ALICANTE MOUNTAINS

 WITHIN SIGHT OF THE CITY OF ALICANTE - GREAT MOUNTAINS, GREAT VIEWS AND GREAT BIRDS

 I love going to the mountains. Both Monnegre and Maigmo are only a few kilometres inland from Alicante and they are easy to travel to. We wanted to see what was on offer during the migration and to investigate again very different habitats. We also knew that we could not properly cover both mountain areas in the same day but we gave it a good go with terrific results. The forecast for the next five days is poor with rain forecast (in varying quantities) and with a significant drop in temperature. Snow is even forecast for Tibi at the weekend! So we went out while the sun was still shining.

Wednesday 17th March had a clear sky with little wind. It was ideal. We usually do Monnegre first and at the lower levels we seldom see anything worth mentioning and we entertain ourselves  counting Collared Doves - Tortola Turca and the tally came to 47.

We always take it slow, looking and hearing, as we go although we never expect to have a large list. We say it is quality that matters most and we got that. Over a ridge we could hear Chough - 

Chova Piquirroja

Our main priority was to visit the Trumpeter Finch - Camachuelo Trompetero site and within minutes two females and one male perched in full view. We have never seen them in winter time and don’t know whether they disperse after breeding or migrate somewhere. The good news for us is that we found these rare finches once more. We are amazed that others don’t seek to find them too.

Within minutes a Bonnelli’s Eagle - Águila-azor Perdicera flew right over us and away in the distance and we wondered if our day could get any better? We had a clear sighting with no need of any ‘bins! So great to see.

Further on a rasping call alerted us to the fleeting image of a Great Spotted Cuckoo - Criala Europea. We remained nearby and then two flew around and we had really good views. If others can see them first we can see them later - just by a day or so.

Within minutes a Dartford Warbler - Curruca Rabilarga was heard and we had good but quick views as it went from bush to bush. I had hopes this would be a ‘warbler’ day, although we thought a tad early especially after the cold spell we have had to endure. As always Sardinian Warblers -Curruca Cabeecinegra were round-and-about and those two warblers were our only two. Hopefully after the next cold spell we should see more and we do know where we can find certain species. So next week we will see more as we intend to visit Monnegre.

We were very patient driving up this mountain and the morning soon disappeared. Nothing much else to report - Griffin Vultures - Buitre Leonardo and over a mountain we could hear Gulls.

We moved on hoping to see Swifts from the top of Maigmo - but not today. There are always birds  on the way up and usually Crossbills - Piquituerto Común are easy enough - but perhaps next time. However singing, perching and photogenic Wood Larks - Totovia entertained us. My best close up views ever and to add to our day Gareth had several ‘firsts’.

Spring flowers are adding colour. We saw six species of butterfly and therefore time to check in the Butterfly book and one snake. About a metre long.

Species count both seen and/or heard- forty- not a bad number but more to see next time.

I have never recorded distance and today it was 198 kilometres from San Miguel and return and time spent birding was six hours.