Hi Folks
Have got a couple of new sites to work with this year so really got my hands full,but as not going on any long birding trips should be able to do all of them justice and get some good scientific results .
The new sites complement what I have already.
I am looking at the resident,wintering,breeding and passage species in variuos orchards in S.Spain.I have ben ringing for some time in an Olive Grove and an Avocado orchard but now have added 2 contrasting Orange groves.
1 is huge and commercial sited between a woodland and the Rio Guadarannque but it is treated at certain times of the year with pesticides and herbicides.
Very little grows under the trees as a result,and when they spray it is good not to be around.However ,my first 3 ringing sessions there last Autumn defied what my friends thought of it and it produced masses of birds.
As a bonus the butterflies loved the rotting discarded fruit.
the site where I ringed today for the first time is very differant.It is small,next to Rio Genal and is also adjacent to mature woodland.The main difference is that it is not sprayed at all,so the reults should make interesting reading over a long enough period.
Today was perfect,no wind mild and complete cloud cover,and it produced 40 new birds with just 4 nets,the main species as one would expect was Blackcap,both local and N.European migrants but there was a healthy mix of other species incl.,Sardinian Warbler,Black Redstarts;Robins,Great Tits;Blue Tits;Long tailed Tits;Short Toed treecreeper and wintering Chiffchaffs.
I counted at least 3 Firecrests in the nearby trees and Great Spotted woodpecker was drumming nearby.
Contrary to the forecast as i was packing up the weather closed in quickly with dense low cloud and drizzle so an unpleasant drive home.
So its going to be another exciting year ringing down on the Costa del sol.
This private site is owned by a couple of English friends who are keen conservationists,and in next couple of weeks we are getting our heads togther to see if we can produce a programme for ringers or birders from Uk,spain or beyond who might be interested in using this place as a base .
The site has 2 small casetas in the garden so the lady is going to offer very good value B and B and I shall run the birding and ringing programme for the guests.the place has great potential,and none of my other ringing sites or birding hot spots are too far away for people looking for a weeks break in real wild Spain!! Will keep you all posted on developments,watch this space,and enjoy the rest of my year with me here in wonderful Spain
Saludos
Ricardo
Have got a couple of new sites to work with this year so really got my hands full,but as not going on any long birding trips should be able to do all of them justice and get some good scientific results .
The new sites complement what I have already.
I am looking at the resident,wintering,breeding and passage species in variuos orchards in S.Spain.I have ben ringing for some time in an Olive Grove and an Avocado orchard but now have added 2 contrasting Orange groves.
1 is huge and commercial sited between a woodland and the Rio Guadarannque but it is treated at certain times of the year with pesticides and herbicides.
Very little grows under the trees as a result,and when they spray it is good not to be around.However ,my first 3 ringing sessions there last Autumn defied what my friends thought of it and it produced masses of birds.
As a bonus the butterflies loved the rotting discarded fruit.
the site where I ringed today for the first time is very differant.It is small,next to Rio Genal and is also adjacent to mature woodland.The main difference is that it is not sprayed at all,so the reults should make interesting reading over a long enough period.
Today was perfect,no wind mild and complete cloud cover,and it produced 40 new birds with just 4 nets,the main species as one would expect was Blackcap,both local and N.European migrants but there was a healthy mix of other species incl.,Sardinian Warbler,Black Redstarts;Robins,Great Tits;Blue Tits;Long tailed Tits;Short Toed treecreeper and wintering Chiffchaffs.
I counted at least 3 Firecrests in the nearby trees and Great Spotted woodpecker was drumming nearby.
Contrary to the forecast as i was packing up the weather closed in quickly with dense low cloud and drizzle so an unpleasant drive home.
So its going to be another exciting year ringing down on the Costa del sol.
This private site is owned by a couple of English friends who are keen conservationists,and in next couple of weeks we are getting our heads togther to see if we can produce a programme for ringers or birders from Uk,spain or beyond who might be interested in using this place as a base .
The site has 2 small casetas in the garden so the lady is going to offer very good value B and B and I shall run the birding and ringing programme for the guests.the place has great potential,and none of my other ringing sites or birding hot spots are too far away for people looking for a weeks break in real wild Spain!! Will keep you all posted on developments,watch this space,and enjoy the rest of my year with me here in wonderful Spain
Saludos
Ricardo
