Thinking About Warm Crayfish

After a deluge that passed over us, it always goes back the same way!
I'm talking about normal weather patterns, after a storm passes through south-west Andalucia, the sun kicks back in and we have clear sunny skies again. The only difference is that the current rainfall has been much greater in volume than in the past. An effect of global warming I should imagine.
But where most people notice these obvious greater effects, with flooding then drought, wet summers and mild winters, the birds and animals change and adapt by the way they live their lives just as we do. A warmer climate in Europe will keep on attracting more exotic southern birds for example, to spread northwards from their 'usual' territories, as food becomes more available in these traditionally cooler northern areas. Recent arrivals in Europe from Africa that are now breedinginclude Black shouldered Kites, Slender-billed Gulls and Western Reef Herons (breeding with Cattle Egrets resulting in hybrids). Rüppell's Griffon Vultures are now regular visitors and some stay on in the south for long periods. Just like Lanner Falcons and Atlas Long-legged Buzzards it will only be a matter of time before we'll have locally breeding birds.
The effects of our warmer climate means that there is a whole world of change taking place beneath our feet that goes practically unnoticed.

Looking at the amount of Red Signal Crayfish that are being eaten by Storks, Herons and Ibis in the La Janda rice fields, it seems that this species which was introduced in the late 1950's - early 1960's, has had a very prolific breeding time and now is one of the reasons coupled with the milder winter weather, that both White and Black Storks can survive here in Andalucia without having to undertake the great journey south to equatorial Africa. The result of not having to do this often hazardour journey each year means less numbers die and results in increased population amongst this particular species. The equation of ample food source and better climatic conditions outwith breeding times can also be used with the tremendous population explosion of another bird species the Glossy Ibis. Not such a long time ago, Glossy Ibis would have been a rare bird indeed in Europe. In the last fifteen years the breeding population has risen from single figures to in the thousands. Quite a remarkable success story. Since the darainage of natural wetlands in both Huelva and Cadiz provinces for rice production, the dramatic loss of habitat for many species meant a reduction of numbers and I presume the loss of specific species like Marsh Owl, Crakes and Rails. (Sadly there isn't enough information available on specific recordings or population density or distribution in this area for the 1950's to the 1970's.) The Glossy Ibis was a bird species that did profit from a combination of re-introduction/breeding programmes and the availability of new food sources in and around the agricultural areas.
Sacred Ibis are already in the Doñana parks and I suspect that unless some group activly stops them, they'll be breeding there too! These birds are either escapees from collections or from an already established group in Brittany, France.
Other larger and of course more noticeable escapees include Chilean and Lesser Flamingoes, Ruddy Shellduck, Cape Teal, Egyptian Goose, White Pelican and Black Swans.
Smaller caged-birds were released in their thousands in Spain and Portugal when the news that avian flu was going to be of 1919 proportions. The panicing owners released some quite exotic and stunningly beautiful species into the countryside. May of course din't make the assimilation from being cared for to abandonment. Others have successfully started small colonies or populations down this way and some like the various populations in mant Iberian cities the Monk Parakeet. Red Avadavat and Common Waxbill are even accepted as being 'Spanish' birds or even listed on the official list of birds of the Western Palearctic. What an accolade! Bouquets of Laurels, palms and bays say the birds....

Wetland Birds

I have been cleaning up after the torrential rain we had yesterday - not as bad as Valencia. They had 80Liters per m2 !

So now that I'm back inside and in front of the mac again, here are some images of wetland birds and waders, taken over the last two months that I'd like to share.

Great Egrets (used to be called Great White Egrets) populations and distribution are are on the increase, progressing steadily westwards through Europe from their eastern strongholds.

Caspian Terns (the bird with the carrot on the end of it's face!) have a huge global distribution and as terns do, they go wherever they want. We are lucky in the south to see such birds on a frequent basis.

Pied Avocets and Black-winged Stilts are always lovely birds to see. Looking so graceful and delicate, they are surprisingly tough birds, seeing off any potential predator with positive firmness and vocal alarm calls.

We Need The Rain ... But This Was Ridiculous!

Black Tailed Godwits are beautiful birds and I never get tired of watching them when they stop off down this way after their breeding season in the north.









Ducks and waders were out in force today in La Janda as the rains came once again.

Some heavy showers were coming in From the south Atlantic during the night after such a beautiful day yesterday.

The rain showers, some very heavy continued for most of the day and it was rather unfortunate that Frank and Yolande from Holland took today as a day for birding.
Finding some bedragled Northern Bald Ibis near Zahara was a good start and by the time we had got passed La Zarzuela we had seen White Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Stonechats.

Not able to get out of the mini-bus at La Janda was a problem - in fact we could hardly open the windows such was the downpour. After a while the rain eased a little and we watched masses of White Storks, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons and some Little Egrets feeding on harvested rice fields. Spanish Sparrows, Snipe and Purple Sandpipers came next, flying out of the saturated fields. Red-legged Partridge and Common pheasant were all along the main collector canal track as were Little Ringed Plovers.

We stopped to check out a raptor sitting on a distant pylon which turned out to be a rather wet looking, young Bonelli's Eagle sitting out the bad weather.

A little further on we found Yellow Wagtails flying overhead and good views of a Cetti's Warbler.

A Southern Grey shrike was next which was a good find on such a day. Then as if by magic an adult Black shouldered Kite was seen on top of some bushes before flying off. We managed to get some fairly good views and watched it land a few times before flying past us.

Purple Swamphens were watched next as were more Marsh Harriers and another group of approximately one hundred White Storks.

It did stop raining for about ten minutes but then got back into deluge mode once again, so
we decided to call a halt at mid-day as the wet weather was really not moving off at all and although we had seen some good birds, it's always better to quit when one is ahead!

I didn't even try to take my camera out of the bag today as the light was so poor, so all the photos posted tonight are from other birding trips. ;-)

Spanish Imperial Eagles - One Of The Rarest Eagles In The World!

I suppose some people may take the fact that Spanish Imperial Eagles are on the increase, therefore they aren't rare anymore. With less than 250 breeding pairs in Spain and Portugal this bird is globally rare and very much an endangered species. How lucky to have this as a 'garden bird'!
I went out this morning to have a look at some of my local patches and came across this young beauty. This first year bird was just wonderful to watch and enjoy. Later on a smaller Bonelli's Eagle came over to see what this larger bird was up to. Just magic!

Sun and Birds on The Río Guadalquivir

The name Guadalquivir comes from the Arab name, Wadi al Kebir which means "The large river".
It is a tidal river, right up to Seville, a distance of eighty kilometers.
The river is famous for departures of the voyages of discovery from Sanlúcar to Central and South America. Columbus made some from here as did the founder of Buenos Aires, Pedro de Mendoza.








The Salinas de Bonanza are an integral part of the boundaries of the Parque Natural of the Coto Doñana. Some of the tracks are now off limits to vehicles and to get to some of the best sites where most of these photos were taken requires special permission. Thankfully I have a new key for the padlocks!
Some of pond with less salinity attract thousands of waders, gulls, Storks and Herons and really are worth a visit.



An Osprey flies past as we watch the Flamingoes and waders.

Greater Flamingoes have good wintering numbers around the Bay of Cadiz, the Cadiz side of the The Coto Doñana and across in Huelva province and the marshes of the National Park.
They are very specialised feeders, filtering out enormous quantities of salt and brackish water every day to feed on larvae, small shrimps and other small saline creatures.

This was a particularly obliging 'light form' of the Booted Eagle that came in quite close for a look at us!




Good numbers of Black Storks are around this week on the Guadalquivir.

A cruise ship heads up to Seville.






















A Banded Groundling is predominantly a North African species but also found in southern Iberia.






Marbled Ducks seem to have re-grouped after last weekend's torrential rains. There were appoximately seventy-five birds present on the main location. Other birds included Black Sorks (twelve) Red Kites (four), Ospreys (four), Booted Eagles (three), Short-toed Eagles (two), Great Egret (two), Northern Wheatears (15+), Little, Whiskered and Caspian Terns, (Lots!)
Hoopoe (one), Greylaag Geese,(Twenty+), Purple Swamphens, Kingfishers, Greenshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Little Stints, Purple Sandpipers, Pied Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Dunlin,


Pied Flycatcher






This photo shows the massive silted up plain south of Seville.


We spotted quite a few new arrivals on the migrants front yesterday. Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails were seen in good numbers and European Robins are here in the woodlands. Pied Flycatchers seem slow to leave and perhaps like last year some will stay on a bit longer. Redstarts are though in the main, the bulk of them are now in Morocco or beyond. Black Redstarts tend to stay and winter right through until early spring. The last ten days or so has seen an increase in their numbers here. Lovely little birds! We have two roosting around our house and Hoopoe Cottage.




The Guadalquivir River is still navigable from The Atlantic Ocean at Sanlúcar de Barrameda to the Andalucian capital Seville. Here, fairly large ocean going freighters travel with containers, cars, or hoiday makers on cruise ships. The deeper section are dreged and in recent years It seems that there has been an increase in shipping traffic.
I was across there birding with a Canadian couple from Toronto and we had a great day out. The sun was shining and lots of birds, butterflies and damselflys were around.

Misty Morning

We had a migrant Hobby over the garden yesterday evening and a young Cetti's Warbler has been roosting in one of the bushes called in Spanish, 'Dame de Noche' for the past week. The particular bird likes to eat the soft white berries of this beautifully scented plant. The normally explosive song of adult Cetti's obviously take some time to master. This young bird is getting there but still needs some practice.

With dampness still hanging around the low lying areas, the white villages peer out of the morning mist and make for super
photographic opportunities. This is Vejer de La Frontera.

Mixed Bag

Wood Sandpiper






We had three Bonelli's Eagles today, two 'rusty' coloured juveniles and one lighter sub-adult. It was a strange day weatherwise with mist in the low-lying areas and thicker clouds coming in from the south-west over The Strait.
By late morning we managed to see a fair number of Species that included Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagle, Common Buzzards. Black Shouldered Kites, Red Kites and Common Kestrels. About fifteen Griffon Viltures sat around on the ground on a slight incline above La Janda and the place was full of (mainly juvenile) Marsh Harriers. Glossy Ibis, Northern Lapwings (newly arrived) Snipe, Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper (1), Marsh Sandpipers Little Ringed Plovers, Greenshanks and Common Kingfishers were also seen.
Red-legged Partridge and Common Pheasants were too numerous to count as were the Mallards in the wetter areas.
Chiffchaffs darted ahead of us as we drove and Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Linnets, Serins, Stonechats, Corn Buntings, Zitting Cisticola's, one Cetti's Warbler seen (lots heard) and huge mixed flocks of Spanish and House Sparrows fed near the tracks. At some woodland we found Pied Flycatcher, Blackcaps, Robin and more finches. One of the tracks had Crested and Thekla Larks close to one another and in the open fields we saw Calandra Larks. Little Owls were also seen.
White Storks were of course in abundance as were Grey Herons. Jackdaws and Ravens were in the area and we took lunch as the rains came once more.
Juvenile Black Storks will be around during the winter months but most will be on private land over on the Guadalquivir.
Black shouldered Kite Today's bird was an adult, just like this one. I managed to get a few shots but the bird was just a bit too far off for my liking.
The first of this winters Northern Lapwings are here. I can't help feeling sentimental about "Pewits", after all I was in the Pewits in the Boy Scouts... and they seemed to be really common birds when I was growing up in Scotland.
Marsh Sandpipers Lovely birds breeding in the eatern Mediterranean and beyond. We often see them down this way, often staying for some time around the paddy-fields.
The first of this winters Northern Lapwings I can't help feeling sentimental about "Pewits", after all I was in the Pewits in the Boy Scouts... and they seemed to be really common birds when I was growing up in Scotland.

It Rained Here Too...But Not Frogs

Stripeless Tree Frogs tend to go dormant over the hot summer and suddenly come to life after the first rains. Our garden was alive with the sounds of their croaking. I have been saving up pieces of cork-oak for nest-box making over winter and these two frogs liked the feel of the cork.

There are still lots of Short-toed Eagle around. This one clearly had a 'Bad Hair Day".

You can't help feeling sorry the Northern Europeans. I'm one of them and I feel sorry - well, sometimes. The thing about the British weather in summer is that its so unpredictable. Scotland was even more tricky to work out when would be a good weekend to plan the annual barbeque. Never, I suppose is the correct answer. This summer,the weather throughout all northern countries, was pretty grim by all accounts. I was tour leading during early summer in Hungary, Austria, The Bavarian Alps in southern Germany and then across to the Pyrenees. I think we had rain on every trip and I'm glad I didn't go back to the UK this year. Next February we are all going back to Scotland as it's my Dad's 80th birthday. It will be a lovely family get together seeing my brothers and sister. Dad says he really doesn't want to have a barbeque. I bet you that it'll be a scorcher that weekend! The rains, actually a tremendous storm passed by this way heading north at the weekend. We do need the water and it seems that most of it landed in the Valencia area and on the Costa del Sol. We escaped any major damage although trees came down and power supplies were affected. Our area was covered with fine Saharan powdered red dust that came free with the rain! That reminds me I should really be cleaning the pool.... Sunny today
Want a really good weather site?......Look no further - CLICK HERE. This site is the bobby-dazzler of all satellite imagery websites that gives you a choice of any part of Europe & North Africa with options of a filmshow display over the last 24hours

Birds and People - Twitch My List

After an absence of seventy-five years, the Schlemenn's Pipit turns up on the beach at Blackpool. Unfortunately, the bird was dazzled, dazed and completely blinded by cameras the twitching multitudes that turned up and as thousands of camera flashes went off, this caused the poor bird to take a fit, flip and fall into the sea and drown.
Interestingly, not one of the people in the photo below went to help the poor bird.
Later this week, after a thorough autopsy and DNA testing it was discovered that the Schlemenn's Pipit was in fact only a Meadow Pipit that had accidentally come into contact with a rather strong hair tonic.
The crowds drifted back to their lairs with pagers in hand hoping for some other UK twitch that day. "The further away from Blackpool the better!" squealed one rather tall, one-eyed birder with a very long list.







Schlemenn's Pipits are two-a-penny down our way. (Sigh!)
Recognise anybody in the picture?









Back to the Autumn migration in Spain......
'Do you think we'll ever get off of this migration watchpoint Mick?'





'By the looks of things, not a bleedin' chance Stephen!'
( I wanted to lend some of my hair to Mick but he just wouldn't wear it.......)

'Where's that Mipit'?

Migration Photos 2008

If you'd like to go to Andalucian Guides website and look through all the photos and information there, then please be my guest.
Click on the photo to take you there.

I'll keep this blog going for the foreseeable future as it's the quickest method for me to share photos and other information about birding and wildlife on The Strait of Gibraltar.

Do please leave a feedback as it's always good to know how you could improve the content.

The photo is of the beach at Bolonia, near to Tarifa and site of the famous Roman city of Baelo Claudia


Some of the time you can't help to notice what other great photo opportunities are around - even during the busy migration time.
This old farm bell has been silent for many years since the La Janda agricultural area has been mechanised.


Woodchat Shrikes are another migrant that often takes its time to pass through the area. Quite often we'll see juvenile birds like this one in December.



Interestingly breeding Woodchat Shrikes have a symbiotic relationship with another striking (an often tricky to locate migrant), the Rufous Bush Robin. Both birds breed in the same area and co-operate with one another often emitting alarm calls when danger is around.

Moving to one of the smallest of part-migrant birds that come down this way for winter - the Penduline Tit. Groups of these lovely passerines can be seen in the south and are always great to watch or indeed to listen out for.

This is a dark or melanistic form of Montagu's Harrier - same species but often causes identification confusion in the field. Wing shape and breadth is a key factor but the Montagu's has four "fingers" or primary feather projections at the end of the wing, rather with five in the case of the Hen Harrier. If you get a chance to study the flight of all three harriers, then you'll soon pick up the subtle differences at a distance. Again showing photos on a digital camera in the field is a great aid and re-enforces size, shape and with a decent shot, colour! Montagu's Harriers are something quite special amongst their cousin's in the west of Europe, the larger Marsh Harrier and the Hen Harrier. Monty's, as they are often referred to by birders are light and buoyant and extremely agile fliers. Their body weight is four times less than an adult female Marsh Harrier and their flight profile is smaller, with wings held in a shallow 'V' form and flying on long narrow wings. They are a real joy to watch hunting as their acrobatic manoeuvering impresses one easily with such natural beauty.

Black Storks keep to smaller groups and often can be seen in ones or two's migrating. They normally are present on the outside of the more numerous White Stork groups both feeding on the ground or in the air. They keep a lower profile than the White's and it's always worth checking down in the ditches of the canals or irrigation channels in the rice producing areas. Looking at Black Storks from below is fairly easy. Look for all black colour - except a white 'waistcoat'. Juvenile birds lack the bright legs and beaks of both European storks.

Honey Buzzards are amazing creatures and quite specific and specialist feeders. They sit in the forests watching where swarms of wasps and wild bees are going to, then delicately break open the nest and pick the larvae from inside.They will often return to do the same thing ten or so days later.
Unfortunately Honey Buzzards don't breed in this area but we do enjoy watching them return in March and again passing over our heads in Autumn
You can enlarge all of these photos by clicking on them
Egyptian Vultures passed by our house almost every day in the last weeks and more could be seen down on the coast at Tarifa most days.


Short-toed Eagles are one of my favourite southern raptors with their incredible agility for a medium sized eagle and their ability to hover or stay motionless in the air currents. They can often be seen playing with a caught snake in their beaks, dropping then then swooping down to catch them once more.


More and more Short-toed Eagles have been wintering in Andalucia and southern Portugal, so food supply is obviously here during the cooler months.
Rüppel's Vultures have made a slow gain in numbers each year with four or five birds present.




Booted Eagle travels along the coast near the Trafico migration watchpoint, Tarifa, Cadiz, Spain. That's Morocco in the Background - just 12 kms from one side of The Strait of Gibraltar to the other!

The Annual Rice Harvest

This is a photograph taken in winter after heavy rains fill up the Laguna de La Janda.
This natural basin could be one of the richest wildlife reserves in Europe with adjoining Military Zones and already established Natural Parks bordering all sides, would help maintain buffer zones thus extending its natural protection - Click on the photo to enlarge.

Photo Copyright Cristina Parkes/Asociación Amigos de la Laguna de La Janda

The rice harvest takes place in October and November each year. There is only one harvest per year and the rice is planted as late as the end of May in some areas. During and after the harvest a feeding-frenzy takes place with White and Black Storks, Glossy Ibis, Cattle and Little Egrets, Grey Herons and thousands of gulls gorging on the resulting 'soup' that the combine harvesters make in the paddy-fields.
The water for the paddy-fields comes from two large dams in the nearby foothills of the Alcornocales. One of the dams holds back the Río Barbate and the other collects water from the Almodovar and other streams and rivers, again from the Alcornocales.
The main collector canal and track runs parallel through the public part of La Janda, from the junction of the N340 road with the Zahara turn-off, through to the town of Benalup. This canal was or still is the Río Almodovar, although cut and channeled into a canal and is controlled by a series of sluices and illegally built drainage systems designed to release water out to the Barbate river and sea during the winter months. Two tunnels have been built under the main N340 road near Manzanette and run for some distance under the Military zone into the Natural Park of Las Marismas de Barbate.
La Janda was once the most important natural freshwater lagoons in the Iberian peninsula until the mid 1950's.
The area was similar to that of the southern Iraq marshes with an abundance of birds and other wildlife. La Janda's demise came about when Dwight D. Eisenhower paid vast sums to Franco for land to house the US military's Air and Naval facilities in Spain during the 'Cold War' era.



Famine and Malaria dominated south-west Andalucia, as it did in many other Mediterranean countries. Who knows what effect years of the use of chemicals like DDT did for wildlife at the time. Feeding the country was a priority and Franco knew that this was possible as shown by Mussolini, another European dictator of the time. Just like the vast Italian schemes on the Pontine Marshes, south-west of Rome, Mussolini drained massive areas. The only difference between Il Duce and General Franco was that Mussolini gave land to the people who worked on the projects (even although they were working-class, northern fascists.) This didn't happen in Andalucia.
The rich just expanded their lands and became richer.

Dutch engineers based at a makeshift camp that is now the town of Tahivilla, worked to drain the entire area and re-fashion the natural water courses. Of course the site in some parts lie at least five meters under sea-level and winter flooding is a completely natural phenomena.
Draining the land when it rains causes less work when planting and seeding time comes back around. Because La Janda has no special status whatsoever. This convenient method of drainage not only pollutes the sea but gives little or no sustainance to wintering wildlife.The sad thing is, that what could have been five times better than the isloated and declining Coto Doñana is treated with contempt by both local government and most of the rich landowners alike.

There are some landowners of course that recognise the area as being one of immense wildlife potential and do not subscribe to the greed and disdainful practices.

Large Aquila Eagles

One of the best areas to watch large raptors is on the plain of La Janda. Many of the better birding areas are out of bounds to the public and these peaceful large areas of agricultural areas that include rice, sunflowers and maize fields are perfect for soaring birds. Once the land heats up and thermals rise from the harvested crops, the birds can be seen in the air with squadrons of accompanying Griffon Vultures from nearby colonies.
This photo shows a large private part of La Janda where good birding just exceeds all expectations.

Large Aquila Eagles
The juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagles that have been re-introduced into Cadiz province in recent years were like all inquisitive raptors, absent from their normal area during September. It's likely that they followed the continuous stream of raptors and other large birds crossing The Strait of Gibraltar, and could well be in Morocco. This photo of a juv. SI Eagle was taken on the 8th of October and wasn't one of the re-introduced birds. With a wingspan of over two meters and typically long 'fingers' ths bird is impressive and as a juvenile, fairly easy to identify. During the winter the bright rust colour of the first year SI Eagle fades and darkens on the underwing. Although a fairly distant cropped photo, you can see that this individual has been feeding well and shows a very large, full crop.

There were four other different species of eagles present in the vicinity, a Golden Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Short-toed Eagle and Booted Eagle. I was showing a Swiss couple the area where I live and work and it was just one of those days in birding when things start slowly, then - everything comes at once! It's always wonderful when you see all of the Iberian eagles together and just brilliant when you can have them in the sky, compare size, wing length, colour and markings - all at once.
Sometimes it's just too much to take in and when I do take photos out in the field, I let clients look at the photos on the camera display, to go over all the identification features. Having a good digital camera is a great aid and something that does help birders, once the excitement of the stunning aerial activity has subsided slightly. Great memories and absolutely unique to this special area.

If you are thinking of a trip down this way and would like to get more tips on raptor identification, then look here
- http://www.andalucianguides.com/archive-raptor07.htm

JAPAN - Latest
Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan. In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches. Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived. While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black. Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal

More Black Storks, particularly juvenile birds are wintering on the southern coast and in the Guadalquivir River basin. The area known as Brazo del Este is a perfect location for them to source food over the winer months. They join thousands of White Storks and Herons that feed on the frogs, Red Signal Crayfish and other life in the huge rice-producing flatlands that are cultivated between The Atlantic Ocean at Sanlucar de Barrameda, the famous 'Fino' sherry capital and the Andalucian capital, the city of Sevilla.

Bonelli's Eagles - both adults and juveniles have been seen crossing but there are quite a few that choose to stay in the La Janda area every winter. One of the problems is that they hunt through vast areas of agricultural land for Red-legged Partridge, Pheasants, Ducks and most recently Northern Bald Ibis from the hacking programme along the coast between Zahara de Los Atunes and Barbate. Coincidentaly their name in Spanish is the Partridge Eagle.


Spanish Imperial Eagles have also been seen crossing The Strait or hunting along the coast.
There is another re-intro or hacking programme near the white village of Alcala de Los Gazules. Sadly a good percentage of these birds, taken from other nests in Andalucia, have been found poisoned or shot in recent years.

Golden Eagles have also been coming over the last few months and we normally have a few juvenile birds that hunt close to the southern fringes of the vast Alcornocales forest and Natural Park.

Autumn Raptor Migration 2008

Black shouldered Kites have moved away from what a lot of people described as a roost at La Janda. Last year there were good numbers of Black shouldered Kites near the main collector canal but upgrading of the public tracks have meant more and faster traffic, disturbing all wildlife in the area. Heavy rains will degrade the quality of the track surface soon and will slow down the cars taking a short-cut from Benalup to the main N340 road at the Retin junction.

Black shouldered Kites continued to have a good breeding season this year with new generations spreading northwards.



Black Kites are the first raptors to move south during the autumn migration

Autumn Migration has been quite incredible this year and as a tour leader and guide on The Strait of Gibraltar in Spain, I probably have one of the best jobs going! The long hot, dry summer saps not only your strength but just imagine what it must be like for birds searching for food or even hunting like raptors - or birds of prey as they are also called.

In July and August the beaches down this way are full. They call this the 'Costa de La Luz', the Coast of Light and it really does live up to this lovely name. This isn't by any manner of means a typical spot for hoards of Brits, Germans or Dutch holidaymakers, but a traditional Spanish holiday resort where the peoples of Seville and Madrid retire for the month of August, to relax and enjoy The Altlantic Ocean's cooling, light breezes.

The beaches on this stretch between Gibraltar and Cape St. Vincent in Portugal are without doubt the best in Europe and long stretches of seven or eight kilometers are not unusual.
During the August holiday season the first of the raptors start moving south over the crowded beaches along the Strait of Gibraltar.