Mongoose, Merlin and The Big Eagle

Immature Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) yesterday over La Janda

The Spanish Imperial Eagle is unique to the Iberian Peninsula. Almost the whole world population breeds in Spain, but recently a few pairs recolonised parts of Portugal, particularly in the Alentejo area near the border with Extremadura.
Spanish Imperial Eagles were thought to be no longer breeding in Morocco, but there was a report of a successful breeding pair in 1995. There could be a few pairs left and young birds do cross The Strait of Gibraltar each autumn. Normally their part migration does not exceed 350 kms in one-way distance.
The eagle was also known to have been a breeding bird in Algeria in the 19th century, but now extinct there.

Immature birds can look like juveniles especially from far off but closer inspection of the breast and wing coverts would suggest an older bird. The white trailing edge to the wing seems not to be present although difficult to see the colour of the primaries in the bright sky, the secondaries look as if they have dark tips and white tips, showing some moult. Same with the tail moult.

Spanish Imperial Eagles are always impressive birds to watch, especially at close quarters where the large size is apparent even without another species in the air for comparison.
Some statistics: Length: 78-82 cm, Wingspan: 180-210 cm, Weight: 2,500-3,500 g

They are known to live for over thirty-five years, older in captivity.

The coast line close to the Sierra de La Plata, looking down The Strait towards Bolonia and Tarifa with a very dramatic sky

Bluethroats were performing particularly well this last week. There must be a bit of competition going on with Common Stonechats this week...

Standing to attention

Bluethroat from behind



Two different male Common Stonechats with variable plumage

Irrigation rainbow

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

One of the smallest falcons but certainly a real bruiser for it's size. It has powerful flight, hence the deeper, muscular chest and is exceptionally agile and very fast flier.

Merlin showing all those lovely underside markings

I took this very poor shot of a passing adult male Pallid Harrier on the 21st December. I've still not managed to be close enough to the male for better photos. Still, there's always next year!

The Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) is a very secretivie mammal and although there are lots of them around souther Iberia, you seem only to get fleeting views. They can weigh up to 4 kg although they are normally between 2.8 and 3.8 kg. They have long dark brown hair and have a slender, low-slung body with short limbs and strong claws on the forepaws for digging.

A Penduline Tit takes flight as the mongoose passes through the reeds

Back out onto the main track at La Landa

Here we are at the happy end to another great year with Andalucian Guides. It's been a fantastic year for me, travelling, experiencing lots of old favourites and new ones too. Some new birds, plants, insects and other wildlife and getting the chance to meet some lovely people.

Have a great holiday over Christmas and New Year, we have asked the Bald Ibis to decorate the local overhead cables as Chritmas decorations and they are doing quite a good job by the look of things!