MAIGMÓ & MONTNEGRE

We were last in these two mountain areas last September and on a cold January morning we made a return trip. On 8th January, 2019 I left San Miguel in darkness, a temperature of only 8 degrees and a light wind. We set off from Gran Alicant with clear skies, in good light and within 20 minutes we were close to the foot of the mountains. If you are there for the views then you will see strange rock formations, in both colour and shape, steep slopes and deep gullies and overall, I will say that it can be described, as an odd landscape.



On the way up to Maigmó there are open areas with untilled fields, sparse almond trees in places, but on the higher slopes it is covered in pines. Woodland birds are hard to spot and not easy to see and this was certainly the case this morning. We travelled up at an easy pace and listening as we went. Chaffinches and Serin were easy to spot and in good numbers. Calling were Long Tailed Tits, Great Tits and both Crested and Cole Tits were seen. A Woodlark called in the distance and remained unseen and Crossbills were all around us. At first they were not easy to locate, but we had great perched views of them of both sexes on two separate occasions and in full sun. Six of them flew away on one occasion.

At the top and from the viewing area Red Squirrels are often there and one posed for us. In one of the pines we saw two nests of the Pine Processionary Moth, but unusually the nests were blue and not in a white ‘net’. An explanation would be welcome, but it could be that the nests have been sprayed to prevent the release of the caterpillars



Other birds seen were both Mistle and Song Thrush, Robins, Sardinian Warblers, and Wood Pigeons called from way off. Although we had full sun the temperature went as low as 3 degrees.

We took the road to Montnegre, but stopped at the river before the town. Here there was plenty of movement as birds flew around and over the running water. White Wagtails were numerous and we had a clear view of a Grey Wagtail. Robins, a lone Starling, House Sparrows were all spotted. An Iberian Green Woodpecker called. Then feeding on the fruit of Pomegranate trees were a male and a female Blackcap. They are not always easy to see, but these two were in full sun and gave us an uninterrupted view.

We drove up and stopped at the sharp turn signed Montnegre. High above the ridge were over twenty Griffon Vultures. Bryan checked them out one by one and in the mix was a Bonelli’s Eagle. Okay the views were high ones but when the photo shots examined it would appear that there were two separate birds. They had to be birds of the day and they have been seen here before. At this location we shared our sightings with an affable birder. It's good to talk!

Carrying on down we were not that lucky, but a Black Wheatear perched and flew. Dartford Warblers generally oblige along this road and were seen too. Black Redstarts are common in winter time and both sexes were easily seen. There were some notable absentees, but they will be there for next time.

In sunny, sheltered nooks, there was some Almond blossom and on one blossoming tree there were bees.