We logged lots of White Storks on their nests along the way, also several Common Buzzard, large flocks of Spotless Starlings and a small group of Lesser kestrels at Castellar.
In the valley there were many Griffon Vultures circling the cliff faces close to their nests which have eggs at this time of the year! We did a distant pair of Bonelli's Eagles during one stop and several Common Kestrels. Many butterflies were on the wing in the spring sunshine, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral, Large White, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Small Whites.
Speckled Wood
We saw many large flocks of finches, Greenfinch, Goldfinch & Chaffinch, Linnet and Serin were all noted. But it was not until we reached La Janda that the fun started. We stopped at the first bend after the sloping approach road, from there we saw many Common Cranes, White Storks, Little Egrets, a couple of Great White Egrets, Cattle Egrets, large flocks of Lapwings, Golden Plover, Corn Buntings, Meadow Pipits, Calandra Larks and Linnets.
The entrance track to La Janda
Over the next couple of hours we ventured along the central track and then turned towards Benalup. We had a great time watching lots of raptors either perched on pylons, quartering the fields or soaring on thermals. The best was a juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle which showed very well in the afternoon sunlight, but we also saw many Marsh Harriers, Bonelli's Eagle (3), Red Kite, Common Buzzard and a Common Kestrel.
As we returned to the entrance we stopped again to watch more species, Common Pheasant, Moorhen, Green Sandpiper, a superb Black Stork, many Grey herons and a lot more Common Cranes. It is a good year for Cranes with a recent count totalling nearly 2000 birds, the average is about 15oo per winter. We finished off with a sighting of a Black Shouldered Kite, a great bird to finish with.
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