Right on cue, I have just received a report from my Friend Derek Etherton outlining the events of the Andalucia Bird Society meet down in the Tarifa area to which I referred in Derek's Saturday email to me. Nevermind the bad weather, look at the terrific birds seen by Derek and company.
Staying
in Tarifa overnight on the Friday meant we had only a short journey on
the Saturday morning to meet up with the ABS group. Just as well we did
because the rain steadily falling made it seem a good idea not to have
to travel too far. Grabbing breakfast at 08:00hrs left us time to visit
the Tarifa car park, hopefully to note the resident Bulbul. We parked
up and walked to the birds known favourite area in the steady rain -
dedication or what? We noted Yellow-legged Gulls, Pallid Swift, House
Sparrow as we searched the trees for the bird. After 10 minutes it
started singing its distinctive song, but was it? Because we have
learned from local birders that the Spotless Starlings now imitate the
Bulbul! Then some movement and the bird itself appeared right in front
of us to start singing again - excellent.
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| Forget the rain. Do I see a Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator hiding behind the Wryneck Jynx torquilla | (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
We
arrived at the meeting point spot on 09:00hrs to assemble and head off,
still through rain, to Guadalmesi to search for passerines before,
hopefully, raptors started to cross. Stopping on top of the hill by the
disused army camp we were aware of an increase in the wind, mainly a
south westerly. Whilst there we managed to find Chiffchaff, Common
Kestrel and Blackbird. A couple of Black Kites were spied in the far
distance, but the increasing wind made us move on pretty smartly.
Having
driven down the road (?) to reach the coastal track we stopped to note
Stonechats, Linnets, Green and Goldfinches. Peering over the cliff to
the Straits in front of us we noticed Turnstones and Sanderling on the
rocks below. Sandwich Terns fished and a couple of Cormorants flew
past. Woodchat Shrikes were on the bushes and several Crested Larks
flew around. Moving on further to the watch point several Nightingales
were 'winding up' in the bushes at the side of the track. A solitary
Whimbrel was seen on the next range of rocks and by now, several
Bee-eaters passed overhead. House Martins and Barn Swallows darted
around and a Red-legged Partridge scuttled by.
We
spent some time sheltering from the wind down by the watch point and
patience rewarded us with Great Skuas, Gannets, both Common and Pallid
Swifts, and some, we think, Common Scooters far out nearer to the
Morocco shore than Spain. As usual the Little Owls posed on the ruined
buildings to be joined by a Hoopoe.
By
1130hrs the first quantity of Black Kites were seen crossing, then a
lone Booted Eagle struggled over fighting hard against the strong wind -
he made it OK! 2 Short-toed Eagles 'hung' in the skies further inland
and at the same time Griffon Vultures were seen.
By
1230hrs it was decided to drive back and head for coffee, or something
warmer, at Apolo X1. But first we stopped on top of the hill again to
see many Black Kites pass low overhead. Corn Buntings were singing and a
solitary Willow Warbler was identified.
As
we had spent all of Friday on La Janda we, and a couple of other cars
and their occupants headed to Barbate. By now the weather had
deteriorated drastically and my phone app warned of heavy rain only 5km
away. The wind now seemed like hurricane force making car doors
difficult to open. Eventually we managed to see a couple of Collared
Praticoles flying and then many more hunkered down seeking shelter.
However the wind didn't seem to stop the Skylarks singing, nor the Corn
Buntings. Waders were few and far between, Cattle Egret, Spoonbill, a
couple of Black-winged Stilts and a few Stone Curlew were all that were
visible.
Continuing
up the track, in very poor condition after all the recent rain, we
noticed and watched several Short-toed Larks on the edge of the track.
Movement in a bare bush at the side of us (only 2 cars in our convoy)
and within 5 minutes we were fortunate to have a Wryneck show itself and
fly the short distance to the barbed wire fence. Sadly it disappeared
before photos could record the bird but, unknown to us at this stage,
better was to come later!
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| Wryneck Jynx torquilla (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
Birds
were generally staying low and out of the wind and the impending rain,
now visible across the water so we turned round and headed back down
the track. Could we find the Wryneck again? Even better, we found it,
plus a Whitethroat and a first of the season Common Redstart. By now
the rain was hammering down and the birds had sought shelter in a
Tamarisk tree, so we positioned the cars so all could see them. Spanish
Sparrows also sought shelter nearby, at least 30 of them. We took some
photos through the windscreen synchronising the taking with the wipers
working - a bit like machine guns on the Spitfires! It did stop raining
after some 25 minutes and the birds moved out to the open and proceeded
to preen giving further opportunities for viewing.
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| Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
By
now it was getting late so we continued driving back down the track and
noted that the heavy rain had attracted several waders into the muddy
area. Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Sanderling and Dunlin were seen
close by.
So
it was back to the road, goodbyes to friends and head for the drive
back home to AdlT after a very enjoyable couple of days with some
excellent sightings, bringing our yearly total (for Southern Spain) to
204.
Derek
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| Wryneck Jynx torquilla (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
Despite the awful weather, the report reflects a great range of birds. But my biggest surprise came with the very last word. I was aware that Derek had seen species unseen by me to date this year, including his next door neighbour the local Tawny owl, and this report mentions a further three species that I am yet to see. But, and here comes the big surprise, his latest total is just, a single species, ahead of me! But well done Derek, Jerry and the two Barbaras.
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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