So to the group
A great start to the week with a short walk around a local lake. There were a few migrants and by few I mean almost dripping off the trees - Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Common Redstarts and a skulking Wryneck on the deck around a tree and a bush. Stonechats, Whinchats, Wheatear, ST Treecreeper - all great stuff. Sadly no Shrikes! However, a nice Hoopoe showed along with a whitethroat. I love days where you think that anything can happen even if they don't!
Up to the migration point at the Soulor. WINDY and the wrong direction. Trying to find things was difficult and trying to identify then was also hard with birds morphing and changing names in front of our eyes! A mixture of different body, wing and tail positions coupled with awful light, a greyish cloud that was too bright to look into and also almost impossible to view definition or colour. Most bizarre and taxing conditions - even the 'pro's' were changing their calls!
Anyway, most fo the raptors started to show an appearance when the wind died a little - Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Griffons, Buzzards, Hobbys, Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, Black Kites (I clocked a very distant flock which I tried to count but got to 42 plus 8 and had to give up as way beyond range), Red Kite, Booted Eagle, Short Toed Eagle and finally 2 Lammys. Bird of the day was split between a cracking posing Crossbill or Black Stork overhead (doesn't have to be super rare).
A little potter round at the top didn't produce much extra, however, a trip to Pibeste, with Honey Buzzard en route, produced the goods with a coupe of Egyptians and Golden Eagles etc etc
Day 2 to follow....