La Janda was once one of the richest feeding grounds for migratory and resident birds alike up until the end of the 1950's. Sadly this perfect stopover on one of the busiest bird migration routes from Europe to Africa was drained and the rich land turned to agriculture. True to say that poverty and famine as well as malarial outbreaks plagued the resident population around such a vast inland freshwater lake, but after the lake was 'sterlised' with DDT, the rest regrettably is history.
Hen Harrier pass through on migration. This lovely sub-adult male bird was seen this week
From the large Griffon Vulture colony at Aciscar, this young bird passes very close to the camera as it descends to a carcass feed near Sierra de Retin
Early flowering narcissus - Narcissus serotinus
Always a great sight to see, flocks of White Storks in every corner around the cut rice-fields
We saw a few Purple Herons this week and a Great Bittern was also seen
White Wagtails have been arriving in their hundreds this week
Black-winged Kite one of perhaps twenty birds in and around the La Janda area
A closer view of this beautiful raptor
Stone Curlews. Up to forty-five birds were seen this week at La Mediana
Always present and always tricky to photograph, the Common Kingfisher makes a dash along one of the many canals between the rice-fields
A few Spanish Imperial Eagles have been seen almost daily this week
This one has a radio transmitter and is part of the local Junta de Andalucia's monitoring programme in Cadiz province
Increased arrivals of Common Cranes from the Baltic and N Germany and Denmark have been seen this week. I counted approximately 180 cranes and there could be more in places I couldn't access due to the condition of the muddy tracks after the rain. The Cranes normally stay with us until the beginning of March. Many more pass through and head to N Africa. The largest wintering group on the Iberian peninsular is in Extremadura where up to 80,000 Common Cranes winter!
Great Egrets, looking large and splendid whether it's a contrast of white against the green rice-fields or a cloudless blue sky. They have spread in steady numbers westwards across central and southern Europe in recent years. Quite a remarkable expansion, but like Grey Herons they can decimate populations of ground nesting birds around wetland areas
More scenes from La Janda
Red Kites passing, hunting and watching all the massed bird activity
A juvenile Bonelli's Eagle from this weeks raptor photos
Top side of the Bonelli's Eagle. See how perfectly formed the trailing edge of the wings appear. In the coming months these lighter, softer first feathers will be replaced or moulted by stronger ones. Just like any youngster, good diet is essential for bone and feather development and during the the first years, larger birds of prey are quite vulnerable to all kinds of hazards including lack of essential nourishment. The arrival of thousands of duck from the north will help sustain them and other large eagles during the coming months
This photo shows the Bonelli's youngster at full stretch, ready to push down hard and launch foward into the wind to gain lift
The second and third flaps are equally vigorous to gain speed and height
A young Marsh Harrier surveys the landscape below. There are hundreds of Marsh Harriers, mainly juveniles here and lots will stay over winter
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