August so far

Intro – I had just completed a very successful trip with Speyside Wildlife to the Bay of Biscay & Picos de Europa, where the highlights included breaching Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, a few Fin Whales, a gorgeous pale Risso’s Dolphin, big pods of Common, Bottle nose & Striped Dolphins, telescope views of Cory’s Shearwaters & Sooty Shearwater, a Wallcreeper down to 3m, Snowfinches and Alpine Accentors at one of the most scenic places in Spain, wing-clapping Honey Buzzard, a Golden Eagle chasing Red billed Chough and a mega close Short toed Eagle. Not to mention the accommodation and food...........

Anyway I was staying with my very good friends Richard & Jane Palmer who live in Hauxton a village just outside Cambridge. They both are very keen birdwatchers, Richard being an excellent bird guide and lecturer in ornithology running his own business around Cambridgeshire. I had coincided my visit with one of their field days out to the north Norfolk coastline, which turned out to be an excellent day.

August 16th :- So a group of brave souls met that morning, car-shared and travelled east from Hauxton through the countryside with Jane finding a Common Buzzard en-route. On the way Ali (a keen local nest surveyor) told us of a pair of Hobby’s near to the village, and Alan kept us entertained in his own inimitable fashion. The time passed fairly quickly and soon enough we arrived at Cley NNT and stopped at the north beach car park where we met more of the group bringing the total to 15. We walked slowly round this tremendous reserve checking the scrapes and coastline for the rest of that morning having our lunch in the luxurious visitor centre as we passed by. As always at this time of year it did not disappoint as we racked up a list of 20 wader species, which included Little Stint, Curlew & Green Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks, Greenshanks, Bar & Black tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Little Ringed, Ringed & Golden Plovers, Knot, Ruff and Avocets. In addition to this we also saw Gannets, a Spoonbill, Little Egrets, Egyptian Goose, Wigeon, eclipse female Garganey (interesting bird), Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk, 2 Arctic, Common & Sandwich Terns, Yellow Wagtails, Bearded Tit and Reed Warblers. After this Richard took us to Kelling Quags, which is just west along the coast and somewhere I had never visited before. This also held a few waders including a lovely close Greenshank plus singing Chiffchaff and a family party of Egyptian Geese. Late afternoon we retired to the pub for a lovely fish & chip supper washed down with a couple of pints of bitter, rounding off an excellent day spent with some great people.

August 17th :- It was a gorgeous day with some sunny weather so Richard & I managed a walk around his very local patch of fishing ponds, stream and mixed woodland. During this time we recorded various species including Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Robin, Kingfisher, Reed Warbler, Great, Blue & long tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinches. Then back in their garden I was treated to a tour of their acre of garden and got a brief view of a Hobby as it zipped through.

August 18th :- Today Richard took me to his nearest RSPB reserve - Fen Drayton and a long walk around some of the lagoons produced Great Crested & Little Grebes, Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Canada Geese, Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Kestrel, Greenshank, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Common, Herring, Lesser Black backed & Black headed Gulls, a juvenile Black Tern, Common Terns, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Sand & House Martins, Swallows, Stonechat, Robin, Pied Wagtails, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Great & Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and lots of Goldfinches.

August 19th :- This was my last full day before heading off to the British Birdfair at Rutland Water. Richard had one final treat for me as we called in at a known Hobby nesting site very close to his home. We were there a while before one (adult) appeared which was quickly joined by a second (adult). Deep from beneath the foliage of a tree we heard the calling of what we presumed to be the young bird but never saw (it was seen two days later). We had marvellous views of the aerial masters coming and going from the nest site managing even to get some distant record shots.

August 21st – 23rd :- I love the British Birdfair and was lucky enough to be invited back for a second year as a representative for Speyside Wildlife. I was working with Sally (owner and lovely lady), Roy (& his wife Jane), Mark, Steve (my co-leaders), Donna & Tanya (the backbone of the operation, being incredibly efficient and hard-working). To all the special friends and acquaintances I managed to talk to during the 3 days – “thank you very much”. It is your continued help and support, which makes all the hard work so worthwhile and rewarding.

Now it's off to Bulgaria for a 10 day trip watching migration along the Black Sea coast - I am incredibly lucky.............

New to Oliva Rama Tours

Having just spent most of July with the family visiting places the boys wanted to go such as Benidorm's famous theme park - Terra Mitica with it's Red necked Nightjars and Blue Rock Thrushes. To Oliva Beach with off-shore gulls & terns and breeding Kentish Plovers running around our feet, to at a local outdoor pool, where Golden Eagles, Golden Orioles & Bee-eaters breed!!!. Who says you can't combine wildlife with family life?.

In between all of these I have been sorting out the first half of 2010's trip itinerary which can be found here and I am very excited about it. As well as my usual mix of Spanish, European & North African holidays I am also adding two new desinations to Cuba & Lesvos. Not only are they fantastic destinations both steeped in history and culture but I have been very lucky to secure the services of these island's best UK guides in (respectively) Andy Mitchell & Steve Dudley. Why not read their impressive pen pictures featured here.

Eagles galore

Yesterday I was with David Culverhouse and Sue on a local half day, and as they were coming from Bocairent I agreed to meet them at Muro de Alcoy - the head of the Vall de Gallinera. On the road we first found a Little Owl sat on an overhead wire followed by a pair of Bee-eaters just before we reached Planes. However it was at my favourite bridge that we spent the next 1.5 hours thoroughly enjoying sights and sounds of this area. Here we saw 5+ Golden Orioles, 2 Wrynecks, Rock Sparrows, Nightingale, Red rumped & Barn Swallows, Crag Martins, Common Swift, Sardinian Warblers, another Little Owl, more Bee-eaters, Cirl Bunting, Stonechat, Jackdaw, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Serins and Great Tits. We continued towards the coast first stopping for a welcome coffee then just after Benissiva we saw our main target an adult Golden Eagle, so I quickly found a parking space (not always easy!). We got brilliant views as it flew across the valley being mobbed by a Kestrel towards where the eyrie was. Since it was just a half day tour time was against us so we quickly moved down to Pego Marsh where a short(ish) visit produced Squacco, Purple, Night & Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, Mallard, Black winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, Whiskered Terns, House Martin, Crested Larks, White & Yellow Wagtails, Great Reed Warbler and Zitting Cisticolas. We were nearing lunchtime and the end of the tour so we had to head back to Muro again through the Vall de Gallinera. As we entered the valley David pointed to a large raptor and I couldn't believe we were watching an adult Bonelli's Eagle, which was quickly followed by a second adult Bonelli's Eagle. Again I luckily found a parking space and spent the next few minutes watching this pair of eagles as they soared around the nearby cliffs. I have never seen Bonelli's Eagle here before, but a pair of adults - very interesting. Very pleased wth our find we headed up to Muro, en-route seeing a Woodchat Shrike and there I said my fond farewells to David & Sue. I decided to try a new way home and hit the jackpot as I found a Short toed Eagle sat on a pylon, which carefully watched a 1st year Golden Eagle pass overhead before moving on. Great behavoural activity and a pleasure to watch. It had been a great morning and all within half an hours drive of the Northern Costa Blanca.