,
Green Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt and
Ringed and
Kentish Plover. More
Crested and
Calandra Larks along with both
White and
Blue-headed Wagtails whilst the
Woodchat Shrikes began to increase in number. Still the ever-present
Flamingos,
Heron,
Cormorant and
Great White Egret along with just the odd
Little Egret and a
Buzzard made a brief appearance over the far hills.
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| Pilot Whale Globicephala melas (above) and Bottlenose Dolphins Turciops truncatus (below) |
Back at Tarifa the sun was now open with mainly blue skies as our boat made its way out of the harbour and into the very choppy seas for its long journey into Moroccan waters to find the whales and dolphins. Plenty of both
Lesser Black-backed and
Yellow-legged Gulls about and early
Balearic Shearwater promised well, especially as it was soon followed by a couple of
Gannets. However, it was to be
Cory's Shearwaters that put in the closest appearance and a couple of Spanish birders on the boat even managed to find a few
Storm Petrels way out in the Straits. Having enjoyed close sightings of a number of basking
Pilot Whales and a many
Bottlenose Doplhins close to the boat, we had a flock of 15
Razorbills flashing low over the water, indeed some speculated at first that they might well have been Puffins, before we eventually headed back to port.
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| Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedes skimming the choppy seas |
Now bright and much warmer so a few hours at
La Janda seemed the obvious choice before returning to our hotel for dinner. A very good selection of birds during the next couple of hours or so including very many Linnets and
Goldfnches along with
Stonechats,
Crested Larks,
Corn Buntings and
Serin. No shortage of
Cattle Egret and the occasional
Little Egret and
Heron until we hit the large pool half-way down the canal track where we found very many
Spoonbills and
White Storks along with
Black-winged Stilt and
Redshank, A couple of
Green Sandpipers had already been seen and we also managed before leaving this area to return home both
Moorhen and a
Purple Swamphen and, surprisingly I thought, a score or so of
Mallard.
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| Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra (above) and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis (below) |
The first
Marsh Harrier was seen plus a distant
Black-shouldered Kite and then a few, distant
Griffon Vultures. Next up the first
Montagu's Harrier of the afternoon plus both
Raven and
Jackdaw before we turned up towards the smelly farm and picked up
Northern Wheatear followed by a number of
Pheasants and
Red-legged Partridges. It was also in this area that we had both
Zitting Cisticiola and
Cetti's Warbler followed by a couple of
Spanish Sparrows.
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| Female Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus basking in the evening sunset |
However, it was the fence and tree-lined area just beyond the farm that really produced the goods. Every bush on the right seemed to contain a
Woodchat Shrike making the area look like some kind of cotton plantation and the pair of
Little Owls were found near their "usual" set of stones.
Griffon Vultures and
Black Kites above followed by a lone
Bonneli's Eagle before a quartet of
Montagu's Harriers appeared on the scene closely followed by a few feeding
Lesser Kestrels to join the previously seen
Common Kestrel. One of the female
Montagu's Harriers spent considerable time of the ground trying to digest its prey whilst a
Stone Curlew disappeared left behind it. Our first
Bee-eaters of the year as a small number passed low behind us and, finally, a
Booted Eagle passed over and then it was the turn of both
Pallid and
Common Swifts to put in an appearance.
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| Feeding and hunting female Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus |
We thought we had seen everything as we started on our return journey until what, at first, had seemed like a female Common Kestrel on the fence turned out to be a female
Common Cuckoo. This was a
Cuckoo that refused to depart the scene, merely moving on a post every time that we drove slowly along the road with cameras out of all windows! What with a couple of
Black-eared Wheatears in the neighbouring field we had had a very profitable hour on site.
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| A recently-arrived female Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus basking in the evening sunshine and refusing to fly away! |
No sooner had I remarked to Jenny as we regained the main road back towards Tarifa that we had not seen a
Glossy Ibis all week-end than, you guessed it, an individual flew across the road in front of us, turned and flew back as if to deliberately correct the omission! So back to the hotel with another day totalling in excess of 70 birds.
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| A most handsome male Stonechat Saxicola torquatus |
More rain overnight but clear by the time we booked out of the hotel at 9 o'clock leaving behind the
Cattle Egrets and
House Sparrows to visit the coast line in the area of
El Camillo to the east of Tarifa in the hope of freshly-arrived summer migrants. Straight away both
Crested Larks and
Stonechats and then, once again, many more
Subalpine Warblers. A particular area of bushes produced many
Greenfinches,
Goldfinches,
Linnets and
Serins plus
Sardinian Warbler,
Chiffchaff and a
Cetti's Warbler. On the other hand, perhaps the best sighting was that of a newly-arrived
Whitethroat that was very determined to get his feather-work back into shipshape condition. More
Woodchat Shrikes along with
Blackbirds and
Spotless Starlings and then on to the mirador where we picked up a pair of
Little Owls, both
Black and
Black-eared Wheatears plus Black Redstart.
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| Female Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melancocephala (above) and Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis (below) |
Above us a flock of 40
Black Storks passed over the sea and inland whilst below a good number of mainly
Yellow-legged but also some
Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a couple of feeding
Sandwich Terns. the rock shore held up to a dozen or more
Turnstones and a
Common Sandpiper. Also seen at least a couple of
Whimbrel. Driving along the lower track near the cliff face we also had
Hoopoe,
Meadow Pipit, more
Subalpine Warblers and
Stonechats followed by a very close sighting of a magnificent
Osprey.
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| The flight of the Osprey Pandion haliaetus |
Finally, it was back up to the higher ground where we were able to watch the arriving numbers of both
Black Kites and
Griffon Vultures along with a closely-packed flock of about 200
White Storks. Both
Common and
Lesser Kestrel were seen as were
Common Swift,
House Martin,
Barn and a
Red-rumped Swallow.
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| The arrival of the Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus |
Here, towards 2pm, we all finally said our good-byes and made our separate ways home with Jenny and I calling in once more at
Huerta Grande to check all had ended happily and successfully at the nature Fair. A most enjoyable birding experience with very many special memories.
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| Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator; such a beautiful bird to welcome back for the summer |
Birds seen:
Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Cory's Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Bald Ibis, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, GriffonVulture, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Booted Eagle, Bonneli's Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Little Stint, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Tern, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Little Swift, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sky Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Firecrest, Blue Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Jackdaw, Raven, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Cirl Bunting, Corn Bunting.
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| Little Owl Athene noctua on guard at the nest hole |
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| Always a few Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa to be seen at La Janda |
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| Hundreds of White Storks Ciconia ciconia arriving from Africa |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
