From Bustards to Behemoths
What started as a chilly, drizzly morning in the lowlands of Granada Province quickly evolved into one of the most spectacular days of birding I’ve had in years. Alongside friends Barbara and Derek Etherton and Mick Richardson, we spent Monday, March 9th, navigating a landscape of resilience and rare sightings.
Resilience Amidst the Landscape: Huétor-Tájar
After a quick breakfast at Venta Riofrio, we headed into Mick’s "patch." It was impossible to ignore the power of nature here; the landscape still bears the scars of the devastating floods that hit the region earlier this year. Despite the changed terrain, the birdlife remains remarkably resilient.
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| Little Bustard from last year's visit. |
Our primary target here was the Little Bustard. With crops sitting high, spotting them on the ground was a challenge, but persistence paid off when we were treated to two separate birds in flight. Well spotted by Barbara!
Raptor & Lowland Highlights:
Black-winged Kites (2): Perched high in distant treetops, offering good scoped views.
Iberian Magpie (9): Their azure wings provided a splash of colour against the grey sky.
Western Yellow Wagtail: A first sighting this year on Mick's patch.
Other sightings: Corn Bunting (5), Black Redstart (2), Stonechat (3), and Crested Lark (2).
The "Cuckoo Buffet" at El Temple
As the weather shifted, we drove north to El Temple, a beautiful mosaic of olive groves and almond plantations. This area is famous for its asparagus and garlic, but for us, it was all about the Great Spotted Cuckoos.
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| Great-spotted Cuckoo |
While we didn't reach last year's record of fourteen, the four we found were putting on a show. We watched them hunting for Pine Processionary Moth caterpillars. These birds have "iron stomachs," allowing them to feast on the toxic, hairy larvae that most predators avoid. We even caught one perched right atop a silken "tent" nest—a literal buffet!
An Eagle Extravaganza
The recent heavy rains made for some "creative" driving for Derek as we navigated deep mud, but the detour was worth every second. The sky above El Temple felt alive. We were treated to a rare "double" of Golden Eagle and the magnificent Iberian Imperial Eagle (both juvenile and adult).
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| Golden Eagle |
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| Iberian Imperial Eagle |
The raptor tally continued to climb as we watched the seasonal shift in real-time:
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| Short-toed Eagle: One of ten on passage today. |
Short-toed Eagles (10): A steady flow on migration.
Black Kite (1): Normally in a group while migrating, this one was a lone traveller.
The Swifts: Both Pallid and Alpine Swift glided past overhead.
Hirundines: Flocks of Barn Swallows and House Martins.
Final Stops: From Bermejales to Regidor
| Species | Count/Observation |
| Bonelli's Eagle | 1 |
| Iberian Imperial Eagle | A second individual (missing primaries) |
| Stone Curlew | 2 |
| Western Marsh Harrier | At least 2 Pairs |
| Calandra Lark | 12 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 |
| Also Noted; | Hoopoe (2), Iberian Grey Shrike, Thekla Lark |
Before the rain finally set in, we squeezed in a few more stops at Contraembalse de los Bermejales, Ventas de Huelma, and Laguna del Regidor. The diversity was staggering:
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| Hoopoe: Two seen today |
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| Little Owl: Point-blank range at el Temple |
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| Fan Lipped Orchid: A new species for me. This species is one of the earliest to bloom in the Mediterranean spring. |
"A huge thanks to Mick, Barbara, and Derek for another unforgettable day in the field.
