A Windy Week

I love watching raptors and last week's holiday to the southern-most tip of Spain certainly fed my habit! The ladies and I arrived into Malaga on the Friday evening chomping at the bit to get out the next morning and see some wildlife. We woke to (our only) gorgeous and calm day so after breakfast headed for the excellent Rio Guadalhorce NR on the edge of the Mediterranean. 100's of Cory's (Scopoli's) Shearwaters were milling about close off-shore (seabirds - my other passion!) along with loads of gulls including some gorgeous Audouin's Gulls. We then visited the main reserve and added a few more choice species including White-headed Duck, Melodious Warbler, Kingfisher, Pallid Swift and our first bird of prey - Booted Eagle.

That afternoon we travelled to Tarifa the closest European town to North Africa and where we were staying ofr the rest of the week.

This is when the 'Levante' (strong East wind) started and blew in earnest all week, which was a little disappointing as it meant the planned boat trip for cetaceans and seabirds had to be cancelled but we did see some migration. During the week we saw 8000+ Honey Buzzards, 3000+ Black Kites, 2000+ Booted Eagles, 1000+ Short-toed Eagles, 200+ Sparrowhawks, 100+ Egyptian Vultures with 10's of Montagu's and Marsh Harriers, Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Lesser and Eurasian Kestrel, 4 Ospreys, 4 Hobbys, 2 Bonelli's Eagles, Peregrine, Black-winged Kite and the rare Ruppell's Vulture - superb. Other highlights included a single White-rumped Swift, Balearic Shearwater, Black Storks, 1000's of White Storks, Purple and Night Herons, Caspian Tern, Red-necked Nightjar, Roller, Tawny Pipit and 1000+ Bee-eaters!!!!

Whinchat

Red-necked Nightjar

Hoopoe

Montagu's Harrier

Los Lances Beach

Lesser Kestrel (La Janda)

Just Incredible