SIERRA de LOJA.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BLOG ON A PHONE PLEASE CHANGE TO WEB VIEW AT BOTTOM OF PAGE AS IT WILL LOOK BETTER.
Showing posts with label Iberian Lynx. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iberian Lynx. Show all posts

Monday, 3 February 2025

La Lancha, Sierra de Andújar Park Natural, Jaen Province, Spain.

Out into the Sierra de Andújar in search of the Iberian Lynx.
Ebird List for La Lancha.
 
Granite feeding troughs along the road out to the Lynx area.
We made a nice easy start to the day as the welcome over night rain was not going to clear until after lunch, on the drive up to Andújar we saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus) and Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo Ibérico / Cyanopica cooki).
A view on the opposite side of the road to the troughs near where we saw the female Lynx with a cub.
We made a quick stop at the Restaurante los Pinos where we had a coffee before we headed out to the Lynx area, on the way out we saw Iberian  Magpie, Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and some smart looking Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).
Female behind the branches and cub in view.
As we continued on along the dirt on the way to the area we usually visit we were flagged down by a young Spanish Lad who was watching a female and young Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina), as we got out of the car we were lucky enough to see them both for just a few seconds before they disappeared from view.
Our watch point.
After thanking the guy for stopping us we continued on and reached the spot where we spent the rest of the day watching the ridges and the sky seeing Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito ibérico / Picus sharpei), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Curruca undata), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), European Serin (Serin Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris) and Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia).
Lynn and Steve just below the watch point.
Info board 1.
Info board 2.
During a couple of walks along the track Bath (Pontia daplidice) x1 and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) x1, Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) x3, Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) x5, Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) x8+, Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus) x2, Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus coronatus), Common Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla), Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus ssp lusitanicus), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus).
Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).
Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica).
Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri).
As we had said we would arrive at La Caracola by 18.00 we started to drive back at around 17.30 seeing a group of 5 Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis) on the way.
Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus coronatus).
Common Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla).
Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus ssp lusitanicus).
Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus ssp lusitanicus).
We arrived at La Caracola and were welcomed by Laura and then later we saw Ramón before having an evening meal and turning in.

Wednesday, 14 February 2024

Sierra Morena, Andújar, Jaén Province, Spain.

Our last Morning in the stunning Sierra Morena.
Ebird List for La Caracola, 6 Species.

As we were leaving La Caracola.
We were up and out early, whilst loading the car Kiersten, Richard and myself picked up a very early female Northern Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which was out looking for breakfast as well as Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).
Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) female.
Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius) female.
We headed out to the normal area, on the way we saw Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and several Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).
Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).
Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).
Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).
We spent a while just before the normal spot and scanned the ridges in front of us before heading to the first shelter where we put the chairs out.
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri).
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
Species seen included Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus), Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis), Weasel (Mustela nivalis), Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica), Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) x1, Bath (Pontia daplidice), Small (Pieris rapae) and Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra),  Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Andalucian Wall Lizard (Podarcis vaucheri), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blue-rock (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita).
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Bumble-bee Species.
At 14:00 we started to make our way back to the main road and then we all went our own ways back home.
Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei).
Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).

Monday, 12 February 2024

Sierra Morena, Andújar, Jaén Province, Spain.

Day two with Friends and Friends of Friends looking for the Lynx.
Ebird List for La Lancha, 33 Species.
Ebird List for Embalse del Jándula, 24 Species.

Not a bad view even when the Lynx is not showing.
Kiersten, Richard, Anne, Barbara, Derek and Myself had an 07.30 breakfast before heading out to the main area for the Lynx but took the drive out slowly seeing Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) and a field full of Spanish Fighting Bull (Bos taurus taurus).
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).

Common Magpies (Urraca / Pica pica) the natural Lynx alarms.
Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica).
Just as we were about to arrive at my favorite spot I looked down to the left and below us and was amazed to see a male Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina) so we were out as rapidly as possible and had good views as the Lynx crossed a couple of tracks and disappeared into a bush and was not seen again.
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus).
We continued on to the spot where I have been lucky on several occasions and set up the seats and waited to see what came in, birds seen in the next 6 hours included Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti), Cinereous / European Black (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Iberian Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional / Lanius meridionalis), Iberian  Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crested (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Thekla Lark (Cogujada Montesina / Galerida theklae), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), a female Blue-rock Thrush (Roquero Solitario / Monticola solitarius), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).
Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla).
Common stork's bill (Erodium ciconium).
Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus).
Other species seen by me included Bath (Pontia daplidice), Western Dappled (Euchloe crameri) and Small White (Pieris rapae), Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), 8256 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata), Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Mouflon (Moflon / Ovis orientalis), Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla), Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), Common stork's bill (Erodium ciconium), Grey-leaved Cistus (Cistus albidus), Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus) and Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum) and others in th group also had an Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus) and a dead Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) which had unfortunately been run over.
8256 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata).
At some point during the morning we were joined by Annette and Sean (Friends of Kiersten and Richards) who were coming up for just the one night.
Barbara, Kiersten, Anne, Richard and Derek.
Just after 16:00 we notice a car load of people go rather quickly along the road but they didn't say anything so we packed our kit up and decided to head down to the Embalse del Jándula but a few bends on we came across the car load of German Lynx watchers who passed us and their friends including a number of the people I got onto this mornings male watching another Lynx on a distant ridge which we enjoyed for a while. 
Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua).
Even though we got views of the animal I was just a tad pissed off that they couldn't be bothered to give us the nod when they drove passed us after I made sure they all saw the one we found earlier in the day.
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina) the second distant view.
After the Lynx had disappeared over the ridge we dropped down to the embalse and spent some time on the road over the Dam where we added Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) as well as 2 more Blue-rock Thrush but this time they were males, Red-billed Chough, Griffon and Cinereous / European Black Vulture, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl and several Spanish Ibex (Cabra montés / Capra pyrenaica hispanica).
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).
As we returned to the car we were surprised to hear two calling Tawny Owls (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) and a couple of Hawfinch (Picogordo / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) which were new to a few of the group.
Looking South along the Rio Jándula from the Dam.
We headed back along the track towards La Caracola adding Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) on the way.
Embalse del Jándula.
Later we had a few beers and a meal again with a drop of Red Wine.

Wednesday, 1 March 2023

Sierra Morena and La Caracola, Jaen Province, Spain.

Day Four, a morning in the Sunny but again cold Sierra Morena, the afternoon at the Caracola hide.
 
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina), our third sighting.
We were out early again, I started by going down to the hide and topping up the food as we planned to come back later to spend some time there and pay our bill!!! as I walked out there I could hear a calling Eurasian Eagle Owl (Búho Real / Bubo bubo) which was another of the target species.
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).
Once out on sight we swapped places, Steve scanned from the Shelter and I went around the corner to the spot where he had seen the Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) but I didn't find it so I walked back to the shelter and then on towards the lower shelters and Steve move to his usual spot.
Iberian Lynx (lince iberico / Lynx pardina).
As I walked I got some picture of a large Hoverfly type insect and Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus), Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla), Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus), Branched Asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus) and then as I reached the large fire break my eye was drawn to a movement under one of the Oaks which turned out to be a female Lynx which sat with its back to me and would not turn around.
Hooverfly type Species.
I wanted to get Steve on to it so I walked (as this body does not run unfortunately) back to the shelter and got his attention so we were soon back on site but the Lynx was on the move down the bank but we still managed to get some very nice views through the scope and some record shots.
Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) or Lynx food.
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
During our time on site we also saw Griffon (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous / European Black Vulture (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Owl (Mochuelo Europeo / Athene noctua), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Iberian (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cooki) and Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Iberian Imperial Eagles (Aguila Imperial Ibérica / Aguila adalberti).
Info board at the Shelter.
After the Lynx disappeared we returned to the Shelter where we picked up a pair of Iberian Imperial Eagles, Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Great Spotted Cuckoo (Crialo Europeo / Clamator gladarius), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) and a singing Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea).
Angel's tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandus).
Two happy but cold Lynx watchers.
Other species seen during the morning included Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Red Deer (Ciervo común / Cervus elaphus) and Fallow Deer (Gamo común / Dama dama).
Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).
Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).
Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus).
Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).
Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).
Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla).
We gave it until 13.00 and then headed to the bar back at the main road and took some food to the Hide where we set up and took some shots of what came in which included Common Chaffinch, Blue, Great and Crested Tit (Herrerillo Capuchino / Parus cristatus), Robin, Blackbird, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Iberian Magpie, Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and a Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).
Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

After a couple of hours we decided to hit the road back to the house after paying our bill and saying goodbye to Laura and Ramon.
Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala).

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea).

Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).