JULY 31ST 2014 - DAY TOUR

ENCINAS DE BORRACHAS -  CUEVA DE GATO

I was up nice and early for this trip, I had to be in Ronda at 7am to collect my day-tour group of birders. Bernard, Penny, Ali and John were staying in the quirky 'Enfrente Arte' Hotel a superb place to stay when visiting Ronda. Bernard and the rest of the gang had been out with me last year for a similar day out.


L TO R: BERNARD, ALI, JOHN AMD PENNY

We met right on time and set off for the short drive to the Encinas Borrachas track some 12km away. It was a clear morning with a chilly breeze which was quite noticeable as we got out of the car to start our walk.

BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR

The first sighting was of a Southern (Iberian) Grey Shrike, at least 3 birds were on show, a family party which indicates that this species has bred there once again. Next came a small flock of Thekla Larks, they wouldn't keep still at first but we nailed them down in the end, not literally!


VIEW AT THE START OF THE EMCINAS BORRACHAS TRACK

A Little Owl watched us from the rocky slopes and we found several juvenile Black-eared Wheatears, the air was alive with the twittering Goldfinches and Linnets and a small flock of Spotless Starlings were calling from a pylon. We found huge numbers of tiny Natterjack Toads, they breed here every year in the man-made pools nearby which were drying up fast.

As the sun got up the air warmed and more birds began to appear, on the high cliff ledges we saw Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush and Common Kestrel.


THEKLA LARK - TRYING TO BE COY?

We walked further along the track onto the heath where Common Stonechats were common and we got glimpses of Dartford Warbler and great views of a number of Woodchat Shrikes. As we moved into the oak woods we began to hear and see many Bonelli's Warblers and the occasional Subalpine Warbler.


JUV. WOODCHAT SHRIKE

Our return journey produced more of the above with addition of Spectacled Warbler, Eurasian Hoopoe, Griffon Vulture and lots of Corn Buntings. Several butterflies were now on the wing with Bath White, Berger's Clouded Yellow, Tree Grayling and Dusky Heath showing well for us.

DUSKY HEATH

TREE GRAYING

We left the track after a wonderful 3-hour walk but we were in need of caffeine so we stopped along the way to our next venue. A quick coffee in Jimera de Libar woke us all up in time for a short birding stop at the very scenic beauty spot at Cueva de Gato (cat's cave).  It was now very hot and our walking was over for the day.

BLUE POOL AT THE CUEVA DE GATO
 

The torquoise-coloured water gushes out from the cave and forms a most picturesque pool, we sat and ate our picnic there, how lovely was that?

A short walk to and from the pool produced sightings of Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Barn Swallow, Crag Martin, Serin and Sardinian Warbler.

COPPER DEMOISELLE

I then took my lovely clients back to Ronda and their 'alternative art' hotel, after a quick tour of the quirky rooms and a small cold beer I was on my way back to Gaucin at 2pm.