A RED HOT BIRDING DAY IN THE ALICANTE MOUNTAINS. MONNEGRE PRODUCES AGAIN AND AGAIN
I’m saying it was red hot day and the temperature climbed to 34 degrees C to make it so. It was a very early start from home and by 7.30 we were well into the mountains to check out a site we have been monitoring. Camachuela Trompetero - Trumpeter Finches were our only target but we always get more!
We sat back from the site and watched. Within minutes we saw a group of 4/5 flying around us and we could hear them calling. In fact they were all around us, on a fence and on the ground too. The photographer got busy and making as many record shots as possible which will be examined later in detail. At one stage I was on route to a different location and on way one sat on a fence, calling, and with me in full view. They seem to be comfortable in the presence of people. From my vantage point I saw a flock of 20/25 birds flying together and wondering what they could be. Minutes later 23 sat on the fence for Bryan to capture on camera. Initially, it seems, not a leg ring too be seen and that does mean there are or have been other birds. Every time we go there we learn more and next week we could know more. There is a proviso to this is that these finches have not been seen this late in August on Monnegre. Hence our reason for going again soon. And that is another damn good reason for calling our morning red hot. And there is more.
Before, Bryan saw a Black Redstart -ColirojoTizon (Yes. I believe him - this early too) and I saw a Black Wheatear - Collalba Negra atop a bush. Three Red-rump Swallows - Golondrina Daurica flew past us low. Up in the sky Pallid Swifts - Vencejo Pallido, the odd Barn Swallow - Golondrina Común one House Martin - Avion Común and some Crags too - Avion Roquero. A regular feature has been Spotted Flycatcher - Cerrojillo Gris and again we watched one.
We were entertained by a very pristine Blackeared Wheatear -Collalba Rubio. What a smart bird and the photo will prove it. The expert claims it is a juvenile - hence the smartness. We watched it for several minutes and it constantly bobbed the tail. Something to check?
Although the heat was with us we decided to go up more. We stopped at the major ruin as it has been a good spot on other occasions. On the way Woodchat Shrike - Alcaudón Común and we spotted three - possible two were juveniles and they have been thin on the ground this year! Bee-eaters- Abejaruco Comun we kept hearing and eventually I got my first clear sighting for this year and one on a wire too. They are around us but not too numerous this time.
With Bee-eaters all around us Bryan spotted a very distant raptor. Within minutes we had two Golden Eagles - Aquila Real circling distant but close enough. The camera will confirm. I watched them ‘dance’ together and one could be a sub-adult. We have viewed them here before. Now, if that was not enough, and while we were sipping our second cuppa Bryan spotted one Alpine Swift - Vencejo Real. I waited, watched and we had a slow and lowish flypast. My best view ever for this species.
CONCLUSIONS: the birds are on the move and Hirundines although low in number for us will be going south. Greta has viewed Bee-eaters clustering and they cannot be long. The flock of Trumpeters too seems to indicate movement and we will endeavour to locate their winter grounds.
Monnegre again soon and then other locations for those passing through and those coming to winter here. There is so much to see and do.
We will reflect upon our Trumpeter log and again ask for sightings and information.
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