RIO GENAL EARLY AM - PUNTA UMBRIA CORK WOODS
This was the last morning of the tour, it was dull and overcast, with a low cloud base but now wind. We drove down to the river Genal before breakfast, it was a little chilly but a pleasant morning. Our walk produced Golden Oriole which was our prime target species, we heard at least 4 males calling and had great in the scope views of one of them. We also added a fly-over Marsh Harrier to our tour total. Not much else appeared to show well, we did get brief views of Grey Wagtail, Nightingale and saw two Great Spotted Woodpeckers playing 'piggy-back'.
After breakfast we spent a lovely time walking through the woods at Punta Umbria, we found several of our target woodland species including: Short-toed Treecreeper, Bonelli's Warbler (3-4 singing), Iberian Chiffchaff, also singing. But it was the raptor passage that grabbed our attention, We noticed a couple of Black kites flying over and a single Honey Buzzard, but later we saw over 30 more Honey Buzzards and 3 Common Buzzards, a couple of Booted Eagles and a few Griffon Vultures. The lovely Firecrest put in an appearance and showed well for us as did a Pied Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler.
A Common cuckoo sang it monotonous rant, a Great-spotted Woodpecker drummed and a Green Woodpecker yaffled in the distance. Soon it was time to quit and walk back into the village to get ready for our early evening departure to the airport.
Thus ended another birding tour, we had managed to list over 150 species during the trip, Lesvos is next, so watch this space.
Red-throated Bee-eater
join us for a fantastic tour of The Gambia this November
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