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Saturday 15th April 2017 🇪🇸 ~ Having picked up Dave from his delayed flight from Amsterdam at 2am from Malaga it was a sleep in for me this morning! I was still up just after 9am though and on the terrace for coffee and a vis~mig.
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| Wild Boar at work around the villa grounds.... |
The sheer amount of
Common Swifts passing through at the moment is a sight to behold and in among the steady stream are smaller numbers of
House Martin,
Barn Swallow and
Red-rumped Swallow. I'm hopeful that a few more
Pallid Swift will come through while I'm here and an
Alpine Swift is always on the cards.
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| Record shot of Booty Eagle over the villa! |
Raptors have been a little thin on the ground but
Common Kestrel,
Booted Eagle and a
Black Kite have all been noted.
Bee~eaters are heard more often than seen and at one stage eight
Crossbill passed over. In the surrounding scrubland just below the villa
Nightingale,
Sardinian Warbler,
Serin,
Jay, calling
Red-legged Partridge and a
Turtle Dove. The Wild Boar have also been at it again overnight with large swaths of ground dug up within the grounds. Several butterflies around the terrace including
Swallowtail,
Scarce Swallowtail and
Clouded Yellow.
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| Rock Bunting at the observation area Refugio Juanar |
In the afternoon a casual stroll, not particularly birding orientated, in the mountains above Marbella Refugio Juanar with Dee and Dave. At 1200 meters the mountain of La Concha is one of Marbella's most recognisable landmarks. We spent a little time around the olive groves checking out the many butterflies which included
Small Heath,
Clouded Yellow,
Wall and
Common Blue. The area is also covered in walnut and pine trees. Birds of note included
Short-toed Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch,
Blue Rock Thrush and
Rock Bunting.
More images of the day....
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| Scarce Swallowtail |
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| Clouded Yellow |
