raptor migration
september/october
Raptor Identification - Page 3
Watchpoint Locations
Tarifa at dawn Close to the coast, are the main “Migres” migration watch points manned by volunteers each year from the end of July until October, that monitor and record the numbers of birds of prey including the beautiful and much rarer Black Storks passage. The three main observation posts are all very close to the main N340 (A5) coastal road. Just east of the town of Tarifa at KM 87 is Tráfico and Cazalla is a little further on at KM 90.7. Heading east down the coast towards Gibraltar is Algorrobo. This watch-point is stated at KM 99.1, just west of Algeciras. There are of course lots of other excellent observation points all along the coastal and indeed slightly inland in the Alcornocales fringes or towards Atlanterra and the Sierra de la Plata. Birders without too much experience may tend to hang around the watchpoints to learn raptor identification from more knowledgeable birders. Listen first to those who are calling out the birds as they come over and try and find someone who knows their birds. It may also help to know the Spanish names for some of the commoner birds of prey that are called. In 2007 work started to build a proper building at Cazalla. This will be (hopefully completed ready for the 2008 autumn migration with facilities for the public and volunteers alike). Access from the busy N340 road and parking should be easier - but let's wait and see. |
Circus cyaneus Hen Harrier (L) Adult female and juvenile (R)
On the underside of the wing the white band starts broad then tapers to
the armpit. Compare with Montagu's female (2 down), here you see the
white band is broader all the way to the body and the wings are thinner
with one less primary
Adult males - showing both the underwing and a shot from above.
Notice the lack of black band on the upper wing as is always
present on mature Montagu's Harriers
Circus pygargus Montagu's Harrier - Compare with the female Hen
Harrier (2 photos above)here you see the white band is broader all the
way to the body and the wings are thinner with one less primary.
The tail is also longer and the flight is buoyant and these birds hold their
wings in a deeper 'V' when in flight than Hen Harriers
An adult female showing regularly An adult male and the bird
barred primaries directly above is a transitional male
with nearly complete adult plumage
Buteo Rufinus Long-legged Buzzard Ssp. cirtensis - photographed
September 2007 at Guadalmesi, Cadiz. A North African race with
lovely rust-chestnut colouring and slightly longer wing than Common
Buzzard (below)
Buteo buteo Common Buzzard - One of the more commoner
European birds of prey.
Pernis apivorus Honey Buzzard - One of the more delicate buzzards
with extra thick eyelids to protect against insect stings when breaking
open wasp and wild bee nests for larvae
Honey Buzzards migrate in small to medium groups and are extremely
variable in colour and pattern according to age and sex
Accipiter nisus Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Seen migrating normally
singly September through to the end of November. Quite a good
number of birds winter in the south
Falco naumanni Lesser Kestrel - Two views of males
(L) Female showing you the sex difference and (R) a male returning to
nest site with crickets
Falco vespertinus Red-Footed Falcon - Occasionally we have
Red-Footed Falcons and Eleonora's Falcons turning up on passage.
These are photos I took of a juvenile in Austria Spring 2007