BIRDING IN ESTEPAS DE YECLA

There we were at again with a quickly arranged morning out to one of our favourite places, the Estepas de Yecla, as we had two friends visiting. So on Saturday 26th we came in from the Caudette end in poor light, a sky full of cloud and a chill breeze that became stronger as the morning wore on.

It was very quiet with nary a sound so we circumnavigated the valley. On reaching the road between Yecla to Almansa we turned right towards the uncultivated fields that have produced Sandgrouse in the past. But not today. We spotted a Common Buzzard on a wire and eating a kill. While drinking our mugs of tea Bryan saw two large birds over a ridge and in the distance. They circled around and dipped below the ridge line, several times, but clearly they were two Golden Eagles. We stayed in that location for around forty minutes hoping for a closer view which did not come. The ID. was a positive one with one being a sub-adult. By this time the wind had turned cold.

We moved on and across the Yecla road towards the pine ridge. Again it was still and quiet but in the far distance a group of Great Bustards. We tried to get closer to them and even though we circle their location we failed. They are known to winter here, but this is a large area and it can be difficult. This is also a very good area for Sandgrouse, but not even a sound today. Again a Buzzard was located.

We saw flocks of Linnets, Goldfinches, some Chaffinches and Greenfinches and about sixty flying and ground feeding Skylarks . Properly identified by sound and sight. So good to see. Crested Larks were seen, but a fly past of Calandra was really worth watching. We also had a murmuration of Starlings. Little Owl added one more to Trev’s holiday list and so did Chough, Mistle Thrushes, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Black Wheatears and an odd Chiff or two.

However, the bird of the day was a close by flying male Hen Harrier. So clearly seen with those mainly white wings with black tips. It did what harriers often do and flew low and away. But for me those Skylarks were great too. Okay, lots of absentees, but with good company and just being out there was good for me and anything that we see adds to the pleasure.