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

Wetland Centre London

Spent a short time at the Wetland Centre this afternoon walked to the peacock hide where some birders where watching a Perigrine sitting on the ground after a short while it then tried to find some water to have drink (You've seen dancing on ice well this was Perigrine on ice where it put up quite a show for aboout ten minutes) Other birds of note included a Water Rail calling and out in the open for a brief spell I also had a Watter pipit

Here is a short video of the Water Voles at Arundal wich I filmed in August they where very obliging at one point they where to close to film as I have now sorted out uploading to my blog I will be puting some more clips from my archive

Hi

Hi All
It's been a quite a while since I last posted this is due to a heavey work load But I am able to do some birding on Sundays so I hope to be able to do some birding and Wildlife watching over the coming months I have totaly miss the migration all I have been up to is a few trips into Sussex, I took a weeks break in Spain and stayed at Gran Alicanti where I had a most welcome and enjoyable break did a bit of birding and booked Jules Sykes of Olivia Rama Tours for a day trip in the Alicanti area click HERE to see jules report go to Sunday 6th December what a day it was Eagles Rule !!!

Hi to every one who visits my blog not done much birding or wild watching over the past 6 weeks due to heavy work load witch includes working weekends (thats the life of working as a contractor take the work when every I can) hope to get back into it very soon as I am missing the autumn migration hope to to do a long haul trip next year Bolar Bears in Canada looks like it might be on the cards so will keep every one informed of what I might be up to

Saturday 1st August Radipole & Lodmoor

Today Saturday 1st August I went to Weymouth and had a look at Radipole & Lodmoor RSPB reserves, I do not normally go here by public transport as it is a bit costly but as South West Trains are having a Summer Madness during august (weekends only) £10 return any where within the South West Trains region I decided I would give it a go,It had been raining most of the way down but on arriving at Weymouth the rain had stopped so my first call was at Radipole Lake I was looking for the Hooded Merganser (the bird is in eclipse at the moment) so took a while to locate but I did find it lucking under the willows by the information centre where I was told to have a look, I then took a look around Radipole birds seen Cormorant, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Pochard, Swallow, Sand Martins,House Martins, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Sedge warbler, Willow Warbler, & a selection of Gulls Then  after a while the rain started again just a fine drizzle so I took shelter under the bridge at the south end it did ease up so I now decided to walk the mile along the sea front to Lodmoor where on arriving I had lunch under the shelter by now the rain had stopped again I spent quite a bit of time here as waders where coming and going the first little flock of wader produce Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Little Stint, Redshank Common Terns where busy feeding young I then I moved on round to the west side where I had better views of the waders and found Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, Little Egret (which I managed to video) along her I had Bearded Tit, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Then the rain started again so it was back to the shelter more waders where coming and going then just as I was about to leave 2 Curlew Sandpipers came in with the Dunlin, as it was starting to rain quite heavy now I decided it was time to head for the station on arriving I had just missed my train so had another 40 minutes to wait so I returned to Radipole and had another look at the Hooded Merganser so then it was back for the train so ending a very enjoyable but slightly damp day