3 February, Rambla Morales, Arboleas Bird Group

Dave and Gilly were left to venture out on their own this last Wednesday, as Dave will explain. I draw your attention to his comments on the actions of the British dog walkers - Dave's mild description of them sums then up. Are you surprised that sometimes when I see British coming my way I cross the road and speak only Spanish? It makes me wonder what those men from 617 squadron, RAF, - the Dambusters - would have thought if they realised that they had given their lives for a bunch of ******** like those? I am ashamed to be from the same nation.

Gilly and I were on our own again as other members were abroad, or preparing to go there. The weather was sunny with a bit of cloud as we had a wander near to the chapel near Retamar. The sea was calm, but we only managed to see Cormorant and Black-headed Gulls. On the shoreline we had Turnstone, Kentish and Ringed Plovers and Sanderling. We drove off along the track and stopped for a little walk in a dried river bed towards a small tower. We were pleased to see a few Song Thrushes ....unusual here... a Blue Rock Thrush and our first Trumpeter Finch of the year. We'll definitely be stopping here again! Further along the track Gilly spotted movement on the steppes. A scan produced a flock of at least 52 Golden Plovers.

As we approached the Rambla de Morales we had good views of Lesser Short-toed Lark. Gilly managed to get some good photos. At the lake the water level was of course very high. 10 Greater Flamingos, 12 Shovelers, 3 Little Grebes, 7 Teal and a scattering of Coots and Moorhens were present. As we reached the far end we could hear a group of dog walkers approaching from the direction of the campsite. We increased our pace back to the track. As this loud English group, with their unleashed dogs, got level with the Flamingos they began to shout and whoop, causing the birds to take flight. As they flew off in formation these "scumbags" began to chant the dambusters theme song. There's never a warden or a Seprona officer around when you want one. Totally ruined our day. 39 species seen. Did see a sub-adult Golden Eagle on our way home up the motorway which cheered us up. Also, yesterday, the 6th, heard and saw our first Great Spotted Cuckoo of the "spring".

30 January, lagunas Dulce and Fuente de Piedra

After last week's effort, when the most we could see at the laguna Dulce (Campillos) was about 15m and a few Shoveler, Bob Hibbett and I tried again this morning, going on to Fuente de Piedra after. The sight of the laguna Dulce with water after so many years dried out is amazing, and it spills over in to the surrounding fields there is so much. In fact, I rather suspect that the total lack of Little Bustards, which I was fairly confident of seeing, might have moved off because of the soggy ground, and the rather surprising lack of flamingos there because there was too much depth for them.

The place was pretty good for waterbirds though, with a few Black-necked Grebes and at least 8 Great Crested scattered amongst the multitude of ducks, with Shovelers winning in quantity over everything else. There were several Teal and at least 13 Red-crested Pochards which are always nice to see, albeit at a distance, and 5 Wigeon. A flock of Lapwings (a rubbish photo in poor light) was frightened into the air by a 2nd year male Marsh Harrier, not a plumage that we see too often down here.

From there we went on to Fuente de Piedra, the light and visibility getting better all the time, going in across the western end so that we could look down and search for Lesser Flamingos amongst their bigger cousins, but with no joy. Neither did a stop at Cantarranas (photo R) yield much apart from more Cranes, their calls really are superb, a nice Song Thrush and a Raven and we saw a fox, presumably the same one as last week in almost the same place.

From there it was round to the information centre area, the centre itself being named after José Antonio Valverde, one of Spain's pioneer birders who had a lot to do with the founding of Doñana as a reserve. If you ever have the chance to get your hands on a copy, read Wild Spain by Guy Mountfort, which chronicles early expeditions along with Valverde and famous British ornithologists of that period (Eric Hosking, Lord Alanbrooke and so on) there in the 1950s, do so. It's well worth the read and will make you realise what life (and travel) was like back in those days. I picked up a copy cheap through Amazon some years since, and another outfit, Alibris may also have them.

In fact there really wasn't a lot there either. The only waders were 2 Snipe and a few Black-winged Stilts and we saw the same little 1W male Bluethroat in the same place as before (a smashing little bird!), a distant immature Marsh Harrier, but as far as I was concerned the best birds of the day were the 15+ House Martins, even though I had seen one last week, and 3 or 4 Barn Swallows - the harbinger of things to come, these hawking for insects over the laguneta behind the information centre. The numbers of Stone-curlews had dwindled to less than 20 and there wasn't a Golden Plover to be seen.

28 January, Cabo de Gata, plus Málaga news

Once more, a brave act in view of the amount of rain that had fallen in Almería (and indeed all over Andalucía) Gilly and Dave ventured forth on another possible twitch. Also, there are one or two bits of Málaga news after. So, read on and enjoy Dave's account.

28 January, Cabo de Gata, Arboleas Bird Group After a few days of rain, delaying our trip by 24hrs, Gilly nd I made our way to Cabo de Gata, hoping to "twitch" the recently sighted Red-necked Phalarope. As anticipated the water level was extremely high. At the first hide a Curlew was sauntering between us and the water.
There were a few Black-tailed Godwits snoozing on the mostly submerged causeway. A pair of Black-winged Stilts flew over. On the scrub Chiffchaffs, Sardinian and Dartford Warblers were enjoying the sunny, windless conditions, as were the Stonechats. We moved to the beach, trying not to disturb the film crew making a Honda car advert! Out to sea Gannets were patrolling and a flotilla of 30 Balearic Shearwaters were on the water. Also out there, sadly, was a large rescue ship which presumably was above the crash site of the Rescue helicopter on which 3 in which crew lost their lives. As we walked to the hide we put up a small flock of mixed finches ... Linnet, Corn Bunting and Greenfinches. Gilly counted 165 Greater Flamingos. We saw a few Shoveler and a single Sandwich Tern. On the steppes 6 Stone Curlews were sunning themselves. Gilly spotted an Oystercatcher, but that was about it.

We faired slightly better at the public hide. 6 Black-necked Grebes were out there as well as a Grey and Kentish Plover. We then went along the front, right to the end to find a suitable seawatching point. We found one about 200m passed the last cafe. From here we manged to see 7 Razorbills reasonably close in and a Black Wheatear on the rocks behind us. The trip round the rear of the reserve was "interesting"! The puddles were ponds, one of which interested a Redshank. There was a large flock of gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backs, but a few Audouin's as well. The mozzies were out in force. Did see Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Shelduck and Dunlin, but no sign of the Phalarope.

With the successes of the Great Spotted Eagle and the Belted Kingfisher we can't moan.....much!! A total of 47, so a good day.

News from Málaga
The peculiar northern calidus type Peregrine that caused so much discussion (see the blog) was still at the Guadalhorce as of 29 January (Bob Hibbett). There have been several records of 1-3 Purple Sandpipers at Calaburras, as well as a Grey Phalarope and a Great Northern Diver in the past week (Paco Ríos and Paco Villalobos). Almist a rarity and certainly a jolly nice bird to see is the Guillemot in Fuengirola harbour, first seen last week (Bob Hibbett) and obviously liking the place as it was still there yesterday, 28 January (me).

double edition, 21 and 22 January

Sounds like a bargain on the market, doesn't it? Actually, this is the blog for 21 January at the Guadalhorce with Bob Wright and members of the Axarquía Bird Group but all the time that was supposed go into that went into the previous blog on the odd Peregrine Falcon that we thought was a Lanner Falcon (if you really want to learn / be bored out fo your mind, read that!) and for yesterday, 22 January, when Bob Hibbett and I went up to Fuente de Piedra. So, here goes (although Bob has written most of it in his Axarquía blog).

21 January, Guadalhorce: A coolish start and later warm. As we went in, upstream there were 4 Spoonbills, none of them ringed. The colour ringed one that Bob saw last week and mentioned in his blog came from Terschelling (the second of the Friesian islands, Holland) and I recorded it last autumn. Where it has been since the two sightings is a mystery.

Most of the effort yesterday- several hours' worth - went into the odd falcon which has been previously reported and photographed and which was thought to be a Lanner - I have never seen a less peregrine-like Peregrine! But, as those who are strong will have read, it has turned out to be a calidus race Peregrine which may have wandered down from Siberia. Other raptors included Kestrels (of course), at least one Marsh Harrier, three or four Booted Eagles, the Osprey and a Common Buzzard - 6 species of birds of prey, which isn't bad.

The result of the preoccupation with the supposed lanner that wasn't meant that I forgot to keep a day list, but, as the accompanying photo shows, Bob didn't and here is the evidence of his ornithological prowess!

There is far too much water and no shore at all for waders to wade along, There was a suprising lack of ducks also, possibly because there is so much water all over Andalucía that they're spoilt for choice! The best was undoubtedly a very smart male Wigeon but the male Teal are also very bonny and were showing well at the laguna grande.

Only one Zitting Cisticola / Fan-tailed Warbler was seen, which is one more than last time I was there. I rather fear that the little chaps may have been badly hit by the prolonged heavy rain, just as they were a couple of winters since when it was very cold for a long time. Fortunately, they seem to be highly fecund and no doubt the population will bounce back rapidly. We also saw a single male Dartford Warbler down towards the seawatch mirador and a Hoopoe was also seen (I missed that).

We had a look at the sea but the only thing in evidence apart from the inevitable gulls, which also included a 1W Mediterranean, there were at least 8 Black-necked Grebes.

THE WATCHERS

22 January, Fuente de Piedra: When Bob Hibbett and I left Torremolinos it promised a lovely sunny morning, until we crested the top of El Romeral, the road that takes one down towards Antquera and whole of the Vega de Antequera should be spread out in front of you. Except that it wasn't as it was blanketed in a thick fog, and I do mean thick. So thick that on the A-92 heading westwards with a visbility of less than 30m at a speedy 70 km/h (other idiots were holding to their 120 km/h, presumably their faith in a divine being greater than mine), we headed first for the Laguna Dulce at Campillos. First surprise, there was water in it - lots of water as far as we could see through the mist, which wasn't very far, in which a few male Shovelers were showing that their hormones weren't going to be deterred by weather conditions. Another visit soon with better conditions could repay the attention.

So, giving up there we headed first for a coffee at the camp site at Fuente and wondered what we would find at the laguna, always assuming that the fog would burn off. The answer is dead simple - we found FOG, thick FOG. So we had a look at the new information centre, now open and very plush it is too.They even have a web cam which showed .... fog! The huge picture window where there used to be the terrace would give a fabulous view if there wasn't ... well you know what!

Water there is in vast quantity, I haven't seen so much since 1998-99. The fields around are flooded and if only the waders find it on return migration it will be fabulous at the new flashes by the wooden walkway. As it was, there was next to nothing. We had very brief views of the same Bluethroat seen on other trips, a few Shovelers, some Lapwings and also some Stone-curlews, a few Black-winged Stilts that were only half-heartedly preparing for their breeding hysterics and a single Snipe. It was here too that we saw the bird of the day, the first House Martin of the year (Bob saw 2 but one vanished in the mist!).

By noon the fog was beginning to burn off so we went along to Cantarranas and by then the sun was starting to break through. We saw a few Cranes, 6 or 8 I think in total which included a family party of Mama and Dad and 2 off-sprung. As Bob said, hearing them 'talking' to each other is one of the most delightful, really wild, sounds that there is in nature, alongside that of divers calling to each other on a lonely loch I think. Also from Cantarranas we saw a superb fox with a really splendid brush (no, it wasn't Basil).

We made a final stop at the western end of the laguna where we could really appreciate how much water and how deep it is. The Greater Flamingos were concentrated in the shallower water, and even then some were up to their bellies, and there wasn't a single Lesser in sight. As Bob rightly said, the water is just too deep for them, so my prognosis is that there will be (a) few records this spring and (b) an attempt at breeding looks rather improbable.

So, as there are no photos from yesterday and as you know that I like dogs, as do some of your good selves, I thought that some may like to see a couple of shots of my sister's young retriever puppy, Holly, who was her Christmas present to herself and is an absolute little enchantress (the puppy, not my sister).

you live and you learn- Northern Peregrine Falcon

This is a very long blog, with photos, about the odd falcon at the Guadalhorce which was seen on 19 January, first by Blas López Soler who took the photos, and on 21 January by several including Bob Wright, Eric Lyon and myself. It was thought to be a Lanner Falcon by most of us and certainly it appeared most un-peregrine-like when we saw it. This prompted me to get in touch with some of the best European raptor experts, as you will see their comments at the end. Read on, McDuff, and damned be he/she who cries 'hold enough'. I shan't bame you if you give up, but it really has been a very educational exercise! Tomorrrow I shall write up what we saw and Thursday and what Bob Hibbett and I saw today, Friday. The morning of 21 January a group of birders, of whom Eric Lyon, Bob Wright and myself at least had plenty of experience of Peregrines in varous parts of the world, plus other species such as Gyr Falcon and Barbary Falcon.

The bird was seen perched in one of the eucalyptus trees, apparently the same one used when photographed by Blas and seen from the eastern embankment at a range of ca.300m but using telescopes with magnifications of up to 60x, with sunshine coming from the left. It was watched by Bob, Eric and myself for some 6-7 minutes before it dropped to the ground some 25m away from its perch, presumably on to some prey which it must have caught as it did not reappear, in spite of us waiting sometime and keeping watch throughout for it during the remaining 2 hours in the reserve.

The following description is that recorded by myself at the time and made up from the joint comments of the three of us as seen through telescopes at magnifications between 45x and 60x.

Size and jizz

Upright stance and not at all hunch-backed, it appeared rather long-necked, with head and bill clearly visible. Widest across the ‘shoulders’ and then a very tapered aspect lower body to long wings, their tips and tail being apparently the same length (see photographs). The general comment was that it was a most un-peregrine-like bird and there was no way that we were looking at a Peregrine Falcon.

- Back brown; tail not seen as obscured by wings (see photos).

- Breast with wide, clearly visible streaks which extended to lower belly and flanks; upper breast appeared unmarked; chin white.

- Face showed pale between bill and eye; a notably long, thin and pointed moustachial stripe, most unlike a Peregrine; a large, pale, off-white area between moustachial stripe and the brown towards rear side of neck.

The most intriguing part of the bird was the head pattern. It was extremely difficult to decide if the crown of the head was paler or not, but there was a hint of an eye stripe (even at 300m) also paler on the forehead. We were certain that the rear crown and nape of the neck was paler, position and light not letting us see if all the crown was pale.

When one compares what we saw with the photographs which I had not previously examined, it is obvious that the photographs give much more detail.

So, pretty well convinced that we had seen a Lanner Falcon as it was so different to any Peregrine, I set to and put out the news of it being a ‘probable’ Lanner. This, as I had hoped, elicited several replies from some very hot birders who know their raptors, in particular from Dan Zetterstrom (Sweden, co-author of the Collins Bird Guide) and Andrea Corso (Italy, who has done a lot of work on raptors in Sicily and Strait of Messina area in particular, and to Dick Forsman (Finland, author of The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East). To them I am most grateful for their comments quoted here.

THE REPLIES

From Andrea Corso: This is not a Lanner of any race... in fact, its a juvenile in fresh plumage and it show barred mark on flanks...NEVER shown by ANY Lanner when juvenile... only in adult feldeggi and few N African birds....

So, we are facing with a Peregrine for sure...only, I would like to know about its dimension and if you have or will manage to obtain any front view and underwing pattern...in fact, the tail seems to be short for a calidus, and also the whole body seems to be rather slim and small and compact...if it was rather small bird I would say a pelegrinoides, otherwise I would say a calidus !

Also, the head pattern is never shown like that in any Lanner...with this darker crown and than the broad supericlium meeting behind the head forming as a necklace around the crown.... this is very Barbary and calidus-like ….indeed calidus does not have any structure of the Peregrine most Europeans are used with...as in fact they are slender, longer tailed, longer winged, longer legged etc...as being long distance migrant...and they are confused with Lanner by 99% of WP birders...

From Dan Zetterstrom : Now I´ve had time to have a closer look at your falcon. I think we can exclude a Lanner right away because of headpattern (no dark 'tiara') and barred flanks, and concentrate on the peregrine-group. Those are really tricky and highly variable. The plumage of your bird is often regarded as typical of the calidus-type of Siberia, but a quite a few juveniles from southern Sweden is identical in this respect so I seriously question the possibility of identifying single calidus outside breeding-range. The other question is the possibility of a vagrant Barbary. Really tricky issue since this two forms seems to show a cline in plumage with only the most typical birds possible to identify. I think your bird show very light proportions with quite a large head (maybe pointing at Barbary), but this is also a feature of male Peregrines. If I had to 'vote' I would suggest a juvenile male Peregrine of northern origin.

From Dick Forsman: ….. regarding your bird, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. The bird in the pictures is a juvenile of the northern, so called calidus-type Peregrine. They are constantly misidentified as Lanners or Sakers all over Europe, much because this type of Peregrine is so poorly illustrated in the field guides. The head-pattern, the broad spots on the flanks and the rufous markings below do not fit Lanner. This individual is actually a rather average-looking calidus-type juvenile.

So, you live and you learn. If you have stuck with all this, congratulations!

All photographs by Blas López Soler on 19 Januay 2010.

20 January, Embalse de Negratín, Arboleas Bird Group

Another brave offering from Almería and Arboleas Bird Group. Tomorrow, if I have time after going to Fuente de Piedra, I will tell you all the story of a peculiar falcon at the Guadalhrce today and what some of who get involved on behalf of others go through, although really it comes down to 'you win some, you lose some.....'

The forecast for Baza was clear blue skies, so five members of the group headed for the Embalse de Negratin. It was cloudy with sunny patches, so no complaints! As per usual there was very little bird life on the water. Three Cormorants, one Great Crested Grebe, a few flying Yellow-legged Gulls and a possible Mallard.....it was flying away from us so we only got a rear end view!!
Down in the sheltered valley below the dam we faired slightly better. Lots of small birds: Great Tit, Blue Tit, Serin, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Black Redstart and Robin. Expected to see Redwing, but all the suspects turned into Song Thrushes. On the cliff tops we spotted Blue Rock Thrush and Black Wheatear. Gilly spotted a solitary Griffon Vulture. I was just trying to think what bird could be our bird of the day when a lovely Peregrine Falcon passed over our heads at about 100ft. Sorted!
Ended up with 31 species. Not brilliant, but great to be out in semi decent weather!!

a reply to Bob

This is hardly a blog but rather a reply to Bob (see comments section of my previous blog) who asks me to say what I really think, even if I buy the gun and he the shells, or vice-versa.

I shall ask for a Barrett .50 calibre sniper rifle for my birthday and a hundred or so rounds of hollow point shells for the long range work. These can stop anything at any range, but just to be on the safe side I shall also ask for a .357 magnum handgun, long barrelled, for closer work. I'll make Dirty Harry look like a beginner. And yes, I can shoot!

I am totally brassed off with the lack of wardening, the inadequate signposting and the total illiteracy and consideration of those who visit, many being either /or photographers or birders themselves who are equally illiterate and who think that signs do not apply to them. The dogs aren't responsible, their owners are and should be held to account. I should point out that there are some few owners who do keep their dogs on a lead all the way round and who are considerate, others are just plain damned arrogant and if one does say something then a mouthful could well be the reply.

Damned big fines of 200€ plus for any transgression after adequate signing is in place wouldn't be a bad start, with the rural agents who have the authority to stop and get details blitzing the place during a month. Four weekends of blitz and the word will get around. It's called education the hard way.

The day of reckoning will draw nigh when I let rip and I shall even give the authorities the right to reply before publishing the same and their replies in both blogs. If anyone has photographs of dogs loose, people loose where they shouldn't be and so on, do let me have them along with details of time and date. Lunatic cyclists who should have a bell (a legal requisite) and who just come upon one at a high rate of knots.

Things can not and must not be allowed to go on like this and unless someone is prepared to say something and others are prepared to stand up and be counted along with me, things will NOT improve. Am I annoyed? Yes, I ******* well am.

PS: Bob will now be counting the little stars and trying to work out what fits!