Coto Donana!

 

September 9th Day 2

Morning session



Chipiona

This was the first day of our guided tour and was one of the venues that personally, I had always wanted to visit and long been on the radar – Coto Donana.

Pablo our guide picked us up in darkness around 6.30a.m, the plan being to get on the road for the 2-hour drive to Donana, and more specifically arrive at the Little Swift colony around dawn.

The destination was the port of Chipiona and as we arrived, the Little Swifts were already active, a tick for most of us, we spent a good hour watching these little beauties.
Still breeding, as they approached the nest they trilled, fantastic little birds who put a smile on your face with their antics and vocals around the nest building.

A great start to the morning, we also added Pallid Swift, a couple of Turnstone, ever present Yellow Legged Gulls, House Martin and Red Rumped Swallow. Audouins Gull was also seen, however brekkie was calling so we headed off.

After breakfast it was down to Chipiona Beach, where we added a good number variety of waders to the list, this included the first Kentish Plover along with Little/Sandwich/Common and Caspian Tern and a single Mediterranean Gull.

Zitting Ciscola, Sardinian/Cetti’s Warbler also gave themselves up and I gained my 2nd tick here in the shape of a Waxbill.

A good start to the morning and thoroughly enjoyable for all of us, we were now up to 53 species seen so looking good. Our next destination was aptly named for obvious reasons -

Stinky Pools (Lagunas de Camino Colarado)



In fact, there were 3 of these nicknamed pools, not that big and they did pong, but boy did they hold some goodies, everywhere you looked, there were birds of note and we all enjoyed good views and got some decent photos.

Exiting the vehicle, we straight away encountered a couple of very approachable Pied Flycatchers, however there was so much going on the 1st pool, it was hard to know where to look and give your attention to.
At the water’s edge were a number Little Ringed Plover, Black Winged Stilt, Green Sandpiper, 2 Purple Swamphens, 4 Temmincks Stint, Glossy Ibis, Ringed Plover and Greater Flamingo as an appetiser, stunning.

We all had a good look round this Pool before moving up and across the road to the next pool, this was a little bigger.

Immediately on view were Spoonbill, Green Sandpiper, more Little Ringed Plover, a few Glossy Ibis,2 more Purple Swamphens, Common Teal,2 Greater Flamingo’s, Kingfisher, Marbled Duck, Little and a Cattle Egret. Looking up showed a pale phase Booted Eagle forever searching, pretty low so could see all the head movements. This was without doubt better views of a Raptor than El Algarroba – little did I know what was to come over the next few days!

Little Grebe were plentiful as was Mallard so after getting yet more photos, we headed round to the 3rd Pool.

We immediately got on a Red Knobbed Coot located by Pablo, and we then saw around 4 White Headed Duck, another Glossy Ibis, Shoveler but a goodie was a roosting Night Heron in trees. A bit distant but nonetheless a good bird to see.

As we were watching a Common Sandpiper, 6 waders arrived, circulating around before disappearing, on the limited views they looked good for Curlew Sandpiper.

Out of nowhere a Squacco Heron arrived, landed and gave pretty good viewing, it had a mouth full of Dragons and would suspect these were Lesser Emperors, they seemed to be just about everywhere. Along with the Night heron, 2 great birds that we rarely see.

Another bird new for me and the chaps was Black Headed Weaver, 2 of these flew across the Pools, although not sure of their status in Spain.

We then left the ‘stinky pools’, a very productive area, thoroughly enjoyable and it bought the trip list up to 78.



More from Day 2 from the afternoon of our guided tour on the next update……………….

Spain at last!

 

This has been a long time coming, it was organized prior to Covid 19 and was subsequently cancelled 3 times, before we finally got to Tarifa on September 8th, 2022.

Tarifa is Spain’s hotspot for Raptor migration to and from Africa, with several watchpoints which were localised to our hotel. We stayed at Hotel Meson De Sancho, I can recommend it, anywhere that has Iberian Chiffchaff, Short Toed Treecreeper and Firecrests in the Gardens has got to be good. It was a really nice hotel, superb accommodation with great food, we roomed in exterior log cabins.

We flew Gatwick to Gibraltar with EasyJet, with a journey time of around 2hours 20 minutes, the trip was planned from September 8th and then flying home on the 12th. The idea was 2 days of guided birding on the 9th and 10th with the remaining days bashing the watchpoints.

The party consisted of myself, Lee Brown, Russ Sherriff and Steve Bacon and we used Birding the Straits (highly recommended) for our 2 days of guided birding.

                                                          Just about to eat, great views

El Algarroba Watchpoint Sept 8th

I first visited this watchpoint in 2017, the approach road was awful then (rock through the bottom of the engine sump), little has changed and the track is still hazardous!

Having a few hours to spare in the afternoon after arrival, we covered it from 3.00 – 5.00pm, not expecting too much due to the lateness of the day.

There were already around 8 birders on station, and we subsequently learnt that this was one of the 2 recording watchpoints. It was very hot and the heat was pretty intense, little wind and what birds we did see were fairly high.

For a 2-hour afternoon period we didn’t do too bad, connecting with several of Spain’s specialities. These included Griffon Vulture – 6, Black Kite – 13, Booted Eagle – 6, Short Toed Eagle – 2, Sparrowhawk – 2 and a single Honey Buzzard on the Raptor front.

A single Red Rumped Swallow and 2 Alpine Swift were the pick of the hirundine powering through, however the stars of the show had to be 20+ Bee Eaters who dropped into feed.

These gave outstanding close views, exceptionally colourful and vocal, they were great to watch wheeling around hunting, just don’t see enough of these in the UK.

                                                                    The boys hard at it

                                                                     Black Kite

                                                                      Honey Buzzard

                                                                  Short Toed Eagle

We got a few photos and called it a day, a bit disappointed that the Raptors were so high, however over the next few days that definitely changed!

If you visit the site watch the road.

 

Fostering again

 

Over the last 8 years or so, there is one particular pair and more specifically the Falcon, where I have been lucky enough to have been able to foster 3 juveniles to them. The pair are incredibly consistent and has regularly fledged 3-4 juveniles annually at the start of June, this is a site where we colour ring as well.

Of the 3 times I have fostered here, the Falcon has been present every time and it is one of the main reasons I chose this nest site, she is extremely tied to the ‘core’ site. Obviously steering clear of the early morning hours as they will likely be hunting, but mid-morning/mid dayish seems to work depending on the weather.

On Friday August 12th I picked a juvenile up from South Essex Wildlife Hospital, a female and a stroppy one at that, but again fantastic work by the team at the Hospital to get her back ship shape, flying and back ready for the wild where she belongs.

This was the 4th foster and in truth, I did have a few thoughts given it was the 2nd week of August, would she be received as before?

This wasn’t June or even July but August, would aggression be shown, would she attack it on sight?

However, the main key and I have undertaken this procedure every time, was to get the Falcon in the air on me entering the roof space, she does this naturally usually, would it still work in August and would she still show the bond to the nest box and circle around calling.

Accessing the roof under Schedule 1 licence with the juvenile boxed up, I gave a few shouts and up she came circling and calling, a good sign at this stage of time in the year regarding connection, I waited until she was head on and released the juvenile so that she couldn’t miss it.

Being at the nest site, with a strong bond to it, releasing the juvenile in front of her kicks in the maternal instinct and makes her think it is one of her own.

Her calling got louder as I released it and the juvenile promptly flew, the Falcon escorting it before landing, and it was then joined by a ‘natural’ juvenile.

I withdrew as quickly as my little legs could manage and left them to it.

The following day, Saturday, I was back at dawn, picked up an adult hunting distantly and 2 juveniles chasing each other, again distantly.

If you watch peregrines, you know it is a waiting game and this was the case, after an hour or so a calling juvenile came in with prey, it looked like a Starling just as it landed. However, it then got very interesting as another juvenile came in straight away; quite obviously a female on size and after a brief skirmish relieved the other of the Starling. It all happened very quickly and was under the watchful eye of the Falcon who I had just spotted sitting not that far away, presumably she had likely supplied the Starling.

It is 100% normal for juveniles to squabble over prey and as I watched the female juvenile, she turned and I was able to confirm that she was unringed, this was the foster, fantastic.

A great result and it made my morning; she’s back where she belongs albeit with a new family.

Battersea Power Station

 

They like it!



Age it seems has finally caught up with the long serving Falcon and sadly the 2 eggs laid on March 30th and April 9th, failed to hatch being infertile, however it was not for want of trying.

As you know she is on camera up a purpose built 55-meter tower, incubation continued for a marathon 86+ days on the Falcons part and slightly longer on the Tiercels part. The norm being 29 – 36 days incubation to hatching, above was way over and shows the pairs commitment to incubation and breeding. A good distance in, I made enquiries to see if the eggs could be removed under licence, one of the reasons being to let them get back to a more normal life. Extended incubation would also mean a loss of condition, especially to the Falcon who undertakes the Lion’s share, hence the enquiries, however the consensus was from the powers that be, was that they had to stop naturally.

Thankfully they did stop eventually, and they have now returned to normality, a pity regarding the eggs but we know she is around 12 having arrived as a ringed adult in the winter of 2012.

Also with the incubation finally stopping, we were able to remove the 2 eggs under licence and these were then sent to the Predatory Birds Monitoring Scheme for analysis.


I know I am biased, but they are quite an incredible resilient species who seem to adapt to just about anything, since 2013 the Power Station has been a major construction site, not only did they adapt, but they adjusted, thrived and bred. Indeed, the construction period of breeding from 2013 to date has been there most successful.

Preconstruction – 2000 to 2012 - 13 breeding seasons = 14 juveniles

Construction – 2013 to 2022 – 10 breeding seasons = 22 juveniles

Since construction began in 2013, they have fledged an incredible 22 juveniles amid a full-blown major construction site, at its height boasting 21 Luffer Cranes, every one of these Cranes was used by the Peregrines. Even when they were working and a peregrine was hunting from the top, they often stayed on board for the ride, adjusting position as the Crane traversed/jibbed to make sure they were facing in the right direction. Very amusing and it always put a smile on my face.

                                        The dot on the centre chimney is one of them hunting

The purpose-built Tower was erected in 2013 as mitigation to maintain their presence on site, it has been an incredible success and with all the works progressing, it also shows just how strong and powerful the bond to the ‘core’ nest site is.

Over the 22 years I have been monitoring them at Battersea Power Station, this pair above all and, this Falcon, have provided me with so much information/knowledge regarding urban breeding peregrines. CCTV gives you an incredible insight into their world, one thing that came to light in the early days of the camera, just how much she liked to rest up and sleep, often 5+ hours in the afternoon flat out!



Permanent Nest



As mitigation for the very successful Tower and to make sure they stayed at the Power Station for the future, a new permanent nest site was designed for them a few years back in the northeast wash tower, this was put together by Battersea Power Station Development Company, Wilkinson Eyre, Mace and myself.

This went live this year, and I was hoping that they, more specifically the Falcon, would likely show an interest/activity as 2023 breeding approached. In the bird of prey world, most females are bigger and wear the trousers being dominant over the males, for it to be accepted, it was down to her.

Released from long term incubation, they obviously became more active, it was then I started seeing an increase in activity on the motion tracker at the new nest site.

I had seen a Feral Pigeon on the landing ledge of the new site occasionally, so wondered if it was this, however when I next looked from the park there was pigeon prey on the ledge!

On checking the camera, remarkably it was the Falcon, not only was she inside the box, but she had also made a very early scrape and was spending a good number of hours sleeping/resting inside. The pigeon may well have paid the price in attracting them to the new nest site.

                                                                            Tiercel

                                                                  She does like a kip!

                                                                     Egg scrape made

                                                                             Falcon

                                                                            Falcon

                                                                            Tiercel

To date she has been inside the new nest site, every day of July, totally bonded to this new position, at times even undertaking ledge display with the Tiercel inside and renewing the egg scrape and rim often already.

A massive thanks should go to Battersea Power Station Development Company for their fantastic commitment to the Peregrines and Black Redstarts, above all for listening to my many requests and demands over the years.

Great to see everyone’s hard work paying off, as I said, such an incredible resilient species.

 

 

Fledgers

 

Following on from ‘Kestrel Update’, I visited both sites, Beckton Sewage Works and the Quarry site recently and both have fledged ok.

All of them lost height not surprisingly on fledging, with no natural awareness of danger as yet, some even came down to road level like the Quarry site, 2 fledgers in particular sitting in the middle of a road.

Approached these and they then flew quite well and got themselves aloft.

Watched the Beckton Thames Water birds also, all 5 of them, I had thought there was only 4; all flew well eventually from low positions and relocated higher.

Another good year from both these very productive nest sites, 9 juveniles.

                                                             Quarry Site - 2 in the road

                                              Beckton - came down low but flew ok after a while

                                              Adult female keeping the Crows/Magpies away

                                                         Male keeping an eye on them