Article from Newsletter in September 2007.

Following the poor winter in terms of rain we have now suffered a very dry summer (the 104^th day since rain according to Malaga Weather based in Vinuela as I write this piece in early September) and this has been reflected in the bird activity on the mountain above Los Romanes. Our “resident” Short-toed Eagle that usually spends most afternoons resting in a dead almond tree opposite our house has been conspicuous by his absence for much of the early summer, only appearing regularly over the last month. Where normally we would often see a pair, and sometimes accompanied by a youngster, this year we have not seen any offspring suggesting that it has not been a good breeding season. On the other hand, the bird did put in an appearance on 3 January, so confirming that some of this species do over-winter alongside the normally seen “white eagles”, the Bonelli’s and more numerous Booted Eagles.

The same is true of our fabulous Bee-Eaters. Plenty about at the moment but they were late in arriving and seemed to be fewer than in past years. Only the odd Cuckoo heard in May and very few singing Nightingales. However, the local resident Thekla Larks, Stonechats and Sardinian Warblers seem to have had a good year as have the Goldfinches, judging by the numbers about the mountain.

Now we are approaching one of the most exciting few weeks of the year as our summer visitors start to depart and we can witness the mass migration of large raptors as they make their way back to Africa from northern Europe. Unlike the UK, the Swifts seem to stay on a little longer here and there are still many, albeit not in large numbers, to be seen hawking for small insects over the mountain sides and some of our villages. There are still a few Red-rumped Swallows about and the main migration of Barn Swallows (our UK Swallow) is just beginning. House Martins, often seen on telephone wire in Britain well into October, seem to be the first to depart from their town and village nesting sites. Remember though, you are still likely to see Swallows and Martins for at least another month if you visit some of their pre-migration habitats, such as the mouth of the Guadalahorce in Malaga and especially the Donana National Park.

Whilst the Woodchat Shrike has moved on I did, today, see a pair of Ravens making their way south across the mountain pass above Los Romanes (between the “rounded” and “pointed” mountains at the western end of the Atalaya range). Soon the Black Redstarts and Blackcaps will be back in good numbers, plus regular sightings of Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Serin and Linnet and, if you keep your eyes open, the occasional Rock Bunting. Nearer to home, you may just be lucky enough to see one of the few breeding pairs of Golden Oriole, the male very unmistakeable in his brilliant custard yellow feathering, or our resident Blue Rockthrush. However, for the latter you may have to make sure that you are, at least, as high as Miguel’s bar, “El Charco” or the equivalent on the northern side of the valley. This bird, for the beginner, is very similar to our Blackbird and, at first sight, may be easily mistaken, especially if the sun is in the “wrong” direction. Slightly smaller, there is much blue on the males and, if in full sunlight, is easily recognised. Not so the female; in appearance she is similar to the female Blackbird, but still slightly smaller, and often not recognised.

But the real excitement of the coming month is to witness the Honey Buzzards and Griffon Vultures as they move southwards, usually from the direction of Canillas and over the end mountaintop, the “rounded one” as you look above Los Romanes. The Honey Buzzards breed in northern Europe and will be on their way to Africa, usually crossing the Straits between Gibraltar and Tarifa, depending upon weather conditions. The Griffon Vultures, though, may well spend more time in this area, albeit to the south, and many over-Winter in Spain rather than pass on through to Africa. How to tell the difference? Perhaps the easiest way, especially if you have no binoculars to hand, is to think of the Honey Buzzards having somewhere to go and actually flying, not necessarily at speed, and with a long tail whereas the Vultures drift southwards using available thermals. A passage of Honey Buzzards may contain between 30 and 70 individuals, with similar numbers following over a period of days and/or weeks whilst when observing Griffon Vultures you can easily get into an argument with one’s spouse whilst you dispute whether there were 120 or 180 individuals! Very often, you can think of the Griffon Vulture with its broad wing as a “floating plank of wood” with a head and tail stuck either side in the middle and long fingers at each end. Head tucked in and a very short tail. To see a large flock of 

Griffon Vultures using a thermal to spiral up into the sky is not only a wonder to behold but a privilege to see.

All being well, I will be able to report again on the local birding seen in November when, hopefully, the Southern Grey Shrike (very similar to the Great Grey Shrike) will have returned to the mountains and our Hoopoes will be even more abundant than they have been every month so far this year. Thinking about the Hoopoe and its appearance, if you are unlucky enough not to see the bird before it flies off from the track (and they love to be amongst the almond trees), then you may recognise its flight if you think of a bird larger than a blackbird with black and white striped wings; what I refer to as “Flying Zebras!”

Hoopoe

Let the Editor know if you would like more of the same in future issues or would prefer “lists” of what has been seen, bird descriptions, places to visit to see certain species, etc. – or even a little bit of everything.

This month’s “Bird Walk”

Drive up to the Zafarraya Pass and as you pass under the old railway bridge at the top immediately turn left within 10 meters onto a concrete track that leads up to the old railway track. There are very few places to park so, if in a car, park near to start and walk toward and through the tunnel. If you have a 4 x 4 (or are used to driving your “normal” car along tracks) you can drive right through to Periana. But you do need to spend time either getting out of the car or simply walking as far as you can manage. Between now and the end of October you should still see Chough (the red-billed variety that is found in Cornwall, Wales and Scotland); look to the mountain side before you reach the tunnel. As you pass though the tunnel you may well see Crag Martins (they nest inside the tunnel); these birds look like large House Martins without the white rump, indeed they appear to be a uniform light brown in colour. Along the track you should see Stonechat, Blue Rockthrush and, if you look carefully, this is a good area for Black Wheatear. This last bird is the largest of the Wheatear family and is uniformly black with white feathers on the top of the tail and rump. If it flies away from you, you will see what appears to be a white patch on the back of a black silhouette.