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

[njlarsen]

Laurie,
if you have not already done so, visit John's site: http://birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/
Notice the little heading "site guide" which will take you to this: http://birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/my-site-guide.html

Niels

 

[Simon Wates]

Rollingthunder,I am not computer competent to post a map but Algarrobo is on the west side of Algeciras,Cadiz just off the N340 about 1 1/2 km after the last roundabout leaving Algeciras.The observatory is about 3/4 km along a dirt track.Cazalla is a purpose built observation area with large buildings(yet to opened)on the north side of the N340 2 km east of Tarifa.
John Cantelo if you are reading this you might be able to help here.
Regards....Eddy.

Eddy - is the white painted stone at the access track entrance to the Algarrobo bird obs on the N340 still there? On the stone is written "Huerta Serafin". Maybe now there is a sign for the bird obs?. Anyway - I'm curious as I painted it and it was useful for knowing you were on the right track.

 

[John Cantelo]

My pleasure Eddy - maps etc attached. More details on my blog and in my notes. Laurie, I assumed you'd seen my comment some posts earlier about my notes on the region which have full details of these sites and downloaded a copy. If you have problems send me a PM with your email address & I'll send you a copy.

I would add that the entrance to Agorrabo is quite tricky as it a right angle turn off a busy road onto a rough track. Is the track in any better condition Eddy - last time I left the car near the entrance. I've been so badly tailgated here by impatient drivers that I've had to turn round and try again! It scares Mrs C witless so I don't often get there!

 

[eddy the eagle]

Yes Simon the stone is still there although the letters are a little faded.Would you like me to repaint it?
John I have not been up the track yet but will do so and advise.
With regard to the awful access from the main road the safest way to avoid being tailgated is to signal your intention to turn right at least 300m before the turn and to slow so that cars coming from behind can easily overtake.A word of warning when exiting DO NOT THINK ABOUT TURNING LEFT,towards Algeciras.The traffic Police seem to have cameras and appear from nowhere and a hefty fine and points off your licence will ensue.Enjoy safely ....Eddy.

 

[eddy the eagle]

An interesting day at Cazalla yesterday with over 3000 white storks,2000+black kites,griffon vultures including my first sighting this summer of a newly fledged juvenile respendant in his new fresh plumage.Other birds seen were male and female montagues´harriers,female marsh harrier,booted and short toed eagles,although these were hunting and not thinking of crossing at this early stage in the migration,1000´s of common and pallid swifts,barn swallows,and the pair of resident kestrels which continue to put on a good display whilst hunting in front of the observers.The highlight of the day was an eleonoras falcon seen at 9.35 am arriving from the west.This bird was not seen to cross and is the third seen in the past few days.The surprise of the day was at 1440 pm when a northern bald was seen arriving from the west and was followed until out of sight in the Straits.To my knowledge this is the first time one of the reintroduced birds has crossed the straits going south.The head of the reintroduction programme has been notified.
The wind today was a steady force 4 with gusts to 5 and the visibility was generally good with some hazy patches over the sea.Kind regards....Eddy.

 

[eddy the eagle]

The surprise bird was a northern bald ibis an error I was not able to edit....Eddy

 

[rollingthunder]

So much info and so quick - is'nt the Internet wonderful!

Thanks to Eddy, Niels and John for responding to my requests.

Just about to book the flight but the prices are dropping bit by bit, anything between £75 - £100 (plus my bike) each for the bride and myself.

Plan on a week (in 2 batches) around Tarifa with 3 days @ el roccio for some cycling and birding Donana-ish and 3 days Tapas-ing around SevilleB

Looking forward to returning, might even bump into one of you and put a face to a name.

Laurie:t:

 

[Alf King]

When I visited in Sept 2013 work was underway on a new centre near the Trafico watchpoint. Can anyone tell me if this has now been completed and if it is in any way comparable with Cazalla?

I used to go up to the highest point at Trafico, risking sump and suspension at every juncture, as it could be very good for photographic opportunities, depending upon the wind but if there were something a little less hazardous I would give it a go on my next visit this September.

 

[John Cantelo]

I agree 100% with Eddy's comments although signalling well in advance didn't stop the incident I mentioned earlier. To give people a clear idea of the approach I've attached some annotated screen grabs from Google Street View.

Alf, when I was there last autumn I was assured that the new centre would be open in September 2014 and there was a lot of activity on site, but Spain being Spain it might be next spring! Although, hopefully, unlike the Cazalla white elephant, it will open!

 

[Simon Wates]

Yes Simon the stone is still there although the letters are a little faded.Would you like me to repaint it?
John I have not been up the track yet but will do so and advise.
With regard to the awful access from the main road the safest way to avoid being tailgated is to signal your intention to turn right at least 300m before the turn and to slow so that cars coming from behind can easily overtake.A word of warning when exiting DO NOT THINK ABOUT TURNING LEFT,towards Algeciras.The traffic Police seem to have cameras and appear from nowhere and a hefty fine and points off your licence will ensue.Enjoy safely ....Eddy.

Eddy - I must have painted it cerca 1994 so its lasted a while. I'm sure its not important and the owners of the property (who I painted it for) would do it. Its a very kind offer of yours but I'd hate you to miss a nice bird while at Algarrobo so please don't paint it!!

Great advice on the turning - yes definitely approach from the Algeciras direction (from the east) so that you can turn right onto the track.

 

[eddy the eagle]

The new Migres complex,for want of a better word,at Punta Camorro,(traffico) is nearing completion and is expected to be completed by September,but the official opening will be later due to bureaucratic delays.I am hoping of an invite to the opening so I will keep you posted......Eddy

 

[Alf King]

Thanks John and Eddy.

I had looked on the Migres web site but couldn't find any details about the development.

 

[eddy the eagle]

Black kites

An interesting evening yesterday with the capture and susequent ringing of 43 Black kite at a location near Tarifa.The bait was put out last week but with weeks of westerlies an easterly is required and yesterday was the day.The door to the trap was lowered at about 3pm and the Migres Team began collection about 5pm.The birds are bagged with just their feet and tail showing and then they are transported to an old Franco era bunker where the work of ringing,weighing,measuring ageing and moult are recorded.Once the birds are bagged they remain very calm and can be handled easily.It is hot work and my role was the release back into the wild which entailed carrying the birds along a tunnel and into the daylight.The birds are released rugby ball pass style and they all flew off eagerly.Not being a licenced ringer I have to make do with lesser tasks but it is great to get up close and personal with these birds which are normally only seen long distance.Regards ....Eddy

 

[eddy the eagle]

Simon had another look at your sign today and yes it is in reasonable condition and quite legible.
John went up the track and it is reasonable up to the "gate" after which it deteriates but is still passable with care in a car.If you wish there is room on the left,just passed the "gate", to park the car and walk the rest.
Simon again,the Mayor of Algeciras visited the site last year and promised better signing and easier driving on the track.There is no sign and the track has not be touched.Politicians I **** them....Eddy

 

[eddy the eagle]

Me again I´m afraid,I forgot to say very few birds were seen at Cazalla today approx 500 white storks and 150 Black kites.Force 5 westerly with cloud cover and rain showers on the Morrocon side may have deterred them.Quietist day of the migration this year....Eddy

 

[rollingthunder]

Eddy - can visiting birders go and watch the ringing etc?

Laurie:t:

 

[Jon Turner]

Re: ringing Black Kites, we ringed a couple of (juvenile) Buzzards last year and they too were completely docile when in the bag. Thanks for sharing this Eddy.

 

[eddy the eagle]

Rollingthunder,the ringing of the black kites only occurs about twice a year and because of the need for easterly winds it is difficult to say when this will occur.I am fortunate to be friendly with all the Migres team and thus get invited to these ringings.It would be difficult for a visitor to know when this would occur other than being privy to this information one way or another.That is not to say that you would be excluded as a visitor should you be in the right time and company.
I had a night out last night,no not down the local disco, but with two members of our local birding group ,GOES,Grupo Ornithological del Estrecho,ringing waders in the rice paddies of La Janda.Now we didn´t start until after 1 am and we wandered the rice paddies with bright torches catching the sitting waders with a large net.Not as easy as it sounds and we managed two common sandpipers and seven mostly juvenile collared pratincol in about 4 hours.Now you have to like mosquitoes to do this as there are billions of them and they are attracted by the head torches and they get everywhere,and I mean everywhere.Well after a breakfast of mosquitoes we move to another area at the rear of La Janda where we hoped to trap little owls,but as we pulled into a known little owl site a huge eagle owl took off from a post and flew off into the darkness.No little owl is going to sit around whilst it´s large cousin is about so we moved again and set up a net near to an obviously well used fence post with excrement and owl pellets on the floor.We left after setting up the recorded owl voices and came back twice to an empty net but on the last occaision before packing up a juvenile was in the net and was quickly ringed and measured before being relaeased into the ever lightening sky.
It was our intention to go for coffee and breakfast but we bumped into two of the Migres team out early ringing passerines so we stayed and assisted.The birds ringed were reed warbler,great reed warbler,gold and greenfiches,house and Spanish sparrows a zitting cisticola and a sedge warbler.The latter is not a breeder in these parts and was on passage.After a coffee and breakfast it was after twelve noon when I arrived home.A tiring but very enjoyable night thanks to my friends Jose Luis and Alex for the experience......Eddy.

 

[eddy the eagle]

Ringed little owl

Little owl from Sunday morning......Eddy.

 

[eddy the eagle]

I spent a few hours at Cazalla today with my friend Raptor Rob from Boise Idaho USA who is over here with his lovely wife Karyn assisting Migres with there migration count and collecting information re a project on bird migration.I was able to see a rare sight but not a rare bird in that we saw a purple heron cross the straits,a sight normally not seen as it is a nightime migrant.Also seen 100´s white storks,100´s blacke kites several juvenils Montague´s harriers,Booted eagles,short toed eagles.ravens two adult egyptian vultures that were searching for food in the area,one lone griffon vulture and an unidentified large falcon, believed to be a lanner.Not great numbers today but variety in a force3/4 westerly wind and full sun....Eddy