Another interesting outing by the Arboleas Birding Group and especially liked the reference to Whinchats and Orphean Warbler. Be good if I got to record these two species in the next few weeks along with the Common Redstart that I missed back in the spring.
Sierra de Maria - Thursday 13th September 2018
A
Thursday for a change as I had a dentist appointment yesterday. I
picked up Alec in Arboleas and headed for Velez Rubio. The road between
the autovia and the town from the east is closed for roadworks, so we
were diverted back onto the motorway to get off at the next junction.
Wasn't that far, so not much of a delay. We met up with Barrie, Beryl,
Les, Richard, Mike & Diane at the usual cafe. The weather was sunny
and pleasant so we had our coffee outside watching Barn Swallows and
hearing Bee-eaters. Suitably refreshed we headed to the chapel where we
parked up. Due to his mobility problems, Mike took Richard up to the
gardens. The rest of us checked out the chapel area. Barrie spotted a
passing Raven. Also seen were Chaffinch & Great Tit. Jacky joined
us. The water trough was being used as a lure by a cat, so I encouraged
it to move. Still nothing took the risk of a drink, but we did see 2-3
Willow Warblers flitting around the shrubs. They were joined by a Blue
Tit. As we commenced the walk towards the Botanical Gardens, we spotted a
larger warbler at the base of a shrub. It eventually flew to another
shrub giving a brief view. Barrie identified it as a Western Orphean
Warbler. Very nice!
We reached the gardens. A lot of Crossbills were
flying around. Richard had also seen a Crested Tit. A Coal Tit was seen.
Les stayed with Richard as the rest of us did the lower walk. We saw a
small flock of Long-tailed Tits before Jacky headed up the hill side to
do the high walk. She saw a Jay just after leaving us. I managed to find
a distant flock of about 50 Bee-eaters way over towards a hill's ridge.
The only other bird we saw was a Sardinian Warbler.
 |
| Dragonfly (PHOTO: Dave Elliott-Binns) |
At
the farm buildings, Barrie spotted an adult Booted Eagle as we got out
of our vehicles. Les found a low flying Red Rumped Swallow amongst a few
Barn Swallows. I scanned the distant horizon above the pine forest and
spotted some Griffon Vultures. I think we saw about 20 in all plus
another possible Booted Eagle.
At
the farm water trough, there were about half a dozen Carrion Crows
hanging around. I checked out the rugged hillside over the road and
found a brown bird on a pillar and another bird on some distant fencing.
Les zoomed in with his scope. The brown bird was a Rock Sparrow &
the perched one was a juvenile Woodchat Shrike. I then spotted a Turtle
Dove in one of the trees. A juvenile apparently. Barrie & Les
combined to find a pair of Whinchats. Another nice find! Also saw a
Crested Lark.
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| Juvenile Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur (PHOTO: Dave Elliott-Binns) |
Convoying
down the plain, we saw an Iberian Grey Shrike, a posing Black-eared
Wheatear and a Northern Wheatear. Being in the lead car it's always
disconcerting when the vehicles behind you all stop. You've obviously
missed something. I arrived at the hamlet flushing about 6 Short-toed
Larks. The others arrived saying a group of about 12 Short-toed Larks
had shown themselves on the plain as I passed them. All's well that ends
well! We only added a pair of distant Kestrels (assumed all Lesser
Kestrels have well gone by now!)
 |
| Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthehispanica (PHOTO: Dave Elliott-Binns) |
We
retraced our steps to the La Piza forest cafe to eat our lunch watching
the tits and Crossbill feeding and drinking. They were joined by Jays
& chaffinches. We didn't see the Nuthatch that had been feeding on
bread most of the morning! Jacky joined us. She added Robin, Spotted
Flycatcher and a probable female Black Redstart to the days list.
In total we saw 36 species, some good ones amongst them. A great days birding in good company & weather!
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| Bush Cricket Tettigonia hispanica (PHOTO: Dave Elliott-Binns) |
Remember
I told you Barrie & Beryl were off to see Snow Leopards in
Mongolia. They had distant views of one and Barrie managed to see a
closer one. No chance of any photos though! Also just to let you know
Heather Murrell has moved back to the UK. We wish her well and hope to
see her back in Spain for a holiday sometime.
Regards
Dave
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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