Silent Killer !

Hides de Calera (Day 3, PM) - 14.10.2025

The afternoon session on day 3 is a Goshawk session and one I’ve been looking forward to for some time. It's late afternoon and still full sun and blue sky as we make the short drive to a private nature reserve, I don’t know why it's private but that’s what I’m told.

Located in a dehase (open woodland) of oaks and pine trees we decant into one person wooden boxes called hides !…the wait starts.  It’s total silence, then a familiar call of a “bop” rings out, now I’m no expert but I guessing it’s a Goshawk, this carries on for about fiver minuets then the "goss" swoops in from behind the hide landing on an old stump ready with a free offering.

“Mantling” over it’s meal the Goshawk carries on calling as another “bop” is in a nearby tree, the second Goshawk swoops in making a bid to steal the food but is soon seen off. Always cautious the Goshawk continues to feed eventually moving over to a pile boulders, happy that the background light now being much better due to the darker pines behind.

As the setting sun dropping below the trees it casts the entire area into shadow pushing the camera ISO up and the shutter speeds down, with enough images I'm now just intent to watch the spectacle.

The Goshawk has now reduced the meat carcass to just scraps pulling the remains free and flying off, just as well as our time is up for the day.

Goshawk

The Imperial Eagle

Hides de Calera (Day 3, AM) - 14.10.2025

This morning I'm just outside a village called Navalcan with the Gredos mountain range in the distance the first opportunity where we are hoping for an encounter with the Spanish Imperial Eagle, other target species I’m hoping to see is the Egyptian Mongoose that’s also been taking advantage of the free offerings.

Very much like the Valley Hide visited the previous day I’m high up on a crag with panoramic views overlooking the vast open countryside preferred by many of the larger birds of prey. In front is a large pine tree where the eagles will use to check out the immediate area to ensure all is safe before coming closer. 

First to arrive are several Raven’s grabbing all they can before being seen off by the larger birds of prey. Red Kite’s swoop down rather than land taking their share and eating on the wing, a couple of Common Buzzards noticeable smaller in comparison to the larger eagles just sit in a tree and wait for an opportunity.

Eventually a couple of Imperial Eagles appear and land in the favoured pine a little to far for any decent images, then one deciding it’s safe to come a little closer but only staying for only a short time never to reappear again for remainder of my time.

Now the activity is quite probably a good time for an appearance of a mustelid that seems completely out of place in Spain, an Egyptian Mongoose. I didn’t have to wait too long for it to arrive, but it’s quick, very quick. Never staying long enough for the ideal full shot but it’s the best on the day. 

 

Raven

Spanish Imperial Eagle

Red Kite

Egyptian Mongoose