RESEARCHING TRUMPETER FINCHES ON MONNEGRE, ALICANTE, SPAIN

 The heat has arrived to make an early start essential and Bryan and I were waiting for Trumpeter Finches - Camachuela Trompetero at 8am. The idea being to gain more information on this species. This year we have noticed that some birds have rings on their right legs and others do not. Previously we did not record seeing even one bird with a ring and that was when the population was into double figures. Again, today, we recorded birds with rings and we will compile a list of possible numbers from all the photographs. Where this research will take us - we don’t know. Today’s tally was only three individuals but they looked healthy and we hope that juveniles will appear.

Our intention is to establish where any were rung and who by. We know that Alicante University had an interest and we will send a request out to all the sites we know of. So you can keep reading and looking out for us. 

Our two birds of the day were Black-eared Wheatears - Collalba Rubia and Melodious Warblers -  Zarcero Común. Both species very active and a joy to watch. We were out of luck with any Orphean -  Curruca Mirlona as we suspect they were passing through very much like Subalpines -  Curruca Carrasquena of previous weeks. It’s a great mountain and we shall go again.

And no bloody raptors!

THE NO BINS BIRD CLUB FIND BIRDING JEWELS ON THE MOUNTAIN OF MONNEGRE IN ALICANTE

I love this mountain and what can infuriate me is that I know we pass so much more than we can ever see. But that is wildlife watching and sometimes it flies into where you are. Patience is one skill that has to be developed and on our last visit we saw birding rarities.

Overhead was a Bonelli’s Eagle - Aguila-azor Perdicera, wings wide open showing all its markings. Beautiful, but it comes at a price for clutched in one of its talons was a small bird. That must have been beautiful too but now a food item for an eagle.

Earlier at one of our go to places a pair of Trumpeter Finches - Camuchuela Trompetero flew in, flew around and perched for the photographer.

More or less at the same time ‘a hoped for species’ flew in. This was our target bird from last year - the Orphean Warbler - Curruca Mirlona It’s very rare and there it was in full view and perched for a record photograph. 

Also one Collared Dove - Tortola Turca and one male Blue Rock Thrush - Roquero Solitario flew in and we watched. It’s very easy not to pay other birds the same attention as the rarities. They are beautiful too. In the morning we are going to do it again and be even more patient and maybe locate a nest. I hope it is going to be another great warbler morning.

THE MOUNTAINS OF ALICANTE AGAIN AND RARE BIRDS

 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.

ANOTHER FROM LEGAL JUSTICE AND ITS GREAT NEWS

 

Good morning - we're blowing our own trumpets a bit in this newsletter but, to be fair, only by passing on some positive external views of Wild Justice.    ENDS 100 power list: the online environmental news organisation, ENDS reports, has published a list of 100 powerful influencers in the environment sector and our own Chris Packham is one of them - click here. To be fair, Chris would probably be in many such lists even if Wild Justice didn't exist, but Wild Justice does get a mention - which is nice.  And this list is produced from the views of fellow environmentalists.   Wild Justice is also mentioned in Carol Day's entry in the same list. We work closely with Carol on all our legal challenges - click here.   What the Green Groups say: yesterday another report came out, also based on the views of environmental leaders and funders. It's an interesting read about the state of the UK environment movement - click here.   This review is made every few years and this is the firt time that Wild Justice has had the chance to feature in it. Now it would be very surprising if Wild Justice were to be regarded as being as influential as the likes of the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts or National Trust, and we aren't, but the two graphs below, produced by Matt Shardlow (CEO of Buglife) show  the ranking of organisations in terms of their staff number and budget - Wild Justice comes out very well by these measures. It's recognition by our environmental colleagues that Wild Justice punches well above its weight in terms of resources and that is very gratifying.             Considering all the flak we get from the shooting industry it's really nice to be recognised by fellow environmentalists. We noticed that BASC, GWCT, Countryside Alliance, Scottish Land and Estates, Moorland Association, National Gamekeepers Organisation and Scottish Gamekeepers Association amassed just one favourable mention between them in the latter report and failed to have anyone at all in the ENDS 100 Power list. That speaks volumes about their standing amongst real environmentalists.   But your opinions matter most to us - our work depends on your donations. If you are impressed by what we are doing then donations by cheque, PayPal or bank transfer will allow us to do more - click here to consider donating - thank you.   That's it - thank you!   Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).   PS we have received a response from Ofwat (Ofwhere?) to our pre-action protocol letter about sewage discharges. It's obvious that our letter has already stung Ofwat into giving this matter much more thought but we want to see more action. We'll be deciding our next move in the next few days.     This is the 109th Wild Justice newsletter.   This email was sent to you because you subscribed to it through the Wild Justice website or through an e-action or a petition where you ticked a box.  Thank you. We will only use your personal details to send you the Wild Justice newsletter. We will not give or sell your details to anyone else.  You can unsubscribe at any time: there is an unsubscribe button at the foot of this email or you can reply to this email and ask us to remove you from the list (the former will happen immediately, the latter might take a few days).

 

9 Lawson St

HEN HARRIER FEST - SUNDAY 24th JULY

 FROM WILD JUSTICE 

Conservation campaign group Wild Justice has announced the venue for a very special event this year - Hen Harrier Fest - taking place on Sunday 24th July 2022. The fabulous Adlington Hall & Gardens in Cheshire is the venue, from 10.30am-4pm. Entry will be free, thanks to the incredible generosity of host Camilla Legh, but […]

Read more of this post on their own site.

The Salinas and Inland of Gran Alacant

What a great morning it turned out to be. The ’nobinsbirdclub’ met this beautiful summer morning with a change of crew, but not totally as the effervescent Bryan Thomas was on board for his skills. A sea mist had rolled in and we discussed where to go. We headed for the Salinas as it started to lift. Our first stops yielded only the usual few but included one Kentish Plover -  Chorlitejo Patinegro and a Purple Heron -Garza Imperiel flew over. In fact it was our first of three with more Kentish to be seen later. El Pinet was very busy with Little Terns -  Charran Común and Whiskered Terns -  Fumarel Cariblanco . Avocets - Avoceta were numerous and in the distance Collared Pratincoles - Canestra Común.  In one area we came upon a good number of Greenfinches - Verderón of both sexes feeding in the bushes.  Our waders have gone north so we had to make do with another Kentish.

We went in land with targets to find, see and film. We got very lucky with two Rollers - Carraca sitting on a fence at head height and seemingly impervious to us. The photos will prove it. One was displaying its wings to catch the sun and that incredibly stunning brown was spread out. It flew, returned and dropped down onto the road, spreading its wings and then up to the fence with food in its mouth. The other bird just sat there and so did we. We did little work to find these two except to be there. Our tally for this species was seven. 

Constantly calling were Green Woodpeckers - Pinto Real. Gull-billed Terns - Pagaza Piconegra flew over the farmland.

Michelle and I had not been out lately and so we wanted to see Bee-eater - Abejaruco Común . There were some around but not that many. The same applied to Turtle Doves - Tortola Europea that were seen but not in an easy position to photograph, but not Bryan for he got a shot off. Great-spot Cuckoos - Criala Europea. flew around but we couldn’t really get near one. Next time then. Over the vegetation, flying low, were Pallid Swifts -  Vencejo Pálido and it was thought maybe some Common Swifts - Vencejo Común too. Not easy to spot but Bryan was listening to their calls.

I have not listed every species and the quality of what we saw was excellent. As a general comment we only say what we have actually seen and as often as possible with a current photo.

We don’t believe in stringing people along and there have been adverse comments from an individual who has objected to us suggesting that some untruths have been told by others. 

It could have been the mountains this morning but we made the correct decision and stayed local. Friday should be Monnegre and with luck we could locate one of the rarest birds in Valencia. 

I now have two blogs - Notes from a Birder and Writer where this one is posted and my other one, where I only post stories, poetry and book reviews on jejohnedwards.Wordpress.org.

You can also find our photos on Instagram on No Bins Bird Club.

 

SKYDANCER DAY - FROM LEGAL JUSTICE

 

Skydancer Day – Saturday 14th May 2022 RaptorPersecutionUK May 12 'Skydancer Day', the brainchild of the charity Hen Harrier Action, is an online annual event designed to celebrate and raise awareness of hen harriers as a springtime alternative to the annual Hen Harrier Day, held in August. This year, Skydancer Day will take place on Saturday (14th May 2022) from 10.30am and can either be […] Read more of this post Comment You can also reply to this email to leave a comment. Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Raptor Persecution UK.  Change your email settings at manage subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2022/05/12/skydancer-day-saturday-14th-may-2022/  Powered by WordPress.com