Sierra de Maria - Wednesday 2nd May 2018
After
last evenings rain...and snow in the Sierra de Maria, this morning the
sun was out, but with a chilly wind. I picked up two new members, Paul
& Reyna, from outside Corivan in Arboleas and made our way to Maria
town. On the way we saw an Iberian Green Woodpecker and a Woodchat
Shrike. We watched the House Martins beginning to nest under the garage
canopy as we swigged coffee in the cafe. We were joined by Adrian,
Steve, John & Les and then made our way to the chapel area. As Paul
has an injured leg and is on crutches I drove to the fuente as the
others walked over from the car park. Les had seen a Rock Bunting as
well as Chaffinch. I spotted some distant Griffon Vultures around and to
the east of the telephone masts. Great Tits were in the taller trees. I
drove Paul up to the Botanical Gardens whilst the others walked. They
had good views of a pair of Booted Eagle, which Paul & I saw from a
distance. Les spotted a Mistle Thrush. We heard a European Cuckoo.
Leaving Les, Adrian & Paul in the garden the rest of us did the
lower walk. We saw Blue & Coal Tit and young Crossbill with their
father. Les & co had also seen Crested & Long Tailed Tit. On the
journey down the group had good views of a pair of Stonechat, the male
in particular showed well. I spotted a Subalpine Warbler beneath it in
the shrub.
Moving
on to the farm buildings, we saw Hoopoe, Rock Sparrow and both Barn
& Red Rumped Swallows. Also seen were Serin, Greenfinch &
Goldfinch. Next we stopped at the farm water trough where we saw more
Rock Sparrow, Crested Lark, Linnet and a pair of Turtle Dove. I spotted a
Northern Wheatear on the ridge. A Red Billed Chough showed briefly atop
one of the barns.
I
then lead the convoy along the plain. We saw more Northern Wheatear
& a Hoopoe. Les, John & Mary spotted a Calandra Lark. At the
hamlet we counted only three Lesser Kestrels. Heading back I spotted the
Calandra Lark singing from a rock perch. A lifer for Paul.
As
we ate our lunch at La Piza forest cafe, we watched Crested, Long
Tailed, Blue, Great & Coal Tits feeding on the nuts. Chaffinch &
Crossbill were seen as was a Jay & a Short Toed Treecreeper. It was
also nice to see Sue Ruder there. Long time no see! We ended up with 37
species. Lovely weather & company! Regards, Dave
Dave
![](https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f9f371ce1a&view=fimg&th=16321405e46b9b98&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_jgp72ygk0_163213f1ff9653c8&attbid=ANGjdJ87FkWV7-5yMxVJ7mmNQ4Mgc1xnfS3b_R0WNsfMbVDEDbBdCOq_gL_Q3jKwMnWSpb4M0UeAWTgwK7gtDBo93GY2xUnGHvVt6B9pe5P3CLHGJ-ntlKONdHWHuQM&sz=w972-h1124&ats=1526908073701&rm=16321405e46b9b98&zw&atsh=1)
Male Stonechat
![](https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f9f371ce1a&view=fimg&th=16321405e46b9b98&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_jgp73l771_163213f929693b0b&attbid=ANGjdJ-clZCWO62d3B359h0mw5FOnfEABVD3thu-TfaX1g1dSDm2nhB11_nuvILkwdEuRjrRd_9P55ScIzvMJguuSuEK29a2YtsVX9gwI2-VRY-4zbWLBtljJa_CiEU&sz=w1124-h1060&ats=1526908073701&rm=16321405e46b9b98&zw&atsh=1)
Long Tailed Tit
![](https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f9f371ce1a&view=fimg&th=16321405e46b9b98&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_jgp747u82_1632140048295323&attbid=ANGjdJ-2oBaASbd-GTCouA6upEByH27U229iQQLFr60B0RsqQNi0buL9z0U8EKw1kRbKOT9wFjSinwIXPHFNlHgvyaW5eGBavLZ-nhLsDIjAMsN4hndiu5xR3Zri-Fw&sz=w1124-h958&ats=1526908073701&rm=16321405e46b9b98&zw&atsh=1)
Crested Tit
Male Stonechat
Long Tailed Tit
Crested Tit
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