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Creatures of the Night

Had a twilight walk around La Mata last night and was treated to loads of Nightjars - mainly European but a few Red-necked thrown in for good measure. All a bit surprising as European are by far the poor relation out here. Had a Barn Owl being mobbed by a Red-necked a couple of feet above my head and neither really noticed as they duelled. A few Scops were calling unseen in the trees (im just glad I found a day rooster a few years ago in Greece). Lots of Stone Curlew screaming away as they flew about and several different types of bat including several large Noctule like individuals, another medium sized one with long ears and a variety of tiny bats. Also a good passage of summer plumage Curlew Sandpipers. Which was nice.

The Eagles Have Landed

Revisited a couple of the sites from my tour with Jules Sykes the other day. No Rufous Bush-Robin but did manage to gatecrash an illegal rave on the beach and get held up for an hour as the Police worked out I was a birder rather than pill-popping, techno loving raver. Did manage a Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush whilst being held up but nowt new. Later went on to Crevillente where I managed to find a pair of Bonellis Eagles at great distance holed up on a nest. They sat and preened & preened and sat but refused to fly so I drove off only for Ange to screech that one was up. I was then treated to the most amazing flight views of an adult Bonelli´s Eagle you could imagine. We headed off inland and saw a few distant Rollers before heading onto Guardamar beach. I was only there 30 minutes before a rather pretty spanish lady with rather large fake tits decided to sunbathe topless next to us - I couldnt look anywhere as I was in their shadow. All very disconcerting. Not a lot else to report other than a healthy suntan and more bad photos (Bonelli´s Eagle, Turtle Dove). I hope you are excited!

Torrevieja FC

The Torry Army (a slightly barmy, alzheimer´s riddled bunch of ex-pats) follow Torrevieja FC wherever they go, even if that is to La Manga to play U.D. Almeria, the 9th best team in Spain. Myself and Angela tagged along with no great expectations but it was good fun and Torre only got beat 4-0. Even better was the breeding colony of Gull-billed Terns and the Red-rumped Swallow bathing in a puddle (got a bad photo of that!). Coldest day yet. Only 30 degrees.

All good in the hood

Ive been in Spain for a mere four days and i have accrued 11 lifers which is frankly spanking. Im dead chuffed. At present i am intoxicted and in a bar so cant supply yo with the usual crap photos but please be patient - awful gallinule and roller photos are imminent. Spent a day out with Jules Sykes today and managed 10 lifers despite a delayed start. Highlights included White-headed Duck, Marbled Teal, Purple Gallinule, Bonelli´s Eagle, Great Reed Warbler, RN Nightjar, Little Bittern and much much more. As mentioned before a full write up will follow.

Day one. Warm

With temperatures buzzing around the 40 degree mark and high levels of humidity it seems wise to birding in the morning out here in the southern Costa Blanca so that is what i have done. This morning I had a stroll round La Salina de la Mata in Torrevieja. Was 27 degrees when i headed out at 8am. Quickly I bumped into some Bee-eaters passing overhead in with the Common and Pallid Swifts. Southern Grey and Woodchat Shrikes alighted on the bushes and scolding Sardinian Warblers mocked me. It was bloody warm. A Red-rumped Swallow flew round me for my second ever and best ever views of this species (one that I have dipped a lot this year in the UK). I also saw a few Gulls (med, SB, YL, BH & audouin´s). The Black-necked Grebes are already arriving on La Mata to winter with 500 or so out there. Wader passage is also obvious with a couple of Turnstones and Sanderling in amongst the Kentish Plovers and the Black-winged Stilts. In terms of lifers I scored one - Stone Curlew and one potential in Iberian Green Woodpecker. The curlews were expected as they mooch round the hides calling whilst the woodpecker was a juv, another expected sight after my wife claimed to have seen them here. Also a couple of Swallowtails were nice and a large lizard (50 cm long about half of it tail) zipped across the path. Sorry for the lack of id Mike! All in all greatfun. Photos coming later.

El Viva Espana

Im off on my jollies to southern spain for a fortnight. Again im staying next to a nature reserve so hopefully lots of waders and raptors. Also going for a day out with Jules Sykes to score a few lifers. Will take lots of (bad) photos for the blog. May update out there but the pics will be back here.