Wednesday 3 September
Good to see the Arboleas Birding Group is out and about again and what a way to start with Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike and confirmation that Nuthatches can be found in the Sierra de Maria. Look forward to the next adventure whilst I am cruising around GB so could well be in the Shetlands by the. Hope I, too, see some cracking birds!
Sierra de Maria - Wednesday 3rd September 2025
For our first outing of the autumn I decided we'd return to Sierra de Maria as it would be cooler than the 30c+ heat down on the coast. Richard came to my house and I drove up to Maria. We saw Common Swift and a Goldfinch approaching the town. There were still House Martins flying around their nesting site in the canopy at the Repsol garage. Richard saw some Spotless Starlings.
We arrived at the La Piza forest cafe. Before I put some nuts out we already logged Great and Blue Tits on the feeders. Whilst emptying poor Juda's house of food, we came across lots of out of date packets of cob nuts. We collected them all and replenished the feeders with them. In the attempt many ended up on the ground. The Jays loved them. We had 8 flying in and removing beakfuls to store. Richard added a Short-toed Treecreeper. Also seen were Coal, Long-tailed and Crested Tits, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon and Blackbird. We were joined by Seamus, Linda and well-behaved Lottie, the dog.
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| Long-tailed Tit (PHOTO: David-Elliott-Binns) |
We commenced to do the "loop", us leading with the others behind. Only saw a Jay going through the pine forest. Out in the fields it wasn't much better. Only Crested Lark and House Sparrow. Richard and I somehow missed the 20 odd Griffon Vultures seen by Linda and Seamus!
We only stopped briefly outside the village as there was no bird activity. Along the track we added Barn Swallow, Rock Sparrow and a juvenile Woodchat Shrike. We arrived at the cliff face. Nothing on the rock face but there was a Magpie below it and I spotted an adult Booted Eagle way in the distance. Seamus and Linda arrived in time to see a magnificent female Marsh Harrier flying over the summit. Further on we saw a Black-eared Wheatear. Approaching the airstrip I saw a flight of birds to the left. Managed to stop the car and see Black-bellied Sandgrouse land the other side of a small ridge. A Carrion Crow was seen. As we approached the village we were surprised to see a single Bee-eater on a power line. We disturbed a Hoopoe as we drove on. Between the cave village and the hamlet Richard and I saw another pale rumped harrier. Collins confirmed it was an adult female Montagu's!
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| Rear view of a juvenile Woodchat Shrike (PHOTO: David-Elliott-Binns) |
On the plain beyond the hamlet Richard glimpsed a Little Owl as we sped past. There was nothing at the water trough so lunch beckoned at La Piza. It was quite busy. I had to stop a young Spanish boy trying to eat the mealworms we'd put out! We saw all of the same as previously. Less Jays though. A Crossbill turned up for a drink. Linda then spotted the bird of the day/year! A Nuthatch! Never seen one in our area. Years ago when I was at La Piza with the SAGA group an English birder who was there said he'd seen one. The Spanish bird guide poo-pooed the observation saying they are not in this area. They are now!
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| Confirmation of Nuthatch at La Piza! (PHOTO: David-Elliott-Binns) |
33 species seen. Maria never fails to please! Great day with good friends!
Regards
Dave
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