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| Serin Verdecillo Serinus serinus (PHOTO: Gilbert Houtekamer) |
Monday 24 March
A beautiful start to the day and, whilst we prepared for a cold breeze up at the old railway track above
Ventas de Zafarraya, in the event it was pleasantly warm and with very little wind. So the three of us, Gilbert and Elly Houtekamer, visiting holiday makers from Holland, made a start to a very long day and, whilst we did not see all the birds I expected, Gilbert did manage to record 16 new species for himself. And we finished up coming down the mountain track to Alcaucin via the picnic areas only to discover that the track was closed whilst the loggers played lumberjacks (think "Monty Python"). But, as I so often find when the Spanish close a road for road-works, they only put the sign at one end and we had started our journey at the top, finding the closed sign on a barrier at the very bottom (8kms away); no wonder we got some very strange looks from the men, including the Junta's representative, when we casually drove past. And another thing, what are the chances when you book a holiday in a foreign land, on a mountain top miles from anywhere, and then arrange a day's birding to discover that our host lives right opposite you? But, I have to say, Gilbert and Elly were marvellous company and Gilbert managed to produce some wonderful photographs using his Nikon with a 300mm f2.8 lens.
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| Black Redstart Colirrojo Tizon Phoenicurus ochruros (PHOTO: Gilbert Houtekamer) |
Now to the birds.
Thekla Lark as left the mountain and both
Collared and
Rock Doves along with
Barn Swallow as we drove (Rather, Gilbert drove) up to the pass. No sooner had we arrived than we also discovered Hilary MacBean and her friend Lesley, fellow ABS members who had been with me in Cabo de Gata at the week-end, were also in the car park awaiting to undertake the same programme as ourselves. We did not see the early Rock Bunting but there were
Spotless Starlings about along with calling Choughs as they glided pass the face of the nearby cliffs.
Crag Martins seemed particularly active as we made our way up to the old tunnel.
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| Displaying Crag Martins Avion Roquero Ptyonoprogne rupestris |
On the rocks and cliffs to the right we had our first
Black Wheatears and a quartet of
Rock Sparrows high above us. The first
Blue Rock Thrush of the day was spotted quickly followed by another couple of male birds. Whilst we also saw many
Stonechats and
Serins, it took a long time to record
Goldfinch but there certainly seemed to be
Linnets about. Before we returned to the car we had also seen a number of
Black Redstarts and then a lovely
Peregrine Falcon roving around the cliff, only to be set upon by a couple of
Choughs willing to take the risk!
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| This Chough Chova Piquirroja Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax made no advance on the passing Peregrine Halcon Peregrino Falco peregrinus (PHOTO: Gilbert Houtekamer) |
Passing the
House Sparrows and
Collared Doves, next it was off through the "Magpie Woods" where we recorded a rapidly disappearing J
ay as we climbed the first slope. The first of many
Mistle Thrushes put in an appearance but, at this point, we had seen the sought-after
Azure-winged Magpies. They would come a little later on when we saw dozens.
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| A very alert Mistle Thrush Zorzal Charlo Turdus viscivorus |
At the back of the woods we turned left to seek out the many larks to be found near the arable fields. At first there seemed to be a
Corn Bunting sitting on the top of every coil of water pipes not to mention the
Common Kestrel that looked down at us from atop the second electricity pylon.
Blackbird and
Chaffinch were duly noted then a whole series of
Crested Larks; every where we looked. More
Corn Buntings and
Linnets but surprise, surprise, a single
Lesser Short-toed Lark amongst the rocks. Disappointingly, only the one good view of a
Calandra Lark before heading off towards the old, ruined Loja road to take the anti-clockwise circle round the back of area.
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| One of very many Crested Larks Cogujada Comun Galerida cristata (PHOTO: Gilbert Houtekamer) |
This short drive produced a number of (Common)
Magpies and
Wood Pigeons whilst the actual circuit produced another
Kestrel then the first of very many
Azure-winged Magpies. A close view of a
Hoopoe whilst a couple of
Meadow Pipits and more
Crested Larks fed to the rear of this particular spot. Towards the end of the circuit we eventually found a single
Northern Wheatear and, upon returning to thee main road, a pair of
Red-legged Partridges.
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| Off to the long grass for this Red-legged Partridge perdiz Roja Alectoris rufa |
Following a stop for lunch where we took a very welcome
menu del dia, we headed off for the mountain track down through the
Sierra Tejeda to Alcaucin calling in at both picnic areas. The top area proved very quiet but we did find a handful of
Goldfinches (Putters), a single
Nuthatch and just two
Crossbills.
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| A rapidly departing Black Wheatear Collalba Negra Oenanthe leucura (PHOTO: Gilbert Houtekamer) |
So off we went and managed to find a pair of passing
Short-toed Eagles before reaching the lower picnic area. What a noise as the lumberjacks went about their business felling trees immediately below the site. No wonder we saw very little but we did manage another
Nuthatch, a few
Crossbills,
Chaffinch and a rather lovely
Grey Wagtail feeding in the narrow stream above the main seating area. We even had a single
Robin followed by both
Great and
Blue Tits.
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| Attentive female Crossbill Piquituerto Comun Loxia curvirostra |
Finally, if you include both the
Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming and the yaffling
Green Woodpecker we managed to record a total of
41 species.
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Grey Wagtail Lavandera Cascadena Motacilla cinerea at the picnic site stream
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Birds seen:
Red-legged Partridge, Short-toed eagle, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Crag martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Azure-winged Magpie, Magpie, Chough, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch, Linnet, Crossbill, Corn Bunting.
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| And not forgetting the Meadow Pipit Bisbita Pratense Anthus pratensis |
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