Today I was back on the birding scene after a few days break, I collected Simon from Malaga Airport at 11:30am and we drove directly to Guadalmar for our first birding extravaganza.
Our first bird was a Bee-eater which flew around the car as we pulled up, several of them were nesting in the low sand banks near to the beach. As we walked across the sand dunes towards a row of eucalyptus trees we saw several small groups of Monk Parakeets making their way noisily towards another clump of trees.
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| Booted Eagle taken by Simon Vickers |
Jackdaws were perched high up in the trees as were a number of Spotless Starlings and dozens of Goldfinches. We approached a small stream that had virtually dried up but a pair of Little Ringed Plover fed on the dried mud and four or five Turtle Doves came down to drink. A family party of White Wagtails also fed on the water's edge whilst a Little Egret spent most of its time eating fish. A Hoopoe flew from the nearby golf course carrying food and a pair of Common Kestrel flew menacingly around the trees, this disturbed the House Martins, Barn Swallows and Red-rumped Swallows causing them to call out in alarm.
We picked up some lunch from a local store and then ate it whilst looking over the Guadalhorce nature reserve, it was very quiet and we only saw a few Yellow-legged Gulls, e didn't venture onto the reserve as time was tight.
A brief stop at Manilva produced great views of a pale morph Booted Eagle and five Griffon Vultures sailed over much higher, a Blackcap sang from a dense bush and a Cirl bunting showed for a short time.
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| Sierra Crestellina |
At Sierra Crestellina more Griffon Vultures showed well and a superb Short-toed Eagle drifted over us. No other birds of prey were seen but passerines sitting on wires and bushes included: Crag Martin, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat, Corn Bunting and more Goldfinches.
After a brief stop at the Mirador de Gaucin where we saw some lovely butterflies we spent sometime on our top terrace where we added Blue Rock Thrush and hundreds of Common Swifts.
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| Both Swallowtail species seen at Gaucin Mirador - taken by Simon Vickers |
Not a bad start to our five day trip, plenty more species to come in the next few days!
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