Spain

Mirador de las Aguilas



As you know I am a Raptor man, and rather than the long drive down towards Gibraltar, to the Tarifa Raptor watchpoints from La Cala, I had been looking for somewhere more local to me.

E Bird came up trumps again and I discovered Mirador de las Aguilas, around 25 minutes from me in a mountain range.

I grabbed a couple of hours here on the 11th and 14th, in terms of numbers obviously nothing like the bottleneck at Tarifa over to Africa but saw some good birds although distant.

Bonelli’s Eagle was seen on both dates, a pair no less, distant views but great to see them here and relatively ‘easy’ to see, other trips it has been a hard bird to see.

One of the highlights will no doubt be seeing one of the Bonelli’s going for and chasing a Booted Eagle, whether just mobbing or intended prey hard to say.

Talking to Blaz Lopez, a great chap whom I met up there and helped me no end, the Bonelli’s do target the smaller Booted Eagles as prey as they migrate through, the Bonelli’s are resident as I understand it.

A good variety of birds seen on both days, 3 Eagles – Bonelli’s, Booted and Short Toed, Black Kites, Honey Buzzards, Kestrels, Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier amongst others – full list on E Bird.

The one I was really hoping for was Golden Eagle, not seen, next time as I know they do appear here.

Big thanks to Blaz for all his help.

                                                                      Short Toed Eagle

                                             Interesting Kestrel..... but Common I would say

Black Kites