Zapata and the Airport

Monday 21 October

A morning visit to Zapata and the airport itself proved a most interesting and rewarding occasion.  As soon as we arrived at the Zapata entrance track we recorded both Collared Doves and Spotless Starlings quickly followed by a few Blackcaps and a Zitting Cisticola. In the nearby trees a few Greenfinches and to our right a Spotted Flycatcher. Both Goldfinches and Blackbirds were also seen on the track along with a Black Redstart.

Moving on to the reed bed we were in time to see a quartet of Cattle Egrets fly over along with a single Cormorant.  Then it was a case of count the many Stonechat along with House Sparrows and Crested Larks.  Cetti’s Warblers were calling from below in the reeds and a few Barn Swallow flew over above us.

Hoopoe Upupa epops

Leaving Jenny and Barbara in the car where they were the only ones to see the visiting Bluethroat and Waxbills to the ford, Derek and I took a walk along the old track currently blocked off to vehicles as work continued in the laying of new water pipes, where we found five feeding Hoopoes and a couple of Meadow Pipits.  At the far back of the fenced area a lobe Northern Wheatear was seen.

Record shot of distant Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Moving further upstream beyond the river crossing we checked the river to find a small flock of Mallard accompanied by a Moorhen and, in the trees opposite, a number of Jackdaw.  And all around us a number of foraging White Wagtails.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Moving on we drove to the small access track alongside the second runway in the hope that the recently seen Stone Curlews might still be about; they were not. On the other hand we id record Serin, Chiffchaff and Sardinian Warblers.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Once alongside the runway proper we noted a pair of Buzzards then a passing Booted Eagle. We note a large raptor perched on a fence post and suddenly realised this was a Harris Hawk used by the airport to scare away unwanted avian visitors.  No sooner had the hawk flown than we realised that the falconer was in a car beyond the fence and the bird had come to rest on the roof.  Most weird to see the car moving along towards us with such a bird enjoying the ride!

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Time and again the bird took flight to the fence between us and the car before returning to either the roof or inside of the car.  Amazing to see the activity as we watched then followed to see what would happen next.  A couple of stops and the falconer had obviously been watching the Booted Eagle and Buzzards above which seemed to be most reluctant to leave the area.  This resulted in the falconer letting off a small exploding rocket which finally did the trick and drove the invading raptors away from the airport.  Not every day you get to see such a practical demonstration of the airport’s scaring device!

Harris Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus

Harris Hawk riding the falconer's car!

Birds seen:

Mallard, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Booted Eagle, Buzzard, Moorhen, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Jackdaw, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

The falconer's rocket explosion took the sails out of the Booted Eagle's flight!

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