Monday 24 November 2014

El Hondo

Another visit to El Hondo on Saturday 22nd saw a quiet, windless day with full cloud cover. As I drove down a Purple Galinule (Calamón Común) crossed the road in front of me. There were a large number of cars - 15 or so - this morning and I decided to go to the farthest hide. This one is at water level overlooking an expanse of water. Here Little Grebe (Zampullin Común) in beautiful condition swam around very close and so did a Black-necked Grebe (Zampullin Cuellinegro). In the distance were Pochard (Porrón Europea) and four Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado). I returned to this location later to hear Penduline Tit (Pájaron Moscón) calling and later three flew. (ID confirmed).
Unlike the previous week this was not an eagle morning but a Booted (Águlilla Calzada), Osprey (Pescadora) and a Peregrine was seen from the first hide on the right. There were many sightings of Kingfishers (Martin Pescador). Two flew away from me revealing their light blue backs and another flew across a canal at the same time as a male Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común). I also located on the side of a track(I believe) a first year female Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre).
There were other varieties that I have not listed but I have tried to list what I had good views of.
Next Saturday there is a Cycling Event and so it is closed for us. I intend to go on the Saturdays in December and concentrate on the smaller, difficult to see birds.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

El Hondo

This was my third visit this month to El Hondo and it soon became an eagle watching morning. I cannot claim to have good views of everything and there were some sharp eyes around to spot and identify.
Looking over the large lagoon, where the water level had risen, a Greater Spotted Eagle (Águila Moteado) was seen to perch on a bush where it stayed for some considerable time. Again a Short-toed Eagle (Culubrera Europea) flew although most will have migrated by now. We had good views of a Golden Eagle (Águila Real) and believed to be a second year bird. Also Booted Eagles Águililla Calzada) flew around and perched for us. In addition a Peregrine (Halcón Peregrino) was about. In the distance was spotted a Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero) and some sharp eyes picked out a flying female Hen Harrier (Águilucho Palido). Marsh Harriers ( Águilucho Lagunero Occidental) were very evident as usual. An Osprey (Águila Pescadora) perched in the usual,place in the other lagoon and a Kingfisher (Martin Perscador) perched just a few yards away. There were many other sightings as well.
The previous week I had my best ever view of a Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande) where in the previous week I had seen a Wood Sandpiper ( Andarrios Bastardo) feeding on the edge of the water, but now that the water is higher this area of silt is under water.
It was a morning of some strong winds and protection was needed, but the sun was warming.
Overall another excellent few hours with another visit this coming Saturday.

Bird Ringing in Isla Grossa

This information came through on my email, along with a bird list which I hope to post here at a later date.

"Again , the group ringing ASEAN has completed a new campaign banding in Isla Grossa . For over a month, a team of ringers and colleagues have remained permanently on the island to study the phenomenon of bird migration .

This type of long-term campaigns allow us to create databases that can be very useful in the future when it comes to understanding not only the migration of the birds but also , for example, that effects climate change can have on birds

During the campaign have been caught several species that had not been captured previously on the island as the wagtail or Hawfinch."

There were 1149 bird had not been rung before and 105 that had been rung before. The Robin was the most common bird with 529, followed by Blackcap at 133 and Black Redstart at 123.

Friday 7 November 2014

Stanza Mar Menor

STANZA MAR MENOR met this morning in San Miguel where our discussions were wide ranging, supportive, but also concentrated on our writing.
David brought along his seventh episode of Tonka And The Naughty Domovoi. This reflects back to his previous visits to Russia and the inspiration he gained there. The story is told in four line rhyming stanzas and revolves around a birthday party for Nan Tanya. What could go wrong there?
It is part of a wonderful set of children's stories that he hopes to publish with illustrations. He read it over and with some minor suggestions it sounded very good.
He still has three more episodes to go to complete it, but he is also working on a project involving immigrants - maybe boat people - and their treatment. After all poetry is about protest - is it not?
We will look forward to the pleasure (or discomfort) at reading his views. All poetic of course.

Margaret then reminded me of something that had disappeared from my mind. I later searched and found the references to the Neil Miller Gunn competition which introduces three lines taken from his writing and are listed as themes. Closing date for this is 2nd March 2015.

They are:

For love is the creator and cruelty is that which destroys

The secret loveliness and laughter in things

The extra magic of distance

However Margaret produce her first draft of Love and Cruelty based on the first of the above themes. For me, apart from the odd tweak, it is truly great, but she will take it away and review it. Some, in fact many, of the lines contain some wonderful wordage and invoke images that won't go away. Dark and powerful.

I will now have to do something on the above themes.

There is also the theme of Nature for the competition for RSPB and RIALTO.

There is other work going on and Denia Writers Circle Short Story Competition is on the following five themes:

When time goes back. Disguise

On the brink. The Return. Searching.

The deadline for this is 29th December.

I know that we are a poetry stanza, but we can still use other ideas and write accordingly.

We briefly talked about the winners at Ledbury, but there was little enthusiasm for it. It was felt that some of the work was 'fragmented' and that the best example of metre was with the junior winner. Perhaps we are on a different planet!

Our next meeting is on THURSDAY 20th November as that is when we can meet without conflicting with other commitments.




Saturday 1 November 2014

El Hondo

El Hondo Saturday 1st November.
A colder morning now with a chill in the breeze and a need for warmer clothing.
We arrived about 8.30 to look around before we were let in. Several hundred Cattle Egrets took off from their roost (we think) spooked by four large raptors. Unfortunately, we could not ID them.
We went through the gate at 8.40 and straight to the small hide overlooking the lagoon. Our first major sighting was the Greater Spotted Eagle perched to our right where it stayed for some time. Under our feet a Little Bittern croaked, Purple Gallinules called and got up and Kingfishers showed several times. I scoped a Wood Sandpiper and watched it. Egrets were all around including several Great Whites. Chiffs fed in the trees, Cetti's called, a Blackcap sang and a Penduline Tit was heard. It is on my list to see, hopefully. There were no Terns and probably not again until next year. Marsh Harriers both a male and female flew around us. There were a large number of White-headed duck in distance with Common Pochard closer. An Osprey perched on the tall pole.

Then two birds flew swiftly and identified as Jack Snipe - another great sighting for me.

We moved on to the bottom hides and decided to try our luck in the hide at water level. It was occupied by four birders watching a tree where they had previously seen the GSE fly into but they had no scopes. It was difficult even then but we could now see two birds - one smaller than the other - and our patience was getting low. Later with Graham's help we saw the smaller eagle fly - and identified it as the Lesser Spotted Eagle. This was my first definite sighting and the larger one was a definite GSE. What lovely people to put us on to two great birds.
I went there to concentrate on the smaller birds without that much luck but Kingfishers were everywhere.
This is the last time for Jim and Mary, but they have had two great Saturday morning before they go to their bird count at Rogerstone. Great birding, great company and I am in again next week. Also thanks once again to Graham for his sharp eyes and knowledge. Please see www.spainbirdwatching.com