We had discussed where to go and what would produce the most. The area around Higüera got the nod as a very small area has provided us with some good sightings and it was the same again.
Here we saw fifteen different species and included in this were three Crossbills calling and feeding in the top of the trees. Only brief sightings as they soon disappeared, but a new species for us here. Golden Orioles were noisy and we saw both perched and flying birds, but never close enough for the camera. In a corn field we saw a flock of around 20 Rock Sparrows and to add to our viewing we had a brief glimpse of a Bonelli's and a Willow Warbler in the same tree.
Before that, by the railway line, and in the same location as last time we had views of Stone Curlews and ten Great Bustards. That set us up for the day. We took our time in around Higüera and we were rewarded with more great species. Taking the camino we headed away from the village to where we knew there was an area of water adjacent to the mainline to Madrid. On way a flock of twenty or so Short Toes Larks flew in front of us.
Butterflies are always good to see and we did watch a Silver-washed Fritillary and a Scarce Swallowtail flew through. There were the occasional Small Whites too, but butterflies generally were scarce.
Having made the assumption that we could see migrating birds we looked at everything. In a ploughed field we saw two possibilities that could have been Lesser Kestrels, but both had to be Hobbies and this was later confirmed when we had clear views of a male Hobby 'hawking' over the water. It was good to watch. When we were observing it we saw a perched Raptor in the distance. It flew for us and landed in a field and showing enough wing markings to identify it as Short-Toed Eagle. Hirundines flew south but only in small numbers. There were numerous water fowl that did include Gadwall and also two species of Grebe - Black Necked and Little.
Having taken this amount of time we decided to take a quick look at Lagunas de Petrola for any sightings of returning waders. Apart from two juvenile Common Sandpipers that was it. We went straight to Estepas de Yecla. This really is an early morning locale, but we were hopeful. Larks were in short supply, but we did have good views of both Black Eared and Black Wheatears. We had earlier seen several Northern ones.
If the sightings of Hobbies had not been enough we still had two Golden Eagles to watch. These were spiraling in the distant and were hard to identify. They came closer and eventually both Raven and Buzzard were discarded as Bryan got enough on them to satisfy him that were looking at two flying Golden Eagles. Next time we travel this way it will be this location first and we will not attempt both this area and the other larger one on the same day.
What a day with clear sightings.
No comments:
Post a Comment