Griffin Vulture Project - Proyecto de Canyet - Alcoy, Spain

On Thursday 30th April we travelled to Alcoy with the primary objective of visiting the Proyecto de Canyet situated in an old quarry called Cliffs of Cinta de Alcoy to see the Griffin Vultures there.

After passing through Alcoy and passing through some beautiful green rural areas we stopped at the last junction before reaching the vultures. We could clearly hear a Golden Oriel calling and then we saw a male fly along a line of trees.

On reaching the parking area there was a male Crossbill singing from a wire. As we entered the track leading up to the site we saw a brilliantly coloured male Dartford Warbler with a female flying close by. Further up we stopped to see a Wood Lark in a tree and then we saw a male and female in front of us on the track. These were a first for me. A little further there were Short-toed Treecreepers. Once at the vulture site they were easily to be seen and photographed. Also two Ravens flew around. From the road we could see Jays flying and a Rock Bunting was seen.

There was a lot of activity with both movement and song in this woodland and all I have recorded here are birds that were first sightings for this week.

We then travelled to Font Roja in an attempt to add to Dennis's list. Both Blue Tits and Robins soon obliged. We were then fortunate to watch a pair of Firecrests. Unfortunately raptors were not seen, but they had to be somewhere.

This location is high on a mountain and it does take some time to go there along a windy road, some 8 kilometers long. We went there for the specific purpose of adding more birds to the list. The views are excellent and it is always possible that a raptor could fly over head. There is a restaurant and a school there and consequently it can be noisy, but the birds do not seem to mind although it will add difficulty to hearing the calls of the birds. If you have plenty of time there is space to sit, watch and wait and even eat your banquettes. You can even crumble some bread or cake to see what birds can take advantage of your treats.

Later we saw (just one) Azure-winged Magpie fly into a tree and away again. This one bird being another first for Dennis. His count for these past four days now stands at a very good total of well in excess of 120 which we will increase at Hondon on Saturday morning.

San Felipe Neri and El Hondon Parque Natural

On Wednesday 29th April we visited San Felipe Neri to add to Dennis's list. Here we found that the water level was lower and more wet mud was exposed. We wondered what was the cause of this drop in the level.

New birds for the day were:

Booted Eagle - white morph
Collared Pratincole
European Roller
Fantailed Warbler
Jackdaw
Little Bittern
Marbled Duck
Moustached Warbler
Nightingale
Purple Gallinule
Shovelers
Stonechat

After leaving we went via La Mata (Natural Park) and over the reed beds we saw two male and one female Montague's Harriers. A terrific way to end a days birding.

Steppes of Yecla and onto Petrola

On Tuesday 28th we undertook our first full day out with a journey to the Steppes of Yecla. This is most beautiful location and it yielded some wonderful birds. Upon reflection we decided that we could spend more time there and not to go on to another location. However we did and carried on to Petrola. The main reason for this was to ensure that Dennis was able to see the Great Bustards - which we did along with many others. We had a terrific guide, Bryan Thomas, with us who had frequented both areas before and he certainly knew his way around. We did many miles and it was a long day, but all worthwhile.

The following is a list of birds that we saw at both locations that we had not seen the previous day.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (ID later by photo by Bryan)
Black-necked Grebe
Buzzard
Chaffinch
Chough - red billed
Crow
Great Bustards (15)
Great Tit
Great Reed Warbler
Greater Spotted Cuckoo
Greater Spotted Woodpecker ( a first for Bryan!)
Green Woodpecker
Gull-billed Terns
Grey Heron

LARKS
Calandra
Short-toed
Thekla

Lapwings
Lesser Kestrels
Little owls
Marsh Harriers
Mistle Thrush
Red-legged Partridge
Rock Doves
Rock Sparrow
Stone Curlew
Tree Sparrow

WADERS
Greenshank
Wood Sandpipers
Redshank
Glossy Ibis
Ringed Plover

WHEATEARS
Black
Black-eared
Northern

White Wagtail

San Pedro to San Miguel

On Monday 27th April, after collecting an hire car, we went first of all to the salinas at San Pedro de la Pinatar. Dennis Morrison had arrived the previous evening from Edinburgh and so we wanted to make a good start to his week here in Spain. It is so envigorating to find people with a shared interest and before long we were talking to members of an Irish birding group and a Dutch national just to add a more international flavour to the day - never mind the birds who don't give a hoot about international boundaries. Anyway, here is the list for today. There is nothing spectacular included in it, but they were all very beautiful to see. However it would have made the day better if we could have located the Wilson's Phalarope that has been confirmed to be there.

Audouin´s Gull
Yellow-legged Gulls
Black-headed Gulls
Slender-billed Gulls
Sandwich Terns 10
Common Sandpiper
Little Terns
Sardinian Warblers - both male and female.
Barn Swallows
Red-rumpled Swallows
Sand Martin
House Martin
Pallid Swifts
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Serin
Woodchat Shrike
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
Blackbird
Kentish Plover
Little-ringed Plover
Female Ruff (reeve)
Avocet
Black-winged Stilts
Flamingo
Little Stints
Shelduck
Mallard
Sanderling
Turnstone
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Crested Lark
Corn Bunting
Kestrel
House Sparrow
Spotless Starlings
Eurasian Starling
Wood pigeons
Collared Doves
Bee-eaters
Coot
Moorhen
Little Grebe
Squacco Heron
Hoopoe and Monk Parakeets.

San Felipe Neri - El Hondon

What a magnificent morning birding at this wetland site. Having travelled from the direction of Santa Pola we were on the lookout to get a good start on this grey morning, but we saw very little until we were in the car park by the information centre at El Hondon. Here there have been new lagoons created and now the birds there. The good news is that they are close by and easily viewed.

Without getting out of the car we could see the ubiquitous Black-winged Stilts who seem to have made this wetland their own. We saw Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, but the more eye catching waders were Curlew Sandpipers in their colourful plumage. A Wood Sandpiper fed at the waters edge. Little Stints were there to be easily seen with a Temminck's among them. It was a first for me. Flying overhead noisily were many Whiskered Terns that were a joy to watch. We also saw Common Terns too. A gorgeous bird of the day was a Squacco Heron that stayed close by for a good length of time and allowed itself to be photographed.

Photograph by Bryan Thomas

Among the waders there was Ruff and a good number of Collared Pratincoles of which some were nesting while a Common Cuckoo called. On the water there were the usual Pochard, Red-crested Pochards, Shell Duck, and Marbled Ducks and Great-crested Grebe.

We scanned the gulls and found both Black-headed and Mediterranean on a sand bank. One flew overhead 'meowing' as it went.

Warblers were not that plentiful, but there were many Great-Reed Warblers singing and perching in clear view. We also heard several Nightingales in full voice.

We did not see one raptor as it is now the time for them to be inland although the Montague's should have been evident, but they were not.

On the way home we saw a perched Roller in a palm tree on the side of the road. My first for this year.

A few hours spent in good knowledgeable company with some photographs to prove what we had seen. Thank you Bryan Thomas for all your input.

The Election is on its Way

THIRTY FIVE DAYS TO GO

They stood at their stations
those prospective incumbents;
interspersed with hopefuls,
the maybe balance makers.

Trial by TV, watched by the
party faithful, hoping for an 'edge'
or a slight upswing in the polls to
raise expectations beyond reality.

Is this charade going to make
any difference, except that we
could remember their faces?
Even the one who is not

contesting a Westminster seat
was there traveling to a country
she wants to sever from her own.
"Not in my generation" it was said

and now 'they' want to be in the
'English of Parliaments' to let
Black Rod witness the falling of the
Claymore on the mother of them all.

What can we believe? To cut, cut or
spend, spend more? It has a cost and
and so has debt. Maybe buy only a half
when a full pint is beyond small change.

AN UPDATE FOR EL HONDON

A few weeks ago I visited El Hondon again, but in the areas that surround the visitor centre. There had been extensive work carried out with new lagoons excavated which are now flooded. The centre is now almost surrounded on three sides by water and the boardwalk has water all around it. It looks good and my impression is that it will be excellent once the vegetation recovers and provides shelter for the wildlife. Apart from two Little Ringed Plovers and possible a Kentish there was hardly any birdlife around on the bare earth.

However the skies made up for it with Barn and Red-rumped Swallows, Pallid Swifts together with Alpine. The latter were not that numerous, but were easily seen as they were flying low. A white morph Booted Eagle flew with one or two Marsh Harriers. Bluethroat, Southern Grey Shrike and also a Subalpine Warbler was seen as well. Apparently a Wryneck has been here all winter and has been seen regularly in the car park. A Merlin was seen earlier.

On the water I watched and had close up views of nine Marbled Ducks and I am told that there are a total of sixteen of them. It was so good to see those white 'marbles' clearly. A Purple Gallinule preened as the ducks swam by. On an island in the other lagoon Black-headed Gulls were resting with Mediterranean ones. I was able to compare the two species. The migration was well under way and another birder said that they had witnessed a flock of Blackcap arriving that were too numerous to count! It was well worth the visit.

Two weeks ago I made my usual Saturday morning visit via the north gate to El Hondon. There was space in the small hide which allowed good views looking over the water towards the reception centre at St. Philipe Neri. Our big eagle was in his usual tree and eventually flew away. I assumed that he was on his way north.

The Pintail showed again together with Garganey and Gadwall. Two Squacco Herons flew in and showed well. Penduline Tits, Reed Buntings, Blackcaps, the ubiquitous Chiffs, but not many other warblers were there to be seen. An amazing number of Great White Egrets were there with Glossy Ibis and others. Many of the usual were on the water and we will see many more now that the migration carries on.

Last Saturday the Spotted Eagle was no longer there and we were correct to assume he had flown away. The Mosquitos were there and they will have reinforcements before too long. Even though the migration is well under way there is still more to come. A Short-toed Eagle was seen again, but the Montague's have still to arrive. We have had very good weather for over a week and that will aid the incoming birds. Just after the wind had abated a seemingly tired male Hobby was in San Miguel and one was flying over the marsh, but not confirmed by others.

On Thursday I again visited the public side of the marsh where the new scrapes are showing green shoots above the water line. There are many birds here now including Collared Pratincole and about thirty Little Stint were flying around with four Wood Sandpipers. It is all looking good for the forthcoming days.