Alcaucin in the Sierra Tejeda

Firecrest Reyezuelo Listardo Regulus ignicapilla

Wednesday 28 January

Another lovey sunny day and what better way to spend the morning than take a quick trip over to Alcaucin and up to the Alcazar picnic area on the lower slopes of the Sierra Tejeda.  Not a sole in sight so able to just sit and wander slowly around with out being disturbed - and it paid off in less than an hour.

Chaffinches as I approached and in the main picnic area along with a couple of Rock Buntings before walking along the narrow water channel.  A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming away to their hearts' content and a Blackbird made a very vocal departure.  However, little to see on this normally productive route and I began to wonder where all the Crossbills had gone until I returned to the above picnic area.  First a couple of Nuthatches then, on looking up at the movement that caught my, I found a rather handsome male Crossbill.  Not only a Crossbill but a couple of foraging Firecrests and more were to be found in the lower area.

Male Crossbill Piquituerto Comun Loxia curvirostra coming into breeding plumage

Having been joined by first a Blue Tit and then the first of a number of Great Tits, I made my way down through the site finding another Blackbird and a couple of Robins.  Meanwhile, overhead, a trio of Crag Martins were busy feeding on the available insect life whilst a pair of Red Squirrels chased each other up and down the neighbouring trees; spring must definitely be in the air.  But before returning to the car park I also managed a female Cirl Bunting by way of a change along with more feeding Rock Buntings.

Not only birds in the trees as can be seen by this Red Squirrel  Ardilla Roja Sciurus vulgaris

The final birds before driving back down the mountain were a small number of Chiffchaffs, a single male Blackcap and a pair of Goldfinches, "Putters" to my Belgian friend Marieke. A very brief stop at the lower "El Rio" picnic site produced more Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Great Tits and another male Blackbird.


Birds seen:
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Crag Martin, White Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Firecrest, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Crossbill, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting.

"Nuts to the lot of you.  You can't catch me!"

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