Huetor Tajar

Tuesday 23 May 

A great birding welcome to the stay with Mick and a short walk after!  No sooner had I made the final turn to drive up to Mick's house than a Black-winged Kite took off from the second telegraph pole and within thirty metres three Turtle Doves were seen resting on the wires. 

Bee-eater

After a coffee break it was down to the fields to see what was about and, again, another Black-winghed Kite and not less than seven Turtle Doves.  A Bee-eater was showing well on the wires and also seen was a Little Owl resting behind the wires atop a pole at the end of the road.

Little Owl

Once across the river we parked up and took a leisurely stroll along the bank before making our  return in time to mis the rapidly appearing thunder storm!  Well over a hundred Common and a score or more Pallid Swifts along with many House Martins and a few Barn Swallows.  Crested Lark and Blackbirds were soon recorded as was the first Zitting Cisticola. Similarly, no shortage off Corn Buntings and a few Iberian Yellow Wagtails.  However, it was, perhaps, the pair of Montagu's Harriers that really drew our attention even if we found no Little Bustards on this occasion.

Corn Bunting

Making our way back we recorded a Short-toed Lark, Goldfinch and Greenfinch plus a couple of Linnets and then finally found our Tree Sparrow. Nearer the car both Spotless Starling and Nightingale.

After dinner it was a question of sitting on the back terrace and watching first a Golden Oriole fly past quickly followed by both Iberian Magpie and a Mistle Thrush.  Perhaps the icing on the cake when the Serin appeared on the wires.  A great way for Mick to welcome guests to his home.

Birds seen:

Black-winged Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Bee-eater, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Blackbird, Mistkle Thrush, Zitting Cisticola, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Spotless Starling, Golden Oriole, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow,  Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Corn Bunting.

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