Birdwatching in Straits of Gibraltar & La Janda (1 Viewer)

[eddy the eagle]

Over the weekend continued reports of arriving honey buzzards,griffon vultures,the odd black vulture,black storks and rollers being seen on La Janda.....Eddy

 

[eddy the eagle]

Golden orioles seen arriving this weekend and also can be heard all over the campo.....Eddy

 

[eddy the eagle]

I was out and about yesterday and did a round robin by going first down the track known as CA-221,I do remember when it was all tarmacked,from the Los Barrios end to Facinas.It was quite hot and there was not many small birds about as it was midday,not the best time.After about 4km I saw a bird displaying in the distance and briefly thought booted eagle as I watched it land in the top of a tree on the top of the ridge to my left.I went on another 1/2 km and then scoped the mountain top and found the bird.It was an adult bonelli´s eagle and was still in the tree.As I watched a griffon vulture wandered close and to my surprise there was now two bonelli´s screaming abuse and driving the griffon away.One bonelli´s remained in the air and the other returned to the mountain top where it landed on a nest with what looked like a downy chick in it.The other bird then returned to the nest,a male I think,and I watched them come and go for over an hour.
I do have long distance photos of the birds and their nest but I will not publish them as they would identify the site.Every time a griffon came too close out would come the male and drive it off.I did not see any hunting activity at this time but I will return for further views.I will say that at no time was I within 450m of the site and remained on the track at all times.Also seen were chaffinch,sardinian warbler,blackcap,house sparrows,greenfinch,nightingale,stonechat,zittings and cornbuntings.A total of eighteen species.
Further along the track at the Almodovar reservoir I was surprised to see three spoonbill feeding in the shallows,together with little egret,grey heron and mallard.Why is it most if not all the local reservoirs only seem to maintain a head of mallard?After a beer and tapas at the Nene in Facinas it was onto the track from Facinas to Benalup,known colloquily as harrier park to some of my friends,due to the fact that it is one of the best places to observe montagues harrier in the area,but not today.I only saw three marsh harriers as I drove the 23 km to the other end.Those of you who don´t know this track should be warned that it is not suitable for a normal car even in the dry as there are many deep ruts and holes that could cause damage.From the Benalup end it is much better for most of the journey until you reach the ruts again at the 4or5 km at the Facinas end.In the wet it is passable with care only in a 4x4.
This track is particularly good for larks and today was no exception with,crested,sky and calandra being present,together with corn bunting,zitting cisticola stonechat and many yellow wagtails.Other birds seen on this track were barn swallows,red rumped swallows,one sand martin,spotless starling,common house sparrows,little and cattle egrets woodchat shrikes,gold and green finches,serin and linnets and one little owl that posed politely while I took some photos.At the bridge over the Celemin river many house martins were seen and as I turned back to make my way up the hill to the dehesa area a lone common kestrel was seen.At the dehesa there was an absence of birds except for the jackdaws,pheasant and partridges and at the farm collared and turtle doves manned the wires.
Along the straight track where the little egrets nest they were everywhere flying in front of the car and standing in the middle of the road.Please take care if you are in this area.As I reached the main track along the canal I turned east and saw that there was a lot of agricultural activity going on in the rice paddies and it looked to me as if they were being prepared for sowing.Eight spoonbills were in a field with no water and it appeared to me that they were copying the cattle egrets and feeding on insects behind the tractors,a behaviour I have not seen before.Reed and great reed warblers could be seen and heard as I reached the the farm buildings to my joy I could see a few fields to the north of the channel had been flooded and black winged stilts,white storks,beeaters,and about thirty collared pratincoles were having a feast.All in all a very pleasant afternoon but with a notable lack of raptors on La Janda.Things may pick up when all the fields are flooded again we shall have to wait and see.Regards....Eddy.

 

[John Cantelo]

Unfortunately, the wi-fi link in Alcala was worse than ever freezing at the slightest provocation and then deciding not to work at all - links elsewhere were little better. Hence, I've only been able to access the internet on my return home (on Thursday). Shame as I'd liked to have linked up with you both, Eddy & Niels, at some point.

Congratulations on the Eleonora's, Niels, which, in nearly ten years visiting the area, has always eluded me. I did hear about the record a few days later - apparently there were two birds - and went to look, but had no luck. Pleased you got Red-knobbed Coot at what I call 'Bonanza pools' - as did I a few days earlier.

A shame to see the numbers of egrets nest on La Janda rather reduced, but a relief that, given the thinning of the brush & undergrowth, it's still there at all. Good to have excellent views of Glossy Ibis there. We also had a fly-over Spanish Imperial Eagle by 'Celemin bridge'; they do seem more regular in the area and I'm not surprised to hear that 5 pairs (not all introduced birds) now breed in Cadiz province. I gather another release is planned later this year near Vejer. Also good views of a 'black' Momties there. One highlight was c2,000 Honey Buzzards (08:30 - 10:45) over the terrace on 4th May - three or four times my previous highest total from the house. Little Bustard near Benalup performed brilliantly every time we looked (5 times) seeing once before I even got out of the car, three times as soon as we got out of the car and once waiting all of c3 minutes. Excellent views of waders at Bonanza and I managed to get some reasonable photos. Also had good views of Little Swift. Very pleased to find a Bonelli's Eagle at a 'new' site - Charco de los Hurones; worth visiting for the unique village there, built for workers who built the nearby dam and ideal as the site for a Spanish version of 'The Prisoner'! Looks good for White-rumped Swift too. Further afield (Osuna) I was gratified to see 6 Great Bustards, a Little Bustard and a couple of Rollers.

All-in-all a pleasant laid back trip, but with some excellent birds! I'll post some photos once I've sorted them.

 

[eddy the eagle]

No news from me at the moment as my internet access on my phone has died and will not be back until next week.As I use this to contact a group of friends in the area via Whatáp I am incomunicado al momento.Will update when back on line.....Eddy

 

[John Cantelo]

No news from me at the moment as my internet access on my phone has died and will not be back until next week.As I use this to contact a group of friends in the area via Whatáp I am incomunicado al momento.Will update when back on line.....Eddy

There's clearly a curse on wi-fi access in the area, Eddy!

 

[njlarsen]

Congratulations on the Eleonora's, Niels, which, in nearly ten years visiting the area, has always eluded me. I did hear about the record a few days later - apparently there were two birds - and went to look, but had no luck. Pleased you got Red-knobbed Coot at what I call 'Bonanza pools' - as did I a few days earlier.

Thanks John.
I and a couple of other people saw only one Eleonora, but a Norwegian guy I talked with had seen two the following day. I was not positive on the id when the group separated, but became positive when looking at photos of the alternatives, and before I talked with the Norwegian guy (never got his name).

I will be sending you a few more comments on the guide you author.

All in all, a very family oriented trip with very little time for birds, so I am pleased at having seen about 87 species on the trip with 3-4 lifers.

I met some Spanish birders who told me about the Camino Colorado ponds: they also said that there was a spotted sandpiper in the area on that day. I declined getting info, it is a common bird where I live

Niels

 

[John Cantelo]

Thanks John.
I and a couple of other people saw only one Eleonora, but a Norwegian guy I talked with had seen two the following day. I was not positive on the id when the group separated, but became positive when looking at photos of the alternatives, and before I talked with the Norwegian guy (never got his name).

I will be sending you a few more comments on the guide you author.

All in all, a very family oriented trip with very little time for birds, so I am pleased at having seen about 87 species on the trip with 3-4 lifers.

I met some Spanish birders who told me about the Camino Colorado ponds: they also said that there was a spotted sandpiper in the area on that day. I declined getting info, it is a common bird where I live

Niels

Camino Colorado or Bonanza Pools, whatever you call 'em it's a great little site which, these days at least, hold more 'special birds' than the much celebrated Laguna de Medina. Pity I couldn't contact you (or anyone else) whilst I was in Spain as I have several Iberian green 'pecker sites .....

 

[Jon Turner]

Camino Colorado or Bonanza Pools, whatever you call 'em it's a great little site which, these days at least, hold more 'special birds' than the much celebrated Laguna de Medina. Pity I couldn't contact you (or anyone else) whilst I was in Spain as I have several Iberian green 'pecker sites .....

I failed to get RN Coot at Medina last week, where are these other pools you speak of John?

18 Little Swifts at Chipiona yesterday a.m. No WR Swift at Bolonia in the afternoon, but still at least 200 Honey Buzzards struggling in off the sea as we ate by the beach - still coming in at 5 pm.

 

[John Cantelo]

I failed to get RN Coot at Medina last week, where are these other pools you speak of John?

18 Little Swifts at Chipiona yesterday a.m. No WR Swift at Bolonia in the afternoon, but still at least 200 Honey Buzzards struggling in off the sea as we ate by the beach - still coming in at 5 pm.

Jon,

I've sent you an email with a map attached. I had 20+ Little Swift at Chipiona, but never find W-r Swift at Bolonia anything other than damn elusive and usually see them on the other side of the Sierra at Atlanterra. I take it you've got Little Bustard .....

John

 

[eddy the eagle]

Breaking news,the Bateleur eagle has been seen again.The inicial report is of it being seen betweenBarbate reservoir and Charco Redondo reservoir above the N381 motorway on Thursday 8th May2014 by a husband and wife team who originate from South Africa and have good knowledge of the species.It appeared in good condition but no photo I´m afraid.Further information will be available later.Maybe time for another Bateleur search?.....Eddy

 

[eddy the eagle]

I am now back on line with my mobile and can update todays happenings.
Very strong levante today(easterly) with honey buzzards arriving at Punta Comorro and all points west.Second brood of osprey chicks in Cadiz province and yesterday reports of long legged buzzard at Punta Comorro Tarifa.No further news re the Bateleur but I had a look in the area this pm with no sighting...Regards ...Eddy

 

[eddy the eagle]

This lunchtime reports of very many honey buzzards arriving Tarifa and a roller near the prison in Algeciras....Eddy

 

[Jon Turner]

Yesterday afternoon I tried to see the Terns on Los Lances beach, but with a pretty much full gale they were a no-show. There were LOTS of Griffon Vultures arriving, presumably from Africa. I tried to look at them all, but they were moving so fast I couldn't be sure that there weren't any Ruppell's amongst them. Couple of Black Kites too.

 

[eddy the eagle]

An update on the Bateleur eagle sighting on the 8th May,2014.The observers were travelling together in a car along the A381 motorway from Jerez towards Los Barrios at about 11.30 in the morning.They had passed the Barbate reservoir but not reached the Charco Redondo reservoir when the female passenger saw a bird which she straight away identified as a Bateleur eagle flying about 40m above them.Unable to stop the driver braked and also saw the bird and confirmed the observation.
Both observers are of South African origen and have an extensive knowledge of the species and are adamant of their sighting.On arriving home in Swiztzerland later they Googled Bateleur sightings in Spain and came up with the sighting of mine and others in May 2012.The area that this observation took place is not one where particular attention is given by birders.I myself drive through it often mainly on my way to La Janda but do not stop to make any lengthy observations.If this bird is the same as in 2012 and has remained unseen since then,then this is the place to ´´disappear´´ and for there to be two different birds is nigh on impossible,IMHO.
As can be imagined this sighting has caused quite a stir in the community here and I am sure long term observations in the area will be forthcoming.The observer informs me that these birds are very territorial loyal and he has known of examples to roost in the same tree every night for several years so there is every possiblity that with a concerted effort it can be located again for the benefit of everyone.I remind you that this latest sighting is only about 15 km from the last sighting in 2012.Any further information will be divulged to this forum.Regards ...Eddy.

 

[eddy the eagle]

An update on the Bateleur eagle sighting on the 8th May,2014.The observers were travelling together in a car along the A381 motorway from Jerez towards Los Barrios at about 11.30 in the morning.They had passed the Barbate reservoir but not reached the Charco Redondo reservoir when the female passenger saw a bird which she straight away identified as a Bateleur eagle flying about 40m above them.Unable to stop the driver braked and also saw the bird and confirmed the observation.
Both observers are of South African origen and have an extensive knowledge of the species and are adamant of their sighting.On arriving home in Swiztzerland later they Googled Bateleur sightings in Spain and came up with the sighting of mine and others in May 2012.The area that this observation took place is not one where particular attention is given by birders.I myself drive through it often mainly on my way to La Janda but do not stop to make any lengthy observations.If this bird is the same as in 2012 and has remained unseen since then,then this is the place to ´´disappear´´ and for there to be two different birds is nigh on impossible,IMHO.
As can be imagined this sighting has caused quite a stir in the community here and I am sure long term observations in the area will be forthcoming.The observer informs me that these birds are very territorial loyal and he has known of examples to roost in the same tree every night for several years so there is every possiblity that with a concerted effort it can be located again for the benefit of everyone.I remind you that this latest sighting is only about 15 km from the last sighting in 2012.Any further information will be divulged to this forum.Regards ...Eddy.

 

[njlarsen]

I have now entered the data into my bird database: 87 species seen including 4 lifers in 9 days that mainly were a family holiday. I did not use any time on larks and the like, I did not have time for that on this trip.

I am still wondering if I should tick off the Bald Ibis that I saw: it was a native species in the past, it is doing very well indeed following the introduction, and everything seems to indicate these are there to stay. They even seem to have a second breeding colony now according to what I heard.

Niels

 

[Jon Turner]

I have now entered the data into my bird database: 87 species seen including 4 lifers in 9 days that mainly were a family holiday. I did not use any time on larks and the like, I did not have time for that on this trip.

I am still wondering if I should tick off the Bald Ibis that I saw: it was a native species in the past, it is doing very well indeed following the introduction, and everything seems to indicate these are there to stay. They even seem to have a second breeding colony now according to what I heard.

Niels

I've also not included them, yet......

 

[John Cantelo]

I'm currently 'tweaking' my guide to birding in Cadiz Province, adding updates, further info (inc. on finding Dartfords, Niels), adding three new maps (and amending others). I hope to 'publish' it online (via ISSUU as usual) within the next week or two. Please contact me with any corrections, suggestions, comments, etc.,

 

[eddy the eagle]

Look forward to it as usual John....Eddy