The weather is promising rain for New Year's day so I took the opportunity to make one last forage before the end of the year. Out by 9.15 and up and over the local
Sierra to Loja where a few hours were spent driving to the top and back, but with very little success, and then on to
Huetor Tajar to see if any of the local celebrities were about - yes and no! Meanwhile, the hills were not so much alive with the sound of music but carpeted in a beautiful sway of the lovely
Broad Leaf Iris - and there were
White Wagtails to be seen everywhere.
.jpg) |
| Song Thrush Zorzal Comun Turdus philomelos through the windscreen |
A steady stream of birds as soon as I left
Casa Collado with
Rock Dove,
Serin and
Goldfinch quickly followed by
White Wagtail and
Collared Dove. On past Ventas de Zafarraya and then sightings of
Black Redstart,
Azure-winged Magpies and
Blackbirds. Both
Corn Bunting and
Mistle Thrush on the wires as I approached the motorway and the start of the mountain track up into the Sierra Loja. The upward journey produced first a
Robin followed by
Song Thrush and then the first of the
Jackdaws. Both
Thekla and
Crested Larks were added along with
Rock Bunting before reaching the top.
 |
| Chiffchaff MosquiteroComun Phylloscopus collybita |
Too much activity in the cave area so I took a long trip up and over the top but no sign of any Ring Ouzels, Fieldfares or Redwings today. I did have more
Red-legged Partridges and both
Stonechat and
Goldfinch before descending with a close view of a
Southern Grey Shrike.
 |
| Brambling Pinzon Real Fringilla montifringilla |
No sign of any Little Bustards at
Huetor Tajar but I did find a handful of
Stone Curlews asleep in the usual field. I was greeted by a
Cormorant as I crossed the river into the village and there was a single
Mallard along with a
Greylag Goose below the bridge when I returned. However, the short drive alongside the river not only produced a couple of
Green and a single
Common Sandpiper but a large flock of mixed finches. Surprisingly, the majority were
Bramblings but also present were
Serins,
Chaffinches,
Goldfinches and
Linnets.
Chiffchaffs darted here and there feeding at the river's edge and a single
Grey Wagtail was also recorded.
 |
| Linnet Pardillo Comun Carduelis cannabina |
Back home via the Salar road towards Alhama de Granada and Ventas de Zafarraya where
Magpie,
Black Wheatear and
Blue Rock Thrush were also added to the day's final tally of
34 species. And so endeth the year's birding and a Happy New Year to all readers.
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mallard, Cormorant, Stone Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Magpie, Jackdaw, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Serin, Goldfich, Linnet, Rock Bunting and Corn Bunting.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment