Raptors but no Lynx on the first day.
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European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus). |
David Hird arrived at our house at 04:15 and once Steve Jones and I were sorted we all headed off to Sierra Morena near to Andujar where we were spending three days looking for the
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico/ Lynx pardina) and lots of other wildlife.
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Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus). |
We drove up in the dark and arrived on site just as the sun was coming up and soon started to see
Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) off to both sides of the road and as we set up at our first watching location we had several
Rabbits (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and a covey of
Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa) which are both
Lynx snacks.
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European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus). |
As the light came up the list grew with
Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas),
Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), the first of several
Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and the first
European Black (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).
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Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua). |
During the morning we could hear
Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua) and eventually we found one sat out on a large boulder and all around us we could hear yaffling
Green Woodpeckers (Pito Real / Picus viridis).
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Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus). |
In the air above us we could hear and then had views of an immature
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti) which passed along the ridge behind us with several more Vultures.
On the bank behind us I found several flowering Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus) as well as Nacissus fernandesi, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Andalusian Storksbill (Erodium recorderi), French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and lots of Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus).
We sat watching the bueatiful valley infront of us, scanning continuosly for the Lynx but managed to find Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian / Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae) and Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).
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Nacissus fernandesi, |
As things warmed up several butterfly species started to fly including lots of
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus),
Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra),
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas),
Clouded Yellow (Colias Común / Colias corcea),
Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera),
Small (
Pieris rapae),
Large (Pieris brassicae) and
Bath White (Blanqiverdosa / Pontia daplidice).
 |
Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti). |
We moved slightly further up the track to scan a different area seeing
Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus),
Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula),
Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and
Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).
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Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus). |
David and I dropped down to the Embalse at the far end of the track seeing
Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) on the way, at the dam we had a walk along the cliff top track before crossing the dam where we had good views of at least 3
Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica),
Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos),
Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major),
Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula),
Crag (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and
House Martins (Avión Común / Delichon urbica) which were visiting last years nests already.
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Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica). |
Other species included a very smart male
Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius),
Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and
White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba),
Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos),
Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes),
Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla),
Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and
Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo).
 |
Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica). |
We returned to where Steve was still scanning for the
Lynx and had views of
Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata),
Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris),
Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and
Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata).
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Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica). |
The sun was going down when we left the site and drove back to our accommodation adding
Fallow Deer (Dama dama) on the way and a calling
Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) at the guest house.
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Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Cabra pyreaica). |
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House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica). |
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Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus). |
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