Time for a Drink !

Hides de Calera (Day 2, PM) - 13.10.2025

Now the afternoon session and we are heading to one of the many Dehesa’s (open wooded area) which is set up with a drinking pool always an attraction to passerines. The pool is very much the same as you would find at any other other location but here in sunny Spain much more productive.

With blue sky’s the sun is not kind as we are located in a shaded area shooting onto a open field of yellow in full sun which is over exposing the subject image background…doh ! fortunately as the afternoon progresses the light get better, but never ideal.

Azure-winged Magpie’s are everywhere maybe unto twenty, several of the group move off only to be replaced by another simular number, it’s manic. They are so quick, you just have to wait for one to land an fire off a burst hoping you get one in focus.

A single Hawfinch arrives it’s a male, then two more in total maybe up to ten both male and female, then they get spooked taking to the trees, but they soon come back.

Visitors include, some surprising having not seen previously…Hawfinch m/f, Goldfinch, Greenfinch m/f, Chaffinch, Blackcap m/f, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Azure-wing Magpie, Common Magpie. Robin.

Azure-winged Magpie

Hawfinch

Blue Tit

Chiffchaff

Grendos View

Hides de Calera (Day 2, AM)  Valley Hide - 13.10.2025

Today we are heading toward the Grendos mountain range to what’s called the “Valley Hide” primarily for vultures and other possible large raptors. The hide is located on top of a large gorge with expansive views over the gorge and countryside with the Grendos mountains in the distance.

The landscape is rugged and brown due to the prolonged period without rain, the trees autumn like sporting hues of yellow’s, orange and browns, coupled with the low early morning yellow sun creating long shadows, it could be challenging getting any descent images !

On arrival there are already several fox waiting to take advantage of the up and coming free offerings, I count five in total, some grey and a single brown animals. The fox grab what they can before the ever vigilant vultures arrive, one vulture arrives then more and more, it’s a free for all a feeding frenzy !

The best photo option is to wait and just watch the spectacle and when things calm down a bit you can pick your shot. Both Griffon and Black vultures are present the BV less so in number's maybe just three. Raven’s dance around the periphery trying to grab what they can cheekily harassing the vultures, the fox by this time have given up and sit well back occasional making a dash for a morsel.

Apart from several Red Kites zooming in picking the last remaining offerings the activity is over after maybe just twenty minuets, the vultures happy now just to sit and look out over the vastness of the countryside looking for the next opportunity. 

This afternoon it’s Hawfinch !…wow can’t wait.  

Fox 

Griffon Vulture

Black Vulture

Raven

Spain Time !

Hides de Calera (Day 1) - 12.10.2025

I’ve been looking forward to this trip to Hides de Calera to photograph the Iberian Lynx based in central Spain for some time, visiting earlier wasn’t really an option as they book up around eighteen months in advance, so with all arrangements in place, flights booked I'm off on a late flight to Madrid.

I’m pretty much doing what I've done previously staying overnight in a hotel close to the airport, then a pickup late afternoon the following day by HDC so plenty of time to relax before the drive down to Talavera. I’m staying for a week in a two start hotel quite basic and similar to that on the last trip to Villacarnas.

All checked into the Talavera “Hilton”…not ! ....it's a quick briefing from Jose the operator stating it's the Iberian Lynx hide first up in the morning. Now the following day feedback we are getting from a remote camera is showing the female cat and a cub are at the location, the anticipation builds.

A clearing in the forest has several wooden hides which will be home for the next few hours, I’ve been in better but they do a job. The female is laying down out in the open just in front of the hide giving some clear shots, then out of the tree line the cub comes bounding out. It’s a leisurely shoot over the next hour or so then in a flash the female grabs a rabbit and disappears off into the forest not to reappear for the next seven hours !

Now late afternoon the female cat reappears walking slowly up the forest track occasionally looking back to the cub that's following up behind. For the next couple of hours both cats just rest up, it's a case of just picking the most interesting pose on offer.

And that’s it for the first day, a long day with a long period of inaction. Tomorrow it's the “Valley Hide” primarily for vultures and others things, watch this space.

Iberian Lynx

Iberian Lynx - Cub