Back to local birding

After an amazing time in Spain and coming back down to earth with a huge bump with a cold and a backlog at work, I finally managed to get out in the field and a catch with fellow South Warwickshire, Daniel this evening.

We decided to go out of county to Balscote Quarry which always is good value with its Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers,  The scrape was quite full of water but contained a nice looking Greenshank and a few Lapwing.  The surrounding bushes were attracting a lot of insects which were being enjoyed by hirundines and a respendent Stock Dove was inspecting one of the nest boxes.  Unfortunately we could locate any Chats but the surrounding bushes held Whitethroat and the distant rattle of a Lesser Whitethroat.

On the way back, we popped via some higher ground and obtained a few Yellow Wagtail, Skylarks and a Mipit.

A nice evenings birding with good company and some pretty normal birds but ones which are beautiful all the same and always deserve a second look.

Spain - Revisited

There were lots of large impressive birds to see in Spain, like Griffon Vulture, Spanish Imperial Eagle, White Stork, Cinereous Vulture, Black Stork, Black Kite, Greater Flamingo and Egyptian Vulture but how could you not fall in love with small streaky brown birds when they appear like this?

Quail

Spain - Part 3

Hotel Rural

17/04/2014 to 21/04/2014 - On 17/04/2014 we headed north and away from El Rocio towards Extremedura where we would spend the next 4 days looking at raptors and the birds that inhabit the steppe countryside.  We spent those days visiting a variety of habitats which provided the following birding highlights: Alpine Swift, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Quail, Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting, Bonelli's Eagle, Thekla and Calandra Larks.  Below are some of my better (and not so good photos).

Alpine Swift

Calandra Lark

Cinereous Vulture and Griffons

Crested Lark

Great Bustard

Montague's Harrier

Quail

Rock Bunting

Rock Sparrow

Thekla Lark

White Stork

During the one of the day's outings we encountered a Lark on the border of the Steppe, which in the field was identified as a Thekla Lark but upon closer examination of the below photo I think it is a close call, any comments would be appreciated between that and Crested Lark.

Crested or Thekla?

On 21/04/2014 it was another early start with a drive to Madrid followed by a flight back to reality.

Spain - Part 2

El Rocio

13/04/2014 - Another earlyish start, although I had to tear myself from the Hotel window as it was memorising watching the Pallid Swifts whizz past at eye level.  We caught the bus back to the airport where we were due to meet up with a nature group who would be our companions for the rest of the week (as this was our first foray into birding abroad we choose this option for the expertise that it brings).  By mid afternoon, we had arrived at our new home in El Rocio for the next 4 nights.  A brief afternoon birding trip provided an overwhelming number of birds from Collared Pratincoles to Whiskered Terns to Greater Flamingos to Crested Larks.

Black Kite

Greater Flamingo

Black Winged Stilt

El Rocio

 14/04/2014 to 16/04/2014 - Just too many activities to during these few days.  We did a few walks in the surrounding Natural and National Parks, a trip to the Bonanza Salt Pans and an evening excursion to view Red Necked Nightjars.  Again, the amount of birds seen were overwhelming but highlights included:  Red Necked Nightjars, Booted Eagles, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Griffon Vultures, Honey Buzzards, Woodchat Shrikes, Purple Herons, White Storks, Zitting Cisticolas, Gull Billed Terns and Slender Billed Gulls.  Below are just a few of my better photos.

Bee-eater

Booted Eagle

Red Rumped Swallow

Sardinian Warbler

Squacco Heron

Woodchat Shrike

"Zitter" zitting

Slender Billed Gull

Spain - Part 1

10/04/2014 - After a stressful day at work trying to tie up loose ends, we left the house at 16:30pm setting off down to Surrey to stay overnight at a Hotel near to Gatwick.  The only birds of note on the way down were the usual Red Kites on the M40 and three Ring Necked Parakeets flying over the M25 (my first for the year).

Ring Necked Parakeet

Collared Dove

11/04/2014 - A very early start, while waiting for the Taxi to the Airport we were surrounded by calling Tawny Owls (magical) - Didn't see any though.  After an uneventful journey and bus ride into the centre of Seville we were soon settled into our Hotel which would be home for two nights.  It was an extremely hot day and we settled on the idea of staying cool and just chilling out.  So, we took a leisurely lunch in a nearby park with sandwiches bought in Gatwick and then wandered over to the Alcazar where we spent an amazing afternoon marvelling at the architecture and gardens (which held Collared Dove, Serin and Ring Necked Parakeets).  We finished off the day with some fantastic tapas at a local restaurant.

Seville Alcazar

Seville Alcazar

Seville Alcazar

12/04/2014 - A leisurely start and a cooler day allowed us to walk a bit round the centre.  We headed for the river where we strolled past the Bullring and then onto the Maritime Museum which we choose to visit as we had time (and it was not expensive).  From the top, we observed Black Kites flying past over the river and a Sacred Ibis (presumably of the feral population).  We opted for tapas for lunch and then headed for the Cathedral, which was massive and kept us busy for the rest of the day.  From the top there was a magnificent view, including Lesser Kestrel wheeling past.  Dinner was again tapas accompanied by a local wine.

Lesser Kestrel over Seville

Seville Bullring..mmmm!!

A walk round the Racecourse and still no migrants

With load of news of Swallows, Sand Martins, Grasshopper Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers being in Warwickshire, I decided to drag the birder's wife round the Racecourse this evening in the hope of seeing perhaps one migrant (other than a Chiffchaff).  Unfortunately, besides a quick search, all we could find was one Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher along Gog Brook (what it feeds on is beyond me as Gog Brook looks like the most lifeless stream I have ever come across).

And, a special mention to my one reader...Patsy.