2 March 2025
Sounds like a fabulous birding day by Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group; especially all those raptors. Then you add on a variety of tits and wheatears and you wonder what's coming next!,
Sierra de Maria - Wednesday 2nd April
Nigel had recovered enough from his heart procedure to be able to come with me to the Sierra de Maria. I picked him up just before 8am and headed north. En route from Velez Blanco to Maria town I spotted a Collared Dove and Nigel, a Woodpigeon. In town we added Spotless Starling and House Sparrow. The House Martin nest site under the Repsol Garage canopy was still unoccupied. We arrived at the La Piza forest cafe. Nigel went and got the coffees as I replenished the bird feeders. Nigel spotted both Blue and Long Tailed Tits. Some Crossbill flew over. A Jay appeared. On the ground there were Chaffinches picking up crumbs of peanuts. Coal, Great and Crested Tits arrived as did Trevor, Mike, Kirsten, Peter and Richard. The latter had seen a Barn Swallow. Nigel added a Blackcap.
 |
| Crossbill taking a drink. That's a hosepipe, not a rare python!! (PHT: David Elliott-Binns) |
We commenced the loop. We saw nothing going through the forest zone. The agricultural zone had a blanket of mist which was beginning to burn off. We saw Crested Lark, an Iberian Grey Shrike, Rock Sparrow and a Black-eared Wheatear. We parked up by Canadas Canepla village where we were joined by Kevin who'd ventured further north. Amongst other birds he'd seen Red-billed Chough. Nigel spotted a Corn Bunting on the far reed line. Barn Swallows were quartering the fields. We moved on seeing a plethora of corvids....Carrion Crow, Magpies and a Jackdaw. A Hoopoe flew over. We passed the farmhouse where Rollers nested in a box last year but saw nothing....Richard and Peter near the rear of the convoy did see a Roller!
As we passed another farm building Nigel shouted for me to stop. A Little Owl was on the roof. It had gone by the time I'd exited the car, but I did spot a distant Booted Eagle briefly before it disappeared behind a ridge.
We stopped at the cliff face. Another Black-eared Wheatear was seen. A Red-legged Partridge flew off. Mike and Kirsten saw another three on a field. We walked to the far side and got glimpses of Black Wheatear, Linnet and some Rock Sparrows.
We carried on, seeing a Kestrel on the farm building prior to the airstrip and a Raven after it. Peter and Richard spotted a distant Griffon Vulture over towards the still snow covered mountain. The only Griffon of the day. Very odd!
At the hamlet there was a pair of Lesser Kestrels. Nigel added a White Wagtail.
We headed to the La Piza forest cafe. Peter, Richard and Kevin decided to do a quick stop at the goat farm water trough. Kevin disturbed a Short-toed Eagle having a drink! Peter and Richard saw a pair, Mr and Mrs, Hen Harrier! Triple drat!! And the latter saw a Northern Wheatear as well. Sulking at La Piza we only added a Serin coming for a drink.
What a great day's birding in good company. 39 species seen. Next time we might venture north to see what's up there. Sounds interesting! Not a good day for photos for me. Just as I focused the birds seemed to fly off!!
Regards
Dave
For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.
No comments:
Post a Comment