september/october
| Raptor Identification - Page 2 |
Identification of any bird in flight can prove a tricky business and there is no substitute for being out in the field and studying flying birds. Raptors can be quite obliging during the annual migration and good views of most species can be almost guaranteed during September and October - the problem of course is picking the best time to view different birds of prey. Traditionally, the raptor and stork migration starts during August. Black Kites and White Storks are the first of the large birds that can be seen in huge numbers moving south to the coast. It is still quite hot in September and the holiday season is getting longer with a lot of hotels asking high season prices right up until the end of the month, so check out your accommodation prices carefully. The heat might be a negative factor for some as a lot of the raptor watching is as one can imagine a fairly static affair. Hats, sunglasses and sun-creams are a must. The movement of the birds from the north does continue in good numbers right through October, but in the last week it certainly isn't as noticeable as say in the middle of September. I personally love the beginning of October as the tourists have gone and the birds are still coming through, wave after wave. We are very fortunate to have a house close to the coast and with the migration, have the possibility of lying on my back in our garden - quite often the best way to have a relaxed view of the whole sky, watching the Honey Buzzards fly over our roof. I have the two girls, Lucia and Amelia on raptor watch while I'm busy with garden or whatever around the house. They are getting quite good shouting out that birds are coming across with five year old Lucia, the eldest telling me not to bother as it's only some Griff's! I have tied to assist me with cool beer fetching while I'm outside in the sweltering sun "working" , but as yet, this little ploy doesn't seem to be cutting much ice with all girls. Clearly outnumbered I have to attempt a more rewarding aproach to this important and necessary health issue.
Looking to Cape Trafalgar from the Sierra de la Plata Bonelli's Eagles are essentially mountain species and like higher ground. Adults in Spain are part migrant normally to Morocco along the lower slopes and valleys of the Atlas chain. Younger or juvenile birds also cross The Strait at the end of summer but quite a few pairs stay in the south of the Iberian peninsula and there are normally a dozen or so each winter in southern Cadiz province. Bonelli's Eagles were, and in some cases still are persecuted as they are particularly good at hunting partridge, pheasant as well as taking duck and rabbit. It wasn't so long ago that local landowners paid a bounty for each dead eagle brought to their estate door. The practice of bird of prey persecution still goes on today in the UK in favour of people going out with shotguns to kill other birds. I must say I'm not such a fan of hunting where it isn't necessary and until we can stop gamekeepers or their assistants killing raptors in the UK, we can hardly criticize other countries.
Calandra Lark Archives - If you are coming to Andalucia and The Strait of Gibraltar the please have a look at what each month could be like for bird movement or even what's the weather like then please look through our archived birding and wildlife notes, month by month. You'll certainly get a fee as to what we can show you. and the photographs are proof in themselves as to the quality of wildlife we have, on one of the busiest migration routes on the planet!Click below
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Hieraaetus fasciatus - Bonelli's Eagle - Two typical juvenile birds
photographed in La Janda, Andalucia, Spain 2005/2007
Distant adult Bonelli's Eagles, Extremadura, Spain 2006
(L) Typical juvenile with sub-adult (R)
Adult Bonelli's Eagle in flight and sub adult on pylon
Milvus milvus - Red Kite Once you get to know this lovely bird in flight
you can separate them from Black Kites. Flight is more buoyant on
slightly broader wings often held with slight bend.
The cleft or 'V' in the tail is much more pronounced than with Black
Kites. Both Red and Black Kites hunt or forage close to the ground
and will take kill from other raptors. Red Kites are one of the last
raptors to migrate south unlike the Black Kite which is one of the first.
(L) Extreme secondary moult on this young bird in Austria. (R) is a
fresh looking juvenile
Milvus migrans - Black Kite (L) is a juvenile bird and the (R) lighter
underwing of some Black Kites can confuse identification between
the two species. Black has a greater European distribution than
Red Kite.
There are instances of interbreeding between the two species resulting
in hybrid offspring.
Circus aeruginosus - Marsh Harrier normally hunt close to the ground
quartering back and forth, but birds seen on migration at altitude,
especially adult males (R) can look completely different and cause
confusion with identification. Marsh Harrier's were completely
exterminated from the UK at the beginning of the 1900's
(L) a typical juvenile bird with cream cap spilling onto shoulders.
Note the broad wings and it is useful for size comparison that the
Marsh Harrier weighs four times more than a Montagu's Harrier.
Thus the flight style and mobility are vastly different requiring more
muscular 'flapping' as opposed to the bouncing almost ballet flight of
the Montagu's Harrier.
With harriers, sexes are similar in the first year and it is difficult to
sex them. (R) 2nd year Male
Elanus caruleus - Black shouldered Kite perched and in the hover (R)
A raptor that is making a strong foothold in Europe. Cadiz province in
Andalucia, Spain had 32 successfully nesting pairs in 2007. The area
of La Janda and the surrounding countryside is an excellent place to
catch up with this small raptor during the latter half of the year and in
winter. There are now quite a few birds that have coloured wing-tags
(L) Adult and (R) Typical mottled brownish pattern to the back on this
juvenile Black shouldered Kite as seen from above
Classic perched pose and (R) a bird turning showing wing length