In April this year I had an excellent (and successful) week or so over in Spain (Andaulsia) looking for Iberian Lynx and a range of quality birds. On my return I put a brief blog post together HERE about some of the highlights from the trip, which included views of two Iberian Lynx and a lot of birds.
This really was an enjoyable scouting trip for Birding Ecotours. I've finally got round to writing my trip report up and it can be found below.
Showing posts with label Spain Birding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spain Birding. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 August 2015
Saturday, 18 April 2015
Spain Summary and Photos
I spent the first week or so of April over in Southern Spain (Andalucia) and had a brilliant time. Spent the first half of my trip with York legend and Blind Mole specialist Paz, and the second half of the trip I bumped into the Next Generation Birders trip led by Oliver Reville who had provided me with a load of gen prior to my trip (thank you Oli). It was great to be able to spend some time with this group of young, and very talented people.
This post is just a brief summary, I'll put together a proper trip report in my usual format after I've finished my Australia trip report, and got back from my rapidly-approaching US trip...
The trip was a recce for Birding Ecotours so as well as looking at the birds/wildlife I was keen to make some useful contacts and check out some good accommodation/food outlets etc. The wildlife on the trip was a huge draw with Iberian Lynx, the worlds rarest feline being the main prize but with many quality birds available, headlined by the impressive Spanish Imperial Eagle it had the potential to be a great trip. Throw in some cool butterflies - e.g. Spanish Festoon and assorted Swallowtails, a range or stunning Orchids, and Blind Mole and a good time was pretty much guaranteed.
Locations visited included the Andujar, Lantejuela, Tarifa, Bonanza, Brazo del Este and Montejaque areas, as well as a few other places in between.
Highlight birds of about 190 species included Spanish Imperial, Golden, Bonelli's, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vulture, Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Iberian (Azure-winged) Magpie, Iberian Grey Shrike, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Northern Bald Ibis, Black Wheatear, Marbled and White-headed Ducks, Rock Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls, Bee-eater, Roller, Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike and Scops-Owl among many others.
Non-avian highlight (in fact the highlight of the whole trip) was two Iberian Lynx - simply stunning and incredibly exciting to see! Lots of butterflies too - including the Spanish Festoon which was a big target for both of us.
Oh, and Paz and I got to go ringing Lesser and Common Kestrels with a couple of bird ringers we got talking to! Awesome time!
All in all it was a great trip, for now some photos.
This post is just a brief summary, I'll put together a proper trip report in my usual format after I've finished my Australia trip report, and got back from my rapidly-approaching US trip...
The trip was a recce for Birding Ecotours so as well as looking at the birds/wildlife I was keen to make some useful contacts and check out some good accommodation/food outlets etc. The wildlife on the trip was a huge draw with Iberian Lynx, the worlds rarest feline being the main prize but with many quality birds available, headlined by the impressive Spanish Imperial Eagle it had the potential to be a great trip. Throw in some cool butterflies - e.g. Spanish Festoon and assorted Swallowtails, a range or stunning Orchids, and Blind Mole and a good time was pretty much guaranteed.
Locations visited included the Andujar, Lantejuela, Tarifa, Bonanza, Brazo del Este and Montejaque areas, as well as a few other places in between.
Highlight birds of about 190 species included Spanish Imperial, Golden, Bonelli's, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vulture, Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Iberian (Azure-winged) Magpie, Iberian Grey Shrike, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Northern Bald Ibis, Black Wheatear, Marbled and White-headed Ducks, Rock Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls, Bee-eater, Roller, Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike and Scops-Owl among many others.
Non-avian highlight (in fact the highlight of the whole trip) was two Iberian Lynx - simply stunning and incredibly exciting to see! Lots of butterflies too - including the Spanish Festoon which was a big target for both of us.
Oh, and Paz and I got to go ringing Lesser and Common Kestrels with a couple of bird ringers we got talking to! Awesome time!
All in all it was a great trip, for now some photos.
Iberian Lynx - not my photo, taken by Jeroen Vanheuverswyn
Iberian Lynx - not my photo, taken by Jeroen Vanheuverswyn
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Black Vulture
Andy with male Lesser Kestrel
Male Lesser Kestrel
Male Lesser Kestrel
Montagu's Harrier
Short-toed Eagle
Short-toed Eagle (phone pic)
Woodchat Shrike (phone pic)
Bee-eater
Black Wheatear
Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Phone pic)
Booted Eagle
Booted Eagle
Booted Eagle
Great Bustard (distant phone pic)
Greater Flamingo
Hoopoe
Iberian Grey Shrike
Iberian Yellow Wagtail
Nightingale
Northern Bald Ibis
Rock Bunting
Roller
Thursday, 29 January 2015
ESPANA. SPAIN. ANDALUCIA. ¡Vámonos!
Very excited that I'm going to be going to Andalucia, Spain in early April for a week or so birding and mammal watching (all other animals welcome too!), scoping out more birding destinations for Birding Ecotours.
There's a wide range of really great wildlife in this region. Some of the main wildlife targets will be Iberian Lynx, Wolves(!), Otters, Wild Boar, Mouflon and Red Deer - early days of planning yet, so may be more...
Bird-wise I'll be targeting Spanish Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture (and Ruppell's too...?), Egyptian Vulture, Black-shouldered Kite, Purple Gallinule, Marbled Teal, Crested (Red-knobbed) Coot, Northern Bald Ibis, Red-necked Nightjar, Iberian Woodpecker, Iberian Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Crane, Audouin's Gull, Sandgrouse, White-headed Duck, Black Wheatear, Great and Little Bustards, Eagle Owl, Scops Owl, Rock Thrushes.... and a lot more.
On top of the above there should be some cool raptors passing through such as Bonelli's, Booted, Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's, Marsh and Hen Harriers (Pallid too?), Black and Red Kites, Osprey and Lesser Kestrel.
Should hopefully be a good range of other migrants too, such as Crakes, Hoopoe, Bee-eaters, Rollers, Swifts, Shrikes, Orioles, Larks, Chats, Wheatears and Warblers... southern Europe in early-April could be interesting... certainly very exciting!
There's a wide range of really great wildlife in this region. Some of the main wildlife targets will be Iberian Lynx, Wolves(!), Otters, Wild Boar, Mouflon and Red Deer - early days of planning yet, so may be more...
Bird-wise I'll be targeting Spanish Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture (and Ruppell's too...?), Egyptian Vulture, Black-shouldered Kite, Purple Gallinule, Marbled Teal, Crested (Red-knobbed) Coot, Northern Bald Ibis, Red-necked Nightjar, Iberian Woodpecker, Iberian Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Crane, Audouin's Gull, Sandgrouse, White-headed Duck, Black Wheatear, Great and Little Bustards, Eagle Owl, Scops Owl, Rock Thrushes.... and a lot more.
On top of the above there should be some cool raptors passing through such as Bonelli's, Booted, Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's, Marsh and Hen Harriers (Pallid too?), Black and Red Kites, Osprey and Lesser Kestrel.
Should hopefully be a good range of other migrants too, such as Crakes, Hoopoe, Bee-eaters, Rollers, Swifts, Shrikes, Orioles, Larks, Chats, Wheatears and Warblers... southern Europe in early-April could be interesting... certainly very exciting!
Area I'll be exploring.... (not my picture).
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