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.