You may recall one of the juvenile Egyptian Vultures over Cabranosa was seen to be wearing rings. Here he is, now confirmed as 6R in the Ardeche, South-East France. Ringed on the 25th July this year, he was last seen before migrating on the 6th September. Presumably then, he has been moving South over the last two weeks. My thanks to Erick Kobierzycki for providing us with this information. Booted Eagles remained in high numbers this morning, some perched in various locations along with Common Buzzards and several Black Kites on the ground. A distant female Hen Harrier over Vale Santo may have been a new bird for the day.
The moderate Westerly wind continues to batter us on the hill. The surrounding fields, trees and bushes have very few small birds showing, except for a few larks, blackbirds and sparrows. Despite this, today has seen the largest count of Booted Eagles that I have witnessed at Cabranosa, in recent years. The recording teams must have had a difficult time obtaining anything near an accurate figure, since small eagles could be seen around the 360 degree view in considerable numbers. Around midday, Booted Eagles passed over us constantly for around twenty minutes and my estimate over the morning period was at least 100 birds were in the area. While the Booted Eagles far outnumbered other species, we were pleased to see other arrivals such as five Egyptian Vultures. More care is needed now that Common Buzzards are being seen as well as the Honey Buzzards. Some of the Honey Buzzards are particularly showy and leave little doubt:- By afternoon, some raptors were flying very low and I decided on a tour of the fields, looking for resting birds. On the track out of Cabranosa, a real surprise was a Black-winged Kite flying along the hedge. This was a small juvenile Kite, judging by the scaly plumage on the back and an uncommon sight at Cabranosa. It wasn't long before we came across our first Common Buzzard, just off the roadside. In the next field were three Black Kites actively feeding on the ground. We couldn't pass the farm without checking on the resident Little Owls. The local Peregrines resting in the fields. Definitely a memorable day in terms of Booted Eagle numbers. Small numbers of Short-toed Eagles, Black Kites, Sparrowhawks and Goshawk were also seen, as was a Common Swift which hurtled through alone.
A moderate breeze continues to blow and plays havoc with our bird sightings. The smaller eagles such as the Booted Eagle and several Black Kites have struggled to make any headway, once over the peninsula at Sagres. It has been a time for the more powerful birds with both Goshawk and Peregrine featuring among many Sparrowhawks. Juvenile Goshawk. Peregrine. Today, a juvenile Bonelli's Eagle showed nicely for a while over the watchpoint, showing the tan coloured breast and wingbars. Speaking of powerful birds, our next encounter was with a first year Golden Eagle. Although remaining a little distant, this bird had been seen at Barao wind farm yesterday and we were delighted that it came in our direction at all, given the weather conditions. The first year Golden Eagle shows a large white tail with broad black band at the tip. White flashes appear on both the upper and underwing which can be seen as the eagle flies away, a long way off. The Golden Eagle is an excellent sighting here at Sagres. Even 'Cabranosa Dog' said "Wow, look at that!!" We finished our 'watch' early afternoon due to the wind and surprisingly, our sightings over a few hours were - 7 Booted Eagle, 2 Short-toed Eagle, 1 Bonelli's Eagle, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Honey Buzzard, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Osprey, 2 Black Kite, 5 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel.
Recent heavy rain at night has regenerated the normally parched grass around the Cabranosa watchpoint. A green tinge is showing everywhere and looks quite unfamiliar at this time of year. These same rain showers are disturbing the flow of raptors down to the peninsula during the last couple of days. On the ground though, the area is seeing some good numbers of small birds, typically Wheatears and Common Redstarts. Our knowledge is often put to the test with subtle variations among some of the common warblers such as Chiffchaffs, not always looking 'textbook'. Three Ortolon Buntings are frequenting the trees around the pond area. One of possibly two different Wrynecks seen this morning. This one was feeding among decayed logs before flying into the tree. Two days ago we remained at our apartment in Sagres. After all, it was the day of the funeral of our Queen Elizabeth II. From time to time I stepped outside to see a steady flow of raptors during the morning. Close Booted Eagles were followed by a moulting Black Kite, losing feathers rapidly. Much further away, a Montagu's Harrier circled Sagres, told from Pallid Harrier by the black 'fingertips' even though it has a pale collar. Today saw two Hen Harriers over Cabranosa. A distant juvenile Bonelli's Eagle was seen along with Peregrine, two new Egyptian Vultures, two Short-toed Eagles, four Booted Eagles and at least five Sparrowhawks.
Most of yesterdays' raptors went to ground in the woods around Cabranosa last night. Soon after our arrival this morning, the first Honey Buzzards took to the air and throughout the day we could see these juvenile raptors in their varied plumages. A conservative figure of around thirty is what I arrived at for the day. A moderate and often variable breeze kept bringing the same birds back over our watchpoint. This Black Stork spent the entire day in the air, repeatedly flying to our left, then right, then ahead of us! A very varied number of species - 6 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, 1 Eleonora's Falcon, 1 Hobby, 8 Booted Eagles, 3 Short-toed Eagles, 5 Black Kites and 3 Egyptian Vultures. Black Kite. One of three juvenile Egyptian Vultures seen today. On examining my pictures, this vulture is carrying rings. A quick check on the internet reveals that the origin of this youngster is in South-east France where a ringing programme has been going on for some years. White plastic ring with black number (6) and letter (B or R) I'll send an email to those concerned and see what else we can learn. These vultures arrived as we left yesterday and today, as we returned to our cars, two Ospreys completed our species count for the day. Many of the smaller birds were staying down in the wind however, the first three Ortolon Buntings were seen today along with a juvenile Cirl Bunting.
Birds on Atalaia headland. My morning visits have improved each day this week as if, after the recent rains, the small migrants are on the move again. So typical of Autumn is the arrival of Spotted Flycatchers. Many Pied Flycatchers are here now and Common Redstarts to a lesser extent. Yesterday morning saw three juvenile Woodchat Shrikes in the bushes, one making an interesting flight shot with tail features. A Western Bonelli's Warbler has been around all week, with Melodious Warblers and Whinchats being new yesterday. Cabranosa Watchpoint. The views from Cabranosa are as beautiful as always, here looking South towards Sagres. The beginning of our week here on Wednesday began with a superb Eleonora's Falcon, one of two birds reported in the Sagres area. The same morning gave us a surprise Golden Oriole, good to catch this summer bird before it left for winter. We have been lucky to have reasonable views of a Western Orphean Warbler as warblers are moving around the low bushes all the time. Better views have been obtained of several Western Subalpine Warblers and a showy Spectacled Warbler. Raptors are arriving in increasing numbers, yesterdays' totals were - 21 Honey Buzzard, 5 Booted Eagle, 5 Short-toed Eagle, 3 Peregrine, 1 Goshawk, 6 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Egyptian Vultures, a distant flock of Black Kites and 7 Black Storks flew through. Short-toed Eagle. Peregrine Falcon. Two Honey Buzzards. One of two Egyptian Vultures which arrived late, just as we were leaving for the day.
The Autumn migration is underway now and with an Easterly wind blowing across the North Sea this week, there are few better places than the Spurn area to witness the passage of many bird species - arriving here from Scandinavia and resting/feeding as they make their way on to Africa. I began at 6-00 a.m, just after sunrise and the warm sunlight showed Whinchats were sitting up on tall vegetation and fenceposts. A Northern Wheatear showed next and there was a nice migratory feel as the Easterly wind drifted in from the sea. I walked along the canal area where the first two Pied Flycatchers showed, calling to each other in the hawthorn bushes. A Lesser Whitethroat and two Willow Warblers were also found here. I was aware from the bird reporting news that a Citrine Wagtail has been here for a few days and now the light was nice and bright, I went in search of this rare Siberian visitor. Close to where I needed to be, a large juvenile Sparrowhawk had just toured the area and settled in a tree. The search proved unsuccessful, as the wagtail had been seen to fly into a field of long grass and I spent a while watching Curlew flocks in another field. Within the flock I could see Black-tailed Godwits, a few Ruff and some Golden Plover. It was around midday that I got lucky with the Citrine Wagtail. It had returned to the canal area where it remained hidden, but soon flew across to the grounds of the disused hotel where it fed on the lawn, with both Pied and Yellow Wagtails. This was my second record of a Citrine Wagtail, the previous also a juv/1st w bird at Spurn. Not an easy bird to identify visually, some features are necessary such as pure white undertail coverts - no trace of yellow as in Yellow or Grey Wagtail. The bill is totally black but that is not easily seen at times. This bird had a substantial white supercilium which curled around the cheek and also has the double white wing bars showing brightly. Above, a Pied Wagtail is the rear bird which shows the Citrine to have a more brown/grey appearance and the whiter parts appear brighter too. I spent a good, long time watching this rarity which was now in an ideal viewing spot, on short grass and in the company of Pied and Yellow Wagtails for comparison. The next call was at Kilnsea Wetlands as the high tide had passed and plenty of birds should be resting there. I was pleased to see my first Curlew Sandpipers of the year, albeit rather distant as the wetland continues to dry out, in the present conditions. Above, separating Curlew Sandpiper from Dunlin in flight. Note the longer legs protruding on the Curlew Sandpiper. Wood Sandpiper, with Dunlin, left. There were many waders present today along with egrets, geese and gull flocks. A single Caspian Gull was seen together with Med Gulls and Little Gull. The Winter wildfowl flocks are beginning to arrive, below a flock of Wigeon arrive with a single female Pintail among them (lower right). There is so much to see on the Wetlands and I'm omitting chunks of it I know! The Red-necked Phalaropes have continued to stay, delighting many visitors. I went for a second look and found a large gull flushing the small waders, resulting in one of the phalaropes being pushed to the near shore which was most fortunate! A juvenile Ruff left paddling water following the gull skirmish. Leaving the wetlands, I found some Common Redstarts had arrived and were smart looking 1st winter individuals. I completed my day watching the Pied Flycatchers which are so typical of our Autumn migration here at Spurn. A day isn't long enough here, after all, I hadn't even touched on the seawatching with passing Skuas, Shearwaters and Terns. The hawthorn berries are ready for the flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings to pour in very soon!
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