Iberian Lynx

Here is a short video of the Iberian Lynx a bit distance but you can see what it is

Iberian Lynx part four

Day Five 27-01-2010

After breakfast we set of on the drive back to Malaga on route we had Raven , Buzzard, Crested Lark we returned to fuente de piedre to see if we could locate the Lesser Flamingo witch after some effect I found as it came out from behind one of the islands it then disappeared behind the same island and did not reappear it then started to rain so it was back into the car and continued on towards Malaga, we then spent a short time at the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve, where we had a look at the sea where we had Audouin’s Gull, Med Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Balearic Shearwater, Gannet, Little Egret,
We then headed for the airport where we had 3 hours to kill before our flight I will be putting together a summary of the trip.

Iberian Lynx part three

Day four 26-01-2010
We had a change of plan for today, We had a earlier start and went back to the Lynx spot (This is the best place to see Lynx) about a hour into the watch my sister found a Lynx and I had a brief view through her scope it then diserpeared out of sight then about half hour later my mate found it on top of the ridge we were watching where it sat down for a short time it then again diserpeared but at least it was another sighting of the Iberian Lynx, We had some more Red deer, Fallow Deer, and 2 more Mouflon’s Then it was back to the hotel for lunch and a short break. Bird wise more of what we had already seen
Then at 13-15 we set off to a spot for a walk along the river jandula where we had Red Deer & fallow Deer. Bird wise Black Vulture, Griffin Vulture, Grey Heron, White Wagtail, Hawfinch, Crested Tit, Hoopoe, Long tailed Tit, Woodpigeon,
We then drove up to Santuario Virgen de la Cabeza were we had a coffee and my sister had a look around the church. Witch I will report on later, we then started the drive back to the hotel where we stopped at a lay by to see if we could find any more Lynx we spent over a hour with no luck, Then as we were driving back to the hotel we Had a Iberian Lynx at the side of the road very briefly So ending our final day with 2 sightings of the Lynx, we then had a hour relaxing then another excellent meal so ending another day in Spain.

Iberian Lynx part two

Day Three 25-01-2010

After breakfast we headed back to the spot to see if we could find any Iberian Lynx where we stayed until 13-00hrs with no luck on the Lynx, We then headed for the dam as there had been a wintering Wall Creeper there for the past 2 months we had no luck in locating it, then we returned to the Lynx spot where we stayed until 17-00hrs but again no luck with the Lynx but we did have Red Deer, Fallow Deer & a Mouflon . Birds of note included Imperial Spanish Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black Vulture, Griffin Vulture, Little Owl, Southern Grey Shrike, and around the hotel I had Crossbill, Hawfinch, Serin, Crested Tit plus the common birds.

Tomorrow we are of to a different site for The Lynx

Iberian Lynx part one

Short break to Spain
23-01-2010

Me my mate and my sister are on a trip to Spain in search of the Iberian Lynx

We started our day at 2-45am on Saturday 23-01-20010 by taking a taxi to Gatwick for our 5-55am flight to Malaga the flight was 15 minutes late taking off we arrived on time and met Jules (Of Olivia Rama Tours who we are booked with for the next 5 days) we then drove to fuente de piedre looking for a lesser flamingo but because of the rain we did not see it but did have 50+ common cranes
On route we had common buzzard, kestrel, golden plover, yellow legged gull at the airport and as we were traveling along the motorway we had a Black Shoulder Kite sitting on a pylon so we went to the next exit and drove back to see if we could re locate it which we did and had excellent views of it, We also had some of the common species, we then headed for our hotel were on arriving we had a large flock of Azure Winged Magpie, my mate went for a walk and added a few more birds on to his list, After a short time relaxing at our hotel we then had our evening meal and what a meal it was so back to our rooms so ending a long and enjoyable but tiring day

Day two 24-01-2010
After breakfast we headed for a spot to watch for the Iberian Lynx after about a hour we had a sighting of a Lynx so what a start to a very enjoyable day .

We stayed at the spot until about 16-00 hrs were we had Griffon Vulture, black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Firecrest, Blue tit, Long Tailed Tit, Woodlark, Chaffinch,

We then drove to the dam were we had more Spanish Imperial Eagles, Golden Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstar, Black Wheatear, Grey Wagtail.

We then drove back to the spot for another look to see if we could see any more Lynx, we gave ourselves till 17-00 hrs just as we were about to leave I had a lynx cross the path that we were watching I saw it for about 10 seconds and it then diserpeared out of site so we got ready to leave and where called back as they had another Lynx on the path which we watched for a short time until this one diserpeared, as this was a diffrent one to the one that I had cross the path that makes 3 Lynx for the day.Then it was back to the hotel

Bird of Prey Count
Griffon Vultures 100+
Black Vulture 20
Golden Eagle 3 (1 Adult & 2 Imm)
Spanish Imperial Eagle 5 (2 Adults & 3 Imm inn in diffrent stages)

Short Trip to Spain

We are on a trip to Spain in seach of the Iberian Lynx not a bad first day but no Lynx yet because we were put of by the rain (But Jules has seen the Lynx with the grizzled skipper) but bird of the day was Black Shouldered Kite seen from the side of the motorway and what views we had will be posting a report of the first 2 days tomorrow

Fleet Pond

on Saturday 16th Jan on my way home from work I missed my train and as the next one was stopping at fleet I decided to get of there and have a look around the pond witch is next to the station, I walked through the car park to the far end where you can get onto the path that goes around the pond on the edge of the pond I had Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Jay, Blackbird, Song Thrush, so adding a few to the years list, then I decided to have a wander along the east side of the pond where I found a flock of tits that included Great, Blue, Coal and a Marsh, a bit further along I found a few Redpolls with 6 Siskins, As it was now getting a bit dark started the walk back to the station at the bridge I had a final look at the pond where I had a Bittern fly across this was the bird I was hoping to see so it was worth missing my train for a good hour wandering around fleet pond

Beddington Sewage Farm

Sunday 3rd Jan

Was going to go to Fleet pond today but after checking found that there was engginerring works going on so decide to have a look at Beddington Sewage Works have not been here for a few years a lot has changed but still had a pleasant wonder around the edge of the works the target bird was Tree Sparrow wich I did locate other wise a lot of Grey Herons and a good selection of Gulls plus a few other bits

Hope to keep my blog updated a bit more this year will be posting some more of my videos and pictures from my archive

Start To the year

Well as the last 5 months of 2009 just seemed to fly by with very little birding going on due to my work witch now includes working Saturdays so am hoping to do a bit more this year

Saturday 2nd Jan
Went to see the Brown Shrike on Staines Moor only got a couple of glimses as the bird was being chassed around so am not supprised if it has gone
then spent some time at the pits at Thorpe Park where after a while did manage to find a female smew along with a number of other ducks while taking a toilet break on the edge of one of the pits I found a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker so not a bad start to the new year