Arrived 5th February 2009 to do voluntary work on a cortijo above the village for the summer, and to do as much birdwatching as time will allow! After the first couple of weeks it’s time to start keeping records.
Many familiar species are present in the sort of numbers one would expect. House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches and Goldfinches are daily sightings in the olive groves above Lanjaron. Of greater interest are the sheer numbers of Blackcap- in far higher concentrations than I’ve ever seen in the UK. Sardinian Warblers and Black Redstart are both present and can be found without any difficulty on the walk down to the village.
After a few days I saw my first Hoopoe near an orchard just outside the village itself. Serin are very common locally, with males singing from bushes and treetops literally everywhere you look. A pair of juvenile Golden Eagles were the very first raptors I got a really clear view of, the white plumage in their tails catching the sun as they soared over the hill one lunchtime. Lesser Kestrels would appear to be doing well in this region. After a fortnight or so I’ve lost count of how many I’ve seen. With the summer migrants yet to return I’m already looking forward to March…
