Thursday 22 July 2010

A month is a long time in birding...

Well it all seems to have been happening whilst I was away on my jollies.

Unsavoury shenanigans at Shotton NR, rumours of some work actually being carried out at Inner Marsh Holiday Camp and last but by no means least, evidence that the RSPB has not forgotten about the Point of Ayr as they have actually erected a sign pointing to the bird hide.

Naturally, there is no evidence of the 'Cuddfa', but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Not much else doing at the POA, but a couple of Common Sandpipers milling around the small area of marsh behind the colliery site was good, plus there were plenty of Little Egrets bozzing about between the various channels.

Connahs Quay was a little better with the same number of Common Sands, plus the first late summer flush of returning waders: Greenshank, plus good numbers of Redshank and Dunlin were present to augment the over-summering Blackwits.

Until later.

Thursday 15 July 2010

Sierra Nevada

Hola,

Sorry for being a little thin on the ground with posts recently, but after my protracted house move I have been indulging in some serious rest and relaxation in Andalucia, Spain.

Despite being accompanied by the Leicas this time, it has only been over the last couple of days that I have had chance to do some birding - in the sublime and thankfully cool Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada.

At a shade under 3000 metres there is still large areas of snow on the tops, despite temperatures in the cities being ´hace mucho calor.´

Birding is fairly hard going at this altitude with only a handful of species recorded. By far the most common bird was Northern Wheatear, followed closely by a sizable population of Chough.

More interesting birds included a couple of Black Redstart, an Olive-backed Pipit and most notably excellent views of an Alpine Accentor feeding amongst some large boulders.

It was butterflies that stole the show though. I must have logged at least twenty different species including Sierra Nevada Blue, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, plus varities of Argus´, Frittilaries and a superb Spanish Marbled White.

Hasta Luego...