It feels great to be back on my own patch again after spending 17 days in Bulgaria. The sun was shining, there was a lovely breeze and I got to see some great birdies.
I collected Neil from a Hotel near Malaga and then we drove into Malaga to collect Judi and Ian who were returning a hire car. After some delay we eventually set off back out of town at 12:30pm. Our target was a Venta where ate a nice tapas lunch before driving back to Guadalmar for our first bird watching stint.
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| Turtle Dove |
We drove to an area where a few pairs of Bee-eaters are breeding, they showed very well both perched and flying around us. At the same site we had great views of a few Turtle Doves, Spotless Starlings, Serins, Goldfinches, Barn Swallows and House Martins. A small stream flowed down to the beach where a small pool held a Little Egret and a couple of Little Ringed Plover.
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| the view from the road near Casares |
Walking upstream towards a bridge we found Red-rumped Swallow nesting under the bridge, a few Grennfinches and a couple of Common Kestrels.
From Guadalmar we drove to Estapona where we turned off the autovia and headed inland toward Gaucin, we stopped twice before we finally reached Gaucin. The first stop produced some late migrating birds, 5 Short-toed Eagles and 9 White Storks were seen up on the thermals. A Blackcap sang from the oak woods but we never saw it.
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| Bonelli's Eagle chick on the nest |
At Crestellina we spent a good hour and a half watching the Bonelli's Eagle's nest, a large chick is just about ready to fledge, it was seen flapping it wings on the edge of the eerie and looking ready to fly off. During our time there we found many Griffon Vultures, a couple of Red-billed Chough, a single Honey Buzzard and some very obliging Woodchat Shrikes. High above us we watched Common Swift, Pallid Swift and Alpine SwiftAlso nearby were: Stonechat, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Greenfinch and Goldfinches.
On the way up the mountain to Gaucin a party of 3 Hawfinches flew in front of the bus and we stopped to look at yet another Short-toed Eagle and a perched Common Buzzard was seen a little later.
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