Thursday 22 November 2012

Just had a wonderful long weekend in Extramadura, Spain, staying at the excellent Casa Rural el Recuerdo. A very good location and Martin's local knowledge was invaluable. Highlights included the vultures at Monfrague,( we saw 13 species of raptors including Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black-winged Kite and several stunning male Hen Harriers), flocks of Great and Little Bustards on the steppe near Campo Lugar, huge flocks of Cranes, and just the general abundance of larks, finches and sparrows. I would certainly reccommend it as a winter birding destination, we even had some lovely warm sunshine, it was quite s shock to come back to wet and windy Britain.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Managed to get to see the Desert Wheatear at Abberton yesterday, and what alittle stunner. It was incredibly tame as it flitted around the visitor car park in the late afternoon sunshine. The pale pinky-buff rump and all dark tail could be clearly see, and it had a large in inquisitive eye.