The Last Few Days

I came back from Fuerteventura (not on this freighter..... but with Clickair!) after my intrepid sailing trip in force eight gales and in need of a few showers (avast ye swab! - dunno what it means but were were using this and other supposed nautical terms all last week as we headed into the eye of the storm...Aaaar!) I didn't expect more rain, but yes, there was the world record to go for and Andalucia looks like a winner...


What's current?


Well, We had a few Eurasian Spoonbills some with coloured rings (reports sent off) and some Greater Flamingoes on the Barbate Estuary two days ago.
Parasitic Skuas, Northern Gannets and some Cory's Shearwaters could be seen this morning from the breakwater at Barbate's port. ( A Good Viewing Location Tip)

Northern Bald Ibis were also doing a flypast over the town this morning - they could be off anywhere. I learned that an English couple had recently reported seeing two of them in their garden in Granada. I think I've said this before but there is the chance to have birds from the project turning up anywhere at all. The ones on the Algarve golf courses are still there, some are in Morocco and the rest are not too far away - with most returning to the aviary each night. The chick from last year has been regularly seen flying with its parents and they too have a hankering for a 'probe' on local golf fairways either at Montenmedio near Vejer or at Benalup Golf.

Two Black Vultures turned up in the La Janda area last week as Squacco Herons and Eurasian Spoonbills were watched feeding. Our resident Griffon Vultures are sitting on eggs and Little Bustards have been seen displaying. Most of the White Stork nests are occupied (have been for quite a while!) and the addition of new twigs creates more nest sites for the House and Spanish Sparrows that live within some of the larger structures.

Great Spotted Cuckoos haven't had many caterpillars this month as they also arrive from Morocco in ever increasing numbers.

The cold wet weather has reduced insect life and although Stonechats are sitting on eggs already time will tell if any early hatched broods can be sufficiently fed by their parents.

Black Kite numbers are also up and Common Crane numbers down dramatically than in warmer winters.

La Janda, Barbate Marismas the Rio Jarra area at Tarifa and the Bay of Cadiz area are all under lots of water. Lesser Kestrels have been back in Vejer de la Frontera for a few weeks and my kids keep on telling me to shave off that jaggy beard that I've kept from my sailing trip ....Aaaar!

Sunset over Vejer de la Fontera