AUGUST 15TH - DAY TOUR

This was the second day out with Richard and Michael. It was another birght sunny day that got very hot in the afternoon - 35 degrees in the shade!!

Landscape around Montejaque

We made avery early start at 7am and set off for the 'Dead Tree' found at the pumping station in El Colmenar. The tree did not let us down! Perched in the tree when we arrived was Hawfinch (6), looking very scruffy in their summer moult, Spotless Starlings (4), ditto, Chaffinch, Spotted Flycatcher and a few House Sparrows. After an hour we had added Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Green Woodpecker (1) and the star of the morning a male Golden Oriole.

View up the Guadiaro Valley

Well satisfied with the morning's birding we went back to Gaucin for breakfast with Dawn. At 9:30am we all set off for a trip up the Guadiaro Valley, stopping first at the River near Estacion Cortes. We had a terrific time watching: Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, White & Grey Wagtails, Red-rumped Swallows, Chiffchaffs, dozens of House Martins, a few Barn Swallows and the odd Pallid Swift. two bits of excitement enhanced our visit: A small flock of Bee-eaters descended on the river and began to drop into the water for a wash and a small party of White Rumped Swifts (3) were seen over the hillside.

Guadiaro Valley

Other birds of note were Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Griffon Vulture and Common Buzzard.

Further up the valley we stopped for lunch at a venta in Montejaque and after enjoying a lovely salad with Tortilla we were quickly back on the tracks and trails. Soon we notched Black Wheatear, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift, Rock Dove, Bee-eaters (again), Pallid Swifts and Griffon Vultures. It was whilst we were watching the vultures soaring on high that we noticed tiny black specks in the sky which turned out to be migrating Black Kites, there were 40 - 50 passing through extremely high up.

View of the Guadiaro River

Well it was now 38 degrees and getting warm, so we decided to call it a day, Richard and Michael set off home (near Antequera) and I went back to Gaucin.

Over the two days we had logged over 70 species, considering the high temperatures and for-shortened time in the field I thought that was pretty damn good!