Monday 17 January
Approaching Osuna just before 9am and a couple of Collared Doves. Then to the cafe near junction 80 of the A92 where I met up with friends Jerry and Barbara-Ann Laycock for breakfast before heading off into the neighbouring countryside in search of both Great Bustards and Stone Curlews. I had in mind eight target species with a coupe of possible options to make up the round ten new birds for the year. Within a hundred yards of setting of, even before the first bend in the road, Jerry had stopped as they spotted a Stone Curlew beneath the olive trees. I stopped just round the corner in the “usual place” and, sure enough, two very close Stone Curlews and a further dozen in the locality. With Jerry and Barbara in their car behind me we then saw at least another score fly over the trees as a lone Mistle Thrush dash past below the canopy.
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| One of a score or more Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus |
Before moving on we watched a Buzzard drift past overhead at a low altitude and then both Spotless Starling on the opposite side
of the road and both a Zitting Cisticola
and White Wagtail in the verge
ahead. Within twenty metres of moving on
a Red-legged Partridge was seen soon
to be followed by very many more. Lots
of Linnets about plus a smaller
number of both Goldfinch and Serin .
Meanwhile, on a fence on the opposite side of the road near a load of
rubbish, a mixed flock of mainly Spanish
but also House Sparrows. Less than fifteen minutes into our birding
adventure and already three of my target birds seen.
At this point Jerry drew my attention to the three
close flocks of V-formation Cranes
high in the distance moving eastwards.
Then in a bare tree a Black
Redstart at the top and as we approached the end of the olive groves onto
more open countryside the first of very many Stonechats. A Blackbird disappeared behind the trees
and quickly followed by a pair of Crested
Lark, my fourth target bird of the morning.
Having just seen a hovering Kestrel
we stopped just beyond the deep culvert directing potential flood water away
from the railway line and we found another on top of a farm house next to the
railway bridge. Using scopes we were
able to identify the Hoopoe resting
on the bridge railings so yet another of the eight targets recorded.
By now there were regular sightings of Red Kite, the most common raptor of the
day, and still the occasional Buzzard. Driving up to the top of the first bridge
over the abandoned high speed rail track we had a single Raven in the field and, using scopes, we manage to find 27 Great Bustards in the distance (target
bird 6). Deciding to carry on and follow
some of the farm tracks we managed to get much closer, but still a fair
distance away, to the Great Bustards. Only when we stopped to take record
photographs did we notice the eight individuals that were hidden in a dip
immediately in front of us. Naturally
they were off and away.
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| Then the Great Bustards Otis tarda took flight |
Having seen the main flock move away we took a track then farm road off to the left in the hope that the birds might have alighted on the other side of the trees. A group of six Ravens feeding near the road junction.
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| Ravens Corvus corax |
They had
not but we did find a couple of Iberian
Grey Shrikes on the wires (target 7). Starting to work our way back to pick
up the main road at overbridge2 we then stopped having found half a dozen
distant Great Bustards away to our
right. As we about to move on a local
farmer pulled up behind us and asked if we would like him to show us where the
main flock was feeding. Naturally
replied in the affirmative. So a short
journey of about 500 metres up and past his farm to a grassed area where we had
closer views a group of ten plus another couple of Great Bustards so making a final total of 48 individuals for the
morning.
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| Nearer and more distant Great Bustards Otis tarda |
As we finally continued on our way we recorded Sardinian Warblers but nothing, other
than more Stonechats, and a couple
of White Wagtails noted on the side
track taken alongside the rail track. So
onto the far end of the road to try and get a decent view across the fields to
the railway viaduct and usually flooded area below. But just before arriving, having already seen
both a Kestrel and another pair of Red Kites, we stopped to check the
field to our right and a Black Kite
passed low overhead. Within twenty
metres of moving on I stopped, a last minute decision, to take a closer look at
the “blob” on top of a pylon and discovered my reserve target, a Black-shouldered
Kite.
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| Very distant record shot of Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus |
Then on down to the bottom of the rise to take a
distant look at the viaduct. Jerry
managed to find a couple of Lapwing on the far side and I picked
out the Buzzard resting on the viaduct along with a number of Feral Pigeons. At this point Barbara drew my attention to
the flock of twenty-five white birds flying past the viaduct. Having twisted
and turned the birds finally settled and I was able to confirm that they were Golden Plover. Yet another bonus sighting. Then it was on to
take a look a the “hidden pool” in the extensive olive grove just round the
corner. What a disappointment to find the pond completely dried up, never seen
that before, but as we turned to make our way to La Lantejuela I noticed a couple of male Blackcaps come in to feed on the spilled olives on the ground where
the locals were gathering same .
Arriving at the grey water ponds on the outskirts of
the village we stopped to check out the main water on the other side of the
fence. Immediately in front of us a couple
of Little Grebe and Coots with some very bust Chiffchaffs in the neighbouring
trees. Out on the main water many
Flamingo along with a small number of Mallard
and Shoveler plus a couple of Pochard. At the far end a handful of Cormorants were resting in the trees and Crag Martins feeding over the water. However, the best sighting was the handsome
male Marsh Harrier circling over the
water. And that was it. Having eaten our picnic we decided to start
on our return journey towards Malaga as another couple of Red Kites circled above on the opposite side of the road. And, in conclusion, the only missed target
bird was a Corn Bunting and whilst I also did not find any Calandra Larks it
was a bonus to see the Golden Plovers. A most enjoyable day with great company.
Birds seen:
Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Red-legged Partridge,
Little Grebe, Cormorant, Flamingo, Black-shouldered Kite, Red Kite, Black Kite,
Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Coot, Great Bustard, Crane, Stone Curlew, Golden
Plover, Lapwing, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Hoopoe, Crag Martin, White Wagtail, Black Redstart,
Stonechat, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler,
Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Iberian Grey Shrike, Raven, Spotless Starling, House
Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch, Linnet.
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| More distant and even further Great Bustards Otis tarda |
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