Wednesday 27 May
What a fabulous birding day for the Arboleas Birding Group with fabulous bird, photos and company. All those exciting bords surely do bring back very many memories of my life in Andalucia. For me, on perhaps the last day of our present run of 30+C temperatures, a visit to Martin Down a few miles north-west of Ringwood and, probably, the part I visited still in Hampshire rather than Wiltshire. This is probably the only place now you are reasonably certain of a Turtle Dove and it took a while at that. On the other hand, whilst checking the small spinney where I saw them last year, a Cuckoo calling from almost on top of me with a further distant response across the Down. Not only a Cuckoo but I think he must have woken a sleeping Nightjar as a long churring episode followed; and then, minutes later, I heard the Turtle Dove. And like your good selves, I, too, came across a Red-legged Partridge. But what has become of all the native Grey Partridges?
Sierra de Maria - Wednesday 26th May
Another lovely day to go birdwatching. Sunny with a few clouds. Nigel picked Rob and I up and we headed to the Sierra de Maria. After passing the start line just outside Velez Blanco I soon had House Martin and Common Swift on the list. Between there and Maria town we added Red-rumped Swallow, Red-legged Partridge, Woodpigeon, a couple of Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling and House Sparrow. After the town, before we got to the La Piza forest cafe we observed Mistle Thrush, Hoopoe and Magpie.
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| Hoopoe (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
Kevin was already drinking coffee as we refilled the feeders with peanuts. To start with, only a Jay appeared. Kevin had already done a couple of stops on the other side of the forest, seeing Serin, White Wagtail, Chaffinch, Barn Swallow, Blackbird, Short-toed Treecreeper and Crossbill. Steve, Carolyn and Trevor joined us. They wandered off with Rob who'd heard a Firecrest, Great Tit and Chiffchaff. Barrie, Beryl, Wendy and James arrived as did a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the nuts! Also seen were Coal and Blue Tits and a Goldfinch.
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| Lesser Kestrels (PHOTO: Nigel White) |
Rob wanted to catch up on his warblers so I suggested some of the group might go to the Botanical Gardens and the rest do the loop. Barrie and Beryl kindly took Rob up there. They would not be disappointed! The rest of us commenced the loop. At the rear of the convoy, Steve, Carolyn, Wendy and James spotted a Golden Eagle and Griffon Vulture. As we drove through the forest section a Firecrest flew across. Once in the field section I spotted a Lesser Short-toed Lark, a number of Crested Larks and a few Calandra Larks. We also had Red-billed Chough and Jackdaw.
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| Bee-eaters (PHOTO: Nigel White) |
We stopped outside the village seeing Barn Swallows, Corn Buntings and Spotless Starlings. En route to the cliff face we saw Rock Sparrows, Carrion Crows, an obliging Hoopoe and a handsome Roller. There were lots of Rock Sparrows on the cliff face. Didn't hear any Nightingales but did hear a Turtle Dove. Wendy spotted three Griffon Vultures. Moving on we had good views of Bee-eaters in the cave house village. A Turtle Dove also perched on one of the power lines. I added a Black Wheatear. Nothing was added till we got to the hamlet where we saw about 4 Lesser Kestrels. In the distance we saw a 30+ plume of Griffon Vultures.
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| Roller (PHOTO: Nigel White) |
Deep breath.....meanwhile Barrie, Beryl and Rob went to the botanical garden. As they got out of the car in the chapel car park there was a Melodious Warbler in the trees and a Bonelli's Eagle soaring above them. Walking up to the information centre they added Subalpine, Sardinian and Western Orphean Warblers. Three Booted Eagles flew above them. Although there was heavy machinery working in the area of the gardens they added Long-tailed Tit. On the way back down they added Common Buzzard and two Golden Eagles. ( Birds may have been seen at different times!)
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| Turtle Dove (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
They then followed us, at a distance, around the loop. They added Black-eared Wheatear, Common Kestrel, Raven and Stonechat. They also had a Little Owl and Red-billed Chough at the hamlet.
Well what a fantastic day birding teams A and B had. We totalled 54 birds. (If we logged Merlin hearings it would've been more!) Great to see Rob, Wendy and James again.
Regards
Dave
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