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Vacational Trip Reports
Land of the Iberian Lynx, Andalusia.
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<blockquote data-quote="Jos Stratford" data-source="post: 1851784" data-attributes="member: 12449"><p><strong><u>18 May. Oaks to Rock.</u></strong></p><p></p><p>Quietest day of the trip, but most pleasant.</p><p></p><p>Attractive landscapes, impressive woodlands of cork oak, a morning of wandering the lanes of Los Alconarles, an expansive national park in the rugged hills to the north of Algeciras. Famed or its colonies of <strong>Griffon Vultures</strong>, I managed to see less here than almost anywhere else - a grand total of just 15 - but other raptors in abundance to compensate the shortfall - <strong>Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles</strong> and <strong>Honey Buzzards </strong>for starters, plus <strong>Lesser Kestrels</strong> nesting in the picturesque hilltop town of Alcala de Los Gazules. Another warm sunny day, this was very much a amble without purpose, stopping here and there to add woodland species such as <strong>Iberian Chiffchaffs</strong> and <strong>Western Bonelli’s Warblers</strong>, <strong>Crested Tits </strong>and <strong>Nuthatches</strong>. In open heath, <strong>Dartford Warblers </strong>fed recently fledged young, while sunny glades added a variety of butterflies, <strong>Scarce Swallowtail, Clouded Yellow</strong> and <strong>Painted Lady</strong> prominent.</p><p></p><p>Nice though Los Alconarles was, I fancied a visit to a place of complete contrast - the little chunk of British territory, i.e. the Rock of Gibraltar. Pleasingly short delays on the border, then on into Little Britain, pounds the currency, signposts back in English. Truth be told, however, there is little to attract outside the migration period - the key attractions being Barbary Ape and Barbary Partridge, with additional chances of the odd seabird and, to lizard aficionados, <strong>Vaucher’s Wall Lizard</strong>. Not much chance of the partridge in the heat of the day, so opted for the hike up to the summit of the rock (being too scroogy to pay to drive up or take the cable car). Under a sweltering sun, up the steep path we slaved, <strong>Sardinian Warblers </strong>and <strong>Blackcaps</strong> bouncing out of the scrub, <strong>Yellow-legged Gulls</strong> dive-bombing us when our route straddled their nesting colonies. Almost at the top, three thuggish ‘security guards’ blocking the final steps - none too friendly-looking <strong>Barbary Apes</strong>! And they would not budge! With a drop of some metres either side of the path, gravely squeezed path, a younger animal tugging our trouser legs, the bigger one snarling and bearing its teeth. <strong>Barbary Ape</strong>, well and truly seen! More at the top, lounging around waiting for food hand outs, one <strong>Blue Rock Thrush </strong>rather more timid. </p><p></p><p>A nice cup of tea in the café on top, then back down the path and over to Europa Point for a seawatch. One <strong>Vaucher’s Wall Lizard </strong>sunning on some rubble, a lily pad sea doing all it could to ensure I would see no seabirds. Stuck it out an hour, mainly sunbathing, occasionally scanning the empty waters - two <strong>Gannets</strong>, one <strong>Scopoli’s Shearwater</strong>, the final tally!!!</p><p></p><p>Departed Gibraltar late afternoon, what to do? Having seen the Iberian Lynx so quickly at the beginning of the trip, I now had a day to spare. It would be nice to finish this mini-trip on a high - so, a quick perusal of the map, off we went, another drive into the night to put us in an excellent spot for the dawn of our last day.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jos Stratford, post: 1851784, member: 12449"] [B][U]18 May. Oaks to Rock.[/U][/B] Quietest day of the trip, but most pleasant. Attractive landscapes, impressive woodlands of cork oak, a morning of wandering the lanes of Los Alconarles, an expansive national park in the rugged hills to the north of Algeciras. Famed or its colonies of [B]Griffon Vultures[/B], I managed to see less here than almost anywhere else - a grand total of just 15 - but other raptors in abundance to compensate the shortfall - [B]Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles[/B] and [B]Honey Buzzards [/B]for starters, plus [B]Lesser Kestrels[/B] nesting in the picturesque hilltop town of Alcala de Los Gazules. Another warm sunny day, this was very much a amble without purpose, stopping here and there to add woodland species such as [B]Iberian Chiffchaffs[/B] and [B]Western Bonelli’s Warblers[/B], [B]Crested Tits [/B]and [B]Nuthatches[/B]. In open heath, [B]Dartford Warblers [/B]fed recently fledged young, while sunny glades added a variety of butterflies, [B]Scarce Swallowtail, Clouded Yellow[/B] and [B]Painted Lady[/B] prominent. Nice though Los Alconarles was, I fancied a visit to a place of complete contrast - the little chunk of British territory, i.e. the Rock of Gibraltar. Pleasingly short delays on the border, then on into Little Britain, pounds the currency, signposts back in English. Truth be told, however, there is little to attract outside the migration period - the key attractions being Barbary Ape and Barbary Partridge, with additional chances of the odd seabird and, to lizard aficionados, [B]Vaucher’s Wall Lizard[/B]. Not much chance of the partridge in the heat of the day, so opted for the hike up to the summit of the rock (being too scroogy to pay to drive up or take the cable car). Under a sweltering sun, up the steep path we slaved, [B]Sardinian Warblers [/B]and [B]Blackcaps[/B] bouncing out of the scrub, [B]Yellow-legged Gulls[/B] dive-bombing us when our route straddled their nesting colonies. Almost at the top, three thuggish ‘security guards’ blocking the final steps - none too friendly-looking [B]Barbary Apes[/B]! And they would not budge! With a drop of some metres either side of the path, gravely squeezed path, a younger animal tugging our trouser legs, the bigger one snarling and bearing its teeth. [B]Barbary Ape[/B], well and truly seen! More at the top, lounging around waiting for food hand outs, one [B]Blue Rock Thrush [/B]rather more timid. A nice cup of tea in the café on top, then back down the path and over to Europa Point for a seawatch. One [B]Vaucher’s Wall Lizard [/B]sunning on some rubble, a lily pad sea doing all it could to ensure I would see no seabirds. Stuck it out an hour, mainly sunbathing, occasionally scanning the empty waters - two [B]Gannets[/B], one [B]Scopoli’s Shearwater[/B], the final tally!!! Departed Gibraltar late afternoon, what to do? Having seen the Iberian Lynx so quickly at the beginning of the trip, I now had a day to spare. It would be nice to finish this mini-trip on a high - so, a quick perusal of the map, off we went, another drive into the night to put us in an excellent spot for the dawn of our last day. [/QUOTE]
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