All is well - I think - in my mountains

[PeterJ]

The sun is up the sky is blue dah de dah............

Do you ever get one of those days, when sitting quietly and surrounded by the sheer beauty of nature, that a feeling wells from inside and creates a feeling of such tranquillity as to be almost spiritual? I had this experience today. Deciding to forsake the million things to do on the dreaded computer, I set-off for a tour via the Sevilla road to Montejaque, Benaojan and then to Indiana on the Rio Guadiaro. Prior to Montejaque, near to the famous ‘I don’t work’ dam I had a small herd of Ibex and tumbling through the blue skies above were passing flocks of Black Kite. On top of the pyramid shaped monte corto sat two Short-toed Eagles, looking strangely out of place perched as they were amongst at least fifty Griffon Vultures. Lesser Kestrel were calling and busy hawking insects just above the defunct dam with Blue Rock Thrush and Black Wheatear sat in the gallery watching their mastery of the air. Crag Martins seemed more intent on playfully skipping across the contours of the many rock faces than seriously looking for food. After a brief, but highly satisfying lunch at the Bar Stop at Benaojan Station, I arrived at Indiana. Here, accompanied by the sound of water tumbling over the crafted round stones that form the riverbed, the bright sunshine reflected like jewels in the crown of the Rio Guadiaro and after some minutes I felt the hair on my neck prickle from a sensation of bliss. Little Egrets danced after fish in the backdrop of my view and Green Sandpipers ran comically along the water’s edge. From the rock outcrops of the riverbed, White Wagtails and a solitary Grey Wagtail hopped and jumped after insects  as they passed over their heads. It seemed that every overhanging bush or reed had its own Chiffchaff, that would dart from their perches and join the wagtails gorging on a most perfect day for insects. Occasionally a Cetti’s Warbler would burst into song and for a brief moment drown the sound from the rushing river. A flash of blue and a Kingfisher cut through my vision and awakened me from my slumbering watch. Probably just as well as I wanted to go further up river and check for a few more birds!

Parking the car after the second bridge on the river track I unloaded the scope and focused on a nearby bluff and managed to locate a pair of Bonelli’s Eagle sat lazily on a protruding bush, looking totally disinterested in any activity. Just by this parking area a stream flows into the main river and I watched my first Red-rumped Swallows casually inspecting the under parts of the bridge. They are such an attractive bird, more glide than flap than we notice in the more common Barn Swallow. They, or at least what I take to have been the male, were calling and singing, a comical sound that is more like musical notes created electronically on a computer keyboard! I also saw half a dozen Sand Martins (again a first for my patch this year) doing a fly-by with several Barn Swallows. Feeling the sun and a tiredness induced by a more than sufficient lunch, I made my way back to park beside the river. A Water Pipit, getting its first signs of a pink blush, sat on an exposed part of the riverbed midstream. Whilst watching this fine Pipit I noticed that it kept flapping and moving around as if avoiding some unseen phantom. Training my binoculars on the bird I saw a very large Carpenter Bee literally buzzing the Pipit. It made for a highly amusing interlude and definitely a case of the ‘insect bites back’. My final sighting before heading home was a pair of Little-ringed Plover. Now here I have to admit to a very serious shortcoming. In my advanced years and after birding for more fifty of them, then I am prone to bouts of laziness and not writing things down. This deficiency brings me to a question. Little-ringed Plover breed on this river, but isn’t it a tad early for them to be back?

All an all a good day and reassuring that all is well in my mountains.

Peter

[Dave]

Hi Peter
lovely report, just like being there, glad you decided to write it down, nice to have ´one of those days ´
Regards
Dave

[stephanie]

Hi Peter, Thank you for the report, very enjoyable reading.
  I agree with Dave, just like being there.
I think it is early for the little ringed plovers. We will have to go down to our river and see if there are any about yet here.
We have many photos taken in May.   Steph

[Sue]

 Sounds like a fabulous day out Peter, very tranquil 

[lisa]

Well done for taking the time out to enjoy it Peter 

[Clive]

Hmmmm.... Here I am coding the script that will power your on-line booking system for your new website and you are gallivanting out and about in the countryside looking at birds and stuff!  Where, exactly, are the 8 country bird introduction articles I requested? hmmm?

Nice to hear the other side of the hill from us is still there... It's only by field reports like this that I know a world exists beyond my raw fingertips and blood stained keyboard....

Nice observations Peter.... Paradise is definitely where we live

[PeterJ]

Hmmmm.... Here I am coding the script that will power your on-line booking system for your new website and you are gallivanting out and about in the countryside looking at birds and stuff!  Where, exactly, are the 8 country bird introduction articles I requested? hmmm?

Nice to hear the other side of the hill from us is still there... It's only by field reports like this that I know a world exists beyond my raw fingertips and blood stained keyboard....

Nice observations Peter.... Paradise is definitely where we live

Whilst I have every sympathy for your situation, I temper this with being extremely pleased to hear you are working very hard on the web site. 

You will be disgusted to know, that I also took time out yesterday to take Brenda to Sevilla airport and spent several long hours getting home before resuming work on the computer, bloody birds kept distracting me from my drive home!

Peter

[Clive]

*** Ohhh.... Did you see the Black WINGED kites at Bornos lake? (Which has filled nicely with the rain)(it's on the road from Seville to Ronda in Andalucia).... Of course i knew years ago that this was the correct name as it is obvious that birds don't have shoulders.....


*** Sorry about brackets I have never got the hang of how to breathe whilst typing (when excited)....

[Clive]

Sue just told me that birds don't have elbows or fingers either.... But that's just plain silly...

[PeterJ]

*** Ohhh.... Did you see the Black WINGED kites at Bornos lake? (Which has filled nicely with the rain)(it's on the road from Seville to Ronda in Andalucia).... Of course i knew years ago that this was the correct name as it is obvious that birds don't have shoulders.....
*** Sorry about brackets I have never got the hang of how to breathe whilst typing (when excited)....

(That’s okay) (I am so pleased you were listening when I told you birds don’t) (have shoulders!) (sounds like you get keyboard asthma whilst you type) (recommend seeing a specialist) (did see Black-should –winged Kite, but on the way)(back on a different route) 

Sue just told me that birds don't have elbows or fingers either.... But that's just plain silly...

No true, but tell Sue that fingers are a nice way to describe the wing-tips of Griffon Vultures when they are cruising on the air currents and up draughts. Don’t you think? 

Peter

[Technopat]

Greetings Peter,
Thanks for taking time out and reconciling yourself with your keyboard - makes luverly reading and a nice way to unwind from a hectic Friday in Madrid.

Notoriously lacking in birding skills, am prepared to bow to superior knowledge re. shoulders, at least for the time being, but given that wings are the fore limbs, surely the human elbow has its avian equivalent... if this is basic bird knowledge and/or has been dealt with extensively on another thread, apologies.

Always-willing-to-learn regs.,
Technopat

PS.
Re. what with all that gallivanting* around the countryside/mountains, looks like you could do with a laptop

*anything to do with galliformes?

[PeterJ]

Greetings Peter,
Thanks for taking time out and reconciling yourself with your keyboard - makes luverly reading and a nice way to unwind from a hectic Friday in Madrid.

Notoriously lacking in birding skills, am prepared to bow to superior knowledge re. shoulders, at least for the time being, but given that wings are the fore limbs, surely the human elbow has its avian equivalent... if this is basic bird knowledge and/or has been dealt with extensively on another thread, apologies.

Always-willing-to-learn regs.,
Technopat

PS.
Re. what with all that gallivanting* around the countryside/mountains, looks like you could do with a laptop

*anything to do with galliformes?

Hi TP,

Sorry for the delay, just back from another trip to exotic parts. Shudder the thought of taking a Laptop birding! Ah, shoulders. The colouring of Black to the so-called shoulders on the Kite in question covers the Radius and Ulna, so should it be Black-forearmed Kite? And of course where these arm parts join with the Humerus, then quaintly you might like to call this the elbow? As Carpal is in effect a bird's wrist.

Peter

[Simon]

Hi Peter et al,

Just a note to say thank you for a lovely desciption of an early spring (sic) day - it vividly reminded me of our day out with you during last year's summit!

Simon

[PeterJ]

Hi Peter et al,

Just a note to say thank you for a lovely desciption of an early spring (sic) day - it vividly reminded me of our day out with you during last year's summit!

Simon

Thank you for the generous post Simon. Hopefully we can repeat our day out some other time when other forumers decide they want to replenish their souls by coming here to the 'better' part of Spain! 

Peter

[Simon]

By using the comparative ere you suggesting that there are only two parts of Spain Peter? Shame on you!     

I'll just have to rise to the challenge and invite you to partake of the best part of Spain!     

Cheers

Simon

[Dave]

Hi All
Here in León we are far to cultured to boast, we have everything you have plus free Tapas 
Regards
Dave

[Simon]

Seriously now Dave, I pine, crave even, your Leonés tapas - I was in Madrid last month, chez Technopat, and totally pigged out on free tapas! But you don't get calçots in Leon though do you? 

Simon

[PeterJ]

Especially to keep everyone up to date and to just prove to Dave and Simon why this is the 'better' oh okay 'best' part of Spain, I give folk the latest on esta parte de Espana!

A great plus to living and working around the Serranía de Ronda and Sierra de Grazalema is to know where the birds are at any given time and where to go according to local weather conditions. The area and its surrounds have to be one of the best birding hot spots in southern Spain. The choice of sites and species, at all times of the year, make it one of the most popular sites visited by nature tour operators and individuals (with an eye for bird) in Spain. My knowledge of the area, and in particular the variable weather conditions, helped several people get the best out of their time here during the beginning of May 2009. As with April the month has, so far, not really settled and we are still getting the odd day of low cloud and rain (much to the joy of the locals). A feature of the spring migration this year has been the on and off arrival of many of our summer residents. It has been strange to watch Bee Eaters Merops apiaster going through for almost 6 weeks, but only see the occupation of breeding sites take place over the last fortnight. Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus has been very late to arrive at traditional sites and at least one star turn for the summer, Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, has failed to occupy many known and favoured areas. After six years officially declared drought years, we had substantial rainfall this winter and the consequence has been luxuriant growth to our vegetation, great for the wildflower enthusiast, but not so good if you are a Black-eared Wheatear requiring low field layers and bare areas.

During days when conditions have made birding difficult in the high Sierras I have tended to go to a couple of lowland sites. It is so good to report here how good Fuente de Piedra has been this spring after such a disaster last year. The spring of this year has seen the lagoon and surrounding scrapes with plenty of water producing great relief for the breeding Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus (some 20/25,000 are currently there) and migrating waders. Some notable birds seen there this year are White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotus, several Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii and up to 7 Lesser Flamingos Phoenicopterus minor (reported to be breeding this year). It has been great to watch several wader species pass through in their full breeding plumage none more colourful than the many (brick red) Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea and watching displaying Ruff Philomachus pugnax has been both amusing and a privilege. Even the gull enthusiast could find solace so far from the coast with both Mediterranean Larus melanocephalus and Slender-billed Gull Larus genei putting in appearances. A solitary drake White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala has remained at one of the lagoons for a few months now and seems to like the company of the Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina, often in the company of the males perhaps it prefers blonds! I have also managed a few excursions off the Sierras to the Jimena area and this month has been extremely good for the elusive Rufous Bush Chat Cercotrichas galactotes, always difficult I now have the perfect spot for them. In the same area I had high numbers of Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Melodious Warbler Hippolias polyglotta and some tremendous views of Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus wheeling their way northwards.

By now most of the summer residents are back on their familiar territories, whilst late northern migrants such as Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Honey Buzzard and straggling Black Kites Milvus migrans continue to make their long journey to higher latitudes. A surprise sighting for me on the Rio Guadiaro was 3 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides and all this whilst watching Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Melodious and Olivaceous Warbler Hippolias opaca! Little-ringed Plover Charadrius dubius are sat tight on their eggs and our Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila pennata are all very busy feeding young, although they continue to be easily distracted by Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus and any other raptor that has the bare cheek to wander too close to their nest. It was amusing for me to watch a male Bonelli’s Eagle getting some of his own medicine near to Cueavas by receiving the unwanted and persistent attention of 2 Raven Corvus corax. Higher in the uppermost reaches of the Llanus de Libar Woodlark Lullula arborea are now being accompanied by fledged young as too are Stonechats Saxicola rubicola. Around the villages young Swallow Hirundo rustica can be seen flying around the rooftops with both Pallid Apus pallidus and Common Swift Apus apus as company. Cuevo de Gato is always an attraction at this time of year with its large colony of Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba and large numbers of Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris, strangely absent but present further down river is Golden Oriole. Apart from the ever present Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea, it has also been a feature of this site to see Dipper Cinclus cinclus and I guess this is due to the recent cleaning of the river (the sewerage plant in Ronda is at last functioning). The high area of the Alta Genal has produced great days out this month with the discovery of a pair of sub-adult Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos attempting to breed. Whether these two youngsters will be successful remains to be seen, but they certainly add to the many reasons for visiting this wonderful route. Along the rocky areas of this route is good for Blue Rock Monticola solitarius and Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura, Black-eared Wheatear, Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax and many raptors.

It will soon be time for me to get to grip once more with ringing adult Subalpine Sylvia cantillans and Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli and before I know it (age has this affect) I will be concentrating on autumn migration!

So you see Dave and Simon, despite no free tapas, it has to rank alongside, if not ahead of the best of Spain!

Peter 

[PeterJ]

Another year and, after the disappointment of 2008, a report of a successful breeding season at Fuente de Piedra for Greater Flamingo Pheonicopterus roseus. 2009 saw the 25th anniversary for ringing of the Greater Flamingo chicks at Fuente de Piedra and a total of 600 chicks (only a small representative sample of the total raised) were fitted with specially coded plastic colour rings. These colour rings can be easily read through telescopes and sometimes through binoculars, allowing observers to report on the movements of these birds as soon as they gain their independence and are able to fly to feeding grounds throughout the region and North Africa.

The ringing of Greater Flamingo chicks is a highly organised affair and run with military precision. The group of volunteers, numbering somewhere over 300, embark during cover of darkness slowly and silently encircling the nursery of young. As dawn arrives the nursery is slowly and safely encouraged towards a fence line and bell mouth shaped entrance to a holding corral.  For the protection of the young, the entrance and corral are lined and padded with soft fabric and the corral is circular to avoid any sharp edges. This year, from the moment the required number where successfully corralled to the moment when all had been ringed and released took a grand total of 2 hours. If you consider the operation and further that each bird is processed for weight, measurements, blood sampling and inspected by attending veterinaries, then the minimum of time taken is a huge tribute to the thorough organisation of the operation.

It’s been quite a year for the species at Fuente de Piedra with in excess of 30,000 adults being reported on occasions. As the water levels drop, many adults make the daytime journey to Huelva and the Doñana to feed and return during the night to provide necessary sustenance for their young. An undisputed burden and act of dedication with a round journey every day of at least 160km to feed their offspring! Talking with the wardens Lesser Flamingo Pheonicopterus minor apparently attempted to breed, but they believed the eggs were accidentally broken by the brooding adult and no further evidence to support breeding was recorded.

Photographs below illustrate the corral and also show a fraction of the nursery.

Peter
Photographs courtesy of my friend José A. Cortés (SEO Malaga)

[lucy]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for your report -- the procedure sounds very impressive!  It's great to hear that everything went well this year (unlike the disaster of 2008).  Have the local abuses been sorted out or was it a case of more rain this year?