Saturday, May 31, 2014

Ronda Wildlife – May 2014 Review


The month had been varied and untypical in so far as weather was concerned. Cold spells, plenty of rain, cool nights and all interspersed with the more normal warm days and balmy evenings! A noticeable bonus to cooler temperatures and decent rainfall has been the prolonged season for the native plantlife. Of course this translates into bumper harvests for insects and seeds, thus our precious birds are thriving. Some notable birds there are too, first timers on the backyard breeding list are Roller and Black-winged Stilt, with Pied Flycatcher seen throughout May and also likely! Sightings included Long-legged Buzzard (adult seen 2 times) and the elusive Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin present in 2 secret locations.

Hoopoe - Another good and successful breeding season
Dragonflies and Butterflies are thriving, variety as well as abundance confirming the benefits of an extended flowering season. Late arrivals to the scene, as always, are Spotted Flycatcher, who seems to occupy all known sites this year. The prolific insect hatch will satiate this handsome visitor as well as assist Barn Swallow in raising good sized and more broods, this is particularly necessary as numbers are certainly down this year. Wonder why? Could it refer to unforeseen, untold problems at their wintering grounds?

Spanish Festoon. A great year so far for many species of butterfly 
In all years there are good and bad things to report, as well as some worrying trends. The increasing use of systemic herbicides is baffling, why use these on verges? More especially their use in the areas of so-called Parque Naturals, protected areas, together with strimming verges at their peak with flowering plants is criminal! Despite the mismanagement of these roadside wonders, nature has conspired, so far, to thwart the destruction of one of the most attractive and colourful spectacles of our area. You would think the number of tourist that come to view wildflowers and add economically to this area, might have some influence on the decision makers on rural affairs, but so far there is no sign of it! Who would believe we have problems in paradise?

Roadside flowers under threat from Parque Natural mismanagement?

A pictorial review for May. Hope you enjoy the view?

Pied Flycatcher - A new breeding species for the area?
Barn Swallow numbers are down this year - they need a good year!
Broad-bodied Chaser among many dragonflies enjoying a good spring
Knapweed Fritillary another insect enjoying prolific plantlife
Bug Orchid enjoying the climate, one of many orchids this year.
Iberian Grey Shrike - slow decline in occupied territories is of concern!
Crested Lark one of our more common birds in cultivated areas.
Echium a great favourite with butterflies and other insects.
Roller - a first record as a breeding bird in this area
Black-winged Stilt another bird 1st breeding record in the area this year!
Spotted Flycatcher present again on all known sites
Southern Gatekeeper - one among many butterflies this spring

Why not join Peter on one his Day Tours? See Links below.

Serranía de Ronda – My Mountains – for further information read HERE

Osuna – Steppe Country – for further information read HERE

Campillos - Mountains to Lagoons - for further information read HERE

Strait of Gibraltar - Migration, wetlands and so much more read HERE

Coming Soon! Tour to South Africa beginning November 2014, fancy joining me?

Blue Crane - one of the many birds we will seek during our tour
Introduction to the tour HERE

Full Tour Itinerary HERE

Photo Gallery from our 2013 tour HERE

I very much hope you can join me for this tour and also the optional tour extension to Cape Town.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Late spring in the Serranía de Ronda


What an absolute plethora, convergence, abundance, mass or just plain lots, call it what you like, but the wildlife here in my mountains, at this time of year, is staggering. Rising temperatures, increased hours of daylight and sunny days, conspire to produce the kind of activity one normally associates with the rush hour in many heavily populated cities. The noise from buzzing, singing and flapping wings fills my airspace as clearly as the combined colours of various creatures dazzle my vision. You probably might have guessed I love this time of year!

Coriander, Poppies and so much more!
Coriander, grown here for its seed, gives a silver wash to the landscape and helps to create the illusion of a seascape, when winds produce waves and ripples on the silvery surface of the massed flower heads. In contrast, the deep blood reds of poppies that grace our fields are testimony to a more tolerant attitude displayed by many local farmers and their appreciation of the natural flora. Although, having blown that particular trumpet, there is a worrying trend towards the use of more and more systemic herbicides! Of course, the area is becoming more and more renowned for wildflowers, something that is attracting visits from plant lovers and tour companies, so money arrives into the local economy, which then assists with banging the conservation and preservation drum!

The elusive Pimpernel or otherwise known as a Nightingale
All our summer resident birds are back in situ and have got straight down to breeding, males adding their two pennies worth to the cacophony of song already gladdening my ears from the resident birds. Nature’s orchestra were all in perfect harmony with star soloists, such as Nightingale, adding to the music in my ears. In fact, one of the main games of late spring is trying to spot ‘that bird’ singing so wonderfully from dense scrub, the browns and grey front make the Nightingale one of those extremely difficult birds to spot. Like anything else in life though, perseverance pays and this particular brown job bit the dust to my camera lens, yes! Mind you perseverance is not making any inroads for my bird photography nemesis, that bloody elusive Golden Oriole. I am still held in wonder by just how such a brightly coloured bird can simply vanish as soon as it dives into a popular tree?

Serin - a male decides to cool down in a cold stream
Anyways, here are a few photos taken during this month and as ever I hope you enjoy the nature they portray?

Iberian Wingless Mantis ( Apteromantis aptera )
Poppy Field
Collared Pratincole
Woodchat Shrike - trying saying that after a few red wines!
Truxalis nasuta - Orthoptera / or in English = Gangling Grasshopper
European Roller takes flight. Photo: Peter Bonn Erickson
Little Owl looking at me looking at him!
Yellow Bee Orchid smiles from all that find her
Red Deer - not uncommon throughout my mountains
Red Admiral - widespread, common and so beautiful
Kentish Plover - such a wonderful very small wader
Crag Martin - collecting some mud for a bit of house keeping

Why not join Peter on one his Day Tours? See Links below.

Serranía de Ronda – My Mountains – for further information read HERE

Osuna – Steppe Country – for further information read HERE

Campillos - Mountains to Lagoons - for further information read HERE

Strait of Gibraltar - Migration, wetlands and so much more read HERE