14 June 2024
Apologies to readers for the late publication of the following report from Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group but away from home on a cruise to Iceland via three stops in Norway and a full day on the Shetlands. Amazing birds on the latter so lots to catch up on now that we have arrived home this morning. Watch this space as they say.
A great day's birding with some wonderful sights and "hearings." I see the same back in the UK as more and more birders use "Merlin" as a means to identify what's nearby and then set out the searching binoculars. But ones needs to constantly remember that there are occasional "mis-hearings" by Merlin, so good luck with your lifer. Something to keep the group discussing when the wintry days arrive - oh, you don't have those in Spain! Love the idea of possibly catching a late Bee-eater, not to mention regular Red-billed Choughs and Black Wheatears when we drive over for the first three weeks in October - but probably too late for any Honey Buzzards.
Sierra de Maria - Wednesday 5th June
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| Red-billed Chough (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
It was a lovely change to be a passenger in a car driven by Peter 1 to go birdwatching instead of having to drive . We met up at La Alfoquia and made our way to the Sierra de Maria. Soon after passing the garage at Velez Blanco I saw our first recordable bird...a House Martin. En route to Maria an Iberian Green Woodpecker crossed our path as did Common Swifts, House Sparrows and Spotless Starlings. Kevin was already at the La Piza forest cafe in his campervan. He'd arrived the previous evening and had had a close encounter of a bird kind. A low flying light phase Booted Eagle just above him. He'd stayed on the rough ground on the outskirts of the town. Together with his new "Merlin" app on his phone he'd logged White Wagtail, Serin, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Hoopoe, Barn Swallow and Blackbird. At La Piza he'd seen Rock Sparrow, Great Tit, Jay and Collared Dove. Merlin had heard Crossbill and Short-toed Treecreeper. Sure enough some Crossbills landed on top of the covered football game machine where there was a puddle of water. We were joined by Trevor.... Oh and an Iberian Red Squirrel! A Spotted Flycatcher came down for a bath in the usual pool. A Crested Tit made an appearance. As we were about to leave Peter 2 arrived. He added a Woodpigeon to the list.
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| Red Squirrel (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
Peter 1 and I led off in his car with Peter 2 driving Trevor and Kevin in his car. En route to the village via the loop, we only saw Linnet, Crested Lark and Carrion Crow. At the parking place Merlin picked up Corn Bunting although none of us oldies could hear it. And there it was perched on a distant reed! Some Goldfinches were seen.
We carried on. A Woodchat Shrike flew off a fence. Peter and I saw two Bee-eaters across a field whilst them further behind saw one on a fence. Next we saw more Carrion Crows, some Magpies and a Raven. Jackdaws and Red-billed Choughs completed our corvid count. We checked out last year's Roller nesting box but there was no sign of any activity. I did see a Roller a bit further along the track. Peter spotted some Red-legged Partridge, one of which posed admirably! ( Peter had a camera disaster today. Brought the camera but not the battery or the SD card, not that we kept on reminding him!) As we were getting closer to the cliff face we saw our first Black-eared Wheatear, closely followed by a flight of 6 Black-bellied Sandgrouse! We did the walk to the far side of the cliff. Kevin spotted two Ibex walking up to a ridge. Trevor spotted a Carrion Crow on the large rock opposite the cliff. At a vast distance behind it I found a Griffon Vulture, our only confirmed sighting of the day! We all heard the Nightingales, but we didn't hear the Subalpine Warbler and Long Tailed Tit "heard" by Merlin! A Black Wheatear was seen.
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| Red-legged Partridge (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
We headed back along the road to the hamlet seeing very little en route apart from a Red-billed Chough resting on a power line in the cave village! I spotted the silhouette of a Little Owl perched on top of a flying buttress on a barn. There was nothing else to be seen there. We saw Crested and Calandra Larks on the plain. At the trough there was a strange Wheatear perched on some rocks. Needs an ID...see attached photo. I would say it was a recently fledged individual. Had a speckled chest. Looking at Collins, a female Pied Wheatear fits the bill....I think not! Best suspect would be a young Black-eared Wheatear?
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| Mystery Wheatear! (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
Flummoxed, we retreated to La Piza for lunch. I spotted the previously only heard by Merlin Short-toed Tree-creeper. We added a Blue Tit. En route back to Velez Blanco Peter and I added a Crag Martin.
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| Short-toed Tree-creeper (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
We had a really great day, 47 species seen or heard. I was in a bit of a conundrum regarding Merlin records. Would I claim a lifer if say a Barred Warbler was heard by Merlin? No I wouldn't, but it hearing totally plausible birds on a informal birding trip with friends is okay and adds to the days experience!
Regards
Dave
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| The Ibex (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
Re the "mystery Wheatear, just a few thoughts. Juvenile Blacks tend to be all brown, Northerns don't breed in southern Spain so would suggest juvenile Black-eared. Trying to match the photo to a Pied Wheatear is always going to be difficult because of the shadows created by the sun on the bird, especially around the head and nape in the photo, but my latest guide ("Europe's birds" by Hume, Still, Swash and Harrop) suggests more white behind the legs. Had a good luck with friend Derek Etherton by my side as he and wife are presently staying with us, with both the above book and latest Collins at the ready and the general consensus was most likely a young Black-eared Wheatear.
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