Raptor Watchpoints
September 11th Day 4
Cazalla 8.10 – 9.10a.m
With a multitude of Raptor watchpoints in close vicinity to our hotel, Meson De Sancho, we eventually decided on Observatorio Cazalla as the early morning starter. This was conveniently positioned pretty close to us and was a short hop off the N – 340, as yet it was a venue we hadn’t tried.
Arriving at Cazalla at 8.10a.m not expecting too much this early, very few people were present, but we got some movement fairly early.
It was quite obvious that Short Toed Eagles were around in numbers and during the hour we watched, we recorded 19.
We also saw 3 Booted Eagles during this time frame, 4 Black Kites, 5 Egyptian Vultures, a few Common Swifts, Sardinian Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail.
Breakfast was calling so we headed back towards the direction of our hotel and stopped at Bar Cafeteria El Estrecho, this stop proved quite a fortuitous one.
We were sitting outside tucking in, a few big Raptors and Vultures in view, when a Vulture came over pretty low, we all got on it as it seemed different. This proved a big positive as simultaneous shouts of Ruppell’s Vulture went up, the underside uniform brown markings of the wing and the 2 white lines clearly visible.
After we topped up, we then headed to
Obsevatorio Del Estrecho Watchpoint
9.40a.m – 12.20pm
We decided at another go at this watchpoint as it offered good photo opportunities, again it was a bit windy and like the previous day, again in the wrong direction for mass migration.
However, it was an enjoyable 3 hours+ and we gained our 127th tick, in the shape of several passing Cory’s Shearwaters, some coming very close to the shoreline also. A bit distant where we were up higher, at sea level on the shoreline, they would have provided stonking views. I did toy with the idea of going down there to have a look, but I think the walk/climb back up would have killed me.
It was obvious that this was the Booted Eagle hotspot, in this period we recorded 38, some so close using the side wind, they were frame fillers. Stunning views and 95% of them pale phase.
Other highlights were
Black Kite – 6
Bee Eater – 2
Lesser Kestrel – 6
Yellow Wagtail – 6
Honey Buzzard – 2
Audouins Gull – 2
Short Toed Eagle – 11
Egyptian Vulture – 3
Cattle Egret - 1
A very enjoyable session, as above, no mass filling the skies migration due to the wrong winds, but none the less I really enjoyed it.
Cazalla
1.20 – 3.40pm
We decided on Cazalla again for the afternoon session, admittedly we hadn’t checked out the other watchpoints, but for convenience, we liked Cazalla, and it produced good birds and numbers, for one we still needed Black Stork.
Our calls were answered shortly after arrival, a single Black Stork overhead providing our 128th species for the list.
Lots more people present as well and the wind was ferocious, but again it proved another good session.
This time, Booted Eagle were present in better numbers than the morning session here, we recorded 18 along with 16 Short Toed Eagles.
We also ended up with a small flock of Black Storks numbering 5 birds, adding to the single seen earlier.
You always seem to hear the Bee Eaters before you see them, unless it’s a flock overhead, singles can be a bugger to pick up in the blue skies, fantastic birds.
Another good day, we then headed back to the Hotel for a well-earned pint or 2.
Arriving at Cazalla at 8.10a.m not expecting too much this early, very few people were present, but we got some movement fairly early.
It was quite obvious that Short Toed Eagles were around in numbers and during the hour we watched, we recorded 19.
We also saw 3 Booted Eagles during this time frame, 4 Black Kites, 5 Egyptian Vultures, a few Common Swifts, Sardinian Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail.
Cazalla
Wind Turbines - in times of extreme migration they are turned off
Black Kite
Short Toed Eagle
Cazalla watchpoint looked very promising offering great views, a pity the building seemed empty inside, it also had no WC facilities, this was quite obvious if you went off piste, it was a bit of a minefield!
Breakfast was calling so we headed back towards the direction of our hotel and stopped at Bar Cafeteria El Estrecho, this stop proved quite a fortuitous one.
We were sitting outside tucking in, a few big Raptors and Vultures in view, when a Vulture came over pretty low, we all got on it as it seemed different. This proved a big positive as simultaneous shouts of Ruppell’s Vulture went up, the underside uniform brown markings of the wing and the 2 white lines clearly visible.
Bar Cafeteria El Estrecho - Africa in the distance
Africa
A trip list tick for us and a lifer for most, it bought the trip list up to 126.
After we topped up, we then headed to
Obsevatorio Del Estrecho Watchpoint
9.40a.m – 12.20pm
We decided at another go at this watchpoint as it offered good photo opportunities, again it was a bit windy and like the previous day, again in the wrong direction for mass migration.
However, it was an enjoyable 3 hours+ and we gained our 127th tick, in the shape of several passing Cory’s Shearwaters, some coming very close to the shoreline also. A bit distant where we were up higher, at sea level on the shoreline, they would have provided stonking views. I did toy with the idea of going down there to have a look, but I think the walk/climb back up would have killed me.
It was obvious that this was the Booted Eagle hotspot, in this period we recorded 38, some so close using the side wind, they were frame fillers. Stunning views and 95% of them pale phase.
Other highlights were
Black Kite – 6
Bee Eater – 2
Lesser Kestrel – 6
Yellow Wagtail – 6
Honey Buzzard – 2
Audouins Gull – 2
Short Toed Eagle – 11
Egyptian Vulture – 3
Cattle Egret - 1
A very enjoyable session, as above, no mass filling the skies migration due to the wrong winds, but none the less I really enjoyed it.
Short Toed Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and Booted Eagle below
Bellies were rumbling so it was back to Bar Cafeteria El Estrecho for some lunch.
Cazalla
1.20 – 3.40pm
We decided on Cazalla again for the afternoon session, admittedly we hadn’t checked out the other watchpoints, but for convenience, we liked Cazalla, and it produced good birds and numbers, for one we still needed Black Stork.
Our calls were answered shortly after arrival, a single Black Stork overhead providing our 128th species for the list.
Lots more people present as well and the wind was ferocious, but again it proved another good session.
This time, Booted Eagle were present in better numbers than the morning session here, we recorded 18 along with 16 Short Toed Eagles.
We also ended up with a small flock of Black Storks numbering 5 birds, adding to the single seen earlier.
Black Stork
Egyptian Vulture
In addition, we recorded Red Rumped Swallow - 7, Egyptian Vulture – 5, a single Sparrowhawk, a flock of 40 Bee Eaters powering overhead calling and a single Marsh Harrier.
You always seem to hear the Bee Eaters before you see them, unless it’s a flock overhead, singles can be a bugger to pick up in the blue skies, fantastic birds.
Another good day, we then headed back to the Hotel for a well-earned pint or 2.
Knackered but always better after a few pints
The next day we were due to fly home, but we still had enough time for another session in the morning, more to come……….
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