Alicante Mountain of Monnegre Always Worth a Visit

 On Monday 21st June we were out early to give Montnegre and Monnegre another going over. We have spent time there observing Trumpeter Finches - Camachuela  Trompetero. We know where they could be and this morning we saw one but not where we usually observe them. 

At another location we watched and waited and eventually one did appear but what we wanted to know was if we could see this year’s brood. We didn’t but we will check again later. I have found sitting and watching can be good and we had ten species fly in which included:

Black-eared Wheatear - Collalba  Rubia (looking pale)

Black Wheatear - Collalba Negra

Spotted Flycatcher - Papamoscas Gris

Rock Sparrow - Gorrión  Chillón 

(and even one male House Sparrow - Gorrión Común 

Blue Rock Thrush -Roquero Solatario

There were other species around but nothing exceptional and we moved on.

Under the river bridge a Nightingale - Ruiseñor called and was seen. On the other side a Reed Warbler - Carricero Común sang. We expected more.

We searched the skies and apart from Choughs - Chova Piquirroja nothing. There was not a raptor in sight so what are we doing wrong?

We did look for butterflies and at the ‘lone tree’ there were some seen and photographed and I am told a new one for us. The photos will, of course, prove what we saw. Nearby a Corn Bunting - Escribano Triguero was in a bush.

Below Tibi at the bridge Bryan got busy with photographing butterflies and Bronze Damasell. Photos will come later. The activity on the river made up for disappointments in the avian world.

We love these mountains and it is always very good to be out. There are so many species that we did not find and I can assure that what is recorded here is fact. Other sites may claim more!

We did have one oddity. Possibly a Pole Cat that was only seen briefly and it had a white tail. So I don’t know. 

Congratulations to the birders in England who have chased down these three Warblers:

Reed - Carricero Común 

River - Curruca Fluvial

Savi’s - Buscaría Unicolor

And special note to The Isles Of Scilly where there is an Egyptian Vulture - Alimoche Común