In Search of Bonelli's Eagle - Day 2

Day 2, Bonelli's Eagle  - 28.1.20

I'm really looking forward to today as it's a double session with one of my target birds of the week, the Bonelli's Eagle. As we set off I'm told the Bonelli's Eagle usually visit twice during the day, late morning around 10.30am and a further visit around 3.0pm in the afternoon so it's a full day in the hide with quite a wait in between, photographing birds involves quite a lot of waiting around.

We're heading to the top of one the mountains in the area with panoramic views over the Valencian country side but first we have to change vehicles to a 4x4 vehicle as most later part of the drive is up and along mountain tracks.

As we arrive on the summit the sun makes an appearance the light looking pretty good hopefully for some decent images. Coming from an area of the UK not known for large eagles sightings I quite can't believe it....photographing Bonelli's Eagle !

Bonelli's Eagle

Morning Session.

We've been in the hide maybe for an hour or so and after a couple of flyby's the anticipation is building, then from the right the male Bonelli's Eagle lands on a rock partly hidden by some thorny bushes, I'm told the bird is quite tolerant so I grab some images but really waiting for the BOP to move into the open.

The eagle a little ungainly walks across the rocks the short distance to where the rabbit has been placed a few meters to the right and the main actions starts.

All to soon the eagle has had its fill and departs...wow, but it's not over yet

Bonelli's Eagle

Afternoon Session

Now well past the time the Bonelli's usually appear in the afternoon we are beginning to wonder if a second appearance will ever happen, then in the distance coming down the valley two "pecks" can just be picked out in the distance, as they come closer the male and female can be clearly seen so fingers crossed a visit to the last of the rabbit spread out on the rocks looks likely.

Again from the right floating on the wind the eagle drops in like being dangled on a bungee, it's the male eagle with no sign of the female bird, unfortunately this visit doesn't have the nice the sun light of the previous visit never the less I'm happy to get another view of this now more scares Spanish raptor.