Another bright, dry April morning…and I’m off to work for the day, up on the hillside above Lanjaron. Olive groves, orchards and terraced gardens…only ten minutes drive from the main road, and not exactly the wildest or most remote of birdwatching locations you could choose. This is April in the Alpujarras, however, and the birdwatching is getting better by the day…
A Red-rumped Swallow swooped low over the house as we arrived and unloaded the car, the orange rump and uniform, solid black underside of the tail separating it instantly from the swirling mass of House Martins and Barn Swallows overhead. Another seasonal, new arrival from African wintering grounds, but it’s not all just about our exotic summer visitors. For me, today belonged to two of our most spectacular year-long residents, and the first soared into view only moments after we arrived.
With a wingspan of around seven feet the Golden Eagle is one of the region’s most impressive birds of prey. Great views today as one glided over the skyline, working the slope above us in typical slow, effortless circles, before a minute adjustment in the “fingertips” of its wings took it slowly downhill and into the valley. Superb stuff!
It was only minutes later that the second large raptor of the morning passed over, sunlight catching the clean, white plumage of its chest…a sharp contrast to the dark brown of the previous species. A black, central wing bar and pale “palm”, together with a long straight tail tipped with a band of black made identification pretty straightforward, and an adult Bonelli’s Eagle passed directly overhead. With only half the body weight of a Golden Eagle, the Bonelli’s is still a powerful predator in its own right and looked menacing enough, heading down to patrol the valley below us with that characteristically powerful, hawk-like flight. Fantastic.
Two of Europe’s most spectacular birds of prey…both within moments of each other, and literally only just outside the village. Good birdwatching this! Stick with us for all the news, as a terrific month rolls on…
