Four out of Five

Saturday morning we decided to go to Monfragüe. It’s really quite outrageous not to go more often when it’s so close by. It’s a place that never lets you down and Saturday was no exception. We saw a Nightjar sp. in the road driving in at dawn. At Salto de Gitano we had a great time watching the pair of peregrines repeatedly buzzing a Golden Eagle, probably a second winter bird with quite a bit of white in wings and tail. This prompted us to try for the “full set” of five eagles, since the Golden Eagle is the one that’s always let us down in the past, and especially after seeing the two summer visitors up at the Castle, which could have proved tricky in October.

 Short-Toed Eagle 

From the Castle we also watched a nice group of about eight White-Rumped Swifts. It was difficult to photograph the bullet-speed buggers in a very strong wind, but here are a couple of snaps I did manage.

One of the strong suits of Monfragüe is always the magnificent Griffon Vultures, which take up all sorts of beautiful postures landing and taking off or even flying by.

This next individual is either a new species of Red-Headed Vulture or it’s just come straight from a stand-up buffet.

 Now we needed the Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagle.

At the Tajadilla, one of the best spots for Bonelli’s, we had no luck but we did see this lovely Pied Flycatcher, easily the most common migrant round here right now.

We ended up at the Portilla, where we did see a couple of Imperials . . .

. . . but no Bonelli’s. Maybe next time . . . 

BIRTHDAY TREAT IN MONFRAGÜE

Today, on my fifteenth birthday, I spent a splendid morning in Monfragüe. The first presents, as soon as we got to the castle, were these dawn views.

A trio of White-Rumped Swifts was hawking overhead.

Although you can’t see the white rump in the photo (they’re too quick!), it is a White Rumped Swift!

A Blue Rock Thrush kept us entertained. The male seemed to be sick of feeding a nagging youngster who he was keen to get off his hands by now.

If you keep begging me for food I’ll give you a cuff round the earole

Red-Rumped Swallows were also flitting about and perching on dead trees, while the Griffon Vultures also gave us some striking images.

An Imperial Eagle flew over, its white shoulders glinting in the sun.

On a nearby road bridge I tried to snapshot the lightning-quick Alpine Swifts, who flew in and out of the bridge in screaming groups, seeming to have a great time.

Other birds seen during a splendid birthday morning included Peregrine Falcon, Chough and Black Wheatear.