Shortly after 9-00a.m. yesterday, we registered our attendance at the Festival headquarters at the ancient Fort Belize. Groups of people were already setting out on the various activities offered in the comprehensive timetable of events. Coincidentally it was Chris's birthday and in traditional fashion we set off for Cabranosa, Brian and Pam joining us too for this occasion. A small increase in the number of birds on the ground included Willow Warblers in the pines and Sub-alpine Warblers seen more than once. The group of three or four Ortolon Buntings remained in the trees around the pond. Booted Eagles numbered around 60 for much of the morning, well spread over the area as they have been for some days. The bird which really made our day was the surprise arrival of a Barn Owl. Flying into some nearby pines, the owl promptly went to sleep. In comparison to the Barn Owls I have seen in the U.K, this Owl was much darker and facially quite different. The breast was heavily spreckled and it would be interesting to know the origin, given there are 46 races of Barn Owl to choose from! The afternoon was spent enjoying the Booted Eagles where occasional Black Kites and Short-toed Eagles joined the throng. A sub-adult and two juvenile Bonelli's Eagles rounded the afternoon nicely. One of the juveniles was clearly much lighter in plumage than the other. Today, I spent some time around Vale Santo beginning with a look at the Choughs and Ravens which are frequent in this area. There were a few small birds in the fields - Wheatears, Whinchats, Thekla Larks, Stonechats, Corn Buntings and three of these smart Yellow Wagtails. A little later, the Raven flock were making a noise and alerted me to the presence of an Egyptian Vulture which looked as though it may be about to land. Interestingly, this was not a first year bird, much closer to sub-adult judging by the white plumage above and below on this bird. As you can see, I had wonderful views of this Egyptian Vulture as it circled me several times before settling on the ground some way off.
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