Sierra Nevadas 11th July 2012
A hot day with a - thankful - fresh wind.
On the way here we saw very little, a few Wood Pigeon, Collared Doves, Spotless Starlings, Black Redstart, Sardinian Warbler and House Sparrows.
We arrived up at the Mirador Monte Ahi de Cara at about 10am and the wind was blowing a gale. On a normal day that isn´t too bad but trying to photograph anything in this wind was going to be tricky.
Our first sighting was of a Common Kestrel, then a few Common Swifts and House Martins. As we walked through the low shrub we put up several Linnets. Then the call of a Tawny Pipit came on the wind. We were scanning the bushes and the area out to our front, when a pair of them flew up not 30 yards away. It didn´t seem at all perturbed at our presence here but we did keep a respectable distance from it.
A hot day with a - thankful - fresh wind.
On the way here we saw very little, a few Wood Pigeon, Collared Doves, Spotless Starlings, Black Redstart, Sardinian Warbler and House Sparrows.
We arrived up at the Mirador Monte Ahi de Cara at about 10am and the wind was blowing a gale. On a normal day that isn´t too bad but trying to photograph anything in this wind was going to be tricky.
Our first sighting was of a Common Kestrel, then a few Common Swifts and House Martins. As we walked through the low shrub we put up several Linnets. Then the call of a Tawny Pipit came on the wind. We were scanning the bushes and the area out to our front, when a pair of them flew up not 30 yards away. It didn´t seem at all perturbed at our presence here but we did keep a respectable distance from it.
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| Tawny Pipit Bisbita Campestre Anthus campestris (PHOTO: John Wainwright) |
In a large bush to our right a family of four Spectacled Warblers were seen and on the fence - that surrounds a deep hole here at the mirador - a family of Northern Wheatears were seen.
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| Northern Wheatears Collalba Gris Oenanthe oenanthe (PHOTO: John Wainwright) |
Plenty of butterflies about today including Scarce and Common Swallowtails, Sage Skippers, Niobe Fritilary, Spanish Gatekeeper, Dusky Heath and Blue-spot Hairstreak.
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| Male Spanish Gatekeeper Pyronia bathseba (PHOTO: John Wainwright) |
Not a stupendous birding success but a very enjoyable day out.
Thanks John and Jenny and I was intrigued to note that, once more, John has taken charge of the camera and all the photographs are by his fair hand! Don't worry Jenny, he'll let you have another go later or you will have to insist on him buying you your very own Canon EOS1 Mark 5 with f2.8 500mm lens. That should set him back somewhere in the region of €15,000 to €20,000 plus! This might be the time to ask again if you can take charge of the camera. Happy hunting.
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.
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