1 Target, 2 Days, 3 Lynx, 4 Sightings - High 5's....

An incredible couple of weeks in the Sierra de Andujar with multiple sightings of this gorgeous mammal along with lots of Mouflon, Wild Boar, Spanish Ibex, Greater Mouse-eared & Daubenton's Bats, Iberian Hare and of course Rabbit.

Added to this there's Spanish Imperial, Golden and Booted Eagles, displaying Goshawk, Black and Red Kites, Marsh and Hen Harriers, White-headed Duck, Night Heron, Common Crane, 30+ Little Bustards, Azure-winged Magpie, Hawfinch and Rock Bunting, plus a superb Horseshoe Whip Snake!!!ings

The bird list is now slowing up considerably although now at 161 and with the back end of February and most of March in India and Morocco things won't progress for a wee while now - looking forward to Castilla La Mancha & Extremadura, at the end of March. 

 

However bring on India - Tigers and Taj Mahal at the end of this month.

One down, eleven to go!

Red Crossbill (Cranes, Plains & Pyrenees 2012)

The ultimate day of January 2013 brought my final species of the month and a grand total of 151. Bizarrely it was while taking a snow-boarding break (not literally, that's just bruises!) at Valdelinares, Teruel Province, just 2.5 hours drive from the house. Snow sports in the morning and swimming in the Med in the afternoon as it is currently 20+ degrees - can't be bad for January. While I was struggling down the piste Crossbills kept flying over but got to see a stonking male eye-level on top of a pine as we sat on the chair lift going back to the top.

 

The next day it was February and a check of the Valencia Birding wetland revealed there had been an American Green-winged Teal at a small reserve near the Albufera d'Valencia about 40 minutes north of where I live. Despite having to get ready for my next two Iberian Lynx trips I got up early and headed off but sadly dipped the prize, although did manage to find a Ferruginous Duck amongst the scores of Common & Red Crested Pochards, plus there were lots of Pintail, both of which were new for the year - so not a wasted journey at all.

 

So the list edges on to 153, with only another 20 days left until I head for the Indian Sub-continent in search of much larger cats! That is then quickly followed by a Southern Morocco tour but after that it's back with a vengance as I take a group to Castilla La Mancha & Extremadura, which will boost the list considerably. Then it's April and migration in full flow......

Halfway there!!!



1st Winter Golden Eagle (Sierra de Andujar)

With still five days left of January yesterday I reached the landmark total of 150 species with a Calandra Lark on the way back to Malaga after yet another very successful Lynx-watching short break (see details HERE). Despite the inclement weather the last couple of weeks have been excellent for boosting the list in the corner of Andalucia, by adding Golden Eagle, Golden Plover, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark and a brilliant displaying male Goshawk - one of my favourite raptor species. Not only did we have these classic birds and lots more but also a Greater Mouse-eared Bat with a young one attached to its body, a brilliant flock of 30+ Mouflon, Wild Boar at point blank range, loads of Red and Fallow Deer and some more great Iberian Lynx sightings. This link HERE is to some of Wayne Atkinson's footage from the first morning - we had just left the hotel 15 minutes earlier!

 

Now for the next 150, which I guess will be a tad tougher!!!

 

SUPER SWAROVSKI - the last few weeks I have been without my trusted 15 year old Swarovski ELs, which had to be sent back to the manufactures in Austria as I had broken them when fell on an Argyle moorland last November. This fabulous company not only make (arguably) the best optics in the business but their after sales service is also second to none.

My battered bins came back like a brand-new pair, which was absolutely incredible. They had not just repaired the damage and re-ground the scratched lens' but also completely recovered the casing, provided a new neck-strap, eyecups and rainguard all for just £200. Here's to the next 15 years with my fabulous binoculars and having many more memorable experiences - THANK YOU.