Monday 6th May 2013

   First real day of the holiday. Decent(ish) buffet breakfast, had to pay extra for it, but worth it. Nicked a few bits and bobs for the journey!!!!

   Drove North to Avila, then towards the Gredos Mountains. The birds that would become regular, were all seen on the drive. Red & Black Kite(loads), White Storks (nesting on nearly every pylon), Spotless Starlings and Woodchat Shrike. A Short-toed Eagle was seen and a couple of Hoopoes too.

   As we got up higher there seemed to be Cuckoos everywhere, calling and being seen. Never seen so many before! First proper stop was Parador de Gredos, a rather posh looking Hotel, to look for Citril Finch mainly. Birds here included Serin, Linnet, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Western Bonellis Warbler, and what sounded like Citril Finch too. After about 5 minutes only, something caught my eye, near the small church like building on the other side of the road. I walked up, and there on the grass were a pair of Citril Finches, my first lifer. We drove around looking for more, but no sign, i did hear more though.

   Next stop, La Platforma. This is a car park at the end of a road into the Mountains. It is used mainly for walkers etc. to walk to the Cirque de Gredos, and the Laguna. As we turned onto the road a male Serin sat in a bush right alongside the car, and had a preen. We stopped by the river halfway down, Coal, Great and Blue Tit, lots of Serin, Nightingales and a Grey Wagtail were seen and heard. A bit farther on, near a farm with some sheep pens, there were a few birds, including about 5 Northern and 1 Black-eared Wheatear, Corn Buntings(everywhere), White & Spanish (Yellow) Wagtails, a Woodlark and Black Redstarts.    
  
   We drove on higher up. I was hoping for Bluethroat and Ortolan Bunting here, but we didnt see much at all. A couple of Griffon Vultures flew over, a couple of Ravens and a Booted Eagle. We got to the car park, i had told my Dad that he would see Rock Bunting here, as i had seen them before there. First bird i saw was a Dunnock, but in almost the exact spot i saw one last time, was a male Rock Bunting. A pair of Black Redstarts were nesting in the buildings there, and a pair of Spanish Wagtails were about.

   On the way back down we saw our first Blue Rock Thrush, bit distant though. A stop at the farm again, this time there was a too brief view of a male Ortolan Bunting! All the other birds were still there. After a few stops on the way back, which didnt produce anything else new, except hearing a Fan-tailed Warbler, we were back on the main road, the Valley de Jerte. Onto Plasencia, then to the Camping Monfrague, where we would be staying for 6 nights. In the campsite we had, Azure-winged Magpies, this is the easiest place to see them anywhere, as they come down to bread!!!! Also Spotless Starlings and House Sparrows.
   Sorted all our stuff out then took a drive to Salto del Gitano, and Pena Falcon. The Salto is a watch point, with a car park, over looking the river and a big rock, Pena Falcon. There we had lots of Griffon Vultures, worth a visit just to see them all! There are also at least 2 pairs of Black Stork nesting there, a pair of Ravens and a pair of Peregrines were seen. Around the car park were Crag & House Martins, Swifts, Red-rumped Swallows, Rock Bunting, Serin and Linnet.

   Not a bad first day. Hopefully not so much driving from now on, until the long drive across the country!!!!!

Sunday 5th May 2013

   Not much to report today. Flight went smooth, got all sorted, then pain trying to get the car sorted. But, managed it, then drove (in the dark) to the Travelodge, just North of Madrid. Recommended, especially if you are travelling North or to the Jerte Valley/Gredos Mountains. Good nights kip needed.

   For those interested, i will try to put up a list of sightings on the last days blog, or when i get back.
   Also as it will take a while to process all my photos, they will be added when i have done them all. Please be patient, there will (hopefully) be loads!

Saturday 4th May 2013

  Flying visit to the Forest of Dean today. For a change had a wander around Woorgreens Lake. A pair of Redstarts were near the pull in. A noise in the bushes about halfway round, and a Wild Boar ran out, never to be seen again sadly! Nothing too much to note on the rest of the walk around, except a Lesser Redpoll over. Willow Warblers were singing all around. Then before getting back to the car, i found a pair of Tree Pipits feeding along the tree line.

  Holiday tomorrow, so should have some more to report then!!!

Thursday 2nd May 2013

Wood Pigeon

   Visit to Slimbridge WWT after work, to see if i could get some more photos of the Common Cranes. I sat in the hide for a while photographing anything flying by, sadly only Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons came close enough.

    Then i thought i heard the Cranes calling, but i couldnt see them. Then after about the 4th time of hearing them i saw one on the sea wall, near the Holden Tower. Then another and another, time to get to the Tower i think. Got there and finally counted 16 birds. There were 18 reported earlier. They were displaying and calling, then all went for a bath and drink around the pool on the Dumbles.

Common Cranes

Common Crane

Wednesday 1st May 2013

   A Short-eared Owl at Aust Warth again tonight and a Whitethroat too.

   A stop off on the way home, at a pool at the end of the Western Approach Distribution Park, was quite good. There were at least 5 Yellow Wagtails and 6+ Little Ringed Plovers there.

Tuesday 30th May 2013

  I decided to go home via Aust Warth. Sadly there was some sort of Police operation going on at the bridge end. So i drove past and went to the other end, where i bumped into a birder who said there had been a Grasshopper Warbler about. So i stopped and waited about. The bird sang from in the bush. Three Short-eared Owls showed and 3 Yellow Wagtails flew over. Gradually the Grasshopper Warbler got braver, and started to show, and show well too. Only a little, brown job i know, but brill aint they?

Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler

Sunday 28th April 2013

   Quiet day today on the Levels.  

  Catcott was really quiet, just a male Marsh Harrier of note.

  Ham Wall was a bit better. A Red Kite there again, Reed Warblers singing and the my Swifts of the year.

  Chew was alive with hirundines, including the first House Martins of the year.

  So worth going out, but nothing too special.

Saturday 27th April 2013

Common Toad

   Back for the Shrike today. There were too many people there, and getting too close!!!! WE saw the bird and left. We had 2 Common Sandpipers at Herriotts, before i decided to go to Cheddar Reservoir to see if the Terns and Gulls were still about.

   We had about 20 Arctic Terns there and eventually i found the Little Gull too. Too far out for photos and into the sun too. Did manage some photos though, of a Toad which was not looking too healthy, and being battered against the side of the reservoir!!!

Common Toad

  I then heard that there was a summer plumaged Bonapartes Gull at Chew. Sadly it was right in the middle from Moreton hide, but we managed to see it. It was a first for Chew and for Avon!!! So a special, long awaited bird.

Friday 26th April 2013

   After a tip off, i decided to go and try to photograph some juvenile Dippers. After a short search they showed well, an adult and probably 4 juveniles.

Dipper (Adult & Juvenile)

Dipper (Juvenile)

Dipper (Juvenile)

  I had wanted to photograph juvenile Dipper for a while, so was quite happy with these shots.

Monday 22nd April 2013

   Yes, was the answer to yesterdays question! The (1st summer female) Woodchat Shrike was still there. So an after work visit to Widcombe, a small village behind Herriotts pool, Chew. I got there and there were only 3 other people there. They were taking photos, and had got to a decent distance too. So, i waited at a distance so not to disturb the bird. They said i could come closer the bird didnt seem too worried. But i waited until they had finished, the light wasnt too good anyway. I was now on my own with the bird. I got a bit closer, they were right the bird didnt seem worried at all. My luck changed too, as the sun came out for about 1/2 an hour! I got some shots, then other birders started to arrive, so i backed off and allowed them to get some shots. Quite happy with mine anyway....

Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike