SEPT 5TH - DAY 3 OF 7 DAY MIGRATION TOUR

A Busy day today with several venues on the itinerary.

Gaucin (chestnut woods) - Rio Guadiaro (Estacion de Cortes) - Llanos de Libar (Montejaque) - Ronda - Encinas Borraches track.

At Gaucin woods we had a good start - as we climbed out of the bus a party of Honey Buzzards went south along the ridge (12 birds), then a small flock of Hawfinches flew from a nearby tree and by the time we had assembled in readiness for the walk another group of Honey Buzzards sailed over and a Pied Flycatcher flitted about in the nearest tree. The walk produced very little but a flock of Blue Tits included a dozen Long-tailed Tits and a Crested Tit. Only a Eurasian Nuthatch (heard) was new from then on.
 

The group hard at work - eating as usual

We had a lovely time walking along the river in beautiful sunshine with a nice breeze. A  good number pof species were present and we amassed quite a list. New species for the tour were: Cirl Bunting, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Rock Sparrow, White Wagtail, Turtle Dove, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and a showy Cetti's Warbler.

The first thing we did at Llanos de Libar was to eat lunch and, as earlier, we saw many of our target birds just as we got out of the bus. Our walk produced great views of Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Black Redstart and Rock Bunting.

Mackerel in the sky - three days dry?

The mackerel sky shown above appeared over the peaks as we watched a good number of Griffon Vultures, Short-toed Eagles and a few more Honey Buzzards.

Blue Rock Thrush at the water trough - we also saw Black wheatear, 

 

Black Redstart and Rock Bunting there

 After a short visit to the centre of Ronda, where the group walked across the famous bridge, we drove to the Encinas Borraches Track on the road back to Gaucin. We found some very good species and saw all the target birds. Thekla Lark, Southern Grey Shrike, Spectacled Warbler, Corn Bunting and a superb Black-eared Wheatear were the pick of the bunch.

Southern Grey Shrike

Four pictures of the fabulous Black-eared Wheatear

After dinner we drove down to the Guadiaro Valley to look for nightjars and owls. We weren't disappointed we saw two little Owls on the way down the valley, then we found our first Red-necked Nightjar sitting on the track. We got quite close and as we watching it a GENET popped out of the hedge, what agreat piece of luck. The GENET came right out just a few meters behind the nightjar, it cross the road after stopping to scent mark a post.

Bird of the day (night)  Red-necked Nightjar

 The seond Nightjar Shown above was even more confiding, it allowed us to get within a couple of meters, what a star. The group returned back to the house well pleased with their first evening excursion.