28th February - Northern Bald Ibis, Short-eared Owls and Spring Flowers - Stephen Daly writes Bald Ibis - Further Reading Here!

Driving along the coast to Zahara de los Atunes is one of the best uninterrupted scenic stretches devoid of development you can find anywhere on the southern coast of Spain. It 's such a lovely stretch of countryside to travel along, and today Cape Espartel on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar was quite clear. The whole area between Barbate and Zahara is designated Military land, and it goes without saying that there is little or no real buildings on it at all. This stretch is basically in the same wild condition as it was in the 8th century when the Moors came ashore at Barbate and with the help of the Spanish Umayyads, claimed the area as Al-Andalus, independent of Damascus.

The re-introduction programme for the Northern Bald Ibis is supported by the Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) and the International Northern Bald Ibis Group (IAGNBI). A globally threatened species, a flock of the Northern Bald Ibis has been established on the military land for over a year and a half. Twenty-four free-flying birds are in the area and it's just a matter of locating them in such a huge area that can often be a problem. Most of the time we have a pretty good idea as to their current location, and know all the tracks and best vantage points to watch them flying or feeding. Today I managed to get some good flight shots, even although the weather was getting dull when I finally caught up with them. A smaller group was feeding on some pasture near the sea and the photos look quite good with all the spring flowers that are blooming after last weeks heavy rain. If you'd like to see them please do not enter onto any part of the military land. Give us a call and we'll be only too happy to tell you where to look safely!

I found some flowering Statice, Camomile and Tangier-Pea (Lathyrus tingitanus) a type of perennial sweet-pea which is quite early to be flowering at this time of the year. A really good reference guide book on Mediterranean flowers is by Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1993). Mediterranean Wild Fowers. 560 pp. Harper Collins Publisher. ISBN0-7136-7015-0.

Scores of Sand Martins came across today, I lost count after half an hour. A couple of Swifts were also seen higher up as were two adult Egyptian Vultures over towards La Janda. I flushed a lone Short-eared Owl as I cruised along the middle section of La Janda. This time I managed to get a flight shot of him. Hoopoes, Spanish Sparrow, Stonechats and Meadow Pipits flitted in front of the car as I continued along the track, and two Woodchat Shrikes dashed for cover. and some Night Herons stayed motionless in the lower bushes and small willows on the canal bank, their wonderful red eyes following the car. A couple of Hen harrier and the usual glut of Marsh Harriers were present and coming past the Great-Spotted Cuckoo field, which was surprisingly quiet, I saw two Wood Sandpipers in a flooded field with some Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings, Snipe, Black-winged Stilts, Ringed Plovers and Green Sandpipers. A little further along towards Benalup was a sub-adult Egyptian Vulture in a field usually occupied by Little Bustard and Stone Curlew. The bird was quietly preening so I didn't loiter in the area. The wind was getting up and as I returned home I noticed a Black-shouldered Kite hovering at the side of the Vejer to Medina road with its wings held high ready to drop onto its prey. Booted Eagles were also seen as were Corn Buntings, Calandra Larks, Purple Swamphens, White Storks, Griffon Vultures and two lovely Bramblings.

26th February - Hype and The Press misinformation about Bird Flu -
Two articles were published by journalists in the UK recently and are certainly worth a read.
"How to be beautifully, blissfully wrong about Tamiflu: just call it a bird flu vaccine" Article by Ben Goldacre
and
"I just can't get into a flap about bird flu" Article by Lucy Mangan

24th February - Ring Ouzels, Great Spotted Cuckoos and lots of rain! - Stephen Knapp and Stephen Daly write
After springtime Atlantic storms have passed through the southern tip of Europe, you can expect anything to turn up. Invariably we are out looking along all our usual haunts on the Strait of Gibraltar for migrants. Right down on the shoreline between Tarifa and Algeciras, two Ring Ouzels tuned up literally twenty metres from the shore. Both thrushes were quite nervous and moved off quickly before Stephen D could get a photograph.Ring Ouzels winter in the Atlas mountains in Morocco taking refuge in the cedar and Juniper forests there. Quite often seeded Juniper trees can be found growing right on the Spanish coast at sea-level, brought in the droppings of passing birds that have fed on higher forests in Morocco.
Stephen D was back photographing Great Spotted Cuckoos near La Janda this morning and as we had great weather for one day between storms, this was the time to return at dawn to the site. Fifteen birds were counted and some good flight shots were taken as well as lots of chasing, squabbling and the usual screaming that these incredible birds do. As far as I am aware there are no breeding Great Spotted Cuckoos in Cadiz province.
Hoopoes are always easier to see during spring migration. Groups of birds have been feeding all along the south coast and they are starting to look really bright as we near their breeding season.
Another Wryneck was seen near Benalup and Stone Curlews were showing well in flight and in quite a few fields near Cantarranas.
The Iberian Green Woodpeckers (adult form sharpei lacks the black eye orbit as in the Green Woodpecker ) are very vocal right now with birds calling from various cork-oak and wild olive woods.
Red Kites are increasing in numbers as are Great Grey Shrikes, (Southern form meridionalis) have also been more abundant. These shrikes have a very subtle pink wash to their breast and belly and a narrrow eye stripe (supercilia).

22nd February - Black Kite Invasion - Stephen Daly writes
I had to collect some clients from the airport at Jerez and travelled over Medina Sidonia to pick up the new motorway that runs past the Laguna de Media (more about the Laguna de Medina later...) when I amused myself by counting Black Kites on the way there. On reaching one hundred I stopped. The last six birds were crammed together perched on an electricity pylon with another two birds flying around looking for a place to roost!
That very same Day..... - Bluethroats, Water Pipits and Little Bustards - Stephen Knapp writes
After the heavy rains of yesterday and overnight, and with the promise of grounded migrants I decided to visit my local corner of the fabulous La Janda wetlands. A group of eight Little Bustards were watched close to the track and I was delighted that the two males in splendid plumage were doing their display dance. Black Kites and Marsh Harrier were everywhere and on the paddy fields scores of Ringed, Little-ringed and Kentish Plovers were feeding alongside masses of Snipe, Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt. Pintail, Shoveler, Teal and Lapwing were also present in good numbers as were numerous Cattle, Little and a single Great White Egret. Over thirty Purple Swamphens were conspicuously out in the paddy fields whilst passerines in and around the wet areas included Serin, White Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, three Water Pipits (including one in fine rosy plumage), two Penduline Tits and a Bluethroat. Overhead several hundred noisy Cranes were moving north along with numerous White Stork
Further along the track where the land rises and cattle graze, Hen Harrier, Bonnelli's Eagle scores of Griffon Vulture, one Black-winged Kite and a few Common Buzzard were on show whilst Southern Grey Shrike, several Hoopoes and scores of Crested, Thekla and Calandra Larks were on the pastures or fence lines. The highlight of this visit was undoubtably the Great-spotted Cuckoos. More today - eight of them in total! These are early migrant in southern spain and I was able to watch these fantastic birds flying down from their arboreal perches to feat on the swarms of caterpillars which had recently emerged.

21st February - Screaming Great Spotted Cuckoos! - Stephen Daly writes
I think you forget how loud Great Spotted Cuckoos are when they call. What a racket! Three birds were perched in wild olive trees (Acebuche), which are plentiful at the top end of La Janda. There are some tracks that lead out of the agricultural area and come over to the fringes of the Alcornocales Parque natural at the Camino Real that runs from Benalup to Facinas. An explosion of caterpillars were feeding on the verges and the plentiful supply of food probably attracted the Cuckoos. Thekla, Calandara, Short-toed and Crested Larks were singing and displaying in the cool breeze.
A solitary Bonelli's Eagle flapped and glided overhead and moments later three female Little Bustards landed in the next field probably put up by two 'Gauchos' on their horses working cattle along the ridge.
Some Penduline Tits were present along the bulrushes and Purple Swamphens plodded about on the waterlogged muddy rice-fields and good numbers of Northern Lapwings, Green Sandpipers and countless Snipe fed. One Black Stork was seen today as were two Water Pipits, Teal, Shoveller and literally thousands of Mallard. Raptors around were Merlin, Booted Eagle, Common Kestrel, Black shouldered Kite, Red Kite, Black Kite and Peregrine Falcon.
The Common Cranes are getting really restless now and over two hundred birds were flying round and round preparing to leave fortheir breeding areas in the north.

20th February - The Flatlands of the Coto Doñana - Stephen Knapp writes
The weather did not look promising, but the birding did! After spotting a Peregrine as we crossed the Rio Guadalquivir on the outskirts of Seville we headed west onto the vast flatness of the Coto Doñana. Azure-winged Magpies are abundant in the Stone Pine forests here and within minutes we were able to watch and photograph these spectacular birds. Booted Eagle, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Ravens, Crested Tits, Tree Sparrows and Southern Grey Shrike were soon added to the list and we were barely in the National Park.
After a brief stop at the El Rocio lagoon where several hundred Greater Flamingo, scores of Spoonbill and White Stork, and a fine selection of waders and wildfowl were on show we headed to the nearby ponds at El Acebuche where Purple Swamphen, Glossy Ibis and Marsh Harrier were observed. Passerines here included Cetti's Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper and a whole host of typical widespread woodland species. On the Corredor Verde heading towards Dehesa de Abajo, Black-shouldered Kite, Hoopoe, Black Kite and hundreds of Night-Herons were seen. Bordering the extensive rice fields we had wonderful views of wintering Penduline Tits, Common Waxbill, Zitting Cisticola, Crested, Thekla and Calandra Larks and yet more Kites and Hen with Marsh Harriers. The weather was now looking fearsome with huge black clouds threatening heavy rain. Just as the heavens opened, three Black Storks and a solitary Great White Egret were spotted amidst hundreds of Cattle and Little Egrets. A wonderful day out despite the torrential rain showers.

19th February - Little Bustards, Purple Swamphens and Bonelli's Eagles - Stephen Daly writes
Trying to get good photos of Little Bustards is always tricky even when Stephen Knapp phones you on a Sunday morning to tell you that there is a small group really close to the main track that leads from Benalup to La Janda, begging to be photographed. Got dressed threw my stuff into the mini-bus and took off as the sun was creeping over the mountains.
On my way up from Barbate I lost count of the Black Kite that were streaming in from the coast. Again the coastline of Morocco showed up beautifully on such a wonderful clear sunny morning. To cut a long story short, the Little 'B's' were too far away for me to take any descent shots, so I decided to head over La Janda via the coast. The tracks are very tricky right now and visitors must be warned about getting stuck in their hire-car! The coast was so quiet with not a soul on the beach from Zahara to barbate. The Bald Ibis flew over the Sierra de Retin and some Spoonbills flew along the coast. A flight of Glossy Ibis were also seen flying near Zahara and over at the Barbate estuary, a Great White Egret and a group of seven Greater Flamingos were feeding. More Hoopoes were seen and new waves of Meadow Pipits had crossed and were feeding on pasture. A Short-eared Owl made an appearance near the sewage works and flew off over the military Zone.

16th February - Cranes, Bramblings and Hoopoes - Stephen Daly and Stephen Knapp writes
The weather is changing and the clouds were rolling in as Stephen Knapp and I made a sortie across to La Janda. On the way we watched twenty free-flying Northern Bald Ibis near Barbate, as they wheeled around the coastal edge of the Sierra de Retin, just inside the Military Zone. We are indeed quite privileged to see such a regular spectacle and today was without exception. To think that there may be no fewer than three to four hundred such free-flying birds on the whole planet. Most are in zoo's or private collections.
Waders at Barbate old salt-pans included Black-winged Stilts, Greenshanks, two Purple Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Dunlins and Kentish and Ringed Plovers galore. A solitary Common Swift flew over and a small group of Greater Flamingos fed on the Rio Barbate on the estuary. Grey Wagtails flew about us as two Mediterranean Gulls sat amongst Black-headed, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A single Peregrine flew high circling a flock of Spotless Starlings on pasture land near the beach to Zahara. At La Janda about three hundred or so Common Cranes fed and flew about us in small groups. Seven Bramblings were seen close to the main track and a Hoopoe flew out from the thicker vegetation near the canal. Reed Buntings and Zitting Cisticolas popped up all along the track and Red-legged Partridge with Common Pheasants scuttled for cover as we approached. Calandra Larks were plentiful and the Common Storks, Northern Lapwings, Snipe, Grey wagtails and Meadow Pipits kept moving with Marsh and a few Hen Harriers through the rice fields. Common Buzzards were seen lazing around watching the weather close in as some Wood Larks and flock of Short-toed Larks arrived to feed. As a Kingfisher made a dash down stream and Purple Swamphens Common Coots and Moorhens crashed through the reed-beds to take cover, we stopped to look at some fresh Otter tracks along the sandy canal bank.

15th February - Mongoose and Wryneck - Stephen Knapp writes
What a beautiful morning. Compared to a typical february day in the UK, the sun was already warm by 09.00 and dressed in t-shirt, shorts and flip flops I made my way to the car for the short drive to my "local patch", the Benalup end of the fabulous La Janda area just inland from the Strait of Gibraltar. In my garden, the Tawny Owl and Little Owls which had been making such a noise during the night were still busy calling and the real bonus, a small flock of nine Stone Curlews flew over to land in the field opposite the house (I say small because back in January counts in the same field exceeded 150!).
With only a couple of hours to spare I decided to just focus on the northern end of La Janda, primarily around the paddy fields close to the Celamin Dam. No sooner had I turned onto the access track, the fields to my right were spotted with White Storks (100) and Cattle Egrets whilst in the wetter patches Little Egrets, hundreds of Snipe and Lapwings and smaller numbers of both Ringed and Little-ringed Plovers. Passerines were also present in the wet mud areas....lots of Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Chaffinch and a solitary Grey Wagtail, whilst in the weedy scrub areas around the paddy fields, Serins, Corn Buntings, Linnets, Goldfinch and Stonechats were all conspicuous. To my surprise I could only find one Green Sandpiper and a small group of six Black-winged Stilts .....there were dozens of these around a few days ago!
At the small bridge which spans the narrow canal leading from the Dam, the usual Jackdaws were present as were about twenty-five House martins and a few Barn Swallows both of which have been in the area now for weeks. Common Kestrel was perched on a nearby pylon whilst quartering the fields were several Marsh Harriers. Soaring above these were three Common Buzzards which in turn were dwarfed by a Bonnelli's Eagle and a dozen or so Griffon Vultures.
This part of La Janda has little in the way of phragmites or typha cover in the permanent water, but that said its always a reasonable bet that Coot, Moorhen and Purple Swamphen will be around. Today was no exception with five Swamphens lined up in a strange formation making these absurd birds look even stranger. Cetti's Warbler was very vocal and several Blackcaps and Chiffchaff provided the only warblers seen today.....can't wait until a few weeks time when the variety here is truly amazing.
Happy with this typical range of birds, I was about to head home when I noticed some movement across the road.....an Egyptian Mongoose was lazily strolling over the tarmac and the moment it set foot on the short rabbit grazed turf a Wryneck flew up into a nearby tree where it remained for several minutes amidst the lichen encrusted branches. Fabulous

12th February - The Military Have a Day Out - Stephen Daly writes
Two Short-eared Owls at La Janda are still hanging about and gave good hunting displays today. Great birds. Unusually I saw a Woodchat Shrike which is really early for this species.
There were at least four hundred White Storks on a thermal high above our house in the afternoon. Some smaller flocks were later seen taking advantage of the high pressure to find warm air to help them cross the Strait in perfect flying conditions. I started getting worried when I watched two Spanish Airforce Mirage fighter jets head towards a smaller but higher flock. No contact was made and I'm sure the pilots could see the bird activity. There seems to be a bit of a war on at the military zone next door to us. All sorts of landing craft are coming in from navy ships anchored off Barbate, and landing on "our beach" on some exercise or other. Ho-hum, it's only once a year and at least they haven't been firing the field guns this time as the noise is somewhat distracting. I arrived back home to find a Little Owl on my neighbours chimney and a Common Buzzard sitting on the power-line above Maria's house, eyeing the small dog in the next garden. Managed to get a photo of it as it took off sending twenty or so Serins off the nearby pine trees.
Migrating Butterflies
Quite good early numbers of Butterflies are coming north too. We've seen Swallowtails and one Scarce Swallowtail , Wall Browns, Speckled Woods, Spanish Festoons, Small Copper Bath Whites, Red Admirals, Painted Lady with Clouded Yellows, Ringlets and Fritillary's, including Marsh Fritilarys galore and some Lang's short -tailed Blues. With the good weather the insect population has exploded - nothing nasty yet I might add, but processional caterpillars are plentiful this year and there seems to be good numbers of other caterpillars, crickets and spiders.

10th February - White Storks Invasion - Stephen Daly writes
More than 250 White Storks passed over La Janda today. It was the same yesterday with huge numbers going north after crossing the Strait. A good number of Marsh Harriers have left for the north with more Hen Harriers replacing same. Most of the Meadow Pipits, Golden Plovers, Northern Lapwings have also moved on and the larger groups of Stone Curlews and Little Bustards have split into smaller flocks. A juv. Osprey was seen yesterday at Barbate estuary near Manzanete and a Great Spotted Cuckoo was seen in the pine forest called Las Breñas at the edge of Barbate. Two Bluethroats were feeding at La Janda, as were two Black Vultures feeding on a carcass with Griffons and some Ravens near La Janda. A pair of Short-eared Owls were seen on the main track at La Janda, perched beneath some prickly-pear cactus, and two Black-shouldered Kites put on a lovely flying display high above the Common Cranes that are still on the drained rice-fields. Warm air currents let fourteen Common Buzzards soar on thermals above the rolling countryside between Vejer and Medina Sidonia. One had caught a large snake that wriggled in its beak, which it later dropped onto stony ground. It could be a possibility that this was a deliberate act by the bird attempting to kill the snake by letting the snake fall onto the hard ground but as the raptor didn't fall like a stone after the snake and take it once more, I'll never know the answer to that one. Quite a number of White Storks are sitting on eggs now and a few squabbles are going on over nesting sites. Stonechats are aslo nesting and Night Herons have been seen in greater numbers. More Hoopoes are arriving on the coast daily and so many Barn Swallows are coming in now with more and more Red-rumped Swallows visible.

8th February - A Hoopoe Calls - writes Stephen Daly
Wonderful sunny weather and 18oc today! A Hoopoe was heard this morning, calling from behind the house and later when I was prunning one of our trees I saw the bird flit across our neighbours field. More White Storks are crossing and a few Booted Eagles one Bonelli's Eagle, two Sparrowhawks and Griffon Vultures were seen fairly high up, heading inland this afternoon. The fields around our house are alive with Serins, Black Redstarts, Greenfinches, Blackcaps, Linnets, Goldfinches and Chiffchaffs.
The Serins and our local Zitting Cisticolas have begun to call from dawn 'till dusk and it gets just a bit annoying after a couple of hours, as their calls aren't the most melodic of all the wonderful singing birds that are around us. The good thing is that a Song Thrush sings from first light as well and drowns out the irritating call of our two friends during the morning!

6th February - The United Kingdom - Stephen Daly writes
Family business in London and Edinburgh over the last two weeks reminded me that although colder up north, the birding is often great there in winter! I paid a visit to the Firth of Forth and East Lothian - "The Garden of Scotland", as it´s called. There were two large flocks of Whooper Swans near Aberlady and another inland near Begbie, close to my parents house. Greylag and Pink-footed Geese were also about and it was good to take in the sights, smells and sounds of southern Scotland. Haddington has a pair of Kingfishers on the river Tyne as well as Goldeneyes and Goosanders.The Common Buzzard population in Scotland is very healthy and it is the commonest raptor. Most of the birds like Kingfishers and Goosanders were quite rare twenty years ago on the river Tyne. You see, not everything is doom and gloom. I can remember countless times in the 70's attempting to rescue all sorts of seabirds from Guillemots to Gannets along the Forth shores and putting lots more out of their misery. Deliberate oil spillage is rare today, thanks mainly to the efforts and pressures of local birding and nature groups, conservationists and environmental enforcement teams monitoring tankers and that they do not clean out their tanks at sea or accidentally spill hydrocarbons . The news that a Sunderland based company, Melbourne Marine Services, was seeking permission to transfer oil from small to large tankers four miles off the coast near Methil, was met with more than a few raised eyebrows...... Read more here
BACK TO ANDALUCIA.....
More Barn Swallows and a pair of Red-rumped were seen inland from Vejer. Four Glossy Ibis flying along the coast and a single Avocet at Barbate estuary. Booted Eagles seem to be turning up in greater numbers. Little Bustards are to be seen around the northern edge of La Janda, Benalup, Tahivilla and Zahara de Los Atunes