I Finally Make It - The End

El Taray - The Film

If you ever make the trip down to Castilla la Mancha to visit El Taray you'll likely meet Francesco who is one of the guides that take you to the various locations on the estate. I came across this film in Spanish, which gives a flavour of what to expect on a trip. The arial work shows the vast the area the estate covers.

Francesco doesn't speak English but the group had many funny moment using Google Translate to muddle our way through conversations.....oh and he drives fast !

Anyway here's the film featuring Francesco......"click" to open page full screen

I Finally Make it - 8

Day 8, AM - La Vega

Our last day of the trip and another 5.0am start, but it's only a morning session before we return to the hotel for a quick wash and brush up and head to Madrid for the flight home.

Being the last session of the trip it's always good to go out on a high, and we're in luck as we're heading back to La Vega one of the two premier El Taray locations for raptors, as mentioned in a previous post harrier's, kite's, eagles and buzzards are the most likely targets.

First up and quick as a rat up a drain pipe is the resident Red Fox, grabbing all the food it can stash before the big eagles appear, I just hope there’s some offerings left for the BOP’s.

The Bonelli’s Eagle has arrived from it’s usual vantage point on a pylon way off in the distance, usually it sits in a tree close by surveying the area before deciding all safe and come to ground.

Marsh Harries are literally everywhere, maybe up to twenty individuals, acrobatic jostling trying to rob each other of food, the interaction is spectacular just make sure you are using a zoom so you can back off the lens and get all the action. Most if not all the raptors seen were as seen on previous visits but surprisingly no Black Kite's. 

Just a quick reference to gear generally used on the trip, although I brought along a 500mm f4 prime I found the flexibility and quality of Canon RF100-500mm to just about be match of the EF prime, the bokeh produced by the lens with an the uncluttered background is spot on, just look at the images.

Until the next trip...

El Taray Map

Marsh Harrier

By far the most common harrier are juveniles along with females, not only seen over the seedbeds but also common over farm land.

Marsh Harrier - adult

This is an adult female clearly showing the yellow iris, juvenile's are dark brown.

Marsh Harrier - male

Adult male easily identified in flight with its grey wing but not so obvious when sitting.

Bonelli's Eagle

Bonelli's Eagle bathed in yellow early morning sun light.

I Finally Make it - 7

Day 7, AM - Vega Mazon.

It's still dark and the midges swarming in thousands above my head, I have a fantastic hat with a midge net especially for this situation the only issue it's in a case back in the UK...plan B...keep moving !

Driving along rutted dirt tracks in the dark with just headlamps that have seen better days with all the expensive gear jumping up and down in the back of a pick-up is not the best experience, I've started carrying my tri-pod to save it getting knocked around whilst other peoples Gitzo's are clanking around in the back of the truck.....tip !

It's just getting light and we are at Vega Mazon a large expanse of flatness and the furthest point on the estate. This is the second visit to this location so I have a good idea what to expect, first up is always the... Big Red Fox !

El Taray Map

Hides - Vega Mazon

Later morning morning but now in full Spanish sun. 

View From The Hide

View from the hide showing the vast openness of the generally area and only attracting raptors, I guess the openness gives sight security.

Red Fox

The sun yet appeared it's still low light stuff but that doesn't stop the fox from getting its morning meal grabbing all it can manage and trotting off to stash the food. This morning its brought a young cub with it but its staying well away.

As the sun starts to appear the first few images are all shade and yellow light but getting better as time passes, at this time of the day it's always yellow light which I not sure I like the best, I suppose it all different.

Bonelli's Eagle & Friends

Bonelli's Eagle and a Marsh Harrier which is about a third the size of the eagle, they are both eyeing each other...fight ?...not really 

Bonelli"s Eagle & Red Fox

Bonelli's this time with the the Red Fox, the eagle keeping an eye on what the fox is up to or maybe even a threat.

Bonelli's Eagle

Marsh Harrier - female

Day 6, PM - Masiega

This is now the sixth day getting up at 5.0am and flagging with the eighteen hours days so after a mid-day rest for a few hours it's back to the floating hide of Masiega for harriers. Here's another tip if your visiting in mid-summer get yourself a small portable fan, it's not going to be full blown cooling but it defiantly helps.

For some unknown reason there are two Hydro Hide being used nearby and probably why the harries are keeping their distance, after a wait one takes an interest and the others follow. The images are generally more of the same but I do like this image with the harrier stood in water, also the quizzical look of the harrier in the second image.

Floating Hide - Masiega

The boat ride with the floating hide in the distance

Marsh Harrier - male