Long-tailed Tits (PHOTO: Nigel White)

Wednesday 15 April

Well, with Dave back with his Arboleas Birding Group it looks very much like the boys and girls had a great day's birding up in the Sierra de Maria with lots of good birds seen by all.  I especially liked the Black-eared Wheatear, not a bird of the UK.  I smiled at Dave's photo of the road-loving sheep and, judging by the rear view, all the recent rains seemed to have done wonders to the vegetation as so often when I lived in Spain the sheep always seemed so skinny and you wondered how thy found any meat on the bone!  And certainly congratulations to Nigel for some wonderful photos.

Sierra de Maria  -  Wednesday 15th April

Apologies for my absence last week.  Nigel picked me up from home, picked Peter up from his house and then carried on towards the Sierra de Maria.  The weather was great. Sunny with a few clouds and some wind.  Between Velez Blanco and Maria town we only saw a Woodpigeon.  In Maria town we added House Sparrow, Spotless Starling, Collared Dove and House Martins nesting under the Repsol Garage canopy.  Nigel spotted Magpie and Jay en route to the La Piza forest cafe.  Crossbills flew over us as we walked to the cafe.  Kevin, who had stayed overnight in his motorvan, had already logged Serin, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chaffinch on his wanderings prior to his arrival at the cafe.  Nigel had kindly bought some seeds and nuts which he used to fill up some of the empty feeders.  We were joined by Trevor, Carolyn and Steve.   A Coal Tit was the only titmouse  to arrive on the feeders.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker came for a look around  I heard a distant Raven.

Chaffinch (PHOTO: Nigel White)

We drove along the loop with Nigel driving Peter and I in the lead car, followed by Steve and Carolyn then Trevor, passenger, in Kevin's van.  Didn't see anything in the forest section.  Passing through the fields we saw small flocks of Linnet, a Hoopoe, Carrion Crows, Thekla/Crested Larks, a number of displaying Calandra Larks and a Skylark.

Ibex (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We stopped in the usual place outside the village.  Barn Swallows were flying low over the fields. Goldfinches and Corn Buntings were on the shrubs.  I saw a distant Raven.  We carried on along the track, flushing a pair of Red-legged Partridge.  A Black-eared Wheatear showed well.  As we passed the reedbeds four Mallard took to the air.  I could hear a Reed Warbler singing away.  I then spotted our first Griffon Vulture of the day.  We reached the cliff face where Rock Sparrows were chirping away.  A plume of ten Griffons coasted over.  There was a smaller bird of prey but it disappeared without being identified.  Kevin led the way to the other side of the face, hearing a Nightingale in the shrubbery.  A Red-billed Chough noisily flew over us. 

Black-eared Wheatear (PHOTO: Nigel White)

We carried on towards the hamlet.  I was the only one to spot the Little Owl perched on a rock not 3 metres from the car before it flew off.  Everybody managed to see the four Ibex scrambling up the hillside.  Behind us, Steve and Carolyn saw Bee-eaters near the village and also a Little Egret.  At the hamlet we added two Lesser Kestrels and some more Red-billed Chough.  At the water trough a Red-rumped Swallow was collecting mud for its nest.  Kevin heard a Greenfinch then he and Trevor spotted a White Wagtail.  As we left we didn't see the Booted Eagle seen by Steve and Carolyn.  Back at La Piza, Peter added a Blue Tit.  The Great Spotted Woodpecker returned.  A Jay was taking nuts from the feeders.  Three Long-tailed Tits were also enjoying  them.

Jay (PHOTO: Nigel White)

It was a great day out. Good birds, weather and company.  42 species seen.

Regards

Dave

Traffic jam on the plain (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

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