I Finally Make It - 6

Day 6, AM -  Lesser Kestrels 2

This morning is a repeat of a session I did a few days ago aborted after only a few minuets as result of a bird ringers group meeting, cars arriving, talking, the disruption was such that all the birds promptly departed off into the countryside not to return.

In a different location this morning from my previous visit facing a tiled roof on the other side of the building, there's no sight of the adult Kestrels just a few newly fledged birds sitting around the roof, some poking heads out from under the roof tiles. 

I'm hoping for more of the same activity as seen yesterday with the adults bring food for the juveniles, or hovering in the wind..but no luck again. The Jackdaws are still present waiting to rob any kestrel that aren't alert but little else, just an odd Hoopoe. 

The action's slow so I'm afraid it's just static shots for the session of these summer migrants to the region.

El Taray Map

Lesser Kestrel

Lesser Kestrel - fledgling

Day 6, PM - Hydro Hide 2.

On the first hydro hide visit I really didn't know what to expect as a result it was a bit hit and miss aimlessly paddling around the lake, today is different as I have a plan all worked out, well I think I have !

I'm heading up to where the breeding Black-head Gulls colony is located where also the Black-necked Grebe's nest on the fringes of the colony for security. The noise is constant especially when a Marsh Harrier zooms in to try and grab an egg or fledgling then the gulls take to the air on mass to chase off the harrier, whilst the gulls are all frantic the grebes seem to calmly cover the eggs before they leave the nest.

Even thou it's still full sun under under the shade of some tall reeds there's no harsh light, and surprisingly the grebes are very approachable, even when there's some human paddling round a floating tent.

Black-necked Grebe

Squacco Heron

Squacco Herons can be seen sat on reed clumps....slow and steady to approach thou !

Glossy Ibis

Like the Squacco's the "glossy's" use the reed clumps to rest up, a real stunner in the sun light.

White-headed Duck

A real difficult subject to get near. I was lucky with this individual as I spotted the duck cruising towards me, getting into position some distance in front I waited for it to approach, You only get a few shots before it steams passed as they are fast movers when they know your there, try to catch up and it movers faster, faster than even I can paddle. 

Exposure, trying not blowing out the whites on the ducks head is paramount.

I Finally Make It - 5

Day 5, AM - BOP's !

This morning I'm are at a location called La Vega one of El Taray's iconic areas for....BOP's. Eagles, Harriers, Kites and Buzzards are the targets this morning, some are residents seen through out the year so worth a visit even in winter. 

This location is probably one of the furthest away from the main meet up area on the El Taray Estate requiring about a thirty minuet drive, the location occupying a vast area of open scrub land and the lack of human activity probably the reason why this area is so attractive to raptors.

As we arrive already a large eagle is spotted sat on a large pylon increasing the our expectations of what to expect over the next few hours. We decant into one of three two man hides the raptors keep their distance but soon that will change when the bop's become more confident, squabbling, food robbing, the sights and sounds....but there's something already sniffing around !

El Taray Map

Red Fox

A Red Fox already knows what's about to happen and it's soon sniffing around looking around in the likely locations for food, when it finds some it grabs what it can trotting off to cash the food only to quickly return for more.

The eyes !

Bonelli's Eagle

Now I'm not the most experienced with Iberian raptors thinking this was a Spanish Imperial Eagle but I'm informed this is a Bonelli's Eagle. This pale eagle so dominant it's keeping the smaller harries well away until it had it's fill.

Marsh Harrier - male

By far the most common raptor in the location with females for some reason being the most common so nice to see this male up so close. Always squabbling and mantling food or risk being robbed, the interaction between the harriers providing different photo opportunities.

Marsh Harrier - female

Common Buzzard

Long way to come to photograph a Common Buzzard, on the day maybe just one or two present.

Rock Sparrow

Apart from raptors there's not a lot else to see in terms of passerines present other than the odd Rock Sparrow, superficially not unlike our House Sparrow but with a pale eye stripe.

Day 5, PM - Casa de Los Pastores

This afternoon I've been deposited fiver meters up a tower, the target...Rollers ! 

Unfortunately the Rollers this year have generally failed to breed due to the heavy wind and rain over the last few weeks never the less they're putting in an appearance on occasion as they are still are very much territorial of their site.

It's long wait and not looking at good getting any images of one of the regions most colourful birds, then unexpectedly a Roller zips in landing on a branch right in front of me, the shutter's now getting some serious action.

European Roller

Not intent in staying long the Roller with it's characteristic cackling call takes off over the reed bed, a brief ten minuet encounter, but quite happy with the results.

Spotless Starling

After more waiting the Roller dosen't re-appear having called it a day at this location but I did get a few other visitors, a Starling and no spots !

Eurasian Hoopoe

Egyptian Mongoose

Whilst waiting, in the corner of my eye I picked up what looked like an Otter, long, short legged with a long tail running across a bank, can't be an Otter can it ?... anyway back at base it appears it was an Egyptian Mongoose which I'm told are reasonably common in Southern Spain. 

I didn't get an image but here's one "nicked" from the Inter-web

I Finally Make It - 4

Day 4, AM - Bee-eaters

We are stood at the meeting location Casa de Labor are we are told "it's bee-eater"...I ask where ? and the gent points to a "pop-up" about a hundred meters away on a mound, right, ok, so off two heat out.

It's a two man pop up hide, no, really a one man hide ! so with the bags out side we we set up. About 20 meters away the a branch that the Bee-eaters have been taking advantage out quite close to where they are breeding in a bank over a stream, you just have to wait, and wait and wait.

Occasional we get a visit of a single bird, no pairs, no interaction, but at least we are getting some images.

Not the best of experiences but it's another ticked off the list. This afternoon...the Hydro Hide....wow !

El Taray Map

 Bee-eater

Day 4, PM - Hydro Hide, Laguna de El Taray 

This afternoon it's a session in a Hydro Hide, if you'r wondering what this looks like here's an image of the vary same taken from El Taray's site. 

Get your wetsuit on and get paddling !

Meeting up at the usual location late afternoon we make our way to get kitted out with wetsuits, great in the 35degrees of heat, we then head oof by truck down to the lake to set up on the floating hide, basically the hide has two side floats with a gimbal mount on the front and a pull over cover. Any items like batteries etc can be kept in a water proof container.

Once setup you wade into the water pushing the hide to move forward, great if you can feel the bottom as sometimes you don't and one of the reasons it's only available in summer when the water levels are lower.

Your tactics can vary, slowly mover around the lake looking for suitable subjects, or you can just sit and wait to see what comes your way.

Shelduck

There were a few Shelduck around some with young, what strikes me is they all look a bedraggled.

Black-necked Grebe

One of the first birds you'll see are Black-necked Grebe's, there must be a hundreds or more, many at this time of year sat on nests amongst the protection of the Black-headed Gull colony's, when a predator appears the gulls take to the air on mass noisy mobbing the predator, usually a Marsh Harrier to send packing.

Move slowly and the grebes will approach as close as 2.0m.

White-headed Duck

On the other hand these ducks are really skittish and difficult to approach.

Little Egret