Southern Iberian Species over the weekend

Come Friday evening and as is the normal before my trips out to the Sierra Morena I was still not packed!!!   Well photographic equipment was...but not clothes.

I had arranged to meet my client at Gatwick at 4.30 to 5am so we could head to the terminal together and after a few issues en route with road closures we met up on time.

Plan for the long weekend was to photograph and observe Spanish Imperial Eagle, Griffon and Black Vultures, Iberian Wolf and Eagle Owl.

After a two hour delay on the runway in London we headed off to Malaga...arriving over 2 hours late so plans were already risky for the first evening.   By the time we drove north to the mountains we decided to have a bit of late lunch and a few beers. Plans were rearranged and the following day we would head for Imperial Eagle and later afternoon try for the Eagle Owl.

As is  normal with these trips we are up early for coffee and to make sure we are on location before the sun shows.

Once set up it’s a matter of waiting....well today there was not much waiting....30 mins in and still with little light approximately 40 Griffon Vultures descended without hesitation and began to feed.  Within a few minutes 2 Cinereous  (Black) Vultures joined them.

Griffon Vultures

Cinereous Vulture  

Personally having vultures this early is a worry for me as they clear the area up and may keep the Eagle away......but not at these hides. One of this year’s chicks arrived very quickly and shortly after its twin turned up. Dad made an appearance but stayed in the background until he decided to see off one of the chicks.

Spanish Imperial Eagle Chick

Adult Spanish Imperial Eagle

Spanish Imperial Eagle Chick

A great session was spent observing the stunning raptors and so we didn't get too bored....100 or so Azure-wing Magpies would keep us entertained. For good measure one of the local mongoose would show to the right but wouldn't give me a good opportunity for a shot.

Azure-winged Magpie

Griffon Vulture Sleeping 

Late afternoon would involve a small hike up the valley to try and observe the Eagle Owls. Once in place it didn't take long to hear them calling.....not surprising the call is very loud and in the valley can be heard quite clear. While we where waiting Blue Rock Thrush and Black Red Starts were seen around the hides.

I spotted a slight movement up in the tree tops and suddenly.....one of the Owls flying towards us and in a split second it was in front of the hide and over to the left without stopping. I'm always happy when my clients get a shot of the target species even though I didn't.

A successful day and we were all happy as we discussed the day over a few beers and nice Ibérico Pork

The following morning after breakfast we headed south to meet up with a friend and go visit a Wolf Park that manages a group of Iberian Wolves.  They are housed in a huge area and are left to be as close to wild as is possible. The pack acts and has hierarchy as they should. A stunning opportunity and experience that brought memories of seeing a pack move through the edge of a forest in Galicia when I was a child.

Distant Female Iberian Wolf

Dominant Male Iberian Wolf

A few hours later and with some luck we where close to a spot to attempt Iberian Ibex. A nice extra and after the drive up the mountain we got very lucky spotting a group of females and young Ibex. After parking and making our way on foot the group also consisted of 3 sub adult males and one fully adult male. 

Adult Male Southern Iberian Ibex

We spent almost 3 hours with them and observed them feeding and cleaning each other but we were too late for rutting.

Male Feeding

Female Ibex (calculated Risk to get this shot)

In all a tiring and successful weekend and I finally got home at 2am.

Very content :)

From Bee Eaters to Vultures in the Sierra Morena

Time of year to head back to sunnier climates and always good when the weather at home isn't great.... however this time the weather was lovely. Not to worry alarm set for stupid o'clock and all set to head to the airport.

In the early hours and as the levelers were heading home of I went to meet my client for our three days of intense photography....or should I say 3 days of no sleep ;)

After a fairly easy journey and stop over in Torremolinos to pick up some items...not to mention observe the local Monk Parakeets we headed north to the Sierra.

Arriving early afternoon we had a nice lunch and rest before heading to the Bee Eaters colony. Located on a river bed surrounded by wild flower fields we had 30 to 40 birds circulling the hides for the 3 or so hours we were there.

Unfortunately no real courtship was observed but nest building and some food passes were seen. Even the local kingfisher showed up a couple of times...but as is my luck I missed the shots of him perched up 4 metres from me.

As we were packing up a nice little owl was hooting on the nearby ruin farm building.

Bee Eater at Nest Hole

Once picked up we decided to head out to visit a Hoopoe nest and try our luck with the male eyed lizard. No luck with the later but joy with the Hoopoe chick popping out to say hello. Also a pair of stunning Wood-backed Shrike and a Little Owl guarding her nest would bring a nice end to our first day.

Little Owl 

8 or so new species for my client with around 5 being photographed.

Another early rise on day two so to be in the hide before sunrise. 2 hours sleep for me but felling great and full of hope for the day ahead.

Within 5 minutes of being set up the first of 5 foxes would show. A nursing vixen was first, followed by...what I suspect is her elder daughter from the last brood as they showed no aggression towards each other.

A young cub looked through the long grass but did not come out to have a look.
Shortly after the first foxes the adults pair appeared leaving their two chicks behind. We were expecting them to take in turns showing for the meal but they must have not been hungry as they did not come down to feed.

However some great action was seen then the dog fox turned up. This brought the eagles down and chasing them away. At one stage I was sure it had grabbed the fox.

Spanish Imperial Eagle - Not Cropped!!!

A long a productive day with another 3 species being added to my clients list. Spanish Imperial Eagle, Griffon and Black Vultures being seen and the first two photographed.

Day three and a bit of a drive to our next destination.....Egyptian Vulture hide.

It would not disappoint. 20 or so Egyptians and lots of Black Kites. Unfortunately the Griffon or Black's did not come to feed as we had news of a carcass had been spotted the day before. Still a great morning with some fantastic action.

Egyptian Vulture - Juveniles..Left Last year Right 2/3 year old

Egyptian Vulture - Adult

The wind made it that bit extra special as the Black Kites would hover before coming down. Something rarely witnessed with this species.

Black Kite - Hovering 

Three long days and another successful trip for both me and my guests. However not the end of the week for me. Within 18 hours of landing in London I would be up in Scotland for the next part of the weeks adventures......Osprey, Kingfisher,  Cuckoo and Sparrowhawk

Hope you like the blog and watch out for Part 2...in Scotland

Goshawk, Hawfinch Spectacular...plus a small review of the last few weeks

Being my birthday week I decided that I should do something special. I received a special invite to spend a week in the Masai Mara, unfortunately due to date clashes I wasn't able to head out. Joys of a full time job ;)

So what to do???? As the time drew nearer Scotland was calling me back for Black Grouse in the snow but hearing of a new Goshawk hide in Spain it seemed like an opportunity not to be missed. So almost at the last minute and with thanks to my good friend Felix dates were made available for me and on Wednesday morning I headed out of Gatwick, destination Madrid. The 150 mile drive to the village was spent dreaming of a possible Goshawk showing and observing the migrating raptors, white stocks etc. Love watching hundreds of mixed raptor groups consisting of black kites, booted, short-toed eagles along with various smaller species including Lesser Kestrels.

Arriving early afternoon I was taken to  hide for a couple of hours. Great opportunity to get my bearings and thinking of what shots to get. Always recommend that you spend some time observing your surroundings and thinking of the shots you want rather than shooting everything that's around.

What a couple of hours.....flocks of Hawfinch descend to the feeders with numbers reaching 38 at one time. What a sight and pointing the lens was a bit of a challenge as I didn't want to miss any of the action. Fights, displaying, signing but no copulation...possibly too early. 

Hawfinch - Female

Hawfinch - Male

Back to my earlier point....good to have a few shots in mind, as situations like this fill you with excitement and confusion.

Hawfinch - Fight

Hawfinch - Male

Other species included much loved Crested Tits, Great tit, Long-tailed Tits, Siskin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Crested Woodpecker, a stunning Short-toed Treecreeper and a couple of Cute Red Squirrels.

Short-toed Treecreeper

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

After a couple of hours I headed back to my room as now I had been awake for over 20 hours and was knackered but happy. Start times where finalised as news hit me the Gos visited 15 minutes after I left.......I better not repeat the word that left my mouth!!! So an early start  would be best, as it didn't make a kill.....phew!!!

At the crack of dawn we met up with Felix and hopes were high that we would have a silent assassin turn up early in the day.

After set up and almost straight away the Hawfinch arrived. After about a hour and out of nowhere and as silent as a feather dropping a huge raptor maneuvered through the trees and bang.....One dead pigeon....shouldn't fall asleep in the open....or is that should!!!!

Goshawk

Now...... 'PPPPLLEASE stay'......'eat it and don't take it away' was going through my head as we composed ourselves at the sight of this stunning juvenile male Goshawk with an almost black face. (Later I would find out it's possibly a new bird not seen before)

Goshawk - Pluck the feathers before eating

Interestingly he removed the spine and neck first

He stayed for about two hours eating its prey.....bones and all!!!! During this time a common buzzard was calling from behind us but the Gos didn't give a hoot.

The stare is so evil I wanted to enhance it by increasing the shutter speeds

Full frame portrait - sometimes not so evil

However what is that circling just above the tree tops.....now it is nervous and starts to mantle.....could it be?????

Goshawk - Mantling

Yes a sub adult male having a look but deciding to perch in the distance for a short while. Hopes of a fight was being whispered by us both....not to be as we know this male was injured at the weekend....possibly by this large new male or one of the adults a short distance away.

After the distant Gos left our new companion relaxed and continued to have its breakfast. Only a partial head on mantle as the buzzard flew past obviously deciding there would be no scraps. What was surprising to me was how vocal he was throughout his meal. 

Goshawk - Partial Mantle 

When all that was left was the ribcage off he went straight over the hide taking it with him for afters. 

All that was left after two hours

We spent the rest of the afternoon photographing the various small stuff and also had a quick visit from one of the squirrels this time for a quick drink as the heat was building up.

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Hawfinch - Do you think we should nest here???

Hawfinch - Looks Good To Me!!!

Crested Tit

Hawfinch

Late in the afternoon and again out of nowhere a juvenile female Goshawk made an appearance but no pigeons to be had..... the Hawfinch were a little too quick or more likely too many as she was spotted......alarms calls went out as everything fled in all directions.

She decided to hide in the bushes. Due to the alarm calls being heard every couple of minutes this wasn't fooling anyone.

She then decided to have her photo taken and perched towards the back of the clearing before heading off not to return.

Goshawk - Juvenile Female

The day came to an end and possibly one of my most memorable birthdays to date. For years Goshawk have been on my wish list and up to now not been able to photograph them. I was heading back to my room happy and looking forward to beer or three.

Happy Birthday to me....couldn't get any better I thought......or could it???

'Fancy seeing eagle owls?' Came from my host........'What?' I know he was checking two nest sites but didn't want to ask too much. 'Fancy seeing eagle owls?' Was repeated and double taking Felix, simultaneously looking at each other 'YES!!!!!'

On route we were being told a couple had hatched at another site, which I hope to visit in the coming weeks. On arrival at this nest and in the twilight were three stunning 1 week old chicks. A quick record shot from distance is all I could manage in my excitement of seeing my first nest. The adults are huge and one day I will get some photos of them.

Eagle Owls - Chicks 

On our way there and back we could see why this is a good place for the Owls. Hundreds of rabbits everywhere and when I say hundreds I mean hundreds!!! Also a stunning Short-toed Eagle was perching in a nearby pine. Too dark for photos though.

Thank you to Felix and my host for a great couple of days. I will be back with guests for sure!!!!

I have been asked what I have been up to for past couple of months. So a quick recap.

I am currently scoping the local area for the rare Wiltshire Wild Red Deer. Unfortunately only seen a dead doe but have it on good authority where they are and hope to catch up with the small numbers soon.

While in the area I have seen a possible Rough-legged Buzzard. The jury is out but a couple of good raptor chaps think it is. Just wish I hadn't deleted the photo of the white un-barred tail as this would help in identifying.

Rough-legged Buzzard

I have also been lucky on the Owl front. All 5 UK species sighted within 10 minutes of my house. New Little Owl pair, Long-eared, Short-eared, Barn and Tawny all seen hunting. Just can't locate the Long-eared roost but more than happy to see my first Swindon sighting.

Little Owl

Short-eared Owl

Also had a quick visit to the Borders of Scotland for a fantastic session in Alan's Kingfisher hide. Unfortunately in extremely bad weather but still came back with some nice shots. Will be back in May for another go.

Kingfisher - Male