Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Peregrine Falcon. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Peregrine Falcon. Mostrar todas las entradas

martes, 19 de julio de 2011

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.

sábado, 8 de enero de 2011

SANTOÑA, CANTABRIA (SPAIN)




MARISMAS DE SANTOÑA

This Christmas holidays I’ve been staying in Asturias. Twice we also popped along the coast to the marshes and mudflats of Santoña. In all we saw the following birds:

Peregrine Falcon: 2
Ring-Tailed Harrier: 1
Marsh Harrier: 1
Osprey: 1
Merlin: 1
Curlew: 200
Whimbrel: 150
Redshank: 100
Greenshank: 20
Spotted Redshank: 1
Dunlin: 1000
Sanderling: 2
Ringed Plover: 500
Snipe: 5
Golden Plover: 5
Grey Plover: 300
Spoonbill: 30
Turnstone: 100
Purple Sandpiper: 5 ( photo, Gijón)
Black-Tailed Godwit: 200
Bar-Tailed Godwit: 200
Little Grebe: 2
Black-Necked Grebe: about 50 between both visits (photo )
Slavonian Grebe: 3
Great Northern Diver: 7 in all  (phot)
Many ducks, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, etc.
Bullfinches as common as in summer. Many Redwings and a sprinkling of Fieldfares.

But the best bird of all we saw in a place called Escalante near Santoña, a good spot for geese. After twenty minutes of scoping through a 200-odd flock of Greylags we at last spotted the Pint Footed Goose we’d been told was there. A beautiful bird and thrilling life tick (testimonial photo attached)




 Turnestone, Whimbrel, Dunlin and redshank.
 Flock of Dunlins
 Black tailed godwits
 Black necked grebe
 Black necked grebes
 Black necked grebes
 Pink footed goose
 Black necked grebe