The first week of April has brought us a welcome patch of nice weather, and a chance to catch up with all those jobs on the land. The local birds have got their work cut out too and male Blackbirds, Serin, Great Tits and Spotless Starlings were all singing strongly today.
One burst of birdsong however stopped me in my tracks, and immediately put all the others in their place. The churring, warbling, trills and sweet soft notes were unmistakable and could mean only one thing…the first Nightingale of the year. Fabulous!
With one of the finest songs in Europe locating these wonderful summer visitors is usually straightforward…actually getting a clear view is another matter entirely. Overall the bird is rather nondescript, but the warm brown of the back and the chestnut of the rump make identification comparatively easy. The Nightingale is however highly secretive. It skulks in thick cover for long periods of time and can be singing loudly from a bush nearby only to remain frustratingly hidden. The bird is more numerous in southern Europe, and less shy in its habits…I was thrilled with the views we had last year, but more often than not it’s still just the beautiful, liquid song you’re left to enjoy. Once these delightful birds are nesting the singing will ease off, but we should be hearing them into early June.
Another wonderful addition to the birdlife around Lanjaron in the spring… and it’s only the first week of April! Keep checking our posts for all the latest news…
