Sunday, 14 April 2013

Eric & Pat Lyon looking for Great Bustards

Friday 12 April

Looks like everyone was out chasing birds today; must be something to do with the warmer, sunnier weather.  Eric and Pat Lyon took themselves off to the Osuna area for a short break to search for Great Bustards but had to wait a while before achieving their mission.  On the other hand, they did get some very close vies of Collared Pratincoles as can be seen from Eric's emailed report:


We (inc Jago) have just returned from a couple of days at Osuna where the weather was warm but overcast unlike Sayalonga which apparently has been glorious.  On the way going and back Fuente de Piedra had all the usual species with fewer Flamingos packed at the far end, no Cranes of course but lots of Gull-billed Terns
Wednesday morning on the minor road towards Lantejula was fantastic.  Numerous Hen and Montagu's Harriers almost as soon as we left Osuna and all the way round.  Lots of Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, Booted Eagles, Buzzard and a couple of Red Kites.  But stars of the day were a group of Collared Pratincoles - 3 happily preening on the ground within 40 yards and 6 circling the field.  We visited most of the Lantejula lagoons including ones not in Andy's book - everywhere very flooded and full of Flamingos etc.  Good but brief sightings of c5 Black Terns which were passing through.  No Great Bustards.

Thursday morning we went back up the minor road - much fewer Harriers but travelling on the road across to the A307? we finally got our Great Bustards; five male displaying and an unknown number of females who seemed to disappear in the ground despite us trekking across the field.  Many more Northern Wheatear and, surprisingly on that, road several Southern Grey Shrikes which we had not seen at all the previous day.
Lucky you both; roll on next week!


Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.  

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