We decided to visit this valley again because there are still some migrants that we have yet to see.
We arrived at 8am to enable us to get the most out of the day before the heat came on. This is a vast agricultural area, but with very distinct habitats in it. There are areas that are shrubby, water courses that contain reeds and then there is the wide and winding river valley with steep earthy sides. There are water deposits too, some in regular use and others that must only contain the result of rainfall. There are also strips of wild growth along the roads and farm tracks. Some of these have obviously been sprayed as the foliage has died, but there are many other ones fortunately left to flourish un-poisoned.
We did not come here again just for a 'list', but to concentrate on seeing the birds with a clear and uninterrupted view - not always possible of course.
Spectacled Warblers were again excellent and we saw them in several locations. One pair were very active and we saw the male on a road leaping into the air (several times) to catch, we believe, insects. Also we saw one with food in its mouth which it took into a bush. This is a location we have noted as it seems to be a nest site.
The gorge and river area again provided good views of both male and female Marsh Harriers and on the opposite bank Bee-eaters were gathering, calling and flying around. They were such a fine site to see! Then our first Roller flew, perched, flew again and we were still able to get superb views of it. Our route was anti-clockwise and so the river area was to our right so there are many vistas to wait and watch.
At Pétrola we had our first Whinchat and again Bryan spotted one and this time a male in full colour. It was superb, he said, and only his second view ever of this species in breeding plumage. I did not get on it!
We were fortunate to get a long distance view of a Golden Eagle which was a sub-adult. I did see this one clearly though.
On our way and returning to where we had started we again located Great Spotted Cuckoos as of last time. We have calculated that we have seen in excess of over twenty of these birds this year.
I have not listed all that we saw, but we saw Lesser Kestrels and Red Billed Choughs were flying around and feeding on the ground. Short Toed Larks were easily seen too.
This was another good birding trip and we know that we have not seen all the new migrants - just eighteen of them for me or thereabouts.
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