Day Two. Birding and Wildlife Watching

 Wednesday, 30th September we knew was going to be a full day in the countryside between the city and the Sierra de Toledo. An aquatic environment followed by steppe and then to a higher altitude in the mountains was our mixture of habitats.

On arriving back at our hotel at 10pm I knew that I could not be capable of giving a comprehensive write-up for the excellent day that we had been guided through. naturexplorer.es with Jose driving and Juan doing the talking were our companions for the day. They were great. Jose is ‘a country boy’ and knew the area very well. He has a great knowledge of the avión inhabitants and where to find them. He was aided by his incredible eyesight. Juan complimented Jose’s knowledge, with his own knowledge of the flora and fauna. We exchanged information all day long. We had fun and where we could make a joke we laughed too.

We left the hotel at 7.30am and headed straight out to Las Barrancas where we found steep and interesting cliff formations with a large area of water at the base. Sitting there in a cleft was an Eagle Owl - Búho Real in its day time roost. What an excellent way to start the morning with the sun only just up. I will add much more in later. 

By late afternoon we had travelled back down from the highest point of the Sierra and we were traversing areas of oak laden meadows. The cork oak trees provide an interesting landscape although in September the ground is parched. We were here for the ‘Berea’ or the bellowing of the stags or in plain English, the rut. It was what we wanted to see, but more importantly, to hear. All the roads are rough and we had to go slowly and passed through in the late afternoon light. We saw many Red Deer - Ciervo, a good number of Fallow Deer - Gamo and we were lucky enough to see the occasional Roe Deer - Corzo. We spent a considerable amount of time looking, watching and hearing these mammals. Both Corzo and Ciervo are indigenous to Spain while Gamo were not introduced until 15th century. Having reached the end of the route we drove back over it. It was now dusk and we were told that this is the best part of any day to witness the rut. They were correct. In the greater stillness of the evening the sounds of the stags sounded clearer. We learnt to distinguish the full throated bellowing of the Red against the two syllabic sound of Fallow. Roe do not rut until July, but we heard and were able to distinguish their ‘bark’. 

We loved it out there amongst the trees, other mixed vegetation and the stillness of the moonlit night. It was peaceful, muy tranquillo and atmospheric. A wonderful experience and the photos should show something of it. But the memories will last.

Day One. San Miguel De Salinas to Toledo

On San Miguel day of days we were awake and ready to go. Not that we would have been able to ‘lie in’ for the rockets went off to celebrate the day of our village courtesy of Alfredo who lives next door. So they were bloody loud!

Everything was packed and in the car by 8am as we wanted to be in Toledo by late afternoon. This was our first trip for well over a year and we just wanted to get out there and see Spain.

We had a plan because on the way, the map -576 Regional Espagne - indicates some wetland areas and lagoons on way. We knew there was no reason to get excited as many of these lagoons are shallow, very dependent upon season rains and will be devoid of  water without a wet winter. But we wanted to explore. 

From Murcia we took A30 to Albacete and once past this city we were in a different world. The Iberian Peninsular is big and once we were north of the city you can see how huge this country is. I think I must have had a heavy right foot and being let loose on an empty motor way we did make good time. Covid has made me rusty and I should have paid more attention to the warning signs. 

There are plenty of pit stops after Albacete so there are ample places for fuel and for caffeine.

We decided to leave A31 after La Roda and take N301 - this avoids tolls and and is as direct. The map shows wet areas south of this road just before Mota del Cuervo. We turned off and explored. It is immense, this area, and the vineyards are vast. We stopped, looked and apart from Crested Larks, there was not a lot to see. All the areas were dry but we could seen large parts that had held water. One Common Buzzard, two Marsh Harriers and a Red Kite sums our birding bag with Magpies, Wood Pigeons and some House Sparrows to boost the list!

We took the  CM420 towards Alcázar de San Juan. Just to the east are lagoons. They are clearly marked. The whole area is vast. The lagoons are huge - that is dried out huge! Nevertheless a most interesting area, or more to the point it could be. We drove around it on very hard caminos, not knowing what they could be like in wet weather. The area is designated and maintained and there are hides in good locations. We will add photos taken from the information boards that gives very good descriptions of where we actually drove through. Having decided to explore these areas we will research to see what they are like with water and in winter time. Another project because they are only three hours away from home.

The last area was at a picnic spot on the edge of Laguna Grande. Again a very large area, dry, sandy and white in appearance. The photos say it all with three beached boats! We gained the impression it has all seen better times, as a resort, that now has derelict bars. It was sad.

A note of warning re the lovely CM 42. There are cameras and I only saw one warning sign. The cameras are on high poles and not easy to see. But there are white spots on the road surface. Be warned.

Toledo. Three nights here and we want to explore the town. First impressions were not that great. We arrived in the afternoon and it was asleep. It was not till around seven it woke up! Then great, but we will be up early on Wednesday as we have a full day out with two local wildlife people, Juan and Jose from Naturaexplora, based near Toledo. And they are doing the driving and we will go off road too. Let's hoping we have a cracking day.

I will blog each day and so don't get too excited about the excellence of the writing! Here's to tomorrow.

Clot De Galvany

 Spotted Flycatchers - Papasmoscas Gris.  Our first ‘spots’ of the day and two of them. They are my birds of summer and the first two that I identified in the garden of the cottage that I was born in. You could say they started me off. With these two perched for us three, they seemed so simple in design and beautiful. Forget colour these birds have it all, for me.

Book Review. The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

Title                       The Darkest Evening

Author                   Ann Cleeves

Published by         Macmillan 

There can come a time when an author brings out another book in a series and the reader can say ‘Do I want to read one more of Vera?’  The alluring feel of a book in one’s hand is always a good start and then I was into it straight away. Why did I doubt myself when the writing is so good. Stupid is what it is.

The way Ann Cleeves is able to use locations is a masterclass. For me it ranks up there with any of her characters. Of course, it has to be good, to be right there with Vera. This tough old goat has ‘stood the test of time’ and she is still going strong - just. The story is set in a relatively restricted country area and she uses the locale superbly. I could feel, even taste the farmland and the roughness of the land. Add into that a couple of farmhouses and a mansion. There's history here too, amongst the decay and hope. She writes so well about people, relationships with both successes and failings. You never know what she will serve up next.

Okay, it's not in the real world where Vera investigates, but I was there with her from beginning to end. That's what a good storyteller can do to the reader.

I have enjoyed all of Ann Cleeves’ books and this one has to be the best.

If you to know more about the story then read the blurb inside the front fly. I never reveal a plot and I prefer to take the story ‘cold’. 

I am compelled to make a comment about the ‘book Vera’ and the ‘on-screen Vera’. Brenda Blethyn does a great job. A terrific actor with some excellent traits exhibited, but for me I like the rough Vera. Even with her annoying habits. That's probably because I am a country boy!

WESTERN REEF HERON OR WHAT.

 Great stuff from Bryan on birdingcostablanca to get the news out there for a special bird by yesterday evening. He had to work fast as he had photos to process whereas all I have to do is write.

Well that was an interesting day and it became more interesting later with findings from research and comments that came in. It's nice to know there are people out there who are good members of our birding community.

The photos are on Bryan’s site and includes a photo of that very busy tree showing where it was yesterday afternoon. You should be able to spot it as it is clearly greyish amongst the white Little Egrets. Interestingly, there was one Cattle Egret perched there too.

A site headed by - researchgate.net - states there has been occasional breeding by Western Reef Egrets in Eastern Spain. The date on this is January 2001. It adds there have been three recorded instances of interbreeding between our common Little Egrets and the Western Reef. More details are available on their site. No doubt a study in its own right!

There is no real certainly as to what we have really got. But that doesn't matter to us as we're out there, saw it and asked the questions. (All down to Bryan’s searching eyes and spotting the odd one.)

It's our bird anyway. So if it is a hybrid of LE/WRH then great. If it is a rare morph of a Little Egret then it doesn't matter that much to me!. But I would rather say it was the former because that makes it a first in this part of Spain. (That we know of)  if it is  a rare morph then it's another first for myself and Michelle. It pays to search and not just to look, but to see.

Here's to the next time.

CLOT DE GALVANY ALICANTE

 We went for a morning and spent most of the day there. Thanks to a bird that could be a first for me and Michelle and, possibly, for Clot. I am impatient for the jury to come back in!

Here we are again to give this wonderful wetland another go. This time we included the scrub area and pines and gave them a good going over. We did the equivalent of ‘a rough shoot’ as we walked around it. Our way of shooting is for Michelle and Bryan to fire away. And they did. The photos will prove my point.

We were out walking by 8.30 and with the intention to see what else there was to see. The short answer is not a lot, but we certainly saved the best for last!

It was interesting to see what the environs of the lagoons were like. Southern/Iberian Grey Shrikes - Alcaudon Real Meridional were obvious by calling and perching clearly. Two Spotted Flycatchers Papamoscas Cerrojillo perched on a fence and flitted down and around. We will look at the photos before we can say if they are a sub-species or not. ( we have blogged about this before).  Amongst the pines we managed to see four Long-tailed Tits - Mito and that was it. It was 4 miles walked before we sat down at the new large user friendly hide.

All the time the air was active with Hirundines- both Barn and Red-rumped Swallows, the occasional House Martin and not one Swift. Higher up two raptors were spotted and we can say that one was certainly a Short-toed Eagle - Culebrera Europea. The other, possibly the same. All birds, of course, on a southerly course.

We stopped at the highest point where there is a viewing platform. A cool breeze was pleasant enough, but bird-wise very quiet.

At the hide we settled down viewed the water. No Gulls or Terns and no Purple Herons either. Between 1 and 3 o’clock from the hide there was a large number of Little Egrets - Garceta Común . Counting the full scope of our viewing there was in in excess of 150. In a Tamerisk amongst a large number of Little Egrets was a different bird. Showing clearly some grey plumage. No un-adulterated view was possible and we spent some time viewing this one bird. Bryan got shot after shot away. But what could it be. I will come back to that at the end.

On the water were over 40 Great-Crested Grebe - Somormujo Lavanco including their young, about a dozen Black-necked Grebe - Zampullin Cuellinegro with many Little Grebe - Zampullin Común White-headed Ducks -Malvasia Cabeciblanca showed very well and so did Shovelers - Cuchara Común , Pochard - Porrón Europeo and Mallard - Añade Azulón . The searching eagled-eyed Bryan spotted firstly a male Gadwall - Añade Friso and then a Ferruginous - Porrón  Pardo as well. Two great spots to add to Gargany last time. A Marsh Harrier - Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental flew over the reeds and spooked a few birds. On the way out Michelle spotted a high flyer! It was a Spoonbill - Espátula Común and Bryan has not seen one of those ever in Clot. It was a good way to end but…..

We had checked in Collins, what our mystery bird could be, and back at Bryans via Google it is possible that our birds could be a Western Reef Egret/Heron- White Morph - Egretta Gularis Photos to be examined and views sought in time. We are hoping! We returned wanting to get a better view. It had moved to higher in the tree, but it now faced us head on. Again not a clear view it being partly obscured by foliage. We will have to see.

Snow Geese in Estepas De Yecla?

 As we approached the farm buildings there was a flock of 16 Geese, which Bryan shouted out "Snow Geese".

They breed in extreme North East Siberia and can only be viewed as a vagrant or an escapee.  I love to see Geese and I kept them in Cornwall.  They were a joy to see spread out across the stubble feeding but I have to view them as domestic.

We saw very few Larks, of any description but we did hear both Crested and Thekla.  This Thekla Lark stayed long enough to be photographed.

Our last bird of the day was our best bird of the day in so much that it was passing through going South.  A Willow Warbler.

This was our last visit to Yecla, next is Clot.

All photographs taken by Bryan Thomas and you can see more on his blog http://birdingcostablanca.blogspot.com

THIS IS WHAT WE DO. WE GO OUT AND LOOK

We think that we can never get too much of Clot, but today, Tuesday 15th September, we drove to Estepas de Yecla. We were last there in early July. I wrote about all the changes going on with all the roadworks happening.  The simple fact is that the Caudette end is no more than a large cabbage patch. This morning we could see that crops had been harvested and young plants had been planted in other fields. Wildlife seems to be excluded!

It was 8 o’clock when we arrived, wonderfully cool and tranquil. A Rock Sparrow - Gorrión Común was spotted and a Black Wheatear -  Collalba Negraperched on a roof. It was very quiet. Our next visit could  see us choosing a different route through.

Larks were again in short supply but we did hear the calls of both Crested - Cogujada Común and Thekla - Montesina Also good visual sightings too. Hoopoes - Abubilla perched, were photographed and flew. One ‘minced’ along the road in front of us and not only do they have a distinctive flight their walk is distinctive too. They are wonderful to see and to watch close up.

Flocks of Red-billed Choughs - Chova Piquirroja Jackdaws- Grajilla and Starlings - Estornino fed in the fields. One lone Raven - Cuervo perched. An obliging Linnet - Pardillo Común perched in full view.

We took it slow enjoying the environment as we went. Last time we saw nine Lesser Kestrels - Cernicalo Primillo, but this time only Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar even after the photographs were checked. Something else to muse on. Why none of them?

We searched the stubble fields for Sandgrouse - Ganga but we heard not even one call. Two coveys of Red-legged Partridges - Perdiz Roja ran away. No consolation but still nice to see. Flighty targets for the hunters this coming winter.

We searched diligently and our bird of the day had to be a solitary Willow Warbler - Mosquitero Musical. A Northern Wheatear - Collalba Grisran it a close second. Both birds being our first sightings of either this year. That's thanks to lock-down!

Over the corn stubble we had reminders that the migration was ongoing. A good number of Hirundines including Barn Swallows with some Red-rumpers too. Some Swifts- probably all Pallid - with the odd House Martin fed over the fields swooping very low. Bee -eaters Abejarauca called and flew over with all birds heading in one direction. 

Dependent upon any future restrictions and rain we will not venture inland until Higueruela and Bonete could hold wintering birds. I have not listed every bird and the list is not a great one, but so good to be out there. 

BARN OWL NESTING SITE IN SAN MIGUEL DE SALINAS, ALICANTE, SPAIN.

 It may not be as beautiful as a timber framed Tudor Barn with a thatched roof or eye-catching curve of a Dutch Barn, but across the road and just above eye level from our top balcony is the home of a beautiful bird. 

When we lived in Cornwall we had Tawnies at the bottom of the Platt and now we are grateful to hear and see a Barn Owl - Lechuza Común. We do know if there is more than one as we hear noises from the nest site after an adult bird has flown away.

Prey must be plentiful as there are numerous pellets scattered around the building. We were only aware of them in the last two months and they seem more active - to us anyway - now the summer heat has declined. It maybe that this is a new nesting site for them, or maybe a new pair have arrived. And maybe it's nesting time?

What stage the egg laying, and hatching are at, we can only guess. Research tells us that the male will hunt and return to the female on the nest. I suspect when the young birds hatch and start to demand more food then we could see two adult birds flying to and fro.

We will watch carefully. In the last week I have seen an adult bird on four occasions and when not seen there is the shrreee sound coming from the site.

If any one has knowledge of what stage the breeding is at then let us know. We will try and get a camera set up, but that will not be easy.

Vagina Monologues

It should have been performed this evening, but by mid-morning the show was off. After three months of reading, getting into the ‘nitty-gritty’ and delivering lines with feelings the three female members of Actors Community Theatre Society (ACTS) are feeling flat. Another last minute cancellation has been difficult to get to grips with! The male director-who thought he was in charge- will be pissed off too.

Eve Ensler, a femanist, performer, playwright and activist has written ‘Vagina Monologues’. Apparently it is an ‘episodic play’ and a quote I read has labeled it ‘a poignant and hilarious tour of the last frontier’. Well I've been there and back a few times and lived on for another trip. Perhaps I have misunderstood?

Whatever people want to say about the ‘Monolgues’, (let's leave Vagina out as some maybe offended, but it could be better than cunt, of course) but this is a serious piece of writing.

It's based on interviews with over 200 women, young, old and of all ethnicity.  I am only guessing now, have probably had no opportunity to discuss that part of their body that is well hidden and seldom exposed for examination. To give these women the chance to talk are serious matters.

I praise everyone from the birth of the original concept, interviewees and participants who were involved in any production. It's not a new ‘play’ coming from 1996 and earning from the New York Times this accolade ‘the most important piece of political theater of the last decade’. Make of  that what you will.

It was due to be performed tonight, in Rojales, Alicante, Spain, to a limited audience consisting of members of ACTS and invited guests in a restaurant. Our local theatre is still closed and so it was going to be the first performance for the best part of a year. Due to Covid and the locally imposed restrictions it was an unnecessary risk to undertake tonight's show. A decision forced upon us by people not wearing masks who frequented the venue yesterday. The local police called and that was that.

It's crap, but life goes on.

Fortunately, I had sat through two rehearsals. It's explicit and that C word so often not used and hated by some women is carefully and forcibly delivered. Credit to the deliverer. I am sure that some of the audience would not have liked it and I was looking forward to seeing one or two squirm in their seats. Never mind, I can wait because on a better day it will be performed.

Twenty or more years have elapsed since it was written and with that passage of time I am wondering what younger interviewees would have said. Maybe the use of the derogatory Saxon word has become more widely acceptable. 

Michelle and I have seen the play Bitter Wheat by David Hare, about movie mogal Harvey Feinstein and that contained some very uncomfortable lines, but my best example of a woman delivering the C word was Tamsin Greig in Labour of Love. Such wonderful intonation and delivery. The world has moved on from 1996 but Vagina Monologues still lives on.

KILLING FREE - SHOUT LOUD SHOUT OFTEN

 KILLING FREE - SHOUT LOUD    SHOUT OFTEN

“everywherethere                                                                                dead animals

         

                      there are            

      

                                                           deadanimals 

           

                               everywhere                          

we walk                                                                                  

                                                                                           everywhere

                 therearedead 

animals”

“everywhere we walk there are dead animals”

people don't like it

shout loud            shout often

it's the only way to be heard

shout loud            shout often

killers are out there

killing as they want

killing during lock-down

killing free

shout loud            shout often

like song lyrics

accompanied by a chorus of

complimentary chords 

I I could catch the pellets

the leaden peppercorns of death

then I would

unperturbed killers are out there

undisturbed until now 

allow the ‘sky-dancers’

to fly freely

shout loud           shout often

Footnote: To date forty-three Hen Harriers,

The Sky-Dancers - all satellite-tagged

are missing, presumed dead.

John Edwards (C) 27th August 2020

A Royal Slaughter of Opinion

“BLOOD SPORTS FOR ALL IS THE CHOSEN APPROACH AS THE CAMBRIDGE’s TAKE THE CHILDREN SHOOTING”

That's the headline in the Guardian Newspaper by Catherine Bennett. And it's a good one too.

It's all about our future monarch taking his seven year old son to see the shooting of Red Grouse on a driven grouse moor near Balmoral.

The conservationists don't like it and neither do I. 

In my view this does not set the correct tone for the future behaviour of our Monarchy.

Again tradition trumps conservation when we know that grouse moor management have blood on their hands when it comes to Raptor Persecution. There have too many Raptor and mammal recorded deaths on estates where grouse are being shot.

My comments follow on from my previous blog and this short poem written a few weeks ago reveals my personal feelings.

GUNSHOT ECHO

Hear it, the deathly gunshot call

An echo of a life that dies

For some the everlasting thrall

Of killing beauty as it flies

An echo of a life that dies

No matter what attitude decrees

Of killing beauty as it flies

Stays fixed in the mind like disease

No matter what attitude decrees

We are guardians of our earth                                                     

And must support the guarantee 

That gives every new day a birth                                                      

We are guardians of our earth

Not to forestall but give our all

That gives every day a new birth

And not to hear the gunshot call

John Edwards (C) 6th July 2020