One day of westerlies, now back to Levante...

It's not just the smaller passerines that seem incredibly elusive during the autumn raptor migration, but other mammals are just as wary of Man and of course the continual passage of large birds of prey in the area. This young (Iberian) Hare makes a dash for cover as we came around a corner at La Janda

With only one day of calmer winds a lot of the Short-toed and Booted Eagles managed to cross The Strait. I led a Swiss group for three days last week, organised through Peter Wipraechtiger who runs www.naturus.ch and we took time on two days to visit different locations to observe the raptor roosts and on our day with calmer winds, travelled along The Strait to watch some of the migrants visibly crossing to Africa

At the forest roosts, activity amongst Short-toed Eagles impressed us all with their agility, speed and sheer grace as hundreds of birds flew around us in the more sheltered valleys.
I keep on saying this to people and have written lots about the impressions that I have, after witnessing this annual spectacle for many years, but I am always completely and utterly blown away by the sheer numbers of Booted and Short-toed Eagle activity and never get tired of watching this spectacle myself and of course sharing the knowledge and experience I have gained over many years living and working on The Strait of Gibraltar...and (here we go again...), if you haven't witnessed this stunning spectacle at least once in your lifetime, then do consider a trip down this way in September-October and let a huge grin break out across your face as the acrobats dispaly right before your eyes!

Short-toed Eagles over the Alcornocales Parque Natural near Tarifa





Sparrowhawks have been very much in evidence all through the county.

Hunting Corn Buntings, this young Sparrowhawk flies in at speed, skimming the tops of the cut rice-fields at La Janda. The Sparrowhawk missed getting a kill this time, as the strong wind buffeted us and the bird!

The bird landed and a few seconds later then took off again in pursuit of more Corn Buntings

One of my day tours group organised by Niki Renshaw from Vejer. What a great day out we had discovering new places, new birds and just enjoying being out with nature. Thanks for being so appreciative and allowing me to tell some dreadful jokes! What lovely people...

Several Preying Mantis were seen this week. It's such an unusual looking insect

The Banded Groundling can be found in southern Europe and there are quite a few sites around The Strait where it breeds

Red-veined Darters are a common dragonfly species in Europe. Set against a dark background this lovely female looks quite a stunning insect

Big and beautiful, the Lesser Emperor is an extremely agile hunter, coping well in strong winds

Epaulet Skimmers can be found close to woodland with mountain streams in SW Spain

I use a Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens with my other Canon body, the D50 when taking such shots. This is a really fast and affordable lens. I took this hand-held which isn't always ideal but managed to get in quite close, particularly on the mandible

A Black Stork takes on this its timeless' autumnal migration while across the sky a modern passenger jet leaves it's signal in the sky

My Swiss group last week walking through the Alcornocales forest.

One of the projects for the foresters in the Alcornocales Parque Natural was the eradication of the Ecalyptus trees (as you see in front of the group), but they do offer height over the shorter cork-oaks and wild olives which is a great attraction for larger raptors and I think that control, rather than eradication would be a better policy

....and down on the main canal at La Janda

Last year we had a few Purple Herons over-winter. This juvenile bird makes a low flight along the canals and ditches of La Janda where there's always food to be found

Sunrise on another day near Tarifa

Camouflaged juvenile Northern Wheatears blend in with the parched countryside when on their southerly migration through Andalucia

Always a lovely bird to watch, the incredible Wryneck stops off at La Janda to feed

Often during winter birds like Wryneck, Great Bittern, Long-eared Owl, Bluethroat and Reed Bunting can be seen at various birding locations

We had a few late migrant Montagu's Harriers this week which we always scrutinise in case we find that it's a first year Pallid Harrier instead.
Last year there were a few sightings of Pallid and I expect lots to be seen from now on through the winter all over western Europe. The expansion westwards in Europe, of this essentially eastern species has taken most ornithologists by surprise and looks like set to continue with new breeding pairs reported in Finland, Denmark and Germany

Raptor watching at Pelayo, looking to Gibraltar

Booted Eagle. I didn't want to forget this lovely raptor but the Short-toed Eagles really did steal the limelight over the last two weeks with their sheer numbers, close views and fantastic aerial displays

I have another week of tour leading starting tomorrow with a lovely couple who've been with me before on tour in Extremadura and the Coto Doñana. They'll be staying with us next door at Hoopoe Cottage and if I find some time, I'll report on what's been seen.