☀️16C ~ Wind ⇐ NNW@5mphWednesday 1st January 2020 ~ Dazza and I enjoyed an afternoon walk in glorious weather above the mountains of Mijas Pueblo. From the car park at Sendero Cerro de la Medialuna, the old quarry you make an initial steep climb which leads on through the woods where there are lots of tracks to explore producing some absolutely stunning views across the Hoya de Malaga from Puerto de la Graja.
Even before heading up the pass the car park area is a great place to explore and a short 15 minutes scanning the rocky outcrops and small Aleppo Pines revealed Black Redstart, Dartford Warbler, Black Wheatear, Rock Bunting and Linnet.
Rock Bunting ~ Foraging in the rocky outcrops
As you make your way up to nearly 3,000ft the habitat changes and repopulated pines predominate, although these are mixed with Holm oaks and other typically Mediterranean shrubs in the areas closer to the summit. A few Crossbills could be heard passing overhead and despite seeing them in flight we never quite managed any decent views today.
Crested Tit ~ Often form small flocks in the winter months
However, the Crested Tits and Firecrests more than made up for that. Dazza also managed a Short-toed Treecreeper, strangely quite a rarity here during our visits but it flew before I could get on it! Even at this early stage of the year migration is already beginning here in southern Spain with a huge passage of Raven's today with small groups of ten or so passing constantly overhead, their cronking calls echoing around the mountains.
Firecrest
Siskin, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren plus a few small groups of Long-tailed Tits, which revealed the odd Common Chiffchaff and a single Crag Martin made up the species numbers, which is always quality rather than quantity during our visits here!
A Few More Images Of The Visit...
Black Wheatear ~ Can be found in the car park all year round