Yesterday morning and with only two members of the nobinsbirdclub in attendance we were up the Mountain of Monnegre by 9am. We wanted to check on the Trumpeters as we were unable to verify they were still there.
It was very quiet to start with and then our attention was drawn to a flying Black-eared Wheatear - Collalba Rubia which then perched. We regularly see certain species here but not this morning. Collared Doves - Tórtola Turca but only one showed while we waited. Luckily a Spotted Flycatcher - Papamoscas Gris was perched on a wire. After a while a Blue Rock Thrush - Roquero Solitario flew in while we were still hoping for Trumpeter Finches - Camachuela Trompetero. Then a pair came in and we were happy. They are still around. One had been ringed and we are hoping that the photo will yield information. Alicante University were monitoring these species and they may say where it was ringed? From a ravine a - Nightingale - Ruiseñor Común sang.
That was good and it got better. We were discussing Orphean Warblers when a male flew over the car and perched nearby. We had looked last year in several locations and this morning we had a ‘lifer’ each. Malcolm Palmer tells me that he has seen these warblers up near the village. Moving on we checked for other warblers and managed two glimpses of Subalpines - Curruca Carrasquena and Bryan has still to get a full-on-photo of one this year.
We pay attention to anything and everything. Butterflies were not frequently spotted although there were many yellow flowers around. I am working on identifying them. Photos were taken and also many of the terrain. This mountain is interesting to see and to wonder how it was formed. Not for us a trip out just to look at the view!
Thinking ahead I was collecting kindling when a Bonelli’s Eagle - Aguila-azor Perdicera flew right above us and we think, with prey, in one talon. Beautiful and Bryan’s photo will prove it. What a sight!
There were many species we did not see and we will do another trip into the mountains but with an earlier start or even a late afternoon visit which we have not done. Also a very late one for Nightjars - Chotocabras Gris o Cuellirrojo and for the sky at night. We just have to be our there to see it and hope to be lucky.
Summing up we found, again, the rarest Finch In Valencia. We located a rare warbler and then had clear views of Spains rarest eagle. What a morning.
We didn’t foresee the problem with UK driving licence holders but we changed ours years ago. So that means we can get out and about and not be ‘crippled’ by not being able to drive legally.
What a morning on a very strange but beautiful mountain.
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