Wednesday 30 April
What a fabulous day's birding for Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group. Bee-eaters, Black-eared Wheatear, Red-rumped Swallow, Golden Oriole; what's not to like amongst the group's 51 species. If only I could find some of these species back in the UK. On the other hand, further west and Ireland seem to have been inundated with arriving Hoopoes this month.
Sierra de Maria - Wednesday 30th April
I drove Richard in his car together with Gilly and Nigel. We headed towards the Sierra de Maria. As we passed Velez Blanco I spotted the first bird of the day in the count zone, some House Martins near the castle. En route to Maria town Richard saw Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, and a Blackbird. Gilly added Common Swift and Spotless Starlings. In town we saw House Sparrow and on the way to La Piza we clocked White Wagtail and Goldfinch. Just after turning into the La Piza forest cafe approach road Nigel saw a Woodlark on the "football field". As we were parking, Gilly found a Jay. I discovered two Crossbill having a drink on the ramp in the water deposit. Whilst having coffee Nigel spotted Blue, Coal and Crested Tits taking peanuts from the replenished bird feeders. Gilly added Serin, Short-toed Treecreeper and Chaffinch. The Jay returned for nuts. A Collared Dove was also seen. We were joined by Alan and Trevor.
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| Crested Tit on the nuts (PHOTO: Gilly) |
Suitably refreshed we commenced the loop, Alan and Trevor following behind. Richard opened the sun roof which gave us good views of an adult Booted Eagle Gilly had spotted. Also seen were Carrion Crow, Magpie and Thekla Lark. Gilly then spotted a single Griffon Vulture. As we approached the village I spotted a couple of pairs of Calandra Larks. As we parked up there were Greenfinch on the road. Gilly added a Red-rumped Swallow, but I trumped her with a male Golden Oriole flying along the front of the houses. Alan and Trevor had seen a Corn Bunting and Richard, a Crested Lark.
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| Corn Bunting (PHOTO: Gilly) |
There were many Corn Buntings seen along the track. As we approached the farm building with the nest box, low and behold there was a Roller on top of the box and another on the roof. Two Red-billed Chough flew by. Following behind Alan and Trevor added a Rock Sparrow. En route to the cliff face we had Linnet and Black-eared Wheatear. The cliff face produced Jackdaw, Black Wheatear and a Kestrel. We could hear a number of Nightingales singing from the shrubs. Moving on we found another Rock Sparrow.
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| Black-eared Wheatear (PHOTO: Gilly) |
Driving through the cave village we came across some obliging Bee-eaters. Driving towards the hamlet Gilly heard a Zitting Cistacola. The hamlet had some Lesser Kestrels in residence. Along the plain we disturbed about 7 Turtle Doves in a roadside Bush. A Raven flew by. At the water trough we saw a Hoopoe, Linnets, Serins and Gilly photographed a Turtle Dove.
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| Bee-eaters (PHOTO: Gilly) [Richard had a similar photo but couldn't download it. Sorry!] |
We adjourned to the La Piza where we lunched inside as although the weather was sunny with clouds there was a bitterly cold breeze! As we were leaving Trevor spotted some Griffon Vultures. En route to Los Velezes we encountered two or three flumes of further Griffons.
Trevor and Alan visited the Botanical Garden. They heard then saw a Western Bonelli's Warbler. They heard a Great Tit, added a Woodchat Shrike and possibly a Western Orphean Warbler.
We ended with 48 species. A really good days birding in good company! Photos by Gilly.
Best wishes to Juda, Seamus and Linda
Regards
Dave
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| Turtle Dove with Goldfinch (PHOTO: Gilly) |
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