Sierra de Maria with the Arboleas Birding Group

 Thursday 16 October

Looks like the fun and games with the Arboleas Birding Group continues as between them they manage to locate a variety of cracking birds.  Apart from the natives, it looks as if many of our UK summer visitors are now back in Spain as they continue their southerly migration.  And your 100 Choughs certainly outnumbers the pair I saw whilst visiting Cork on September's round Britain cruise!  Good luck next week in Cabo de Gata, my favourite Almeria birding site.

María Birding Report: Wednesday 15 October

I stayed overnight in María village to save myself a long early morning drive.  Consequently I had plenty of time to get to la Piza, so I pulled in for a few minutes at the Ruinas de la Aduana (the remains of the old customs post which was once the sole entrance to the hunting estate of the Marques de los Vélez).  Pay attention, there will be a test later.  I had a Jay, House Sparrow and Rock Sparrow, and was astonished (it was only 9 a.m.) to see a couple of Griffon Vultures already up on the thermals.

            I was first to arrive at the La Piza Forest Cafe and was immediately welcomed by a Nuthatch on one of the feeders. I was complimenting the cafe guy on his ‘Birds of La Piza’ clock face and he responded with: “Would you like a free poster of the local birds?”  You can guess my answer.  Soon Trevor appeared, bringing with him Dave from Dublin, followed by Wendy, James, Nigel and Richard. Wet benches and tables meant that coffee was taken standing.  James had already seen a Magpie and we now added Robin, Blue Tit, Collared Dove and Crested Tit.  James was first to see a family of Long-tailed Tits, Wendy called a Coal Tit, Richard logged a Spotted Flycatcher and Dave added a Chaffinch.

Spotted Flycatcher (PHOTO: Bob Wright)

            I suggested we back-track to the Botanical Gardens as we hadn’t been there for a good while.  I noticed Blackbird and Wood Pigeon en route.  Looking out from the parking area by the chapel, Wendy found Stonechat, Blackcap and ‘a flock of Rock Doves’.  Is a Rock Dove the same as a feral pigeon?  And do we normally count it?  Answers on a postcard.  We made our way up to the Botanical Garden where an INFOCA vehicle was noisily pumping water. (INFOCA is the body that fights forest- and wild-fires.)  We stayed in the lower part of the garden but there was literally nothing new and the noise made hearing bird-song next to impossible.  At least we had the chance to give a fond nod to Adrian Speakman’s bench, though.

            Time for ‘the Loop’.  We passed through a belt of thick fog which fortunately had dissipated by the time we approached Cañada de Cañeplas.  Crested Lark and Kestrel were seen as we got there.  We made our usual stop and saw a couple of Carrion Crows, heard several Choughs and locked on to a mystery LBJ that our combined skills failed to identify.  I forgot to note it down but I think it was here that Dave identified a charm of passing Goldfinches.  We also had very good views of a Large BJ which caused great puzzlement.  James suggested Buzzard but then felt the wing angle wasn’t right so in the end I think we were undecided.  Just for now though I will put it down as a Buzzard.

Red-billed Chough (PHOTO: Bob Wright)

            As we convoyed slowly along most of us stopped and watched an entertaining and prolonged skirmish between initially one and then two Kestrels and a Carrion Crow.  Both sides were giving as good as they got.  We tried to turn the falcons into Lesser Kestrels but we couldn’t convince ourselves. Approaching ‘The Crag’ we saw a flock of about 60 or 70 Choughs off to the right.  At the crag we compared notes: Richard reported a Raven, Nigel a Thekla Lark and I had heard Red-legged Partridge.  More Griffons were seen at the crag, initially by Wendy, and Trevor and I saw a Black Wheatear around the far side.  Looking across to the high ground opposite, I think it was here that James saw a Black Redstart.  Meanwhile we were all treated to a spectacular aerial display by the flock of Choughs which by now had grown to about a hundred.  At some point Dave from Dublin asked: “Are we having fun yet?”  We were.

            We convoyed on, with at least a couple of Hoopoes sighted as we dipped down towards Venta Micena.  Nothing more until we arrived at ‘the hamlet’ aka Pozo de la Rueda, where I spied the Little Owl on its favoured perch on the end buttress of the barn on the left.  After we had all parked, I led an ambush party, hoping to get a look at it by sneaking round the other end of the barn, only to be mildly embarrassed by the fact that it had vanished.  Nigel added the sole new bird here, a White Wagtail.  A brief stop at ‘the water trough’ aka Casablanca produced another mystery LBJ that defeated us but at least James found a Greenfinch.

            I left from there to head home but Nigel messaged me to say that, over lunch back at La Piza, Crossbill and Short-toed Treecreeper were seen.  Thanks, Nigel.  So, in total, 36-ish species, with apologies if I missed any sightings.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable stint of birding in excellent company.

            An update on our fundraising: so far this year we have accumulated €218.95, which in due course will go to the Andalucía Bird Society as part of their attempt to raise €10,000 (already nearly achieved) to help the NGO ‘Salarte’ re-wet marshlands in the Doñana area.  Thanks to everyone for their contributions so far.

            I hear that both Peter W and Alan have not been well, so we send them our best wishes for a speedy recovery and hope to see them soon. 

            Next Wednesday, 22^nd Oct, we will go to Cabo de Gata.  Meet at the usual lay-by hide at 09.15 and if you could let me know whether you are coming (kevindborman@gmail.com or WhatsApp 686 351 816) that would be helpful.

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