It had been decided Michelle, Bryan - the photographers two - plus myself would ensure that Michelle would get her Great Bustard shots.
On Friday 11th, early, we went to the bread basket of Spain in and around Bonete, Coral Rubio, Petrola and Higueruela in the province of Albacete. We knew it was going to get hot and so we cracked on and we were lucky with only a light breeze and very little heat haze.
It’s always good to get out and I love to be surprised. Predominately white fields drew our attention. Poppies grown as a crop. Large white petals with a tinge of light purple and a contrasting eye. What is this crop for?
I will not list all the birds but El Balchiller is always a good spot and Rock Sparrows - Gorrión Chillón perched on the rim of the farm buildings. We moved on down the farm track and there they were - two males and four females - Great Bustards - Avutarda Común In full view and in range for the photos. We like this area and the fields edges were full of flowers and the butterflies were numerous. We saw;
Painted Ladies
Fritillary - to be identified
Another one to be identified
Clouded Yellow
Small Whites
Some are always difficult to see stationary with some species refusing to do it. It’s a subject in its own right but we persevere! Bryan was delighted, at last, to get the Clouded Yellows through his lens.
It had rained recently and the fields were wet but overall it was dryer than two weeks ago. The lagoons were full and there is plenty of water around Coral Rubio. The usual water birds were there and surprisingly we came across several Glossy Ibis - Morito Común. We knew that we would see an iconic bird and the Lapwings - Avefria Europea showed well.
The Causeway is now passable. Here we concentrated on Yellow Wagtails - Lavanca Boyera
The adults were feeding young and we expected to see them here. One Little Ringed Plover -Chorlitejo Chico stayed close, one Kentish Plover - Patinegro was nearby and a Green Sandpiper - Andarrios Bastardo fed alongside them.
We moved on through the corn fields and were rewarded by a flying male Great Bustard and within minutes another one flew too. Larks were not frequent but eventually the camera captured a Short Toed - Terrera Común which was difficult to pick out on the rough ground.
The lagoon by the railway on the camino leading to Higueruela yielded a good selection of water birds. A Marsh Harrier - Aguilucha Lagunera flew over making it our fourth one of the day. We always are checking the skies and apart from one Common Buzzard - Busardo Ratonero and some Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar our raptor haul is naff. What are we doing wrong? The heat of the day was now upon us and we headed south.
This is a massive area and one that should be a must to go to. Fields of corn will soon be cut and then there will be greater opportunity to see more with less vegetation around. We may do it again soon and/or leave it for an autumn trip. Photos and more information will follow.
Overall it was great to be out there and the photos should prove it
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