Birding on the Costa del Sol (Malaga) (2 Viewers)

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

100+ Birds Malaga Birding Tour February (2017.02.27)

I tried a different strategy today that provided me with 101 species in a month with still very short days!

Click here for the complete list of birds observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...g-tour-costa-del-sol-andalucia-southern-spain

The break of dawn at El Chorro showed most of the typical forest birds. I stayed there until I could spot the silhouette of the Golden Eagle making dives over his territory among the Griffon Vultures.

Out of the forest, I also witnessed an intense fight between the Bonelli’s Eagle and a Griffon Vulture that had mistaken its flight height across the cliff, and the Bonelli’s with the Peregrine Falcon, that showed their stunning skills in the air. Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Dartford Warbler and Thekla Lark were also present in the area. The mimicking songs of an Iberian Grey Shrike made me leave the truck to make visual contact with it and allowed my finding of a lovely Fan-lipped Orchid.

My next move was a good breakfast and a tour across the farmlands, where I got Crested and Calandra Larks, Cranes and my first Red-rumped Swallow of the year.

Once at the Fuente de Piedra lake, there was a big flock of Cattle Egrets, many of them wearing nice summer plumages, the White Storks that have been present this winter, my first Yellow Wagtails of the season as well, a few White-headed Ducks at the Laguneto, where there also was a Red-crested Pochard, that has been absent during our long drought period.

The Mouth of the Guadalhorce is showing good in the last weeks. Booted Eagle and Osprey, Spoonbill, a nice flock of adult Greater Flamingos looking for a way to get in from the sea, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Kentish Plover and very active Sandwich Terns at the beach apart from the common birds at this site: Black-winged Stilt, Black-necked Grebes, herons, egrets, finches, etc.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Bird wathing tour around Malaga province. Stage 1

Stage 1: Montes de Malaga and Mouth of the Guadalhorce Nature Reserves

Dan has come from Canada to spend a few days on the Coast and wants to know about birdlife in Southern Spain.

Click here for the complete list of 77 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-03-03

The weather was fantastic at dawn at Montes de Malaga. Even though the first lights of the day had already appeared, the Tawny Owl still honoured us with some beautiful hooting. Then, we had great views of Firecrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Crossbill, Hawfinch and tits, specially the crested ones.

We were watching a Sparrowhawk soaring over the trees when a smaller raptor started to mob it. What was it? It was a Sparrowhawk! So, the first one was... A Goshawk! It was twice as big as the small brave Sparrowhawk and soon flew away from our field of vision.

We devoted the afternoon to the Mouth of the Guadalhorce. It had become a bit cloudy and there were rains from which we sheltered in the hides. We saw many interesting birds before we got to the beach: Booted Eagle, White-headed Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Spoonbill and Crested Lark.

The beach gave us a nice flock of Audouin’s Gulls, Mediterranean Gull, Gannet and Razorbill. A very heavy shower suddenly started while crossing the beach to the west side of the reserve. We could still find a couple of Kentish Plovers there and the Marsh Harrier on our way to the Laguna Grande.

Once at the Laguna Grande hide, clouds went by and we had a very nice light until the end of our trip. There were lots of Shovelers, a few Gadwalls, two Wigeons, the Black-necked Grebes, a Yellow Wagtail and the typical Cormorants and Grey Herons.

The icing on the cake was a Peregrine Falcon mobbing a seagull and a few more flights of the Booted Eagle above the lake before we left.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Bird watching tour around Malaga province. Stage 2.

Stage 2: El Chorro & Valley of the Guadalhorce

Very good signs of spring time: good weather and the arrival of some birds!

Click here for the complete list of the 50 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...a-del-sol-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-03-08

It was only 7ºC at dawn at El Chorro and all the valleys were covered by the fog. But as we climbed up and the sun rose, the day became shiny and even hot. We were a little bit red at the end of the day... time for sunscreen arrived!

El Chorro did not disappoint us and gave us all its wonderful gems: Dartford Warbler on the way to the cliffs; the couple (watching them flying together at this time of the year is a little bit worrying...) of Bonelli’s Eagles; the majestic Griffon Vultures; Black Wheatears calling, singing and displaying their black & white beauty; Blue Rock Thrush perching on the rocks; the distant silhouette of the Golden Eagle patrolling its high dominions and, finally, they played hard to get!, the gorgeous Rock Bunting feeding on the grass of the pine tree forest.

It was great to see the first Alpine Swifts of the season, coming in big and noisy flocks, and the first Short-toed Eagle just flying strait to the north over the reserve.

We stopped to check the Lesser Kestrels colony at the valley and it is looking great, with all these wonderful little falcons calling and displaying in the air. Some of them have stayed this winter and have even already raised their first clutch.

The river, after the big rains a few weeks ago, has still to settle down for optimal bird watching. Despite that, we could focus on the three sandpipers (Common, Green and even Wood), enjoy the funny movements of the Little Ringed Plovers and have a glimpse of the elusive Cetti’s Warbler.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Bird watching tour around Malaga province. Stage 3.

El Torcal & Laguna de Fuente de Piedra

Our birding tour around Malaga finished today with Greater Flamingos, the passage of Black Kites over the farmlands, great views of the Hoopoe, the return of the Red-crested Pochards and a bit of snow at El Torcal.

Click here for the complete list of the 58 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...a-del-sol-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-03-17

Final stage of a tour including Montes de Malaga, Mouth & Valley of the Guadalhorce, El Chorro, El Torcal and the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra with a total of 114 different species observed.

Our first birds of the day were several Night Herons flying past the motorway bridge over the Guadalhorce with the first lights of the day on our way to El Torcal.

The weather forecast was very uncertain for the day. We found the summit of El Torcal covered in fog so we decided to go on to Fuente de Piedra. Once there, while watching a big flock of Cattle Egrets at the entrance to the car park, we saw a few Flamingos flying into the Laguneto and went straight there to have a look. There were more Flamingos in the puddles near the wooden bridge as well as a pair of Black-tailed Godwits and a few Ruffs.

Apart from the Flamingos at the Laguneto, there were many Red-crested Pochards and Gadwalls, and also several White-headed Ducks.

Our drive across the farmlands gave us Lesser Kestrel, Crested Lark, Black Kite, Hoope and the nice view of a Little Owl admiring the landscape for his perch.

We tried the visit to El Torcal in the afternoon. The situation was better than in the morning but still very cold and windy. Despite that, we enjoyed Rock Buntings, Black Redstarts and the beautiful songs of Blackbirds and Blackcaps before the sleet pushed us back to the car and put the end to this wonderful series of trips around Malaga province.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

100+ Birds Malaga Bird Watching Tour (2017.03.17)

Good weather, nice moments, some “first” of the season and a few pictures...

Click here for the complete list of 102 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...a-del-sol-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-03-17

Even though there was still a breeze at the beach late evening, the morning around El Chorro and the farmlands and afternoon in Fuente Piedra were much better than expected as far as the weather is concerned.

The first good moment of the day was the chase of a Stonechat by a hungry Iberian Grey Shrike. For stonechat lovers, I have to say that, after a few loops in the air, he knew how to avoid his pursuer’s attack and ended up sitting happily on his perch.

The second moment of the day took place at the Peñarrubia cliff. I went there in search for the Peregrine that I missed at El Chorro. I could soon spot the male that was patrolling the ridge. Then, I could see the always frustrating “stern” of a big raptor almost turning around the corner of the cliff. I had enough time to see its very white base of the tail and the white spots in the wings. It was a young Golden Eagle, maybe one of those that have been expelled from its parents’ territory at the beginning of the breeding season. I had already ticked the Golden Eagle at El Chorro but its presence made the Bonelli’s, which I was also missing, get out from somewhere in the cliff and go after the golden. But that was at the other end and could not either see or photograph it...

The first of the season were Gull-billed Tern at Fuente de Piedra, Reed Warbler at Zapata and Swift at the Mouth of the Guadalhorce.

I use to tell about my final rush for the 100 species at the end of these tours. I have felt a bit pressed in the last months as days were short and it was difficult to reach the target. But the aim of a birding trip is always to enjoy so, today, I just ticked the birds and took a few pictures but did not count them. Anyway, days are not long yet and I was a little short of time for my last walk around the mouth of the Guadalhorce to stop counting the ticks.

After a while sitting in front of the Laguna Grande, my last stage for the day, without any more new birds to tick, I decided to have a look at the list. The last ones, two Shelducks, were number... 99! There was still some light before dusk and I was missing some seagulls and beach waders so decided to have a look at the sea for some of them to show up. After some pictures to the waves while thinking where I would go to find a Little Owl, a lonely Sanderling saved my pride.

I still stopped at the Laguna Grande again because I had been trying to eat my dessert since lunchtime and a last Spoonbill landed roosting on one of the little islands to make bird 102 after a wonderful birding experience throughout Malaga province.

Why bird 102? Because I had forgotten to tick the Kentish Plovers when I first counted the birds!

 

[occasional]

Just curious - what makes that bird a Thekla lark ?

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Just curious - what makes that bird a Thekla lark ?

That is a very good question!

You can read about a few features to discriminate between Crested and Thekla Lark in the bird guides but both birds are almost identical in the field.

The only difference is their bill. Crested's is longer and slightly curved downwards; Thekla's is shorter and more "finch shaped". Anyway, you still have to be familiar with the birds to tell.

In the case of the picture, the bird is looking at me so we cannot see how the bill is. There is still one clue: the rocky environment!

Here is another picture of the same bird in the same place.

I hope I could be of help.

Regards,

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Birding at El Torcal from Malaga Harbour (2017.04.10)

We had a lovely bird watching morning from Malaga Harbour in one of the most astonishing springtime birding places on the Costa del Sol.

Click here for the complete list of species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...a-del-sol-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-04-10

Carol and Keith arrived Malaga on board of the Westerdam, which docked before 8:00, and we soon were watching the gems of El Torcal: Woodchat Shrike, Orphean Warbler, Crag Martin, Thekla Lark, Rock Bunting, Subalpine Warbler, Black Redstart, Chough, Alpine Swift, Griffon Vulture, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrow, Black Wheatear, Dartford Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear, just to mention some of the 33 species observed.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Birding at El Torcal, Fuente de Piedra Lake and farmlands (2017.04.18)

Sometimes, countryside, weather and birds align for superb birding days.

Click here for the complete list of 84 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-04-18

Craig and Pam had a few targets for their visit to Malaga from Scotland. I designed this trip to maximize the chances to spot Bonelli’s and Spectacled Warblers, White-headed Duck, Rufous Bush Robin and Western Olivaceous Warbler, though mid April is still a little bit early for the last two birds.

Apart from the targets, Craig and Pam really enjoyed with all the birds that showed up. One of the benefits of being a professional birding guide is that you have a great time too.

We spotted a late Ring Ouzel from the car on the road up to the Visitors Centre at El Torcal. We got into the paths in search for the Bonelli’s Warbler and soon many other species showed up: Melodious and Subalpine Warbler, Nightingale (impossible to spot but offering an extraordinary concert), Rock Sparrow, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Chough, Griffon Vulture... ¡My first Spotted Flycatcher of the season! And then, the first calls of the Bonelli’s Warbler that finally came out from the branches of a Hawthorn.

We also found Thekla and Black-eared Wheatear on our way down to the scrub to look for the Spectacled Warbler, which did not keep us waiting long. A beautiful male stayed with us for quite a long time and the female joined a little later.

The little lake by the car park at the Fuente de Piedra Visitors Centre was better than ever this year with a wonderful flock of around 50 Wood Sandpipers, many Curlew Sandpipers, Ruffs, Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Dunlins, Little Stints, Redshanks and Greenshanks. The White Storks, that might be trying to nest in the chimney by the train station, were also present and several Gull-billed Terns were sitting by the Avocets.

We could also spot three Lesser Flamingos away in the lake bed and soon found the White-headed Ducks, with many Red-crested Pochards and Greater Flamingos at the Laguneto, where a nice male Marsh Harrier quartered over the reeds for a while. Another first: Great Reed Warbler, placidly singing and swinging on top of a reed.

Rufous Bush Robin and W. Olivaceus Warbler do not seem to have arrived yet.

And the visit to the farmlands was very productive as Craig and Pam never expected to have such nice views of three Little Bustards showing up and marking their territories in the middle of an alfalfa field. Calandra, Crested and Short-toed Larks, Lesser Kestrel, Stone Curlew, Iberian race Yellow Wagtail, and Red-legged Partridge rounded off a great birdaytrip.

We were about to take the road again when my missing friend, the Montagu’s Harrier, came to say good bye to the group.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Bird watching at El Chorro (2017.05.19)

It was one of those days when the vultures make it worthwhile the walk...

Click here for the complete list of 29 birds observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-05-19

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Andalucia Bird Society May field meeting at the Mouth of the Guadalhorce (2017.05.20)

The Andalucia Bird Society meets at one of the classic Andalusian birding destinations: the Mouth of the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve.

Click here for the complete list of 57 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-05-20

A few brave birders (Derek, Jerry, Mick, Jacinto and I) attended the first call of the field meeting at 6:00 to visit Zapata before dawn in search for the Red-necked Nightjars. It did not take long until we found the first one and I could manage to take a record picture with the invaluable help of Derek, acting as the perfect Lighting Manager.

Some more nightjars showed up while Nightingales sang from the river forest and Yellow Wagtails, Crested and Short-toed Larks gabbled from their roosting places. A number of Night Herons and Cattle Egrets flew upstream with the first lights of the day, when only Moorhens and a Common Sandpiper wandered about the ford in the river.

It was time for breakfast before a call to the reed bed with some more light. It gave us Reed and Cetti’s Warblers in the scrub and Common and Pallid Swifts and Barn Swallows in the air. The bird ringers had their nets set in the ditch and they had caught several finches like Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Serin.

At 9:30 the whole group began the visit to the mouth. We had great views of a Reed Warbler singing quite in the open by the river bank while a Sparrowhawk circled in the distance over Guadalmar. There were some Red-rumped Swallows flying among the House Martins near the bridge to the reserve.

We split the group in two and had a walk around the hides. My group headed to the Laguna Escondida where, apart from the typical White-headed Ducks, Pochards and Little Grebes, Lindsay spotted a Cuckoo that flew into a tamarisk where it sat for a moment before disappearing.

We went on towards the east end of the reserve. We looked for a Nightingale singing from the tamarisks and were lucky enough to find it in the shade, having great views of the concert through the scope.

There was a Spoonbill resting at the Laguna de Rio Viejo and lots of Black-winged Stilts everywhere. While scanning the Rio Viejo, two Spanish friends standing by the group discovered a Roller. It was sitting in a far distant tree and then another one began to fly around it until they finally got out of sight.

We walked across the beach towards the Laguna Grande. There were Crested Larks and several Kentish Plovers beyond the fence and a few Balearic Shearwaters flew grazing the sea to the west. Nothing new at the Laguna Grande but seven Slender-billed Gulls among the Black-headed ones.

After the group said goodbye, Lindsay and I went back to the Laguna Escondida where Derek’s group had spotted the Little Bittern a few minutes ago. We did not find it but had very nice views of the White-headed Ducks in display, a fast flight of a Kingfisher and the visit of a beautiful Bee-eater.

Derek’s group did very well too, with some more interesting views like Little Bittern, Turtle Dove, Red-crested Pochard, Razorbill, Orphean Warbler and Great Reed Warbler.

Another great birding day in a wonderful place in the best possible company!

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Birding at Sierra de Camarolos (2017.06.20)

Simon and I met at 5:30 in the morning and headed to the Sierra de Camarolos in search for the Golden Eagle...

Click here for the complete list of 35 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-06-20

I was a bit concerned about the heat wave but the day was lovely up there, with a delicious easterly breeze to cool down temperature and stunning views of a “sea of clouds” on the coast.

The first steps of our climb to the ridges of the Sierra de Camarolos, in the northeast district of Malaga province across a pine trees and Andalusian Oaks gave us the first Choughs at Tajo de la Madera, and calls from the Bonelli’s Warbler and Short-toed Treecreeper. A bit further up, we had the first views of both Cirl and Rock Buntings.

Once at the ridges of the sierra, we soon found the Golden Eagle perched on top of a high cliff in the distance. While we were photographing a superb Pyramidal Orchid, the Golden Eagle flew off and started to get closer until it got lost behind some rocks, still far for one of Simon’s good shots. We trusted it was going to show up again and, suddenly, it came out from behind a big rock and turned around in the air with its huge talons hanging down just in front of us. It was the first shot of Simon’s great set of pictures I am eager to receive from him and share with you.

Our meeting with the Golden Eagle took place a bit earlier than I expected. It was as if your team scores in the first five minutes of the match! But, fortunately, it was not the end of the day...

The next surprise was the appearance of a male Rock Thrush reasonably close to us, long enough for another good shot by Simon. It was disputing the top of some rocks with his close relative Blue one.

Short after that, we spotted a fantastic male Sparrowhawk flying towards us among the hawthorns. Then, he started to turn and twist after a Goldfinch that was clever enough to avoid the raptor, but he insisted on another little bird that soon fell in his talons. What a fantastic move! While flying away more slowly, Simon could get some more great shots.

I do not remember very well what was later on... A nice herd of male Spanish Ibex, the flight of the Peregrine Falcon, a few noisy juvenile Orphean Warblers, the young Bonelli’s Eagle getting too close to the Goldens... What an entertaining walk!

Apart from the Orpheans, we could also find some more flocks of juveniles like that of the Wrens, the Black-eared Wheatears feeding their chicks or some tiny Red-legged partridges running away from our path.

A Woodlark calling from the top of a hawthorn was another good finding for Simon.

We stopped and sat for lunch in the shade close to the oasis where the water springs into a beautiful old stone drinking trough. We had great views of Hawfinches coming to drink plus, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Serins and a beautiful Jay.

After that, we walked back to the car and put the end to a great birdwalking day around the Sierra de Camarolos.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Birding at El Chorro (2017.08.05)

Today was the day of the Alpine Swifts...

Click here for the complete list of birds observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-08-05

I read something about an outbreak of fire in the Sierra de Almorchon this week and was a little bit worried about one of my favourite birding patches. So I decided to have a look the way I like: getting there before dawn!

I took the way to the cliffs and the day broke when I was in front of the Gaitanejo Gorge. I could only hear some Blackbirds and some strange noises coming from the Gaitanejo reservoir. A few gusts of very hot wind coming from the south soon fuelled the songs of millions of cicadas.

Little birds did not pose for me today. Despite I heard the calls of Sardinian and Dartford Warblers, they never came close to me and the Black Wheatears and Blue Rock Thrushes thought they were not still ready for pictures.

I saw the silhouettes of the Bonelli’s Eagles flying close to the gorge and soon after that, the Golden Eagle soared at the very top of the sierra, but only the Egyptian Vulture made me take a far from decent picture.

The breeze at the top of the cliffs was perfect for the vultures to fly slowly before I arrived and then for the Alpine Swifts which kept me very entertained for a long time.

Some more flights by the Golden Eagle at the top and a fierce persecution of a poor vulture by the Bonelli’s before I came back.

How many times have you had the feeling that birds were waiting you to leave to fly above the place...?

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Malaga, "unexpected haven for birdwatching" (David Lindo, The Telegraph)

David Lindo tells again about the city of Malaga as one among the six best urban birding places in the world!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/safaris-and-wildlife/best-cities-for-birdwatching/

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Birding Ecosse Malaga Tour Sep 10-15th 2017

David and Linda Slater (Birding Ecosse) have gathered a nice group of fabulous birders eager to know about birds in Southern Spain.

Based in Malaga, the tour included The Route of 100 Birds, The Straits and Osuna.

Click here for more pictures the complete list of 132 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/710-birding-ecosse-malaga-tour-sep-10-15th

Day 1: El Chorro & Valley of the Guadalhorce
Fantastic views of Griffon Vultures, Crested Tits and a Black Stork flying over the Desfiladero de Los Gaitanes before it landed in the river.

Day 2: The Straits & La Janda
The day started with a before dawn visit to Zapata, where we had good views of Red-necked Nightjars and Night Herons. At The Straits, there was a Massive passage of raptors, specially Honey Buzzards but also Black Kite, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Sparrowhawk, Egyptian Vulture, Bee-eater and Black Stork, with a Goshawk visiting the Algarrobo view point! Plenty of White Storks, Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egrets at La Janda, but also Spoonbills, Montagu’s Harriers, Spanish Sparrows and a nice group of 15+ Lesser Kestrel hunting together over the farmlands.

Day 3: Osuna
We could found the Great Bustards before it was too hot. After that, most of the birds where hiding in the shade of the olive trees though we saw lots of Red-legged Partridges and Crested Larks, with nice views of Short-toed Larks and Tawny Pipit.

Day 4: El Torcal and Archidona District
It was foggy at El Torcal in the morning so we started our trip around Archidona where we very much enjoyed Golden Eagle, Cirl Buntings, several Bee-eaters still sitting on wires and Azure-winged Magpies. A couple of Bonelli’s Eagles made our day at El Torcal. We first spotted them sitting on top of a cliff from where they unsuccessfully went after something in the farmlands below. They came back and fiercely chased a poor Common Buzzard out of their territory. It was a fantastic performance! We could also find Rock and Blue Rock Thrushes and Thekla Lark.

Day 5: Peñarrubia cliff, farmlands and Fuente de Piedra Lake
The Peñarrubia cliff was very quiet in the morning though it gave us the Black Wheatears for the list and beautiful flocks of Alpine Swifts. Good passage of Northern Wheatears and Willow Warblers, with some more Tawny Pipits in very good light at the farmlands. Greater Flamingos and Little Owl at Fuente de Piedra.

Day 6: Mouth of the Guadalhorce & Montes de Malaga
The Mouth of the Guadalhorce welcomed us with a big flock of Honey Buzzards leaving the reserve after roosting there. A gorgeous female Kingfisher posed for us while watching White-headed Ducks. Black-winged Stilt, Curlew and Wood Sandpipers and Kentish Plovers were some of the waders present today. We could spot Balearic Shearwaters from the beach and Audouin’s Gulls at the Laguna Grande. The Osprey is back to the reserve. Watching little passerines on passage (Redstarts, Garden and Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers) and butterflies like Two-tailed Pasha and Cardinal was very entertaining after a lavish final lunch at Montes de Malaga.

I acknowledge David and Linda for trusting Birdaytrip. I was very proud of leading such a fantastic group.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

World Birds Day 2017 at the Mouth of the Guadalhorce

The Malaga branch of SEO/Birdlife celebrated the World Birds Day 2017 with visits to the Mouth of the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve on Sep 30th and Oct 1st.

Click here for more pictures and the complete list of 64 birds observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...costa-del-sol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Birding at Sierra de Las Nieves from the Costa del Sol (2017.11.11)

A beautiful bird-walking trip across a nature reserve, Biosphere’s Reserve, which will be given the highest possible protection status in Spain next year.

Click here for the complete list of birds observed and some more pictures: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-11-11

While we were waiting for Mr. Eagle Owl, who did not show up today, Blackbird, Red-legged Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Chaffinch, Sardinian Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Thekla Lark, Chiffchaff, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Chough and Common Crossbill woke up.

A quick look around the Conejeras recreational area at the entrance to Quejigales, gave us Jay, Sparrowhawk, Blackbird, Griffon Vulture, Stonechat, Thekla Lark, Cirl Bunting, Iberian Grey Shrike, Wood Pigeon, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff and Robin.

We could also spot some birds from the car on the way up to Quejigales like Great Tit, Crested Tit, Chaffinch, Robin and Mistle Thrush, that is very common in the area.

Up in Quejigales and on path across the Cañada del Cuerno amongst Spanish Firs, Mistle Thrush again, Goldfinch, Chaffinch (ubiquitous!), Hawfinch, Blackbird, Common Crossbill, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch.

Once at Puerto de Los Pilones, even though it was very windy up there (1.600 m asl!), our first Ring Ouzel, a Dartford Warbler that was almost blown by the wind, another Nuthatch in the Andalusian Oaks, more Chaffinches and... Great, a few Alpine Accentors!

In the way back to Quejigales through the truck, and as we approached the first stands of trees, Linnets, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Green Woodpecker, Robin, Serin, one more Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, Common Crossbill, some more Ring Ouzels and Mistle Thrushes hiding in the Hawthorns, Short-toed Treecreeper and Greenfinch.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Visiting eastern Costa del Sol birding hotspots (2017.11.28)

My dear friend Quirri and I have had a wonderful dawn to dusk tour, visiting the mouth of Rio Velez, Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs and La Caleta Harbour.

Click here for more pictures and the complete list of 64 species observed: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...ol-malaga-andalucia-southern-spain-2017-11-28

The Rio Velez is the main river of La Axarquia, the easternmost district of Malaga province. The last section of the river flows amongst an old lush native poplar river forest from the bridge over the old N340 road downstream.

We parked the car near the bridge at dawn and started a very entertaining walk towards the beach in which lots of birds of many different species showed up: Cattle Egrets coming out their roost, Robin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Crag Martins (that roost in the area in big numbers), Cetti’s Warbler (this is one of the best places I know for visual contact with them!), White Wagtail, Moorhen, Blackbird, Monk Parakeet, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, Siskin, Black Redstart, Great Tit, Common Waxbill, Skylark in the farms near the river, Citting Cisticola and Coot.

Once at the beach, many more seabirds and other lagoon species came into the list: Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged Gulls and Black-headed Gulls, Sanderling, Balearic Shearwater, Cormorant, Gannet, Dunlin, Purple Swamphen, Teal, Mediterranean Gull, a lonely Barn Swallow (the first surprise of the day!), Great Skua, Black-necked Grebe, Mallard, House Sparrow, Kingfisher, Serin, Greenfinch, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit.

The walk back to the car gave some more new species like, Snipe, Grey Wagtail, Spotless Starling, Bluethroat, Penduline Tit, Hoopoe, Kestrel, Collared Dove, Little Egret, Chaffinch and a fond of singing Wryneck that we could not spot among the leaves of a big poplar.

The day was very cloudy and there even were a few showers that made it difficult for me to reflect so much beauty in my pictures.

Tip: an early start here is very highly recommended as many other “birdwatchers” meet in this area from mid day (or earlier) on.

Our next stop was at Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs. It is the mating season of the Spanish Ibex and we could spot one of those majestic old males very close to the road. But there were forest and rock birds as well like Wren, Black Redstart, Sardinian Warbler, Crested, Great, Coat and Long-tailed Tits, Rock Bunting, Thekla Lark, Chiffchaff, another lonely Crane flying over the cliffs to the west (the second surprise of the day!), Blue Rock Thrush and also Cormorant, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern and even an Audouin’s Gull on the rocks at the beach. We were just getting into the car to leave the area when a Peregrine Falcon flew into the sea from the cliff.

After lunch, our plan was watching the fishing boats come back to La Caleta Harbour as they are followed by seagulls and also Gannets and shearwaters. The little beach at the entrance of the harbour is a fantastic place for very close views of most of the seagull species in the region as well as little sea waders and even egrets and kingfishers.

Quirri says that there are fewer juvenile Gannets this year (maybe breeding conditions have not been optimal in the north) and the bulk of the Balearic Shearwaters has not arrived yet though we still could spot some of them from the breakwater.

The sunset was stunning and thousands of Mediterranean Gulls arrived from inland, where they go eating olives, to roost on the water in huge flocks. It was a beautiful end for a fantastic birding day with Quirri.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Andalucia Bird Society January field meeting at Fuente de Piedra (2018.01.20)

We enjoyed a memorable day in Fuente de Piedra!

Click here for some more pictures: http://www.birdaytrip.es/blog/item/...-field-meeting-at-fuente-de-piedra-2018-01-20

The morning was cold when the group met at the car park, but birds soon raised our spirits: Spanish Sparrows, Redwing, Bluethroat, a gorgeous Wryneck that stood on a branch enough time for the whole group to see it through the scope, Dartford Warbler, Iberian Grey Shrike, Stone Curlew and... Flamingos!

We then held our annual financial meeting to know about the good heath of the society and the pride that we are funding great bird conservation projects.

After a sandwich with great views from the Cerro del Palo, we drove around the lake and had a fantastic time watching Black-winged Kites, Hen Harrier, Skylarks and... Cranes!

It was nice to meet everybody today.

 

[Luis Alberto BIRDAYTRIP]

Some vignettes of a snowy day at El Torcal (2018.02.07)

It has been the day of the Ring Ouzels, which might already be feeling the call of love from their northern breeding headquarters...