The past few months have seen me away from photography, wildlife watching and so forth. I am glad to announce that normal services should return in the coming weeks.
I decided to take up a offer from my good friend Agustín and fly out to Malaga early Thursday for a few days away.
Arriving mid morning in Malaga and without delays I meet Agustín outside the airport. We took a little drive through Torremolinos and before making route to Adamuz we saw plenty of Monk Parakeets. Pity the camera was in the boot as a pair were perched 4 metres from were we were stopped and didn't seam bothered by the passing pedestrians.
Once of the motorway the spotting began and by the time we arrived the raptor count was approaching double figures ....Peregrine, Kestrels, black kites, numerous red kites, sparrowhawk, Griffon Vultures, buzzards and surprisingly a Booted Eagle.
After a quick bite to eat I headed to the woodland hide to pass a couple hours while the Eagle hide was made ready for the following day.
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| Crested Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
Had nice visits from Hawfinch, Chafinch, Blue tit, Great tits, numerous Crested tit, Nuthatches.....also a rare and confiding Rock Bunting made a visit before I headed back for the evening and a few cañas and stunning food at the Chaparro.
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| Crested Tit |
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| Hawfinch - Male |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Rock Bunting |
Friday was an early start and after a quick cafe con leche and tostada we headed to the Imperial Eagle hide before the sun was even thinking of surfacing.
The morning kept us entertained with regular visits from 40+ Azure-winged Magpies, various white wagtails, black redstart, flocks of spotless starlings and goldfinches.
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| Azure-winged Magpie |
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| Goldfinch |
As quick as lighting with a flash from the side, a kill was made........One of my favourite and most secretive raptors took an Azure-winged Magpie out of the pine tree.....A female Goshawk!!! Amazing to see this large raptor move through the branches and take its lunch away.
Photos...not a hope lol
After seeing flocks of distant vultures, I was starting to get worried that this may be one of those rare times that neither vultures or eagles would show.......how wrong was I!!!
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| Griffon Vulture |
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| Cinereous Vulture |
All of a sudden they made a beehive for the hide and within minutes they started to land in good numbers. Within 20 minutes more than 100 Griffon and 3 Cinereous (black)vultures were on the ground. 30 minutes later....bang they walked to the hide and within 15 minutes 80kg of food and part of a boar was all but gone.
Below is a short video from my mobile of part of the group feeding
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| Cinereous (black) Vulture |
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| Griffon Threat display |
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| Griffon Threat display |
BANG was only part of it as during a scrap one of the smaller Griffon was thrown against the hide.
Interestingly there was a very pale Griffon. Much paler than the older adults, we believe it could be a possible Leucistic due to its colouring, light coloured eyes and very pale talons.
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| Griffon Vulture - Possible Leucistic, very pale and pale claws |
Surprisingly Cinereous (black) vultures don't look much bigger than Griffon when stood beside each other, however when they open up was a size difference and the reason most stay away from this aggressive vulture....food is theirs if they want it!!!!!
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| Kung Fu Cinereous to Griffon |
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| Cinereous & Griffon Vulture |
Most of the vultures stayed till the end with the eagles keeping their distance....making their disapproving calls.
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| Cinereous Vulture |
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| Griffon Vultures |
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| Cinereous Vulture |
I am fairly confident that I noticed one of the rarer vultures land....A juvenile Rupples. However I could not relocate it in feeding group as it may have stayed in the valley below with around 30 or so Griffon that didn't fancy dinner. Perhaps a little too fat from the day before.
Normally this would be a fantastic day but Saturday would top this stunning experience.
I will be posting that day after a decision is made on what photos to post. Shouldn't take more than a day or two.....I hope!!
If you fancy a trip to this stunning location please get in contact as I run various workshops throughout the year. I have a couple of limited places left in mid May.
Future dates will be added including the deer rut in September/October and next winter. I should also be visiting during other times and you are welcome to join me.
For more details or drop me a message.
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