Time for a Drink !

Hides de Calera (Day 2, PM) - 13.10.2025

Now the afternoon session and we are heading to one of the many Dehesa’s (open wooded area) which is set up with a drinking pool always an attraction to passerines. The pool is very much the same as you would find at any other other location but here in sunny Spain much more productive.

With blue sky’s the sun is not kind as we are located in a shaded area shooting onto a open field of yellow in full sun which is over exposing the subject image background…doh ! fortunately as the afternoon progresses the light get better, but never ideal.

Azure-winged Magpie’s are everywhere maybe unto twenty, several of the group move off only to be replaced by another simular number, it’s manic. They are so quick, you just have to wait for one to land an fire off a burst hoping you get one in focus.

A single Hawfinch arrives it’s a male, then two more in total maybe up to ten both male and female, then they get spooked taking to the trees, but they soon come back.

Visitors include, some surprising having not seen previously…Hawfinch m/f, Goldfinch, Greenfinch m/f, Chaffinch, Blackcap m/f, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Azure-wing Magpie, Common Magpie. Robin.

Azure-winged Magpie

Hawfinch

Blue Tit

Chiffchaff

Another Rugby Weekend

After the weekend away in Edinburgh to watch the Scotland v Wales rugby match, its now back to Cardiff for the do or die battle with Ireland. It's been a long old today with travel and not getting to bed on Friday night until 1.0 am but what a great win over Ireland, on top of the late night its an early start in the morning to photograph the Hawfinches at a well known location in the forest, the consolation is, its only ten minuets drive from the house !

I arrive at 7.50 am and two other photographers are already in position occupying the best position, I make do with an ok spot and wait. An hour passes and a singe Hawfinch appears and the camera sees its first serious action, the encounter is so good the buffer starts stuttering due to rapid shooting, eventually it all goes quite, and relax...I continue photographing more common species that frequently the location and hope the Hawfinch returns.

Around 10.0 am the two photographers call it a day and I now get to occupy the prim location, great....no excuses now. Within thirty minutes the Hawfinch is back, and there after returns every twenty minutes or so giving plenty of photo ops. A selection of the best images of which are below.

Finally around midday I call it a day happy with my encounter

Thanks for looking

Click image for clarity