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Message: <blockquote data-quote="foresttwitcher" data-source="post: 3565652" data-attributes="member: 97625">Wednesday 26th April:Moving further north today, so as it was probably my last realistic chance for my target eagle I headed back to Chapineria for further scanning from the roof-top but with no luck and even fewer raptors than yesterday. After a while I gave up and this time from Navas del Rey headed north towards Robledo de Chavela seeing a single low-flying Red Kite and a fine Roller perched on the roadside wires, the latter unfortunately in a place I was unable to stop. Turning off towards Valdemaqueda the road-signs soon indicated that this was the village in which to see the eagle and just as I reached the outskirts a large raptor soared over and I was able to pull up at the roadside and get out for good binocular views of a Spanish Imperial Eagle that flew out of sight over the village.I drove through the settlement and stopped at the start of a path that seemed as though it may lead in the direction that could give views over the valley in the sort of area in which the eagle had disappeared. I had a number of vultures overhead but no further views of the eagle. The pine woods hosted some familiar woodland birds and added both Firecrest and Short-toed Treecreeper to the trip list.The views of the Eagle could have been better but I was relieved to have finally seen one. Time to head north for the last part of the trip. I broke up the long drive when I saw sign for a bird observatory and ended up at the Laguna de Pitillas. A short walk along the dam to a screen produced: a very loud Great Reed Warbler in a small reed bed; Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard & Coot on the water; Grey Heron in the margins; a Marsh Harrier overhead; and a massive mixed flock of Swift, Barn Swallow and House Martin hawking just over the surface. The alternative path from the observatory was closed to prevent disturbance to nesting birds.Continuing the journey, and having checked-in to my accommodation for the night at Ekai, I spent the evening walking around the woodlands adjacent to the main parking area in the Selva de Irati. I had planned this additional trip to the Western Pyrenees at the end of the holiday to target White-backed Woodpecker but in hindsight I did not have the time to find suitable habitat to give it a realistic attempt and in fact did not hear any woodpeckers at all. A number of woodland species were singing in the dusk and both Song & Mistle Thrush were new for the trip.</blockquote>

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