With the Andalucia Bird Society "Boat Trip" out into the Straits from Tarifa tomorrow, John and Jenny Wainwright took themselves off a day early to get in some additional birding before the even. However, as John reports, a touch of "S**'s law" as they discovered that the camera's "on/off" switch was broken so no photos on this occasion. On the other hand, as you read John's report, you may well agree with him that there was very little to photograph in the howling wind!
Tarifa Area: Friday 3 August
Very misty on way down but very windy at Tarifa.
A mixed journey this morning, fine at home then
very, very misty at Marbella area, while at Cazalla viewpoint very
strong winds. Not a lot at the viewpoint, but just down the hill from
Tarifa itself we parked in a gateway and watched at
least 400 Black and Red Kites - mostly the former - going over. Lots of
Cattle Egrets about here as well as Common and Pallid Swifts, Barn
Swallows and House Martins, Spotless Starlings and Rock Doves; the small
birds mostly Goldfinches were like rifle bullets
going past in the strong winds.
After booking in at the hotel in Tahivilla and
after a spot of lunch we continued our quest at La Janda. By now the
wind had died down to a veritable breeze compared to earlier, so
managing to hold the scope was a trifle easier. As we looked
out over the barren ploughed fields here, not a lot was seen, until we
reached the main track running parallel to the irrigation canal.
Hundreds of Glossy Ibis were in a constant flux, along with their
counterparts, namely Cattle and Little Egrets. White Storks
were logged here also, as well as a few Green Sandpipers, Black-winged
Stilts, Grey Herons and a Kentish Plover.
Further along we noted a single Lesser Kestrel on a
pylon arm, while below this were three Gull-billed Terns. Zitting
Cisticolas were in good numbers as were House Sparrows and Stonechats.
We turned right over the bridge towards the dam
and as usual on this track were the Cattle and Little Egrets that had
had a very successful breeding season noting the number of juveniles in
the nesting areas. At the next bridge we scanned for the Spanish
Imperial Eagle but no sightings today, although a
tad further along we did have two Short-toed Eagles (this is where I
found out that the on/off switch had broken on my camera) and several
more Black Kites. As we passed through the farmyard area Jackdaws, a
Common Kestrel, Crested Larks and Collared Doves
were added to the list and another seven Black Kites were disturbed out
of the trees as we progressed along the track, as was a Woodchat Shrike.
The flooded area at the junction of the tracks held Common Coots,
Mallard, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilts and
Green Sandpiper, while in the distance Griffon Vultures circled. As we
started to move off a Black Kite rose out of a stubble field and at
about 20foot off the ground it dropped something from its talons into
the edge of a stream, it was a rabbit with myxomatosis,
the Black Kite circled and came into retrieve its prey, but was itself
attacked by several Black-winged Stilts.
By now it is really getting unbearably hot so we headed for Tahivilla and the local bar.
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