Sunday Driver - Serranía de Ronda

After some long overdue rain, not much to be fair, the sun came out; deep blue adorned the skies, whilst not a single cloud dared appear. Well, what did you expect I might do on such a day? Yep, of course you are right, I headed out to survey my local patch, my realm, the Serranía de Ronda, that most magnificent of areas with such a diverse range of habitats, it simply is the most wonderful of regions to live and explore. Birds, animals, flowers, scenery, culture and great food, what a combination to ensure you never get bored.

Not unnaturally the good turn in the weather brought out the locals in force, walkers joined the mushroom hunters and families were picnicking in the local natural parks, whilst I joined the many Sunday drivers, at least until I left the main roads and went on my beloved track to Llanos de Libar, the starting point of my route. There were plenty of birds around, made flighty by the number of walkers in the area, but I did manage a few peaceful moments and photograph a couple of species. Some winter visitors made their first appearance for me, 3 Alpine Accentors hopping around on the track, whilst a female Ring Ouzel joined the throngs of Spotless Starlings feeding on haws in the Hawthorn cluster near to the beginnings of the track.

Southern Autumn Crocus

At a much higher altitude Southern Autumn Crocus provided an opportunity to attempt some arty approach with my toy camera! Huge mixed finch flocks were around the cultivated halfway mark along the track and these were joined by large parties of both White Wagtail and Meadow Pipit, both winter visitors to the area. Thekla Lark proved very obliging for a change, they obviously didn’t realise I had my camera with me, so managed some half decent photos, examples of which appear on this blog. Northern Wheatear are still passing through and a new one for me this season, a male Merlin, made an unsuccessful swoop at one of the wheatears.

White Wagtail (immature male) fresh from a bath

The highest reaches of the track was to prove disappointing due to the number of mushroom hunters walking around scouring the meadows for their bounty. Aren’t these important fungi protected in this UNESCO Biosphere Park? If not why not, they are an important food source for insect and animal alike. Judging by the harvest, some of the collectors must have been gathering for commercial gain too! Probably me being grumpy due to the disturbance these folk created and only managed a few scenery shots before departing.

Black Redstart - large numbers in the area and increasing

The change in weather, now warm with clear skies, accounted for the number of Griffon Vulture in the skies, such large gatherings riding the thermals and up draughts, there were literally hundreds around the valleys and mountain tops. The influx of Black Redstarts continued apace with good numbers all along the track, they will soon peak and settle to a lesser number for the winter. Blue Rock Thrush and Black Wheatear were singing and enjoying the sunshine, whilst Rock Buntings continued to tease my efforts to get a decent photograph, little blighters!

Upper meadows of Llanos de Libar very quiet due to many mushroom pickers!

The end of my day was spent around the higher reaches of the Rio Guadiaro, where things were remarkably quiet for such a warm day. One thing that struck me was the lack of large numbers for Chiffchaff, they are normally abundant by now, but then again maybe they are more widely distributed due to the warm weather, seeking the sanctuary of the river in harsher conditions. Still, bent the old duffer’s back and took an upshot of the river and generally enjoyed wandering on the river bank.

Rio Guadiaro - got down low for this, but trouble getting back up, age!!

More photos of the day below.

Griffon Vulture - so many riding the thermals and up draughts.

Lower area of the Libar track

Thekla Lark - didn't spot the camera this time!

A Loosestrife? Not too sure about this one.. must look it up.

The ancient Oak Forest of the upper Llanos de Libar

For more information on the Serrania de Ronda and Sierra de Grazalema please visit our website HERE

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Autumn's Road to Nature

Its official, autumn post migration is tough work for the birder! Or at least at higher altitudes, when even familiar birds, ones that don’t migrate, can disperse to lower lands! Of course my patch, the Serranía de Ronda, is so peaceful now, no holiday traffic, not so many walking the trails, just me and my toy camera! Even though by local standards this is the quiet time for birds, the cross over from summer departing migrants and the awaited arrival of wintering birds, there is still plenty to make the journey out of the door worthwhile, besides I am getting bored doing admin tasks!!

Autumn's (October) road to nature

Lately I have been sneaking days out, when really I should (must) do some administration work for the tour companies. However the lure of the great outdoors has been irresistible and the promise of winter is fresh on the winds, so I do not want to waste opportunities whilst the sun shines. Our days are still warm, the nights a little cooler, so I guess its no surprise to find plenty of dragonflies, butterflies and plants still attracting attention whilst walking the area or just driving around. Work also provided some nice birds plus some interesting ones like one of the photos below of a Thekla Lark with an abnormal upper mandible, just look how long and hooked it is, quite the reverse from what it should be i.e. blunt ended. Also a colour ringed Griffon Vulture (immediately below) and a Black-winged Kite in the area, which was a very pleasant surprise.

Griffon Vulture, Serrania de Ronda, Andalucia, Spain - yellow colour ring black lettering 15P

The photos below of Thekla Lark, ringed Griffon Vulture (above) and Black-winged Kite were taken by Peter Bonne Eriksen and reproduced here with the kind permission of Peter. 

Thekla Lark with abnormal upper mandible.

Thekla Lark above... Really a very strange individual with abnormal upper mandible. Normally the bill is blunt and hook tip more associated with Crested Lark, although some juvenile Thekla can have slight hook to U.M. Thought this might interest some of you.

Black-winged Kite - rare visitor to my patch!

All other photos are mine and were taken with the Canon PowerShot SX50.

Rock Petronia / Rock Sparrow

Rock Sparrow or Rock Petronia above, not the best of photos, but it does help with id, especially the head markings which always show. Unlike the yellow breast spot seen on the bird to the left, this can be tricky to spot on most occasions. Another noticeable field mark is the faint white tip to the tail when the bird is flying away from you, which is very often the only view you get of this species!! I hope this might be helpful.

Western Willow Spreadwing Chalcolestes viridis

Collared Dove

Griffon Vulture

Mandrake

Red-rumped Swallow nest - wonder if they will use it next year?

White Wagtail - through the fence....

For more information on the Serrania de Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema please visit our website HERE

For information on Worldwide Birding Tours please use this LINK

Morocco Birding Species List

Red-rumped Wheatear. 

A species list to supplement the original tour report, which can be found on this link. The tour took place between the 27th September and 6th October 2013. It was a time when most of the major autumn migration had been and gone, whilst the region was awaiting the arrival of winter residents. So the timing could have been better for a more comprehensive bird list, but despite the timing we managed a good cross section of species and managed the great majority of our target birds.

Greater Hoopoe Lark

Species List.

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Ruddy Shelduck                  Tadorna ferruginea

Gadwall                                Anas strepera

Mallard                                 Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Shoveler               Anas clypeata

Eurasian Teal                       Anas crecca

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Barbary Partridge                 Alectoris barbara

                                           

PODICEPIDIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe                          Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe           Podiceps cristatus

Black-necked Grebe            Podiceps nigricollis

PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae

Greater Flamingo                 Phoenicopterus roseus

PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Great Cormorant                  Phalacrocorax carbo

Long-tailed Cormorant         Phalacrocorax africanus

CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae

Little Bittern                         Ixobrychus minutus

Grey Heron                          Ardea cinerea

Little Egret                           Egretta garzetta

Cattle Egret                          Bubulcus ibis

Squacco Heron                    Ardeola ralloides

Squacco Heron

CICONIIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

Glossy Ibis                           Plegadis falcinellus

Northern Bald Ibis                Geronticus eremita

Eurasian Spoonbill               Platalea leucorodia

CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae

White Stork                          Ciconia ciconia

FALCONIFORMES: Pandionidae

Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus

FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black-shouldered Kite          Elanus caeruleus

Short-toed Eagle                  Circaetus gallicus

Western Marsh-Harrier        Circus aeruginosus

Montagu's Harrier                Circus pygargus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk         Accipiter nisus

Eurasian Buzzard                 Buteo buteo

Long-legged Buzzard          Buteo rufinus

Bonelli's Eagle                     Aquila fasciata

Booted Eagle                       Aquila pennata

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Lesser Kestrel                     Falco naumanni

Eurasian Kestrel                   Falco tinnunculus

Eurasian Hobby                   Falco subbuteo

Lanner Falcon                      Falco biarmicus

Barbary Falcon                     Falco pelegrinoides

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

Common Moorhen               Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot              Fulica cristata

Eurasian Coot                      Fulica atra

CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae

Stone Curlew                       Burhinus oedicnemus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Grey Plover                         Pluvialis squatarola

Common Ringed Plover       Charadrius hiaticula

Little Ringed Plover             Charadrius dubius

CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae

Eurasian Oystercatcher        Haematopus ostralegus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt                 Himantopus himantopus

Avocet                                 Recurvirostra avosetta

CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Common Sandpiper             Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper                 Tringa ochropus

Spotted Redshank               Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank          Tringa nebularia

Wood Sandpiper                  Tringa glareola

Common Redshank             Tringa totanus

Whimbrel                             Numenius phaeopus

Black-tailed Godwit              Limosa limosa

Bar-tailed Godwit                 Limosa lapponica

Ruddy Turnstone                 Arenaria interpres

Sanderling                           Calidris alba

Dunlin                                  Calidris alpina

Curlew Sandpiper                Calidris ferruginea

Ruff                                     Philomachus pugnax

Common Snipe                    Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Slender-billed Gull               Chroicocephalus genei

Black-headed Gull                Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Audouin's Gull                     Ichthyaetyus audouinii

Yellow-legged Gull               Larus michahellis

Lesser Black-backed Gull    Larus fuscus

Little Tern                            Sternula albifrons

Gull-billed Tern                    Gelochelidon nilotica

Caspian Tern                       Hydroprogne caspia

Black Tern                           Chlidonias niger

Common Tern                      Sterna hirundo

Sandwich Tern                     Thalasseus sandvicensis

PTEROCLIFORMES: Pteroclidae

Black-bellied Sandgrouse    Pterocles orientalis

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Rock Pigeon                        Columba livia

Common Wood-Pigeon        Columba palumbus

Eurasian Turtle-Dove           Streptopelia turtur

Eurasian Collared-Dove       Streptopelia decaocto

Laughing Dove                    Streptopelia senegalensis

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

European Scops-Owl           Otus scops

Pharaoh Eagle-Owl              Bubo ascalaphus

Little Owl                              Athene noctua

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Egyptian Nightjar                  Caprimulgus aegyptius

APODIFORMES: Apodidae

Pallid Swift                           Apus pallidus

Little Swift                            Apus affinis

Alpine Swift                          Tachymarptis melba

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Common Kingfisher             Alcedo atthis

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae

European Bee-eater            Merops apiaster

PICIFORMES: Picidae

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Southern Grey Shrike          Lanius meridionalis

Woodchat Shrike                 Lanius senator

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Eurasian Jay                        Garrulus glandarius

Magpie                                 Pica pica mauritanica

Chough                                Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Alpine Chough                     Pyrrhocorax graculus

Eurasian Jackdaw                Corvus monedula

Brown-necked Raven          Corvus ruficollis

Common Raven                   Corvus corax

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Greater Hoopoe Lark           Alaemon alaudipes

Desert Lark                          Ammomanes deserti

Greater Short-toed Lark       Calandrella brachydactyla

Lesser Short-toed Lark        Calandrella rufescens

Crested Lark                        Galerida cristata

Thekla Lark                          Galerida theklae

Wood Lark                           Lullula arborea

Shorelark                             Eremophila alpestris

Temminck's Horned Lark     Eremophila bilopha

                                   Temminck's Horned Lark                            

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Eurasian Crag Martin           Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Barn Swallow                       Hirundo rustica

House Martin                       Delichon urbicum

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Coal Tit                                Periparus ater

Great Tit                              Parus major

African Blue Tit                    Cyanistes teneriffae

                                           

PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Eurasian Nuthatch                Sitta europaea

PASSERIFORMES: Certhiidae

Short-toed Treecreeper       Certhia brachydactyla

PASSERIFORMES: Troglodytidae

Wren                                    Troglodytes troglodytes

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

Common Bulbul                   Pycnonotus barbatus

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Zitting Cisticola                    Cisticola juncidis

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae

Cetti's Warbler                     Cettia cetti

Savi's Warbler                      Locustella luscinioides

Eurasian Reed-Warbler        Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Western Olivaceous Warbler    Hippolais opaca

Willow Warbler                     Phylloscopus trochilus

Common Chiffchaff             Phylloscopus collybita

Iberian Chiffchaff                 Phylloscopus ibericus

Blackcap                              Sylvia atricapilla

Western Orphean Warbler   Sylvia hortensis

Greater Whitethroat             Sylvia communis

Spectacled Warbler              Sylvia conspicillata

Dartford Warbler                  Sylvia undata

Subalpine Warbler               Sylvia cantillans

Sardinian Warbler                Sylvia melanocephala

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

Spotted Flycatcher               Muscicapa striata

European Pied Flycatcher    Ficedula hypoleuca

Atlas Flycatcher                   Ficedula speculigera

Bluethroat                            Luscinia svecica

Black Redstart                      Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Redstart                Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Moussier's Redstart             Phoenicurus moussieri

White-crowned Black Wheatear           Oenanthe leucopyga

Black Wheatear                    Oenanthe leucura

Northern Wheatear              Oenanthe oenanthe

Seebohmi's Wheatear          Oenanthe seebohmii

Mourning Wheatear             Oenanthe lugens

Red-rumped Wheatear        Oenanthe moesta

Black-eared Wheatear          Oenanthe hispanica

Desert Wheatear                  Oenanthe deserti

Isabelline Wheatear             Oenanthe isabellina

Whinchat                              Saxicola rubetra

Stonechat                            Saxicola torquatus

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Blue Rock-Thrush                Monticola solitarius

Eurasian Blackbird               Turdus merula

Mistle Thrush                       Turdus viscivorus

PASSERIFORMES: Malaconotidae

Black-crowned Tchagra       Tchagra senegalus

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Spotless Starling                  Sturnus unicolor

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Western Yellow Wagtail       Motacilla flava

Grey Wagtail                        Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail                       Motacilla alba

Tree Pipit                             Anthus trivialis

                                           

PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae

Cirl Bunting                          Emberiza cirlus

House Bunting                     Emberiza striolata

Corn Bunting                       Emberiza calandra

Corn Bunting

PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Chaffinch                             Fringilla coelebs

European Greenfinch          Carduelis chloris

European Goldfinch             Carduelis carduelis

Eurasian Linnet                    Carduelis cannabina

European Serin                    Serinus serinus

Hawfinch                              Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Trumpeter Finch                  Bucanetes githagineus

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

House Sparrow                    Passer domesticus

Spanish Sparrow                  Passer hispaniolensis

Rock Sparrow                      Petronia petronia

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October Days

A bit of a blogfest right now as I have a window to play catch-up on my blog! So my apologies in advance, for what might seem like a deluge of blogs! I guess October is one of those in between kind of months, a period in time when migrants heading south have largely been and gone, whilst it is still a tadge early for our regular winter visitors to arrive, well at least this early into the month. And yet there is still so much to enjoy in the local mountains, butterflies, dragonflies and newly emerged plant life, a time of plenty for the nature enthusiast.

Thekla Lark

Here are just a few photographs of the past week here and I hope you enjoy this latest collection, all taken using the Canon PowerShot SX50. I am still feeling my way with this camera and like all good men, I haven’t yet read the manual… who knows what I might get around to taking photos of once I've done the manual? Anyway a few efforts below and I need help with some ids if folk can help?

Andalucian Bush Cricket

Epaulet Skimmer

Narsissus cavanillesii

Marsh Frog

Pied Flycatcher

Desert Darter.

Speckled Wood - much brighter here than N.Europe

Western Willow Spreadwing [Chalcolestes viridis].

Finally a local scene!

For more information on the Serrania de Ronda, Sierra de Grazalema please visit our website HERE