Shrikes, Wheatears and Bee Eaters...September in Andalucia

The second week of September is upon us, and Kiersten and I headed out on familiar tracks up the mountain today, to catch up on seasonal arrivals and departures on the hillsides around the village. What we got was a fabulous day of birdwatching, with a couple of real surprises along the way. Our first [...]

 
The Black-eared Wheatear - more shots of this colourful summer migrant

We return today to another of the birds we encountered on our recent day-trip, the Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica. Very much a bird of southern Europe, this summer favourite occurs across much of Spain and Portugal and round most of the Mediterranean region. Like many of its relatives in the chats and thrushes group – [...]

 
Day-trip report: late summer in the Alpujarras

It’s another bright August morning, and the birdwatchalpujarras team are off on another day-trip on the hillsides above the village. Clear blue skies promised another sunny summer day…so to avoid the worst of the heat we made an early start, and with our new friend Ian on board we headed off on our favourite track [...]

 
A day-trip report: July in the Alpujarras

It’s the first week of July, and with some new birdwatching friends all the way from Denmark the birdwatchalpujarras team are once again out on a day trip on the hillsides above Lanjaron. With a few of our local favourites on the wish-list for the day we headed for the first of some likely locations…and [...]

 
Griffon Vultures over Andalucia. May in the El Torcal Nature Reserve 20th May 2010

Thursday morning…and I’m off with a friend to El Torcal Nature Reserve. Located about 30km north of Malaga near the town of Antequera, the area boasts one of the most impressive limestone landscapes in Europe. Highly eroded, surreal rock formations provide a fascinating backdrop and with fantastic views out towards the coast and a unique [...]

 
Montagu’s Harrier and Southern Grey Shrike at Padul marshlands 17th July 2009

It’s Friday morning and it’s a big day for Birdwatchalpujarras…my new colleague and birdwatching partner Kiersten and I have got Gerry and Chris out with us for the day, two widely travelled and very keen birdwatchers over from Manchester for a week of sunshine in Lanjaron. With a full day to work with we’re hoping [...]

 

Sunday morning, and Birdwatch Alpujarras are taking a couple of clients out for a few hours up the hillside above the village. The high winds and grey clouds of Saturday had given way to bright sunshine so we were hoping for a productive day. After the great birdwatching of last Wednesday we’re retracing my steps, [...]

 

Another Wednesday morning arrives, and it’s birdwatching on the local patch as usual. First trip of a new month and I’m hitching a lift up the mountainside to take a walk back down through one of my favourite stretches just outside the village. On the drive up the slope we passed through pasture and old [...]

 

Wednesday morning and Birdwatchalpujarras are taking a client out for the day from our base of Lanjaron. A moment to collect our thoughts before the mission begins sees us take five minutes near the castle to discuss the route plan. A tropical sounding birdcall from the eucalyptus trees behind us grabbed my attention and then [...]

 

With a major excursion cancelled today through illness on the team, all we’ve got time for is a quick afternoon run out to a favourite local mountain. An impressive rocky gorge before the climb uphill rarely disappoints and before long we had really good views of a Lesser Kestrel, patrolling the skies overhead. The craggy [...]