GAUCIN AND THE MARCHENILLA TRACK
WEATHER: CLOUDLESS SUNNY DAYS BUT VERY HOT - TEMP 28 -38C MOST DAYS
It has been yet another very hot summer in Southern Spain, most days you cannot venture out between 11am and 6pm, it is far too uncomfortable.
Raptor Migration over Gaucin has been extremly slow with only small group of raptors dirfting over. During the last week August 22nd - 29th I have seen small groups of Honey Buzzards on only two occasions and Bee-eater passage has been almost none existent. Yesterday a flock of 25 went over our house and before that we have had just singles over.
On the 16th August I went for a birding walk along the Marchenilla track which is about 16 kms from Gaucin. When I arrive at 8:30am it was fairly quiet but I did see about 25 species, most of them resident but a few migrants appeared.
Marchenilla Track
A Common Redstart with Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff sp. were found in the bushes with a Little Owl. On and near the track I saw Spanish and House Sparrows, Thekla's Lark and Crested Lark, Stonechat, Woodchat Shrike, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.
juvenile Woodchat Shrike
Little Owl seeking the sade
Higher up the track I searched the pylons and tall eucalyptus trees for raptors and found 5 Short-toed Eagles, two Booted Eagles, a Common Kestrel and the ever-present Griffon Vulture. I drove over the hill to view the wide expanse of cattle meadows where I hoped to see Montagu's Harriers, I found two, an adult female (ringtail) and a juvenile bird. A flock of 12 Ravens were dashing about an abndoned farm and a 13th bird was seen dead, haning from a power line by one claw.
a Short-toed Eagle - sitting in the shade
The best sighting of the day was a collection of over 100 Griffon Vultures, they circled above the track and I noticed some them dropping down into one of the fields. I drove closer and saw that a dead cow was the main attraction, it looked very freshly dead and the Vultures were trying their best to rip it open, a lot of squabbling was going on, with the large adult birds taking the first bite.
Common Stonecat
Griffon Vultures
Griffs and the dead cow
I took a short film of them and the poor cow. At least fifty birds were on the ground and another 103 were circling above me, I kept moving about just in case they thought I was their next meal! Two Egyptian Vultures joined them, one adulkt and one first year bird.
I searched through the vultures looking for anything different because both Ruppell's and White-backed Vultures have been recorded around Tarifa recently and its just a wing-beat away from where I was.
back in my courtyard I watched this Hummingbird Hawk-Moth feeding on the bougainvillea, I see them most days
After watching them for an hour or so, the heat was getting to me so I decided to go back to the shelter of my house. Other birds seen were: Ppallid Swift, Barn and Red-rumped Swallows. House Martins and a single Bee-eaters.
To watch the short video click this link: https://www.facebook.com/691666454/videos/530228199663693/