THE BUTTERFLY WITH FEATHERS

Last weekend we went to a site recommended by our friend Rafa Romero straddling the border of Asturias and León to try and see Wallcreepers. And blimey did we see them all right!! Perched, climbing up the cliff face, flying, chasing off a Kestrel, going back and forth to its nest with food and even once coming to perch close to us (but at that moment I’d left the camera some way off – sod’s law – but at least it meant I could take in the whole beauty of its plumage without the distraction of trying to photograph it).

The place was staggeringly beautiful. This is the view the Wallcreeper’s got from its nest site.

The rock face where the Wallcreeper breeds (which reminded us of Salto de Gitano in Monfragüe, although at a height of  2000 m) had lots of life besides the Wallcreeper. Choughs and Alpine Choughs both bred there, plus Alpine Accentor and stacks of Snowfinches, which we also saw flying into their nest hole with food. Here’s a snap of one sitting atop a rock.

And this nearby Linnet

There was also a cliff-nesting colony of Swifts. When you see them far from the noise of towns, what a noise their wings make when they fly past!!!

As for birds of prey, besides the Wallcreeper-mobbed Kestrel, there were also Griffons, an Egyptian Vulture and this handsome male Peregrine that flew over our heads a couple of times.

The bushes roundabout had lots of Yellowhammers, still singing quite well. Here’s a male sitting atop a bush.

An unforgettable morning, especially the butterfly-like flight of the Wallcreeper. Although I missed the chance to photograph it close-up perched, here’s a token shot of the beauty flying overhead on one of its many journeys from crag to crag. A dream come true to see it.

 Note how the red of the mantle is so strong that you can see it through the wings from underneath.