A Winter's Tale

And so retribution has been cruelly dealt for having basked in unashamed glory during the autumn past! Golden sunlit days and balmy temperatures seem but distant memories as our mountains were plunged into the heaviest and most prolonged period of rainfall on record. Low temperatures, flooding and landslides conspired to keep any sane birder well locked-up in their nests, whilst optimism and unfounded faith in the law of averages soon waned with the sheer number of wet and grey days. Needless to say wading up to your neck in muck and water had a profound affect in curtailing the enthusiasm of an old warrior, who also had the cast iron alibi that leading tours to Gambia, Senegal and Costa Rica meant birding for the period could be achieved without any self inflicted hardship! Lame excuse for such behaviour, but then again you shouldn’t believe everything you read and also being birdwatchers yourselves, then you know very well what total idiots we can be by venturing out in the most appalling conditions. And so armed with soggy telescope, binoculars and clothing I put my best and most stupid foot forward and sallied forth into the grey murky mountains of the Serranía de Ronda.

I guess fortune favours the brave, or in this case a rather wet idiot. Have you noticed, no matter how tight you fasten your waist belt, rain water from your neck races down the recesses of your spinal track and ends up in the most uncomfortable of places? I am not sure why I should continue to be surprised by the fortitude and resilience of our birds, but with such harsh weather I expected to find very little activity among my birds, how daft a notion. The bumper harvest of Hawthorn berries ensured Ring Ouzel, Redwing and Song Thrush remained to squabble with competing Spotless and Common Starling, whilst the local flock of Crag Martins were accompanied by a single and one assumes lost, if not demented, House Martin. Alpine Accentor had, despite atrocious conditions, increased in numbers during December through to February and a single Fieldfare, a rare winter visitor, joined several Mistle Thrush on the scrub slopes of the lower Libar. Blue Rock Thrush were singing their song of spring in defiance of the weather and were constantly being interrupted by the aggressive and highly territorial Black Wheatear. Of course our regular residents and winter visitors appeared unaffected by the gloom and seemed to be present in their usual numbers, the only birds to be displaced were Common and Green Sandpipers, normally seen along the gentle flow of our rivers which by now had become raging torrents and higher than I have ever seen them.

On a very few clear days I managed to visit a few favoured haunts and was rewarded by excellent views of both Golden and Bonelli’s Eagle. Both of these handsome raptors are now adding materials to their nests and getting very excited by the close proximity of their chosen partners, fruity, aroused and copulating are they right now! Where the Bonelli gets very protective of their territory against all who trespass, the Golden Eagle seems remarkably uninterested and almost aloof, especially with the constant harassment from Choughs, but this mood is instantly changed when Ravens appear on the scene. It is hard not to make the larger birds anything other than the stars of my winter show; memorable sightings since December have included Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black Vulture, Rüppell's Vulture, Goshawk and most recently, admittedly not on my local patch, 18 Great Bustard near to Osuna. So bad as the weather has been, birding still provided highlights to lessen the burden of winter and now migration has already begun with Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin and Black Kite passing in large numbers, whilst the odd Booted and Short-toed Eagle have added some extra spice along with Great-spotted Cuckoo.

Morocco Birding in Winter

Morocco Birding in winter, a four day and three night bird watching excursion to the northwest coast of Morocco.

Tour Dates 2nd to 5th December 2009

Birding Tour organised by Spanish Nature (www.spanishnature.com) for and on behalf of the Andalucia Bird Society.

Participants: Geoff Binks, Hilary Briffa, John Brooks, Steve Cheshire, Stephen Daly (3 photographs), Janet Dixon, Frank Hair, David Hird, Peter Jones (Tour Leader and Author of Trip Report), Armanda Kusmidrowicz, Mick Kusmidrowicz, Arni Lindholm, Andrew Mountford, Elli Wallbank, Liz Young.

Itinerary: Day One; Tarifa – Tanger – Asilah. Day Two; Asilah – Larache – Asilah. Day Three; Asilah – Moulay Bousselham – Asilah. Day Four; Asilah – Tanger – Tarifa.

Day One. Our group met-up in Tarifa for departure to Tanger. The sea crossing was an easy affair and the only drawback was queuing on the ferry to have our entry stamps inserted in our passports. On the sea crossing some of the group saw Cory’s Shearwater and Northern Gannet with the more usual gull species plus a few Sandwich Tern near to the port of Tanger. We met our transport at the port and were soon bouncing our way through the maze of streets leading out of the main ferry port. The route to Asilah was the inland road to Had Gharbia, which transverses the Tangier Peninsula and gave us an opportunity to do some serious bird watching. The west the large plains of the peninsula is separated from the Atlantic by the salt marshes of the Oued Tahadart. Here we saw around 200 Common Crane scattered in small and large flocks, a juvenile (1st winter) Long-legged Buzzard and several Marsh Harriers. Little Owl and Blue Rock Thrush plus other small birds soon added to a reasonable start to our tour. The lateness of our departure from Spain meant lunch soon bade us leave the peninsula and head for Asilah and seek a suitable restaurant!! The rest of the day was spent enjoying the old port of Asilah.

 

Day Two. We awoke to dark skies and scattered showers! Our journey to Larache was slow and not encouraging given the drizzle and low cloud. Yet when we approached the salt pans skirting the roadside banks of the Oued Loukos, the skies broke, the sun shone, the temperature felt comfortable and the birds showed well. We soon had 2 Great White Egrets (3 were seen later on the lower Loukos marshes), large flocks of Greater Flamingo and several White Stork. A fine male Hen Harrier flew close as did a fleeting Bluethroat, but the marshes were soon capturing our attention with many wader species including Spotted Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Sanderling, Grey and Golden Plover all showing extremely well. We made our way to the lower Loukos marshes and had literally hundreds of Crested Coot, Marbled Teal, Northern Shoveler, Pintail, Teal and large flocks of Glossy Ibis, the smaller birds such as Yellow and White Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and a solitary Sand Martin added to the growing list of great birds, although a calling Moustached Warbler refused to show. Huge flocks of Black-tailed Godwit occupied the higher end of the marsh together with other waders including good numbers of Lapwing. Our thrill for the day was to witness a female Lanner take a Eurasian Teal, possibly the highlight for all, though I guess the Teal was none too happy! 3 Osprey entertained overhead, whilst Night Herons were seen roosting in Tamarisk on the main river bank near to the dam. After lunch we made our way to the Ras Rmel beach and found a solitary Audouin’s Gull. Both Lesser and Common Kestrel were seen and a distant raptor with white body and dark underwing looked good for a Bonelli’s Eagle, but a closer view was not to be had and therefore we did not add this species to our list! A couple of Black-winged Kites did come close and helped to make-up for our earlier frustration. The weather had been kind and the birds exceptional.

 

Day Three. Bit of a presentation day as well as bird watching day. We set-off early for Moulay Bousselham and the lagoon Merja Zerga, where we planned to take a tour around the lagoon by boat and also view the surrounding marshes, whilst also presenting a local guardian and guide with a donation of a second-hand telescope. Our journey to Moulay Bousselham was brightened by the sunshine and a large flock of Stone Curlew near to Barga. To get over the point of our birding day we saw Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Curlew, but no Slender-billed Curlew! Having said that, we did have a great day with Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Black, Little, Caspian and Sandwich Tern and several new wader species for the tour including Ruff, Knot, Turnstone, Dunlin, Kentish Plover and Oystercatcher. Ospreys and Marsh Harrier were seen frequently and Common Kestrel seemed to appear everywhere. Common Bulbul showed very well near the port and we had our star turn of the day with around 13+ Marsh Owl before our lunch break. Marsh Owl is the rarest of the owl family in the western Paleartic and so our excellent stop at the fishing port was made even more remarkable by the number of birds and great sightings of birds displaying and one individual sitting out exposed on a tree top. Very soon this Marsh Owl roost will disperse with paired birds taking up territories, mostly at the southern and eastern end of the lagoon.

 

Day Four. Today we set-off on our homeward leg of the tour, but not before everyone had good views of Common Bulbul near to our hotel. Because of our rather hurried schedule on day one, we again visited the plains of the Tanger Peninsula and this time we were able to take a very leisurely drive, making several stops along the way. It was a perfect morning for bird watching and very soon we added Spanish Sparrow and several finches to our bird list. Skylarks were evident with both Corn Bunting and Southern Grey Shrike numerous along the first part of our route. Southern Grey Shrikes hereabouts seem to be intermediate between the Spanish race and more southerly race of Morocco. They are dark on the mantle, but do not display any pinkish tone to their grey breast. Little Owl again gave good views, with a 2cy Long-legged Buzzard showing well for the group. Large numbers of Common Crane were still in the area, probably numbering around the 200 mark. We were fortunate to spot a large female Peregrine Falcon sat sunning herself on the ground and together with her large size, prominent white cheeks, pale blue mantle and narrow moustache she showed all the characteristics of the calidus subspecies. Marsh Harriers performed well for us and were seen displaying near to a small lagoon. We spent some time elevated on a hillside to get good views across the plains, we hoped to find Great Bustard, but had no luck. It had been a great trip and one to repeat soon.

 

Moroccan Bird List – Andalucia Bird Society 2nd to the 5th December 2009

 

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Great Egret Ardea alba
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
Common Crane Grus grus
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Eurasian Golden-Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
(Red) Knot Calidris canutus
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
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
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Little Owl Athene noctua
Marsh Owl Asio capensis
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
African Blue Tit Cyanistes teneriffae
Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Eurasian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor

Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina
European Serin Serinus serinus
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis

Total Species 111

Our autumn has abruptly cast her door wide open and the days seem grey, trees baring their skeletal shapes, where once they had been adorned in many hues of green. It's a time where nature takes a rest, where life seems to move along at a leisurely pace and prepare itself for the harshness of winter.

And yet, during a period when the excitement of autumn migration subsides, I visit my regular haunts seeking the first of our wintering birds. Even now there are large numbers of birds passing through in search of their favoured wintering grounds. As I write this article, Black Redstarts, Chiffchaff, Ring Ouzel and Meadow Pipit are here in ever increasing numbers, some will stay, but a great many will slowly make their way ever southwards. Recent visits to 'my local patch', Llanos de Libar, have been rewarded with some winter regulars and Water Pipit is now busy chasing its cousin, Meadow Pipit, away from the small pools in the higher meadows.

Redwing, Song Thrush and Ring Ouzel are now in the lower area of the Libar valley, feasting on the abundant harvest of Hawthorn. Alpine Accentor, so difficult on occasions, can be seen dancing around scree slopes beneath the high bluffs and the odd bird showing well framed by blue skies on the clifftops. Was it my imagination, or did I hear Wallcreeper above the dense Hawthorns? Pretty sure I did and this will consign me to more visits, creeking my old neck to scan the high cliffs, suffer now I must for my art! My gentle strolls through my local Olive grove are now accompanied by the constant chastening 'tut tuts' of Blackcaps, whilst Song Thrush are increasing almost daily and most recently I saw my first Siskins of the winter, always a great pleasure to observe.

The Society will be holding a field meeting at the lagoon of Fuente de Piedra on December 12th and I will certainly be going along hoping for some decent views of Common Crane. I can remember seeing over 1300 of them at this location some four years ago, so hope springs eternal. The surrounding area can also be interesting, with Stone Curlew somewhere around and in very large numbers, whilst the lagoons should have some waders and duck species within easy viewing distance from the new hides. Some raptors that can be found here during the winter are Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Bonelli's Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, so the day promises to be worth attending.

Note: See web site http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/
and Forum http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/forum/index.php

Autumn Shadows

It’s amazing just how quickly time seems to flyby. It was only yesterday when summer’s visit painted our skies in the deepest of blue and softened the rough hues of our mountains with shimmering haze. It was only yesterday when Black Kite, Honey Buzzard wheeled high in their thousands gathering to make their southwards pilgrimage to Africa. But now our autumn has abruptly cast her door wide open and the days seem grey, trees baring their skeletal shapes, where once they had been adorned in many hues of green. It’s a time where nature takes a rest, where life seems to move along at a leisurely pace and prepare itself for the harshness of winter.

A lazy sun casts deep shadows on the hills and mountains of my landscape giving a velvet texture to the high slopes, but Bonelli’s Eagle are already pledging themselves to their partners, ignoring the message of winter and preparing already to reaffirm their bonds of parents to be. Late departing Barn Swallows still chatter and busy themselves over our local river, whilst newly arrived Chiffchaffs hawk insects from every vantage point aligning the river’s edge. It is here where winter will first be felt with the cooling waters spreading their mist and clinging to all that are unable to escape its reach. Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper use this river as a highway to warmer climes, but some are attracted to spend winter here and lend character to a day’s foray by birders, their constant bobbing and strutting combining to perform a dance to entertain the observer, a performance enhanced by a watery reflection.

In the higher reaches of the surrounding mountains, Ring Ouzel have at last arrived in good numbers and are busy raiding the horde of Hawthorn berries that are so bountiful this year. Song Thrush and an occasional Redwing join the harvest, whilst Alpine Accentor put in brief appearances before vanishing behind the rock strewn slopes beneath high mountain crags. A Mistle Thrush performs a forlorn defence of its chosen fruit tree and is distracted; overwhelmed by sheer numbers of marauding Ring Ouzels, whilst large flocks of Spotless Starlings join-in the sacking of the bird’s chosen cache. And all played out beneath the ever watchful eye of a Sparrowhawk, that has taken to the valley as a likely winter’s retreat. Crag Martins skip the rock face and mock the Sparrowhawk with twists and turns unmatched by their would-be foe. In the high grasslands, Meadow Pipits tiptoe and are joined by ever increasing numbers of White Wagtail, where Water Pipits have recently arrived to feast on various larva in the soft grounds surrounding small pools of the Llanos de Libar.

With an optimistic gaze, my eyes are always drawn skywards for autumn and winter raptors. The area can have an attraction, even a mystical lure, not just for me, but for the wanderings of such species as Black Vulture and Imperial Spanish Eagle. For the most part, these scarce birds tend to be juveniles, displaced by the sudden chastening of their parents. Lost souls searching for their place in an unforgiving world, they must find a niche and wander far on a journey of discovery. Merlin and Hen Harrier put in fleeting appearances, whilst individuals can also take-up winter residence. Small populations of resident Lesser Kestrel inhabit the rocky crags of the Montejaque area and their numbers appear to have increased, no doubt milder winters having assisted them with finding food. Golden Eagle is another species increasing and often rewards my diligence, whilst scrutinising the circling clusters of Griffon Vulture, a practise regularly enacted when looking for raptors, many birds of prey seem attracted by circling Griffon Vultures and normally these take the high space above these large and apparently intimidating vultures.

Flamingo success at Fuente de Piedra – Andalucía

Another year and, after the disappointment of 2008, I can report on 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 I learnt that Lesser Flamingo Pheonicopterus minor apparently attempted to breed, but they believed the eggs were accidentally broken by the brooding adult and no further evidence was discovered to suggest breeding took place with any second attempt.

Peter. http://www.spanishnature.com/
(Flamingo article: Thanks for the photographs, courtesy of my friend José A. Cortés - Peter)