tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75003748202351426512024-03-04T22:59:29.962-08:00TimboBaggins AbroadBagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-82002450349660084372015-11-30T06:02:00.000-08:002020-01-13T03:32:58.052-08:00The Old Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>TimbobagginsAbroad</b> has done his time 4+ years. Time for a change, but only in name .. still the same old roving reflections as I stumble across the countryside with camera in hand! Here's the link to the new Blog<br />
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<a href="http://bagginsontheloose.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BAGGINS ON THE LOOSE - the new Blog</span></b></a></div>
BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-46765441869157773972015-10-09T10:50:00.001-07:002015-10-09T11:02:56.581-07:00Hunting Kestrels, Ring Ouzels and first winter thrushes in at Flamborough,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got some great pics of hunting <b>Kestrels</b> the other day whilst I was scouring the hedges and bushes at <b>Flamborough</b> for migrant warblers. Bright morning sunshine always helps but with a family party of 4 that were continually stooping for prey along the cliffs I couldn't fail!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEZ64pkCJrj48EQ2hQrMMJo0fogHCn1Gf9nFQpBZN8iJ876Hlbj_5k-wvX3EXsgjNKrfxEwiQdZuOzWjI2DhV_L9lUyXz7DO2cXFIbvXvLJPTQ1j2tG5HoWl6BZrg7H0XlY8t0vb_16m0/s1600/20151006_IMG_999_45-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEZ64pkCJrj48EQ2hQrMMJo0fogHCn1Gf9nFQpBZN8iJ876Hlbj_5k-wvX3EXsgjNKrfxEwiQdZuOzWjI2DhV_L9lUyXz7DO2cXFIbvXvLJPTQ1j2tG5HoWl6BZrg7H0XlY8t0vb_16m0/s640/20151006_IMG_999_45-1.jpg" width="518" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYylj9yflZ79KvCIeFhRia-FZtgkzy9hf8p5a_SFWrz6P2koYCb_tl0EiPHOkXGnssJ2sIxS9Hn05s9jLkK6eIr9jWr6f8LozA20y4iEYnejtVJDooC5jfNPZrLuks0XMru0QVxDO5o6SW/s1600/20151006_IMG_999_97-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYylj9yflZ79KvCIeFhRia-FZtgkzy9hf8p5a_SFWrz6P2koYCb_tl0EiPHOkXGnssJ2sIxS9Hn05s9jLkK6eIr9jWr6f8LozA20y4iEYnejtVJDooC5jfNPZrLuks0XMru0QVxDO5o6SW/s640/20151006_IMG_999_97-1.jpg" title="common kestrel, male, hovering, stooping, flamborough, falcon" width="496" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_949941483" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little trickier once the birds were against the cliff-side but one or two came out well including this one -</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDu7ifNC_Dos5mdYejcHWQBrwthlc1JFfV7ilt9bY5VnHTFYNEcAmrM9UiY6S3dToT8z5Q_jVY1WGvOO3fnc-2hRTZRyb0_OyAKD4iy0x5AIxRjrplLiJcuEojAzzipyxSNW_B5q1VwF3/s1600/20151006_IMG_999_84-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="raptor, bird of prey, bird, timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDu7ifNC_Dos5mdYejcHWQBrwthlc1JFfV7ilt9bY5VnHTFYNEcAmrM9UiY6S3dToT8z5Q_jVY1WGvOO3fnc-2hRTZRyb0_OyAKD4iy0x5AIxRjrplLiJcuEojAzzipyxSNW_B5q1VwF3/s640/20151006_IMG_999_84-1.jpg" title="common kestrel, male, hovering, stooping, flamborough, falcon" width="425" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much easier against the sky and the sea, and of course a good hovering <strong>Kestrel</strong> pic is a must for the collection and these are some of the best I've ever managed. At least 3 distinctly different individuals here including one which appears to have a chunk missing from its wing ... didn't seem to affect its flying ability however.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Common Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfvt5-PFgzWHFYHkue5dZz5KJO5lJKfDxocXJBkh6DIyi26zJ-c7a0FbeoU0MOFt_fLm5kL9RfTCIpFNXqIkpXsHsga4E_MPg_qFbeE311MKPLAFU9t597EiVDTo_BwpTCKKDNtvLpge9/s1600/ring+ouzel2_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfvt5-PFgzWHFYHkue5dZz5KJO5lJKfDxocXJBkh6DIyi26zJ-c7a0FbeoU0MOFt_fLm5kL9RfTCIpFNXqIkpXsHsga4E_MPg_qFbeE311MKPLAFU9t597EiVDTo_BwpTCKKDNtvLpge9/s400/ring+ouzel2_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ring Ouzel, Buckton, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I failed abysmally to see any of the dozen or so <strong>Yellow Browed Warblers</strong> that were present on the headland but to my credit I did see a <strong>Barred Warbler</strong> (hopeless pic unless you like hawthorn bushes!) and there were passage thrushes everywhere, especially further up the coast at <strong>Buckton</strong> (adjacent to <strong>Bempton RSPB</strong> - mainly <strong>Song Thrushes, Blackbirds</strong>, the odd <strong>Redwing, 3 Fieldfare</strong> and the undoubted highlights - 5 <strong>Ring Ouzels</strong>. Damn difficult to get close but a passing <strong>Sparrowhawk</strong> flushed one and enabled me to get some half decent 'in flight' shots. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiJ5R53ka9IbVXAq4s2YHUh3AbcaNv-J-0fBGbFrrZx6LQ7_g74TR0x2JFUqG569HdcTB26LrgneLN85NXdsl2OrxFeHpA3kd-4HqUvcfI1xS0RvFCVN5CUxVK25Ct6DCTF8b5h6WqH96/s1600/ring+ouzel_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiJ5R53ka9IbVXAq4s2YHUh3AbcaNv-J-0fBGbFrrZx6LQ7_g74TR0x2JFUqG569HdcTB26LrgneLN85NXdsl2OrxFeHpA3kd-4HqUvcfI1xS0RvFCVN5CUxVK25Ct6DCTF8b5h6WqH96/s400/ring+ouzel_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ring Ouzel, Buckton, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very reminiscent of our common or garden Blackbird, <strong>Ring Ouzels</strong> are a tad bigger, males sport a distinctive white crescent across their breast and they have silvery grey wings. Fab birds, they breed in mountainous, hilly regions (there's a healthy population in the NY Moors) most of these however are likely to have come in from central Europe. Some excellent info here if you want to know more about these birds - <a href="http://www.ringouzel.info/" target="_blank">Ring Ouzels</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYyFfeqsRVAI9c1ZRfUNSRuoBFl5LOIPAMC0efPs41V0tUdl57ysGfGUPmVqfHVj6VXmBxVCSiqPU_pxKMYkowKNyAyZ9gzduBhDX3DtGHQQdCE6ZWAUanyY_rihWXjfHw3deCdCZqrAw/s1600/ring+ouzel3_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYyFfeqsRVAI9c1ZRfUNSRuoBFl5LOIPAMC0efPs41V0tUdl57ysGfGUPmVqfHVj6VXmBxVCSiqPU_pxKMYkowKNyAyZ9gzduBhDX3DtGHQQdCE6ZWAUanyY_rihWXjfHw3deCdCZqrAw/s400/ring+ouzel3_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ring Ouzel, Buckton, 07/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd3h_Y4UnYWnx8DfwcmoyPt1dbyiBpGJf7esAUsLdyTTmFj_Y2NPF2JPA1mCwPX3dynWrfQLOqtAtkgIOwcsYCDx2nFy2piceKS6uvRvJ-XAOUEQfoakOJaY5eW7sKtNAmOLfGSCLLt8h/s1600/ring+ouzel6_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd3h_Y4UnYWnx8DfwcmoyPt1dbyiBpGJf7esAUsLdyTTmFj_Y2NPF2JPA1mCwPX3dynWrfQLOqtAtkgIOwcsYCDx2nFy2piceKS6uvRvJ-XAOUEQfoakOJaY5eW7sKtNAmOLfGSCLLt8h/s400/ring+ouzel6_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" width="283" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ring Ouzel, Buckton, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ring Ouzels, Buckton, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIX-7geUBh0NRUW8KB83kYzbSnf9OEa4VJ4G3sDVn982WQdRBgh_G3irFXkTDNhqD_e2-U6XFxJY0vY8MsgxRrDPzw1PsEPztPu0cujVB-sQtmoCmkk5M8YV24CKvfa4FMM8t9wiHX1bp/s1600/fieldfare_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIX-7geUBh0NRUW8KB83kYzbSnf9OEa4VJ4G3sDVn982WQdRBgh_G3irFXkTDNhqD_e2-U6XFxJY0vY8MsgxRrDPzw1PsEPztPu0cujVB-sQtmoCmkk5M8YV24CKvfa4FMM8t9wiHX1bp/s400/fieldfare_buckton_6oct2015.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fieldfare, Buckton, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got lucky with the <strong>Fieldfares</strong> I think - they just appeared after a bit of mizzle and then flew off south. To my knowledge, although there have been a few at <strong>Spurn</strong>, these are possibly the first records this Autumn for <strong>Flamborough</strong>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Footnote re the <strong>Ring Ouzels</strong> - the next day and well tuned into their call, I had another of these birds at <strong>Fangfoss</strong>, no pic sadly but a mega record and the 80th species for my local patch. Well done me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and here's that bush with a <strong>Barred Warbler</strong> in it - I think maybe I should stick to photographing Kestrels!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7BLNiqQXnW26AFnuW8R1cz1prA02ckNgSCr8IFXxwp5g1ZGXLHJzTQ9NuB3sZzPx84ARZMKdbD2GGz3Iu_kzBtDtwfHza8eq6OXlcTW31KBm3iWoSNLbd9gXe8DeI3JQGEzVL_qfjRz/s1600/20151006_IMG_999_137-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7BLNiqQXnW26AFnuW8R1cz1prA02ckNgSCr8IFXxwp5g1ZGXLHJzTQ9NuB3sZzPx84ARZMKdbD2GGz3Iu_kzBtDtwfHza8eq6OXlcTW31KBm3iWoSNLbd9gXe8DeI3JQGEzVL_qfjRz/s320/20151006_IMG_999_137-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Barred Warbler, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN6Wy8HghMSRI1GYN0xWkpplnX8CGlcsG9n941HD4QOSpXyjETLkzXijf_EHPMaDpxD4pATWA7QPmE6caNGEPdSQPdiAhJczFCJg00L8OEaOgHzhr65ydNVTVemfdQJ1yxeNE5h9z9ont/s1600/20151006_IMG_999_145-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN6Wy8HghMSRI1GYN0xWkpplnX8CGlcsG9n941HD4QOSpXyjETLkzXijf_EHPMaDpxD4pATWA7QPmE6caNGEPdSQPdiAhJczFCJg00L8OEaOgHzhr65ydNVTVemfdQJ1yxeNE5h9z9ont/s320/20151006_IMG_999_145-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Barred Warbler, Flamborough, 06/10/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-76575134799121676522015-09-26T00:20:00.000-07:002015-09-26T15:11:49.110-07:00September ins and outs down my way, young swallows venture south and the finches move in.<strong>September</strong> .. the summer crops are gathered in and wild flowers are blooming their last. Nights are drawing in, temperatures are dropping, cricket's days are done and rugby takes centre stage, and small birds of many species are moving south .....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOuWkZCwvj5h_3NxWZEcJ-TLRflUp8N9IhcogM6RGSpUmlP80hFv8tPAPSqgqWpGMMGSfrFoF_LizyjIGWuu16Qp0VLuDDMEE9c_ddkf1sHbPoocODkAf79Ys-QaQ7wDiTVOSkJhU9fND/s1600/single+poppy_fangfoss_10sept205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOuWkZCwvj5h_3NxWZEcJ-TLRflUp8N9IhcogM6RGSpUmlP80hFv8tPAPSqgqWpGMMGSfrFoF_LizyjIGWuu16Qp0VLuDDMEE9c_ddkf1sHbPoocODkAf79Ys-QaQ7wDiTVOSkJhU9fND/s640/single+poppy_fangfoss_10sept205.jpg" title="poppy, single, corn field, harvest, last" width="640" /></a></div>
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Almost all of the <strong>Swallows </strong>around <strong>Fangfoss Park</strong> have now departed, slightly earlier than last year when I had good numbers well into the last week of September and then the odd late straggler into the first week of October. Their long and often hazardous flight down to sub Saharan Africa must be a daunting one for all this year's young ones and, although many other birds undertake the self same amazing journey, there is something endearingly magical about the annual departure of these vulnerable looking wee birds. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog6IIGHUW8uTk3bmwu7765jBiX8dNSlpk88LEXDhz_seOgs-dAE3sKEJigL8xJRwd03PP-w6qRc6NEsnJF-RGSMjWcFcHihcjtjrmcd1F3VrLUoNo83p19BT8GAjOas2mDlNkMS3LTF4Y/s1600/young+swallows_stren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="birds, wildlife, timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog6IIGHUW8uTk3bmwu7765jBiX8dNSlpk88LEXDhz_seOgs-dAE3sKEJigL8xJRwd03PP-w6qRc6NEsnJF-RGSMjWcFcHihcjtjrmcd1F3VrLUoNo83p19BT8GAjOas2mDlNkMS3LTF4Y/s400/young+swallows_stren.jpg" title="barn swallows, young, migration, fledge, journey, departure, juveniles" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Swallow, Strensall Common, 10/09/15</span></strong> </td></tr>
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These youngsters were 2 of many that were massing together on <strong>Strensall Common</strong> a couple of weeks ago and obviously getting ready to go. They'll be well on their way now, their journey time south to Africa is a lot more leisurely than the dash back north in the Spring and these 2 can be reasonably confident of catching flies under South African skies within a couple of months but my they look so fragile!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGuPk9Wyzc6uqsQInWckBBrPJqX7Q2gMs-mWNcofHUr3XhMbG7Ci1DNB8_pi0fHs9xQo9fKXgPU42JQyFazRYDNU8t8hof2Rsx8-cr-azyYce5iwTMVq8Bmll6E_N4bG20m_Bofa2UQGH/s1600/young+swallows_strensall2_10sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGuPk9Wyzc6uqsQInWckBBrPJqX7Q2gMs-mWNcofHUr3XhMbG7Ci1DNB8_pi0fHs9xQo9fKXgPU42JQyFazRYDNU8t8hof2Rsx8-cr-azyYce5iwTMVq8Bmll6E_N4bG20m_Bofa2UQGH/s640/young+swallows_strensall2_10sept2015.jpg" title="swallows, young, migration, fledge, journey, departure, juveniles" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Swallow, Strensall Common, 10/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NPn6zVylzOBa9Ih173E7twzdpJ3C5NsgrfqV8cEffJyEB-F64E80KlZAuGZZAOLwC2aRt94uFMfesKX4ZNJnokkUD2roUGudO9aeP7bQc49Pf0x0ATSrpF2xV3CMzGuA7GPwfOZeg8CG/s1600/blackcap_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, yorkshire" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NPn6zVylzOBa9Ih173E7twzdpJ3C5NsgrfqV8cEffJyEB-F64E80KlZAuGZZAOLwC2aRt94uFMfesKX4ZNJnokkUD2roUGudO9aeP7bQc49Pf0x0ATSrpF2xV3CMzGuA7GPwfOZeg8CG/s400/blackcap_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" title="blackcap, passage migrant, berries, fruit" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Blackcap, Fangfoss, 21/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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Departure time from Europe for many other birds too, including many warblers using the UK as a convenient stop off point and feeding station. The many hedgerows around my local patch here in <strong>Fangfoss</strong> have held many <strong>Willow Warblers, ChiffChaffs, Whitethroats</strong> and <strong>Blackcaps</strong> over the past few weeks and even a couple of Lesser Whitethroats ... sadly not able to photograph the latter but as with my <strong>Whinchat</strong> of a couple of weeks ago a welcome new species for the area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf65KB0ZUmwzNADi2HvhsFQ4gCvSHQWtmqZlpr7QWPH-5BWO_2IU_ttQOXSMI3CBalIbABAimgEQBNBucwtk66aSIwME8MTSTb1UMHQoFEhyYKIXF4b_sgYD-vbLI5_utlodf7EiMgMFow/s1600/willow+warbler_fangfoss_22sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf65KB0ZUmwzNADi2HvhsFQ4gCvSHQWtmqZlpr7QWPH-5BWO_2IU_ttQOXSMI3CBalIbABAimgEQBNBucwtk66aSIwME8MTSTb1UMHQoFEhyYKIXF4b_sgYD-vbLI5_utlodf7EiMgMFow/s400/willow+warbler_fangfoss_22sept2015.jpg" title="willow warbler, passage migrant, bird migration, " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Willow Warbler, Fangfoss, 22/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Spotted Flycatchers</strong> bred here this year and this may be one of the youngsters but could equally be another individual on passage ... it was in amongst a roving group of tits and warblers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP3jPPoAuYU5Mbb9NbiNJtTYYHMMIGNEI-bi7iEIBQbXIQ68XDzZ8Eb_I6Uef2QfnCWSAunZGK4h-XzquTII3gezo1mRwmUNHWgbhZtphQIVPTCCewai-zFxWrgeMItOIMS1gUcUg3nn5/s1600/spotted+flycatcher2_fangfoss_15sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP3jPPoAuYU5Mbb9NbiNJtTYYHMMIGNEI-bi7iEIBQbXIQ68XDzZ8Eb_I6Uef2QfnCWSAunZGK4h-XzquTII3gezo1mRwmUNHWgbhZtphQIVPTCCewai-zFxWrgeMItOIMS1gUcUg3nn5/s400/spotted+flycatcher2_fangfoss_15sept2015.jpg" title="spotted flycatcher, yorkshire, passage migrant, migration" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spotted Flycatcher, Fangfoss, 15/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ3jTyfHyWFI5Z0NcU9WKr5w77baUq0scqhuGo3P_po5Sdi8ZfmBvgv1qZDRGT1408svkFbhZXMzaqaY5TWZh3wm9mtnqQImhk_F5XdCC17zICcugpVqqQ7FJvS2MZjl8vYnpnl9oLSuL/s1600/redpoll2_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ3jTyfHyWFI5Z0NcU9WKr5w77baUq0scqhuGo3P_po5Sdi8ZfmBvgv1qZDRGT1408svkFbhZXMzaqaY5TWZh3wm9mtnqQImhk_F5XdCC17zICcugpVqqQ7FJvS2MZjl8vYnpnl9oLSuL/s400/redpoll2_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" title="lesser redpoll, common, finch, passage, winter visitor" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll, Fangfoss, 21/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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There's a lot of fruit laden hedgerows around the countryside at the moment and all worthy of a look if you're looking for migrants (and I don't mean Syrians!). Just as the warblers, chats and flycatchers feed up on this seasonal feast before heading south, other birds are arriving on our shores either to stay or in transit - <strong>Blackbirds, Robins</strong> and assorted finches have all increased in numbers of late and a small flock of <strong>Lesser Redpolls</strong> in amongst the more numerous <strong>Goldfinches</strong> is a sure sign of the changing season ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU2Q6DJ4aaWZhGLS08qYTxaJnq1rmeS_2AiAVtuuxqjNjoNh-VePEfgidFNrA4kBwvt4KSLeQzr8nxv2a1F9otJjKE9nkp8SRu3mQhyphenhyphenfqdxRUgPEUiwYj13QQN-iJWRooBbbVj5GpAGqO/s1600/redpoll4_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU2Q6DJ4aaWZhGLS08qYTxaJnq1rmeS_2AiAVtuuxqjNjoNh-VePEfgidFNrA4kBwvt4KSLeQzr8nxv2a1F9otJjKE9nkp8SRu3mQhyphenhyphenfqdxRUgPEUiwYj13QQN-iJWRooBbbVj5GpAGqO/s640/redpoll4_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" title="lesser redpoll, common, finch, passage, winter visitor" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll, Fangfoss, 21/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZVvblxT5ZEkcWu2UCDc-9BYcOhDtaa20oa9GkWGEF-9lUHomeIBr1wjdmLjzqnqwYFPvCRi5mcPDwAykzXk0vW86tqQq1Vd_w15c-z1VgBW4j3ipRyM9GLO94vgzRhrQcvPyTzny1Cq0/s1600/goldfinch_strensall_10sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZVvblxT5ZEkcWu2UCDc-9BYcOhDtaa20oa9GkWGEF-9lUHomeIBr1wjdmLjzqnqwYFPvCRi5mcPDwAykzXk0vW86tqQq1Vd_w15c-z1VgBW4j3ipRyM9GLO94vgzRhrQcvPyTzny1Cq0/s400/goldfinch_strensall_10sept2015.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Goldfinch, Strensall Common,</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_70F2hNPVdFiXkvPlwRVSLers92pebPUaETxnUQEWVyetDFC1unFgDn5F88-WipZ6LOP3Q8IES5TvKd77ZjDEsVRAJ_DhE9F8R9f_JFEG0RAAyr7Z4tT87DjTf5lqrzxjh8herjSbEwI/s1600/blackbird_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, birds, yorkshire" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_70F2hNPVdFiXkvPlwRVSLers92pebPUaETxnUQEWVyetDFC1unFgDn5F88-WipZ6LOP3Q8IES5TvKd77ZjDEsVRAJ_DhE9F8R9f_JFEG0RAAyr7Z4tT87DjTf5lqrzxjh8herjSbEwI/s640/blackbird_fangfoss_21sept2015.jpg" title="blackbird, elderberries, fruit, feeding, winter visitor" width="426" /></a><br />
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No <strong>Redwings</strong> or <strong>Fieldfares</strong> have made it this far inland as yet but a steady increase in <strong>Blackbird</strong> numbers, like this one gorging on <strong>Elderberries.</strong><br />
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Good to see some healthy flocks of <strong>Lapwings</strong> back in the fields too ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhEIftamMDxxEgZGpN5as5OReh0IjKXGUBwH7tMI4t9aVx8ztRRhSkLAqRKUVwQzyMh_WqMddB-vv4MrHOF63ary3SLAyMOOrA8LdZMOYGMOdGSgkC9Gyskjn2PLJq7_9QhXswM0kY1LL/s1600/lapwings_fangfoss_15sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhEIftamMDxxEgZGpN5as5OReh0IjKXGUBwH7tMI4t9aVx8ztRRhSkLAqRKUVwQzyMh_WqMddB-vv4MrHOF63ary3SLAyMOOrA8LdZMOYGMOdGSgkC9Gyskjn2PLJq7_9QhXswM0kY1LL/s640/lapwings_fangfoss_15sept2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Lapwings, Fangfoss, 15/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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I'm glad my Aug 24th <strong>Honey Buzzard</strong> sighting finally made it onto the <strong>Flamborough bird observatory </strong>site here - <a href="http://fbo.org.uk/category/sightings/" target="_blank">http://fbo.org.uk/category/sightings/</a> It was the highlight of my day too, even though I had to study the pictures before I realised what it was!<br />
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Back here in the <strong>Yorkshire Wolds</strong> our own <strong>Common Buzzards</strong> seem to go from strength to strength with up to 8 in my immediate vicinity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5CP9WYaF26-OGtmgfR0K7wT_yugEDceMEtYsspjoFWaaAsCt1QWKM-biKYUxgQMjBhoE5C6CSfhgz-43ygKd0YXQb9CRHqz13_aFfvrT9rme0-CxvoZ9RDrMV4OSGqvuR2b9GL81W1jc/s1600/buzzard3_fangfoss_16sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5CP9WYaF26-OGtmgfR0K7wT_yugEDceMEtYsspjoFWaaAsCt1QWKM-biKYUxgQMjBhoE5C6CSfhgz-43ygKd0YXQb9CRHqz13_aFfvrT9rme0-CxvoZ9RDrMV4OSGqvuR2b9GL81W1jc/s400/buzzard3_fangfoss_16sept2015.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard, Fangfoss, 16/09/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pMDo0XyRyyhBvlXAFOvnvNGwpoNSzFRIn8ZHoKLWVSOqIK3HSzTC_BV_CJMkLZJjHdqToaNTj_q7vGLM-r8JjCchGkRDshq4tzD2mhXJ_sjgCXuG5N1JrN1P-bacKCBO7xNHrlDD2X7i/s1600/buzzard4_fangfoss_16sept2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pMDo0XyRyyhBvlXAFOvnvNGwpoNSzFRIn8ZHoKLWVSOqIK3HSzTC_BV_CJMkLZJjHdqToaNTj_q7vGLM-r8JjCchGkRDshq4tzD2mhXJ_sjgCXuG5N1JrN1P-bacKCBO7xNHrlDD2X7i/s400/buzzard4_fangfoss_16sept2015.jpg" title="common buzzard, calling, flight, mewing, hawk" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Buzzard, Fangfoss, 16/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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Lucky shot of this one calling as it swept past me!<br />
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Almost certainly I'll be heading out to the coast soon to catch some more visible migration ... maybe an October trip out to <strong>Spurn</strong> when the winter thrushes start coming in, but in truth I'm more than happy walking the lanes and hedgerows of my own patch!<br />
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-43197573804398521152015-09-18T13:17:00.000-07:002015-09-26T15:14:09.989-07:00Scrapping Spars!Searching the <strong>Yorkshire</strong> coast again for passage migrant birds last week brought us precious few ... a smattering of <strong>Redstarts, 'WillowChaffs', Whitethroats</strong> and a <strong>Lesser Whitethroat</strong> but the undoubted highlight was a couple of scrapping <strong>Sparrowhawks</strong> at <strong>Buckton</strong>. Quite why they were being so aggressive to one another I'm not sure - maybe they were looking for the same prey as us and similarly frustrated took it out on each other! More than likely though one of these birds is just an intruder on the others patch; whatever the reason it was great drama, went on for a good 5 minutes and I'm reasonably pleased with these captures....<br />
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All started out quite tame ... just a couple of Spars out a hunting<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1oYyxLxTDih6yfhGpJetg-xb1WMlfQle_Wf6mKQIk78ZV-nSbAJTb_VEMg-TK7kTiYsmNfEn7e7YJGP_uARFsTI9pEFal_RZtuGb_wsPG5sblDvAMs7CMSCJjs9Jp2YuwMRjs4SIDULu/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, yorkshire, Buckton" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1oYyxLxTDih6yfhGpJetg-xb1WMlfQle_Wf6mKQIk78ZV-nSbAJTb_VEMg-TK7kTiYsmNfEn7e7YJGP_uARFsTI9pEFal_RZtuGb_wsPG5sblDvAMs7CMSCJjs9Jp2YuwMRjs4SIDULu/s400/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_2.jpg" title="sparrowhawks, fighting, together, pair, aggression, territorial" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9DE9CgDMQJQUMpbjcsVdKc-dgSz3mxzdSqo7xoxJKCAtiAQci5sBCew8T4p9QqdstHxlEX6QjU4tgpsoxUYYwf1PjDv-KgWwxIJ0rKk_FML6NH9WugnfcXyTsLMCNrxdE_NvowJctt1c/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9DE9CgDMQJQUMpbjcsVdKc-dgSz3mxzdSqo7xoxJKCAtiAQci5sBCew8T4p9QqdstHxlEX6QjU4tgpsoxUYYwf1PjDv-KgWwxIJ0rKk_FML6NH9WugnfcXyTsLMCNrxdE_NvowJctt1c/s400/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_5.jpg" title="sparrowhawks, fighting, together, pair, aggression, territorial" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nWmoMTG_o4dqzly53kt9SP8Txian15748XinVKr0l85yJBLZSt_OneqT1xkyRCwC3kZuKfk0Ey6R7fAD5pfC09K0cD5jvf1Yajzn3jsg6ZPJV_0ricQ9CHBz_wPaBvPsMnftlZNXWQSF/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nWmoMTG_o4dqzly53kt9SP8Txian15748XinVKr0l85yJBLZSt_OneqT1xkyRCwC3kZuKfk0Ey6R7fAD5pfC09K0cD5jvf1Yajzn3jsg6ZPJV_0ricQ9CHBz_wPaBvPsMnftlZNXWQSF/s400/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_18.jpg" title="sparrowhawks, fighting, together, pair, aggression, territorial" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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..... all going so well and then it got kinda nasty!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD3ivxM_2R5d31h9Xcs1r-G8O1N3W7db3Ll5LvleCbI9mrH4SJqDCGARkF4bQw1FFYDquOEmKhwKBvGn3g8siBnFu6obALvT_g4QfP8mZstbsUE7rpil__SAVYa8ldS4s3ESDrxqHJWth/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD3ivxM_2R5d31h9Xcs1r-G8O1N3W7db3Ll5LvleCbI9mrH4SJqDCGARkF4bQw1FFYDquOEmKhwKBvGn3g8siBnFu6obALvT_g4QfP8mZstbsUE7rpil__SAVYa8ldS4s3ESDrxqHJWth/s640/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_19.jpg" title="Sparrowhawks, fighting, aerial display, territorial, flight" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp1_lKXBYm8qmsCWAEo47u34COSaI9yLLwXToDXi-LhCjm5AIkJm9v9zt99ypIlhhnebjkouHnz6wwQhzPMGDN2uWhpm8WmUXSaGPPleqRnOFpxpCTiWXhnsJI2Y-iRtyIB2smrrYFds_/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp1_lKXBYm8qmsCWAEo47u34COSaI9yLLwXToDXi-LhCjm5AIkJm9v9zt99ypIlhhnebjkouHnz6wwQhzPMGDN2uWhpm8WmUXSaGPPleqRnOFpxpCTiWXhnsJI2Y-iRtyIB2smrrYFds_/s640/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_20.jpg" title="Sparrowhawks, fighting, aerial display, territorial, flight" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0IisGmlWXufaF7d51pZU5MA_OlZQKgzUjIvAEOf1pRT7GV9abe66DgYeE0W6JfBfx7f1ff1p0SGiJ7pA1iD5pkFMYzOD_MUOUBiJl-X9Ae3lvU6Z-B_UkmmgAaKmu6rXM3PEg_PYgLcc/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, raptors, birds," border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0IisGmlWXufaF7d51pZU5MA_OlZQKgzUjIvAEOf1pRT7GV9abe66DgYeE0W6JfBfx7f1ff1p0SGiJ7pA1iD5pkFMYzOD_MUOUBiJl-X9Ae3lvU6Z-B_UkmmgAaKmu6rXM3PEg_PYgLcc/s640/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_22.jpg" title="Sparrowhawks, fighting, aerial display, territorial, flight" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYQmukQE-nyu3y2vw-k-7hPBw-f3HEQrWG23G_86m_ScgcCYybbNVt8OeKiYTZwZ-RzjlNLIuHzAN4mkeJW90JWJuto32LMAatLAKYAicXXjBDEDVTI0DbCPJJXsa-lxIzQ51hxYekYiO/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYQmukQE-nyu3y2vw-k-7hPBw-f3HEQrWG23G_86m_ScgcCYybbNVt8OeKiYTZwZ-RzjlNLIuHzAN4mkeJW90JWJuto32LMAatLAKYAicXXjBDEDVTI0DbCPJJXsa-lxIzQ51hxYekYiO/s640/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_23.jpg" title="Sparrowhawks, fighting, aerial display, territorial, flight" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNztdmfMQaH0vuS-K7HuNHYDA6ZGyI531MjsCRy4jKqmoijBorUCyp0PRHgEDJ8PcKTes0AU34PjALVo7hWPh1TIEXNoiK2USW2q94WXgLA2HAbixctuxCulEopi_JvuYRbtlM3SIZf5xF/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNztdmfMQaH0vuS-K7HuNHYDA6ZGyI531MjsCRy4jKqmoijBorUCyp0PRHgEDJ8PcKTes0AU34PjALVo7hWPh1TIEXNoiK2USW2q94WXgLA2HAbixctuxCulEopi_JvuYRbtlM3SIZf5xF/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNztdmfMQaH0vuS-K7HuNHYDA6ZGyI531MjsCRy4jKqmoijBorUCyp0PRHgEDJ8PcKTes0AU34PjALVo7hWPh1TIEXNoiK2USW2q94WXgLA2HAbixctuxCulEopi_JvuYRbtlM3SIZf5xF/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNztdmfMQaH0vuS-K7HuNHYDA6ZGyI531MjsCRy4jKqmoijBorUCyp0PRHgEDJ8PcKTes0AU34PjALVo7hWPh1TIEXNoiK2USW2q94WXgLA2HAbixctuxCulEopi_JvuYRbtlM3SIZf5xF/s640/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_26.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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Not sure if this was the winner or the loser but with normal service resumed after all the commotion it was the sharpest pic!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToRm31sS1hUjcNFRbjJSWoobNuhriXAzjH6KeGAMeFkDDC0ZyROUTLY5hLfGK3bEdPFXdhOTIsu57W0EGh89MP9NYagbUoYD8eXRvkhF1ub3rTKoO0MQ1growko94MqdsVFroko_QqrEc/s1600/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToRm31sS1hUjcNFRbjJSWoobNuhriXAzjH6KeGAMeFkDDC0ZyROUTLY5hLfGK3bEdPFXdhOTIsu57W0EGh89MP9NYagbUoYD8eXRvkhF1ub3rTKoO0MQ1growko94MqdsVFroko_QqrEc/s640/20150911-20150911_IMG_999_29.jpg" title="Sparrowhawks, fighting, aerial display, territorial, flight" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sparrowhawk wars, Buckton, 11/09/15</strong></td></tr>
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I've never seen <strong>Sparrowhawks </strong>being so aggressive with one another, in fact not common to see this much interaction between birds that are more often than not seen as lone hunters.<br />
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-52307607832320512712015-08-28T10:48:00.000-07:002015-09-26T15:04:07.797-07:00Flamborough for the first proper 'fall' of the year .. Honey Buzzard the star amongst many migrants<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was just 'one of those days' we birders dream about ... late August, persistent easterly winds and a forecast of fog rolling in off the sea and all this after a weekend of sultry storms in these 'ere parts ... there had to be a 'fall' in the offing!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiDjh4S_ZuQ_Z-g1ojkNehNAYOg-xi6__LVKLtLPYuXxjANPj4X2aog_ihM8R_90lEwN5uTiNhk80kx4iLKWsuIthcZVlmwkG73X8VmYP1DhWe7vFlGUmXAfvZ2ObBrWdOoCVdRmsAwuR/s1600/Red-backed-Shrike-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiDjh4S_ZuQ_Z-g1ojkNehNAYOg-xi6__LVKLtLPYuXxjANPj4X2aog_ihM8R_90lEwN5uTiNhk80kx4iLKWsuIthcZVlmwkG73X8VmYP1DhWe7vFlGUmXAfvZ2ObBrWdOoCVdRmsAwuR/s400/Red-backed-Shrike-001.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Backed Shrike, Old Fall, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I toyed with the idea of Spurn Point but decided it was just too far and that <strong>Flamborough Head</strong> would be just as good for the first proper migrant 'fall' of the Autumn - birds migrating South and getting caught by the wind and forced to make landfall on the nearest coast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often spectacular and always the chance of a rarity or two, and there were indeed a couple of rarities knocking about - a<strong> Red Backed Shrike</strong> that didn't look quite as good in the mist and through a fellow birder's scope as this superb pic by <strong>Tony Dixon</strong>, who if its the same TD, is an old pal of mine going years back ... get in touch Tony!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other rarity was <strong>Icterine Warbler, </strong>2 of them<strong>,</strong> neither of which I was lucky enough to see but I did manage a splendid <strong>Wood Warbler</strong> in the Old Fall wood and then a lucky rarity of my own. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61YBDroG9BU_bf2zuJHZLEjWB7k_13sdKJe1eew5Kc-nyAXpimybjWiITEdQZ4yGMQ28Jx3z6OarK2QYNxeVkKTWalYCYeNpCvU9XAEwa-eO7YPIf8lcelZf1qhOB6cWgYoMULMC2JS1f/s1600/+buzzard3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, wildlife, birds, photography" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61YBDroG9BU_bf2zuJHZLEjWB7k_13sdKJe1eew5Kc-nyAXpimybjWiITEdQZ4yGMQ28Jx3z6OarK2QYNxeVkKTWalYCYeNpCvU9XAEwa-eO7YPIf8lcelZf1qhOB6cWgYoMULMC2JS1f/s400/+buzzard3.jpg" title="honey buzzard, flamborough head, passage, juvenile, uk, in flight" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honey Buzzard, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking over to the headland from Old Fall hedge I spotted a big hawk coming out of the mist and gliding towards me at cliff top height. It never looked quite right for a <strong>Common Buzzard</strong> ... jizz was all wrong, long wings, long tail and a well sticky out head .. could it be a <strong>Honey Buzzard</strong>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still to be confirmed by whoever needs to confirm such things but it sure looks like one to me - </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCgvx4zzU4qEhVnhscpgDYR5Wj3L30bflO3PVBeow-T6yXdwRV-dzdpuaY5RjL7VIlJC_2Syj1g5lJ_DCAnOcXvQJBapzi_k9Q_0BUUMngRseiG5vfWeht14AmTC4DcrkK4dJO_D1Br6w/s1600/+buzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCgvx4zzU4qEhVnhscpgDYR5Wj3L30bflO3PVBeow-T6yXdwRV-dzdpuaY5RjL7VIlJC_2Syj1g5lJ_DCAnOcXvQJBapzi_k9Q_0BUUMngRseiG5vfWeht14AmTC4DcrkK4dJO_D1Br6w/s640/+buzzard.jpg" title="honey buzzard, flamborough head, passage, juvenile, uk, in flight" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honey Buzzard, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLyRQtD27VlxDuPo5L3hHVL6ZV96KzTwYaI2a5JZfGbEpehi8cdf7c9Hmp-oRymUE5WRCaZtki3ISzyWJ98peeH4sxIFbkHHGihYEgtn9Z-F-naVqPGY0wByuOv2e6hjto6plobqflKh3/s1600/+buzzard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLyRQtD27VlxDuPo5L3hHVL6ZV96KzTwYaI2a5JZfGbEpehi8cdf7c9Hmp-oRymUE5WRCaZtki3ISzyWJ98peeH4sxIFbkHHGihYEgtn9Z-F-naVqPGY0wByuOv2e6hjto6plobqflKh3/s640/+buzzard2.jpg" title="honey buzzard, flamborough head, passage, juvenile, uk, in flight" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honey Buzzard, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honey Buzzard, Spurn, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A similar bird was seen later on in the day at <strong>Spurn</strong> and highly likely that these are one and the same judging by the obvious damage to some of its flight feathers. Here's the Spurn pic (courtesy of Nigel Glen) - different light and aspect. Judge for yourself but its the same bird for me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a cracking start ... I'd already bagged a <strong>Wood Warbler</strong>, several <strong>Pied & Spotted Flycatchers</strong>, a couple of <strong>Redstarts, Garden Warbler</strong>, dozens of <strong>Willow Warblers</strong> and then a probable <strong>Honey Buzzard</strong> - all before 9.00am!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS58VH9yV5AF9JfWr5ExWgBAgNeQbSkwYz_B6Yedi4vfrlVyJZ9wVGgjtqeaYS9QFMN4fnKn3QJ0YB3HKumS2KLgfrJHdvTOW1gl0k50GxsYL16ib9PayrIJwZSwbGdmb8DVCf5GofN50/s1600/red+admiral_flamborough_24aug2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS58VH9yV5AF9JfWr5ExWgBAgNeQbSkwYz_B6Yedi4vfrlVyJZ9wVGgjtqeaYS9QFMN4fnKn3QJ0YB3HKumS2KLgfrJHdvTOW1gl0k50GxsYL16ib9PayrIJwZSwbGdmb8DVCf5GofN50/s320/red+admiral_flamborough_24aug2015.jpg" title="red admiral, butterfly, flamborough, uk" width="289" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Admiral, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only downside was the poor visibility and with intermittent fog making photography less than easy it was a bit frustrating, especially on the headland, but when the mist cleared it was warm and in addition to the many migrant birds about there were also hundreds of butterflies on the wing - many <strong>Wall Browns</strong> and <strong>Red Admirals</strong> plus the occasional <strong>Painted Lady</strong>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wall Brown, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Painted Lady, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">..... even managed a half decent 'dragonfly in flight' pic, an Emperor no less</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8h-w4Dgwg1J_SNhvi65joDkC8i9bhdGZD1-WC5SagMzmKUJESpi7qzqShlnsg5D1Kw06zX8JxmGKOWYxRpPuZ7N5cWtcnIeHdSIFMOIHrQO17fOBAsdXRn6czGUlx7UJfO7zOqKyr5eU/s1600/emerald+dragonfly_flamborough_24aug2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8h-w4Dgwg1J_SNhvi65joDkC8i9bhdGZD1-WC5SagMzmKUJESpi7qzqShlnsg5D1Kw06zX8JxmGKOWYxRpPuZ7N5cWtcnIeHdSIFMOIHrQO17fOBAsdXRn6czGUlx7UJfO7zOqKyr5eU/s400/emerald+dragonfly_flamborough_24aug2015.jpg" width="338" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emperor Dragonfly, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Redstart, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back amongst the birdies I had mixed fortunes with photographing the common migrants on show. Still lots of leaves on both tree and bush makes it difficult enough without errant twigs spoiling the shot!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there are the predators that seem to show up at such times .. I had at least 3 <strong>Sparrowhawks</strong> on the Headland, all looking for an easy lunch making the migrants skulk even further back into the bushes!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparrowhawk, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This <strong>Spotted Flycatcher</strong> escaped after a frantic chase and will hopefully learn not to choose such a prominent perch next time there are Spars about in numbers!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Flycatcher, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where he should have been, out of sight like this juv <strong>Pied Flycatcher, </strong>out of sight and learning well!<strong></strong></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied Flycatcher, Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">a late <strong>Common Swift</strong> was one of half a dozen on the headland</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Swift (with a House Martin), Flamborough, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">A stroll up <strong>Hoddy Cow's Lane</strong> at <strong>Buckton</strong> in a vain search for 2 reported <strong>Wrynecks</strong> also saw the return of mist and fog in the late afternoon but it was not a wasted journey - yet more <strong>Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts</strong>, various common warblers and a <strong>Cuckoo</strong> that had surely just made landfall made for nice if less than sharp image</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuckoo, Buckton, 24/08/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There's a <em>Heligoland</em> trap and bird ringing station up there and sure enough <strong>Mark Thomas</strong>, otherwise known as the <strong>Buckton Birder</strong> was hard at work ..... 'birds everywhere' he said simply, and he was right. It seemed as if almost every available perching post was in occupation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ46yx4IRpEb_A0XnkN7OHx-dsuX-tF2djH36oN97o3Pe99GKSd6qG79PxkV_UrEZM2ODJ_T_ZS3wB2kRuR2QzL1LgFH-LS7a_splyw-u5tjKirlQ_Gb1PTSbxnNfZMvkWaj9F6vpyDLOE/s1600/wheatear2_buckton_24aug2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ46yx4IRpEb_A0XnkN7OHx-dsuX-tF2djH36oN97o3Pe99GKSd6qG79PxkV_UrEZM2ODJ_T_ZS3wB2kRuR2QzL1LgFH-LS7a_splyw-u5tjKirlQ_Gb1PTSbxnNfZMvkWaj9F6vpyDLOE/s640/wheatear2_buckton_24aug2015.jpg" title="wheatear, passage migrant, autumn, flamborough, buckton" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.... and here's my favourite <strong>Wheatear</strong> pic of the day, it would have been perfect to photograph one on an actual <em>'wheat ear'</em> but the next best thing - a barley ear was perfect enough!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Top day and the first of many more this Autumn I hope. That <strong>Honey Buzzard</strong> was a new UK bird for me and I'm on the hunt for 2 or 3 more in the next couple of months. If I'd gone to Spurn I would have picked up <strong>Red Footed Falcon</strong> but lets not be greedy!</span></div>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-33260170706707909752015-08-18T10:43:00.000-07:002015-08-18T10:50:35.570-07:00Dashing young Peregrine at North Cave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24ZOnZL_p0hyphenhyphendLzpkzp6ttMq-RtQeXF-MBtYxMCe_JVSIHue1G1_y4TsYm4Dwu_yGpjt_j0KhqFhmWBqZmR0W3O-mo8w4CtiIFYYurAye5i_wG86uXKb2-_3CdrMhY8kNAwjLiB_ma2Cn/s1600/peregrine9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24ZOnZL_p0hyphenhyphendLzpkzp6ttMq-RtQeXF-MBtYxMCe_JVSIHue1G1_y4TsYm4Dwu_yGpjt_j0KhqFhmWBqZmR0W3O-mo8w4CtiIFYYurAye5i_wG86uXKb2-_3CdrMhY8kNAwjLiB_ma2Cn/s400/peregrine9.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="246" /></a></div>
A trip out to the YWT reserve at <strong><a href="http://www.ywt.org.uk/reserves/north-cave-wetlands-nature-reserve" target="_blank">North Cave</a></strong> last week and the undoubted highlight was a superb <strong>Peregrine Falcon</strong> aerial hunting display over the wetlands. A youngster judging by the amount of tawny barring on its undersides and a probable male by size. Dashing, fast and showy he may have been but for the 10 minutes he was in view not very successful ... making several swoops into a standing goose flock and although <strong>Peregrines</strong> take a wide variety of biggish birds including ducks and the occasional young Heron a <strong>Greylag Goose</strong> would not have ended well!<br />
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Like the majority of birds of prey in the UK, peregrines are doing rather well. Typically nesting on cliff faces and steep sided quarries, they've taken advantage of man made structures such as cathedrals and electricity pylons over the past few decades and indeed a pair attempted to nest on <strong>York Minster</strong> this year.<br />
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Renowned for its speed, reaching over 322 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop, the <strong>Peregrine</strong> is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastest_animals" target="_blank">fastest member of the animal kingdom</a>. According to a National Geographic TV programme, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is a whopping 389 km/h (242 mph)!<br />
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This youngster was quick too and I got more blurred than sharp pics but he did come right over us at one point resulting in a good batch of images ....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddPC67FYG6ByL-rQTplmFESMT9z0BTrHFmQihBSpVtVZErW4wV6pAOZh8cOaUxPlamt27iwIzHVc2L9uS_DdA6MmmXS_NOD35o5VIeStzutqYqoJky1wUNZRS1sJgkUjMgUCb2DmN7qFf/s1600/peregrine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddPC67FYG6ByL-rQTplmFESMT9z0BTrHFmQihBSpVtVZErW4wV6pAOZh8cOaUxPlamt27iwIzHVc2L9uS_DdA6MmmXS_NOD35o5VIeStzutqYqoJky1wUNZRS1sJgkUjMgUCb2DmN7qFf/s640/peregrine2.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="459" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXwmY-Q6OSeagZ_isEXJXljCAegBrGCDkZN-y86jAKgyf6k8birdB6bTlloqm23HVH6OZCrP_BXybeqduDNiFBQMnA-vbwjWJvsuy3rl670o2d_UVUAU-vunxqEIY2XxOEC2FH6afzvh-/s1600/peregrine3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXwmY-Q6OSeagZ_isEXJXljCAegBrGCDkZN-y86jAKgyf6k8birdB6bTlloqm23HVH6OZCrP_BXybeqduDNiFBQMnA-vbwjWJvsuy3rl670o2d_UVUAU-vunxqEIY2XxOEC2FH6afzvh-/s640/peregrine3.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRa0_ndWP_HedEQAzfverJ7vzmlYMsm291NXGlEaHe6esMVffdXYdWOQO7DeXG5AMWOeXvTbjN5qy8pdHGg_qxkLqe0bNIMrPbhA977fMcY3CYOwNlpvi0NAZLXR_zXJ64VcNhPZ4GFaH/s1600/peregrine4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRa0_ndWP_HedEQAzfverJ7vzmlYMsm291NXGlEaHe6esMVffdXYdWOQO7DeXG5AMWOeXvTbjN5qy8pdHGg_qxkLqe0bNIMrPbhA977fMcY3CYOwNlpvi0NAZLXR_zXJ64VcNhPZ4GFaH/s640/peregrine4.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RM9rRYnBd_PfDoZ-6zdMxi62enj2VKFXswu1UD0LXZKvZmZ_ha7-Dlu7FEXxB7TfxUr3k764FESGNmn79B3bNlc5TOZggPyVAGfPRewhpfpYw1isKOKBQEdRSjud1iGG5SMN0G24Ov7n/s1600/peregrine5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RM9rRYnBd_PfDoZ-6zdMxi62enj2VKFXswu1UD0LXZKvZmZ_ha7-Dlu7FEXxB7TfxUr3k764FESGNmn79B3bNlc5TOZggPyVAGfPRewhpfpYw1isKOKBQEdRSjud1iGG5SMN0G24Ov7n/s640/peregrine5.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_75JhHaUWhzpwkNMNwnKOzrQJnsZbyuLTvUwKiy_BOfVL4hHk_fTxzeQRDCl26VEBAwFR8KMsioHejnvYP4p3i5JmOIHpgpm50hSI2Stdv5qy_aM8snINvxM-YHD2faO79JgCgNqw6x-/s1600/peregrine6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_75JhHaUWhzpwkNMNwnKOzrQJnsZbyuLTvUwKiy_BOfVL4hHk_fTxzeQRDCl26VEBAwFR8KMsioHejnvYP4p3i5JmOIHpgpm50hSI2Stdv5qy_aM8snINvxM-YHD2faO79JgCgNqw6x-/s640/peregrine6.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jGirBPQgvymxPhYbfYPFib-iVNubO-6SSVREi9dMmA54LQP8Iihlwampmf7nPvePYLIm0UtWL0_DbhcpdFfS77VGq65PmcnJUvj0qTaUaq9FhnErfYJUWAjROucT0ETLN97gy_TdscCA/s1600/peregrine7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jGirBPQgvymxPhYbfYPFib-iVNubO-6SSVREi9dMmA54LQP8Iihlwampmf7nPvePYLIm0UtWL0_DbhcpdFfS77VGq65PmcnJUvj0qTaUaq9FhnErfYJUWAjROucT0ETLN97gy_TdscCA/s640/peregrine7.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4vujdtHBqiSxI92OBMgyJ14YEyO9CPbpp_H7dCIeMYVZ1cU8K6s8XsQ2kDS8a_NmNZp8tAzQ76l66nvHRLbppjV3ugdiNCrjdkdsMxHEYxlVc6bYtt-wamQ9rx75LrhXgea6BBWxHtJC/s1600/peregrine-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4vujdtHBqiSxI92OBMgyJ14YEyO9CPbpp_H7dCIeMYVZ1cU8K6s8XsQ2kDS8a_NmNZp8tAzQ76l66nvHRLbppjV3ugdiNCrjdkdsMxHEYxlVc6bYtt-wamQ9rx75LrhXgea6BBWxHtJC/s640/peregrine-1.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="612" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSg57hBtn7FJTHxYctbjOSShjyxs7GsVkgNPdhB3C83-f3EdT1-H60s6OMIPIwrQWPoLLRizZ3cjaRd_1lN0nsG6SSFGUJANaC-k-7gmpd4eWQxsrmw0abVifkbeMY6fps9wR4g9M9pDuE/s1600/peregrine10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, birding, birdwatching, YWT reserves" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSg57hBtn7FJTHxYctbjOSShjyxs7GsVkgNPdhB3C83-f3EdT1-H60s6OMIPIwrQWPoLLRizZ3cjaRd_1lN0nsG6SSFGUJANaC-k-7gmpd4eWQxsrmw0abVifkbeMY6fps9wR4g9M9pDuE/s400/peregrine10.jpg" title="peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, flight, hunting, north cave, uk" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon_North Cave Wetlands, 13/08/15</strong></td></tr>
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Not the best pic but this last is one of my favourites... nicely spread tail as he pulled out of a stoop about 6 feet from the ground!<br />
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-80077685913890649452015-08-07T13:01:00.000-07:002015-08-07T13:01:00.290-07:00Cairngorms road trip, Ospreys fishing, Spoonbills and a surprise herd of Reindeer!Just got back from a jaunt up to the <strong>Cairngorms</strong> with my good mate Rob. The weather was less than perfect but it was a great road trip. I did all the driving, Rob all the cooking ... I like driving and he's chef, so it was a good deal! 102 bird species, some interesting flora and mammal species, stunning scenery and good music recorded every night bar one.... so without further ado and less than normal prose from myself here's the pics!<br />
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Pick of the crop was a toss up between 3 majestic <strong>Ospreys</strong> hunting in tandem over <strong>Lochindorb</strong> in the rain and 2 <strong>Spoonbills</strong> at low tide on <strong>Findhorn Bay</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KLbaJrxD9HvdnLmhl9bqlcKMlRiaQiaXmRbzUuyNJQnYpHwJ54srT6kWAYcQMpY3wnCkaouHrVmoBjHm9szFG6PKJAZedHKNZVQiZIMIxTWAR6M7ifm5xOJ7Y-hfhk0Ravpmn0R5LDkI/s1600/osprey3_lochindorb_29jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KLbaJrxD9HvdnLmhl9bqlcKMlRiaQiaXmRbzUuyNJQnYpHwJ54srT6kWAYcQMpY3wnCkaouHrVmoBjHm9szFG6PKJAZedHKNZVQiZIMIxTWAR6M7ifm5xOJ7Y-hfhk0Ravpmn0R5LDkI/s640/osprey3_lochindorb_29jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Osprey_lochindorb, 29/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dSnwAfg6C2F2TNMiIZW-ponkBJacLWfFTqABCBGlWoGghzLxOnGrkfMTL2DWIcGI2MzZdotIvLHFryK0QnG8tICwqQnGjEk2tTwF5-hiuutZhUL1wzmIwC5Jxh0dCSzOZgTKorFu9g39/s1600/osprey6_lochindorb_29jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dSnwAfg6C2F2TNMiIZW-ponkBJacLWfFTqABCBGlWoGghzLxOnGrkfMTL2DWIcGI2MzZdotIvLHFryK0QnG8tICwqQnGjEk2tTwF5-hiuutZhUL1wzmIwC5Jxh0dCSzOZgTKorFu9g39/s640/osprey6_lochindorb_29jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Osprey_lochindorb, 29/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rrNM2FWuUnL2z12LszNT7WF-MnHBSyOUjBCNit_P6k8mLgz3HDn5IrQfjuoYWHKaRlWqEvokPHGpdCBi-Ym40eRnG0OR6eA0FQRctn7XZivi6aPuE6nQOTJW9N_MyWgsL6K5qh3_KFv4/s1600/osprey_lochindorb_29jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rrNM2FWuUnL2z12LszNT7WF-MnHBSyOUjBCNit_P6k8mLgz3HDn5IrQfjuoYWHKaRlWqEvokPHGpdCBi-Ym40eRnG0OR6eA0FQRctn7XZivi6aPuE6nQOTJW9N_MyWgsL6K5qh3_KFv4/s640/osprey_lochindorb_29jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Osprey_lochindorb, 29/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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As well as these 3 over<strong> Lochindorb</strong> (where we also had a single <strong>Black Throated Diver</strong>), we had 10 other <strong>Ospreys</strong> .. they're doing well up here and it seemed to us as if there was at least 1 on nearly every loch!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtesZHl7q9cMXpiAgHpgy5MDxQzb-5pjeo-7EfoeGdHTqWwtU5uXgFjYoXYOctzQ1YFaCUReBtZcdzP_i0EFszpAU-GNOZZnswvVI-FlYtaANn_BbT9NGBPKbvt8pRA2NzRpaP2SYUDW56/s1600/spoonbills2_findhorn_28jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtesZHl7q9cMXpiAgHpgy5MDxQzb-5pjeo-7EfoeGdHTqWwtU5uXgFjYoXYOctzQ1YFaCUReBtZcdzP_i0EFszpAU-GNOZZnswvVI-FlYtaANn_BbT9NGBPKbvt8pRA2NzRpaP2SYUDW56/s640/spoonbills2_findhorn_28jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spoonbill_Findhorn Bay, 28/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF1Y0PznlIN6nGqUt0qHt0fTatICp14xkK8nIc0EUFVkg_CJS1ICpHejRh5e8HCng8BnBdCgVoS-E7ZdufE8D6dRguxI1IsYrxJYKbHsn52IUitXiqv4UmIsyn4QPd3Xc-47vyRedkTNi/s1600/spoonbills4_findhorn_28jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF1Y0PznlIN6nGqUt0qHt0fTatICp14xkK8nIc0EUFVkg_CJS1ICpHejRh5e8HCng8BnBdCgVoS-E7ZdufE8D6dRguxI1IsYrxJYKbHsn52IUitXiqv4UmIsyn4QPd3Xc-47vyRedkTNi/s640/spoonbills4_findhorn_28jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spoonbills_Findhorn Bay, 28/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yanS9ruGL9M6e35mbrSI-B9V-4PcpzlJSdf0oWP94mengYWx8jhpBosWAzUs8lgjeqxgbFAZQ8OGzSixLrSPpygZTFGZ1GPzDsEEMjyPvQN_PFq-Q-0XojEwRuXCjhtFfCw_VDzbs1rX/s1600/spoonbills_findhorn_28jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yanS9ruGL9M6e35mbrSI-B9V-4PcpzlJSdf0oWP94mengYWx8jhpBosWAzUs8lgjeqxgbFAZQ8OGzSixLrSPpygZTFGZ1GPzDsEEMjyPvQN_PFq-Q-0XojEwRuXCjhtFfCw_VDzbs1rX/s640/spoonbills_findhorn_28jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spoonbills_Findhorn Bay, 28/07/15</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOx65QYfCVpnKOw8M_loOTsIdx_dwudnyEkzeidlvd8EAQG8uB9YADNkjIkn7bAKcWDPHetTkHFKNKTsonPq1molfeBYOTRQBKrIQzPzB9d2oVVa7unGtimDTjB6Wv1-CYZS7OWfpBZ1t/s1600/hooded+crow_findhorn_28jul2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOx65QYfCVpnKOw8M_loOTsIdx_dwudnyEkzeidlvd8EAQG8uB9YADNkjIkn7bAKcWDPHetTkHFKNKTsonPq1molfeBYOTRQBKrIQzPzB9d2oVVa7unGtimDTjB6Wv1-CYZS7OWfpBZ1t/s400/hooded+crow_findhorn_28jul2015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hooded Crow_Findhorn Bay, 28/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWu06Vam4fusuKUYcOEofJBcAZu4KLb4zhfbDIxDI1FC7wQWNzEUdogq5HKizacZQOJZttGcpx_jVXeVQfB9tNWYwPaPNNtFdygtw-xmqrrAeXOUHMNIgG8Hs-52B392uIKltkP0AMuWO/s1600/grey+heron_loch+leven_26jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWu06Vam4fusuKUYcOEofJBcAZu4KLb4zhfbDIxDI1FC7wQWNzEUdogq5HKizacZQOJZttGcpx_jVXeVQfB9tNWYwPaPNNtFdygtw-xmqrrAeXOUHMNIgG8Hs-52B392uIKltkP0AMuWO/s400/grey+heron_loch+leven_26jul2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Grey Heron_Loch Leven, 26/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO10DJlP4UrPUtW3uUnl3T-bBec4s-6rGJC_ApTNqczxygPdSfc97BUvIG3YXlbGiCOGOfY1dipsNk4BoovrJE3__0dzzYw6fK0P7gtbFOwQV696bPHISagWkUUniBVeoAob4o6PR47v8F/s1600/orchids_loch+moraigh_27jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO10DJlP4UrPUtW3uUnl3T-bBec4s-6rGJC_ApTNqczxygPdSfc97BUvIG3YXlbGiCOGOfY1dipsNk4BoovrJE3__0dzzYw6fK0P7gtbFOwQV696bPHISagWkUUniBVeoAob4o6PR47v8F/s400/orchids_loch+moraigh_27jul2015.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Orchid species_ Loch Moraigh, 26/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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I reckon we were up there at the peak season for wild flowers and a wide variety were in full bloom, not all identified as yet including these orchids .....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb8GllWeHdgbxuKCR4ftJv-cYxmUqiEIbhlkNO2KIALdztu8HbPQYUqLowRRb40IgiOLg8oUTNQR-uYaaoe2LCgQ8UldCoVS3U7uJQ7tAsTuM-13gfv9t5K1qo0IMdisiYFEVgjETk4uA/s1600/plant+sp2_loch+leven_26jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb8GllWeHdgbxuKCR4ftJv-cYxmUqiEIbhlkNO2KIALdztu8HbPQYUqLowRRb40IgiOLg8oUTNQR-uYaaoe2LCgQ8UldCoVS3U7uJQ7tAsTuM-13gfv9t5K1qo0IMdisiYFEVgjETk4uA/s400/plant+sp2_loch+leven_26jul2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Amphibious Bistort_Loch Leven, 26/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGccdCAn5xUaQGdJY4mqCkWo5aYCK9RFJqWxniDzoIM9lacfloUiSqP8na4ZFZ6fLihrwuvEA90gizwHoRCtu4Mh15lv1NTtl0SkixxlK84bZRF1JeRDIJEb_HKezVs_T22itcVjo5Zng/s1600/wild+pansy_loch+moraigh_27jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGccdCAn5xUaQGdJY4mqCkWo5aYCK9RFJqWxniDzoIM9lacfloUiSqP8na4ZFZ6fLihrwuvEA90gizwHoRCtu4Mh15lv1NTtl0SkixxlK84bZRF1JeRDIJEb_HKezVs_T22itcVjo5Zng/s400/wild+pansy_loch+moraigh_27jul2015.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wild Pansy_Loch Moraigh, 26/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V7NsXzwbsy_7PH3l-Bk2xdtfler0YxGKEYghrwxpOJ9eL5iEizcaHb_25AB5WC0vBGdeyBcosqvvopoWFCv6bVPapcAFQ_i7jPq4PnIvyXU4DxbCMJkJ_o3wMuJRVd-RGqV04SOn9IqO/s1600/spotted+flycatcher_akeld_25jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V7NsXzwbsy_7PH3l-Bk2xdtfler0YxGKEYghrwxpOJ9eL5iEizcaHb_25AB5WC0vBGdeyBcosqvvopoWFCv6bVPapcAFQ_i7jPq4PnIvyXU4DxbCMJkJ_o3wMuJRVd-RGqV04SOn9IqO/s400/spotted+flycatcher_akeld_25jul2015.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spotted Flycatcher_Cheviots, 25/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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Precious few opportunities to photograph smaller birds and I failed woefully to get any decent pics of <strong>Crested Tits</strong> when about 25 or so suddenly turned up in a tit flock at <strong>Abernethy Forest</strong> (all too close, fast moving and then they were gone!). The flock also included about 30 <strong>Willow Warblers</strong>, 10ish <strong>Tree Pipits</strong>, 3 <strong>Treecreepers</strong> and 20 <strong>Spotted Flycatchers</strong> which were pleasingly plentiful throughout the trip .... this one was actually taken on the way up in the <strong>Cheviot Hills</strong> but it was the best pic!<br />
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A few landscapes from the trip and a few of the 'lads' ....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23oo59DApGUjpYXPj7RlosGL16DCo8K8n7bzRcbZ0BZeochx8y41eQ_QVTYFZfIXAxqWkQ61VSmur98EuiLRcb9Y46DVtUYuN9AoW3JMqAtIH23bnKzG7sUxVMoxdTV3MekMWNlwiTZHK/s1600/abernethy2_30jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23oo59DApGUjpYXPj7RlosGL16DCo8K8n7bzRcbZ0BZeochx8y41eQ_QVTYFZfIXAxqWkQ61VSmur98EuiLRcb9Y46DVtUYuN9AoW3JMqAtIH23bnKzG7sUxVMoxdTV3MekMWNlwiTZHK/s640/abernethy2_30jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Abernethy Forest</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLTrp1mWrrl7UdXDaVB1wZ6QcrJtrZYoZe0vq8eMs0IXF5FPsEEwRGkpG2fipILssBnJn4FPTf2OVKNSTsjRiVIKb4oWCMyrCQQkpTq4uLG1xt_aBFCyHfj3Jv9TFLm-pYizYDDdI8pi0/s1600/loch+leven_25jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLTrp1mWrrl7UdXDaVB1wZ6QcrJtrZYoZe0vq8eMs0IXF5FPsEEwRGkpG2fipILssBnJn4FPTf2OVKNSTsjRiVIKb4oWCMyrCQQkpTq4uLG1xt_aBFCyHfj3Jv9TFLm-pYizYDDdI8pi0/s640/loch+leven_25jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Loch Leven</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1COkrbxl6xoKtSkgN6PeRYpIp0Phi3c7evnyoEVIEghgAeQwJTHY6owCqk7fX194e22Q8vXqgic-2cdSv6_YZEW7lkktnob1BLzZwdsrF6qUkVB6GD0QsnuD1SldwBObIfRsts_PBRwdN/s1600/lochindorb2_jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1COkrbxl6xoKtSkgN6PeRYpIp0Phi3c7evnyoEVIEghgAeQwJTHY6owCqk7fX194e22Q8vXqgic-2cdSv6_YZEW7lkktnob1BLzZwdsrF6qUkVB6GD0QsnuD1SldwBObIfRsts_PBRwdN/s640/lochindorb2_jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lochindorb</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZN_CEWAeNwUj8rkpYAY0Vsl6swYabsQrL69bCr7sWKxmx_woA3haI-a3VwCofBC2oJ4Wsk-Y2i8heF4-iALVo0xOa8bE3FR_HlKNojMcnTe3MHvTQ5kIwEdklItO9KOWZxLRbWiSe7Hj/s1600/lochindorb_jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZN_CEWAeNwUj8rkpYAY0Vsl6swYabsQrL69bCr7sWKxmx_woA3haI-a3VwCofBC2oJ4Wsk-Y2i8heF4-iALVo0xOa8bE3FR_HlKNojMcnTe3MHvTQ5kIwEdklItO9KOWZxLRbWiSe7Hj/s640/lochindorb_jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lochindorb</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKy24TuXew3XNekIYJ6I-ujRD6dIRsnBIRcTSVvubzcLbBBTsvTZJnKjayyR4ZmKc7XUxubWFf7aWOeFA4K9bCAfR5VjdjHFPbVbxh6WHYlDG8UB3dHQXX4fAjqa8m1pePWf9nYi-9sQ3/s1600/11215101_10153093190751169_3936639640913340912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKy24TuXew3XNekIYJ6I-ujRD6dIRsnBIRcTSVvubzcLbBBTsvTZJnKjayyR4ZmKc7XUxubWFf7aWOeFA4K9bCAfR5VjdjHFPbVbxh6WHYlDG8UB3dHQXX4fAjqa8m1pePWf9nYi-9sQ3/s400/11215101_10153093190751169_3936639640913340912_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Photographing those Spoonbills at Findhorn Bay</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05rYFmDafn879eTEE1UlsZHbtc_F91Jya6vF1gVLNSJl340bjL3CpcPPhkK2GJHPPM7y81K8EBCeGQsx90k9GESfLdvlWBNVMACBjBdiOWpZ8BMUq2j3YeFMQphFPlzLoXQpLhyphenhyphenyCZRGJ/s1600/11836755_10153093182626169_998043100430864477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05rYFmDafn879eTEE1UlsZHbtc_F91Jya6vF1gVLNSJl340bjL3CpcPPhkK2GJHPPM7y81K8EBCeGQsx90k9GESfLdvlWBNVMACBjBdiOWpZ8BMUq2j3YeFMQphFPlzLoXQpLhyphenhyphenyCZRGJ/s400/11836755_10153093182626169_998043100430864477_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Playing the Insch Marshes</strong></td></tr>
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On the RSBP reserve at<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/i/inshmarshes/index.aspx?gclid=CIbgyqbXl8cCFUcOwwod9OMMDQ" target="_blank"> </a><strong><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/i/inshmarshes/index.aspx?gclid=CIbgyqbXl8cCFUcOwwod9OMMDQ" target="_blank">Insch Marshes</a> </strong>we came across the perfect place for a bit of outside music and recording. On the elevated platform there we could play and watch the wildlife at the same time and when the rain came the we just moved downstairs and it was almost like being in a recording studio!<br />
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Got a single female <strong>Marsh Harrier</strong> here too - good for Scotland.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwQG9jrLgzYENZflm-gGik1-Ies4p-Mi9-kEGYRWmkSjpcFzpptCRvEbSR5YctWHodHbDUgZlRZC3EpVmOEQ_rkqQrXOBtVczm1e7o5ph_PCDobj-UgdQjMqMQLLINaCVmm_ht4kxKfLJ/s1600/11222523_10153093182196169_7944944903154573310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwQG9jrLgzYENZflm-gGik1-Ies4p-Mi9-kEGYRWmkSjpcFzpptCRvEbSR5YctWHodHbDUgZlRZC3EpVmOEQ_rkqQrXOBtVczm1e7o5ph_PCDobj-UgdQjMqMQLLINaCVmm_ht4kxKfLJ/s400/11222523_10153093182196169_7944944903154573310_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Recording at the Insch Marshes</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdRx7ll3RTaNG6fFGhTOjqR0L7ESkdqSXWO1HakU98f-Jz3Kg1n6dw-wmYyut606laKSJLMpI-EmaKcP_29zsKQGS_cee5Qg-jf3EOWkJI0Pge0TUB9Z0pVcm7pwG-tLW4szDXetDaq4w/s1600/11846619_10153093201366169_4986630902543445963_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdRx7ll3RTaNG6fFGhTOjqR0L7ESkdqSXWO1HakU98f-Jz3Kg1n6dw-wmYyut606laKSJLMpI-EmaKcP_29zsKQGS_cee5Qg-jf3EOWkJI0Pge0TUB9Z0pVcm7pwG-tLW4szDXetDaq4w/s400/11846619_10153093201366169_4986630902543445963_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rob_up in the Cairngorms!</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid496ys6BsztBCo58EF3fJuL01VNMwL2RBh-gFkGwoC2s-aPyqepe3AUmNX4bUl7fAEL1LI0QyVL4p6AoakkXXyc8Ia9T16KaLyQ-q3cFzyxMed4b7ZO87DUtTrQv-PYjwWIRLqfWvE_FY/s1600/rob_loch+moraigh_26jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid496ys6BsztBCo58EF3fJuL01VNMwL2RBh-gFkGwoC2s-aPyqepe3AUmNX4bUl7fAEL1LI0QyVL4p6AoakkXXyc8Ia9T16KaLyQ-q3cFzyxMed4b7ZO87DUtTrQv-PYjwWIRLqfWvE_FY/s400/rob_loch+moraigh_26jul2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rob_Wild flower spotting hunting, Loch Moraigh</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYMxduDOlgMRdhJRqDXZD7PejwueBw47_zsrnaNYmm9DTWWQyvKEBAjhdi2dWWYzQcbkpbJvv4zzBLykDf0JsrOaTIg4rb1AI6k0-MVwTxfm3c9PYldQ91i23HKt_lgsZiuR6gPgFGBGJ/s1600/abernethy_30jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYMxduDOlgMRdhJRqDXZD7PejwueBw47_zsrnaNYmm9DTWWQyvKEBAjhdi2dWWYzQcbkpbJvv4zzBLykDf0JsrOaTIg4rb1AI6k0-MVwTxfm3c9PYldQ91i23HKt_lgsZiuR6gPgFGBGJ/s640/abernethy_30jul2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Around Abernethy</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoVWM8h4uIWEedLd9DtVYTBr5KwWExWBJX2iu3_lMe1zbn6LcWbcaBcLeR-FtEKzKTI9jahau9u7GMplv5eS58spMRQCQ31yq8_WhkuRB7ow-Y4149wHRNidz5IFpuNZH1Wma5ASx6NjK/s1600/me+in+abernethy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoVWM8h4uIWEedLd9DtVYTBr5KwWExWBJX2iu3_lMe1zbn6LcWbcaBcLeR-FtEKzKTI9jahau9u7GMplv5eS58spMRQCQ31yq8_WhkuRB7ow-Y4149wHRNidz5IFpuNZH1Wma5ASx6NjK/s400/me+in+abernethy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Surrounded by Crested Tits in Abernethy Forest</strong></td></tr>
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No <strong>Red Deer</strong> sightings but plenty of <strong>Roes</strong> around and the most unexpected mammals were these semi wild <strong>Reindeer</strong>, a herd of 20 or so including a couple of young 'uns, near to the top of <strong>Cairngorm</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1Ypeq32rHru6VxQ4Zsteor5yY9yhK9bXXay3p4qvOkkBycNirII2vwCH2_Te0DSnCktAwFHeD_XSY9Y7i95V0NWTwC_KiK9TUyt6Mvre8b2N1kGNkjtpRRihsVvEjk3rHNbT6vein1Jk/s1600/reindeer_cairngorm_31jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1Ypeq32rHru6VxQ4Zsteor5yY9yhK9bXXay3p4qvOkkBycNirII2vwCH2_Te0DSnCktAwFHeD_XSY9Y7i95V0NWTwC_KiK9TUyt6Mvre8b2N1kGNkjtpRRihsVvEjk3rHNbT6vein1Jk/s400/reindeer_cairngorm_31jul2015.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reindeer, young stag_Cairngorm, 30/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9VwAKdoRD3EOwiD6pOrgKMRCecvFFJC0TwqRDahCaDsCSqvXecfo2vMjQ357JrEi0_zdMd_ioJ_i7Ku-pekuAFv6PVmSETJiO1L8cVzSs8DD0ykN3RgqFUmAr-JzyyTB3AkMoo075_E2/s1600/reindeer3young_cairngorm_31jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9VwAKdoRD3EOwiD6pOrgKMRCecvFFJC0TwqRDahCaDsCSqvXecfo2vMjQ357JrEi0_zdMd_ioJ_i7Ku-pekuAFv6PVmSETJiO1L8cVzSs8DD0ykN3RgqFUmAr-JzyyTB3AkMoo075_E2/s400/reindeer3young_cairngorm_31jul2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reindeer foal running with the pack_Cairngorm, 30/07/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpH3Qpyk-TRiRtW9E6xrceG9wVZb8Kz2uOfEkf9ESYKyblXOoTLbkCA1fpTBIyyjvlmSfbWUSb5QZOPwW2mSrCbfKbSlfadQgKlxBuPv0PeUEWwj-etorHrJke7cfwYOjkzWH5jj2Dzwe/s1600/roe+deer_loch+leven_26jul2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpH3Qpyk-TRiRtW9E6xrceG9wVZb8Kz2uOfEkf9ESYKyblXOoTLbkCA1fpTBIyyjvlmSfbWUSb5QZOPwW2mSrCbfKbSlfadQgKlxBuPv0PeUEWwj-etorHrJke7cfwYOjkzWH5jj2Dzwe/s400/roe+deer_loch+leven_26jul2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Roe Deer, Loch Leven</strong></td></tr>
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Like I said, and as you can probably gather from some the above, there were precious few <em>'golden hours</em>' for photography and we had to invest a fair amount of time logged on to local weather forecasts in order to dodge the rain clouds, but this is all part of the fun and we did it successfully and didn't lose a single day to rain.<br />
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Sometimes you can try and do too much on a road trip .....I can remember driving right around Scotland many years ago in little over a week ... a great experience but too much of it spent behind the wheel. This was just right but even then we only covered half of the potential sites in the Cairngorms .... we missed out on some key species including <strong>Crossbill, Dipper, Ptarmigan</strong> and <strong>Golden Eagle</strong> but 102 species ain't bad for July and for the record here's the list - <br />
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<ol>
<li>Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica)</li>
<li>Red-legged Partridge [sp] (Alectoris rufa)</li>
<li>Common Pheasant [sp] (Phasianus colchicus)</li>
<li>Greylag Goose [sp] (Anser anser)</li>
<li>Canada Goose [sp] (Branta Canadensis)</li>
<li>Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)</li>
<li>Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)</li>
<li>Gadwall [sp] (Anas strepera)</li>
<li>Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)</li>
<li>Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)</li>
<li>Common Teal [sp] (Anas crecca)</li>
<li>Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)</li>
<li>Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)</li>
<li>Common Goldeneye [sp] (Bucephala clangula)</li>
<li>Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)</li>
<li>Black-throated Diver [sp] (Gavia arctica)</li>
<li>Little Grebe [sp] (Tachybaptus ruficollis)</li>
<li>Great Crested Grebe [sp] (Podiceps cristatus)</li>
<li>Eurasian Spoonbill [sp] (Platalea leucorodia)</li>
<li>Grey Heron [sp] (Ardea cinerea)</li>
<li>Little Egret [sp] (Egretta garzetta)</li>
<li>Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)</li>
<li>Great Cormorant [sp] (Phalacrocorax carbo)</li>
<li>Common Kestrel [sp] (Falco tinnunculus)</li>
<li>Peregrine Falcon [sp] (Falco peregrinus)</li>
<li>Osprey [sp] (Pandion haliaetus)</li>
<li>Western Marsh Harrier [sp] (Circus aeruginosus)</li>
<li>Eurasian Sparrowhawk [sp] (Accipiter nisus)</li>
<li>Eurasian Buzzard [sp] (Buteo buteo)</li>
<li>Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)</li>
<li>Common Coot [sp] (Fulica atra)</li>
<li>Eurasian Oystercatcher [sp] (Haematopus ostralegus)</li>
<li>Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)</li>
<li>Grey Plover [sp] (Pluvialis squatarola)</li>
<li>Common Snipe [sp] (Gallinago gallinago)</li>
<li>Whimbrel [sp] (Numenius phaeopus)</li>
<li>European Curlew (Numenius arquata arquata)</li>
<li>Common Redshank [sp] (Tringa totanus)</li>
<li>Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)</li>
<li>Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)</li>
<li>Dunlin [sp] (Calidris alpina)</li>
<li>Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)</li>
<li>Common Gull (Larus canus canus)</li>
<li>Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)</li>
<li>Herring Gull [sp] (Larus argentatus)</li>
<li>Lesser Black-backed Gull [sp] (Larus fuscus)</li>
<li>Common Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)</li>
<li>Sandwich Tern [sp] (Sterna sandvicensis)</li>
<li>Rock Dove [sp] (Columba livia)</li>
<li>Woodpigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)</li>
<li>Eurasian Collared Dove [sp] (Streptopelia decaocto)</li>
<li>Common Swift [sp] (Apus apus)</li>
<li>Great Spotted Woodpecker [sp] (Dendrocopos major)</li>
<li>Eurasian Jay [sp] (Garrulus glandarius)</li>
<li>Common Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)</li>
<li>Eurasian Jackdaw [sp] (Corvus monedula)</li>
<li>Rook [sp] (Corvus frugilegus)</li>
<li>Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)</li>
<li>Hooded Crow [sp] (Corvus cornix)</li>
<li>Common Raven [sp] (Corvus corax)</li>
<li>Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)</li>
<li>Blue Tit [sp] (Parus caeruleus)</li>
<li>Coal Tit [sp] (Parus ater)</li>
<li>Crested Tit [sp] (Parus cristatus)</li>
<li>Collared Sand Martin [sp] (Riparia riparia)</li>
<li>Barn Swallow [sp] (Hirundo rustica)</li>
<li>Northern House Martin [sp] (Delichon urbicum)</li>
<li>Long-tailed Tit [sp] (Aegithalos caudatus)</li>
<li>Eurasian Skylark [sp] (Alauda arvensis)</li>
<li>Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)</li>
<li>Willow Warbler [sp] (Phylloscopus trochilus)</li>
<li>Common Chiffchaff [sp] (Phylloscopus collybita)</li>
<li>Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)</li>
<li>Blackcap [sp] (Sylvia atricapilla)</li>
<li>Common Whitethroat [sp] (Sylvia communis)</li>
<li>Goldcrest [sp] (Regulus regulus)</li>
<li>British Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus)</li>
<li>Eurasian Treecreeper [sp] (Certhia familiaris)</li>
<li>European Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)</li>
<li>Eurasian Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)</li>
<li>Song Thrush [sp] (Turdus philomelos)</li>
<li>Mistle Thrush [sp] (Turdus viscivorus)</li>
<li>European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)</li>
<li>Common Redstart [sp] (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)</li>
<li>Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)</li>
<li>Spotted Flycatcher [sp] (Muscicapa striata)</li>
<li>House Sparrow [sp] (Passer domesticus)</li>
<li>Dunnock [sp] (Prunella modularis)</li>
<li>Yellow Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla flava)</li>
<li>Grey Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla cinerea)</li>
<li>Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii)</li>
<li>Meadow Pipit [sp] (Anthus pratensis)</li>
<li>Tree Pipit [sp] (Anthus trivialis)</li>
<li>Chaffinch [sp] (Fringilla coelebs)</li>
<li>European Greenfinch [sp] (Carduelis chloris)</li>
<li>Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)</li>
<li>European Goldfinch [sp] (Carduelis carduelis)</li>
<li>Common Redpoll [sp] (Carduelis flammea)</li>
<li>Common Linnet [autochthona] (Carduelis cannabina autochthona)</li>
<li>Eurasian Bullfinch [sp] (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)</li>
<li>Yellowhammer [sp] (Emberiza citrinella)</li>
<li>Reed Bunting [sp] (Emberiza schoeniclus)</li>
</ol>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-67092405690590379502015-06-19T13:01:00.000-07:002015-06-19T14:50:38.210-07:00Early Summer snippets from North Yorkshire - Pied Flycatchers & Redstarts at Strid, Chimney Moths & Mandarin at Jefrey Bog plus lots of flowers!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwxrn7kLeTP2KAzsn8tIdALIbyTpVa1wscKO__Rgk38FzZjiz0FybTtIh3OO1jcAAe2YEC52zdh5EXlWnA8ESSNai1nTCjJOr_AFJ9JUwc8l-0iFcGKhikSyzRl9hJ6zoUzsxB6bOCNeY/s1600/pied+flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwxrn7kLeTP2KAzsn8tIdALIbyTpVa1wscKO__Rgk38FzZjiz0FybTtIh3OO1jcAAe2YEC52zdh5EXlWnA8ESSNai1nTCjJOr_AFJ9JUwc8l-0iFcGKhikSyzRl9hJ6zoUzsxB6bOCNeY/s400/pied+flycatcher.jpg" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Pied Flycatcher (male) pic courtesy of D.Cookson</strong></td></tr>
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Out with the lads at<strong> Strid Woods</strong> (nr <strong>Bolton Abbey</strong>) recently I was thrilled to see up to 15 or so <strong>Pied Flycatchers</strong>. One of my favourite 'small birds', they bring back happy memories of my first forays into birding during family holidays in the Lake District when used to wander off into the woods for hours on end and cause my parents much anxiety! <br />
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Smart birds, they seemed quite numerous back then and still hold their own there and in Wales but in common with so many insect eating birds habitat loss both here and in their sub Saharan wintering grounds due to de-forestation has seen their numbers decline by 25 - 50% in last few decades. To my knowledge,<strong> Strid Wood</strong> is about the only place in Yorkshire where they breed nowadays.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQSfZv7S6TJs7RewP1P_YlQAXdyWLcDXU7mhD4TmXcg4lebwINLTZXP8BXiPA6UeLcuJxcLwRQmOHBM_TY340PEyqWxIFKxCjMwH_eCI_6pmuITkZUSWx0h02dZbM-8PyPhwN0UnjSLlK/s1600/redstart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQSfZv7S6TJs7RewP1P_YlQAXdyWLcDXU7mhD4TmXcg4lebwINLTZXP8BXiPA6UeLcuJxcLwRQmOHBM_TY340PEyqWxIFKxCjMwH_eCI_6pmuITkZUSWx0h02dZbM-8PyPhwN0UnjSLlK/s400/redstart1.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Redstart (male) Strid Wood. 8/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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To my chagrin I didn't manage a single decent shot.. poor light down I the gorge is barely half an excuse, but we all marvelled at their aerial prowess as they darted hither and thither over the river catching <strong>Damselflies</strong>. Plenty of <strong>Spotted Flycatchers</strong> there too along with <strong>Redstarts, Grey</strong> and <strong>Pied Wagtails</strong> all feasting on as many winged insects as I've seen this year so far.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoPebDjDNcWqjLLHH4Revk-C6D0nYYdbKQ-ICUshI9qL3BYcZ3Paad2M8rIqL2fIroFEfHtPlPyTOswpRIvAgs_zgx7tHtPCDGOmdGHuerdMUWanrs47iJCdaQBqItoko8AojInenjZUJ/s1600/redstart3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoPebDjDNcWqjLLHH4Revk-C6D0nYYdbKQ-ICUshI9qL3BYcZ3Paad2M8rIqL2fIroFEfHtPlPyTOswpRIvAgs_zgx7tHtPCDGOmdGHuerdMUWanrs47iJCdaQBqItoko8AojInenjZUJ/s400/redstart3.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Redstart (male) Strid Wood. 8/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.boltonabbey.com/whattodo/strid.htm" target="_blank">Strid Wood</a> itself is a smashing and invigorating walk. The path meanders through the woods and along a section of the <strong>River Wharfe</strong> that has narrowed and deepened into some dramatic gorges, and eventually ends up at <strong>Bolton Abbey</strong>. The tea rooms at <strong>Strid</strong> and the usual tourist trappings of the Abbey have made it a popular place even on weekdays so my to would be to go early!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrftYXkGU-7zzp4DJ6ElQefvoVpCb4ZJJd7XTlPR7pEYhFBnh544qw9UisX486RyT65dAr9rTKs5rEzqrTlZk3o34xnO0Rfw6UbeydWvNqBJimY_Fkna52naPOFnYsOVHUk0JFy7vKVsX7/s1600/Stridd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrftYXkGU-7zzp4DJ6ElQefvoVpCb4ZJJd7XTlPR7pEYhFBnh544qw9UisX486RyT65dAr9rTKs5rEzqrTlZk3o34xnO0Rfw6UbeydWvNqBJimY_Fkna52naPOFnYsOVHUk0JFy7vKVsX7/s640/Stridd.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Strid Wood & River Wharfe</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSVvWWVucy1QX28QOCdnKO3hA7yrSOhn5CVZHD9XwGCRurlxjAnMgxvGW_0LPS_Hzhwjwi0ENy2l0jmsJjIUMWAo69kwd4127wb_a9A5568qojk4a8yrRVJSm0ZooZPopx9c7i8R8cbU4/s1600/dipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSVvWWVucy1QX28QOCdnKO3hA7yrSOhn5CVZHD9XwGCRurlxjAnMgxvGW_0LPS_Hzhwjwi0ENy2l0jmsJjIUMWAo69kwd4127wb_a9A5568qojk4a8yrRVJSm0ZooZPopx9c7i8R8cbU4/s400/dipper.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dipper, Strid. 08/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQQUuvD79xMjpLsw2ONsNM9CQmSLbdEwmkCl3D1gr_BEyDzXIG-VI412EknMDVurN-C1mCpYBt6avHhOEj1bqkp139lMv2mq6piNyVue3MGULk3mffx7WGwket3I5X6BoZyFFtPGX5eCS/s1600/kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQQUuvD79xMjpLsw2ONsNM9CQmSLbdEwmkCl3D1gr_BEyDzXIG-VI412EknMDVurN-C1mCpYBt6avHhOEj1bqkp139lMv2mq6piNyVue3MGULk3mffx7WGwket3I5X6BoZyFFtPGX5eCS/s400/kingfisher.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Kingfisher, Strid. 08/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLYdkk114067g8uwJ67UNXqb7a4msS0sY6QxtKCJXY4yj013BcX2a0hZR9nT5Sm8gwtDYWO0lP7dVfBCkP0XUM-O9Guez40OJOU0SLB8Ub-Dvp5KONxxpyhGj_vL8qmXwTZ9MjT49xvat/s1600/meadow+cranes+bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLYdkk114067g8uwJ67UNXqb7a4msS0sY6QxtKCJXY4yj013BcX2a0hZR9nT5Sm8gwtDYWO0lP7dVfBCkP0XUM-O9Guez40OJOU0SLB8Ub-Dvp5KONxxpyhGj_vL8qmXwTZ9MjT49xvat/s400/meadow+cranes+bill.jpg" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Meadow Crane's Bill, Strid, 08/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp9yJ2rjBBTTTj4noeIWmUjxqT_WhsAt-GoH_TK41PZs26bjDamBWZhLPDpnRrMmWAPC0k3JyY5ac0NVZXjupejt6T_Qa9yPlhZIYwC1sNDtELSyMayYipYZ76UJ4TE832mGNPHXeLa6E/s1600/mikey+and+nick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp9yJ2rjBBTTTj4noeIWmUjxqT_WhsAt-GoH_TK41PZs26bjDamBWZhLPDpnRrMmWAPC0k3JyY5ac0NVZXjupejt6T_Qa9yPlhZIYwC1sNDtELSyMayYipYZ76UJ4TE832mGNPHXeLa6E/s400/mikey+and+nick.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>The lads (Mikey & Nick), Strid. 08/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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At some point along the walk there's some stepping stones across the river to negotiate and I was devilishly looking forward to taking a pic of Mikey trying to cross with his dodgy knee but we took a detour so it never happened ... but this young <strong>Curlew</strong> with legs akimbo reminds me now of that missed photo op!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Curlew, Strid, 08/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHhclJc-oqUQmvGCl_1EQRpwNJi0MXsyxtc9P1un2zp6WxYv1oKfsS5RF49N0KCO5c3ihSg-frzVKYOCdTrLUJ-H7EGSDokMF7WY2JNGWpT3NhXOa4emfDPFpA4QdWWVpAGzwFJ1FsFB4/s1600/mandarin+duck_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHhclJc-oqUQmvGCl_1EQRpwNJi0MXsyxtc9P1un2zp6WxYv1oKfsS5RF49N0KCO5c3ihSg-frzVKYOCdTrLUJ-H7EGSDokMF7WY2JNGWpT3NhXOa4emfDPFpA4QdWWVpAGzwFJ1FsFB4/s1600/mandarin+duck_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHhclJc-oqUQmvGCl_1EQRpwNJi0MXsyxtc9P1un2zp6WxYv1oKfsS5RF49N0KCO5c3ihSg-frzVKYOCdTrLUJ-H7EGSDokMF7WY2JNGWpT3NhXOa4emfDPFpA4QdWWVpAGzwFJ1FsFB4/s400/mandarin+duck_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHhclJc-oqUQmvGCl_1EQRpwNJi0MXsyxtc9P1un2zp6WxYv1oKfsS5RF49N0KCO5c3ihSg-frzVKYOCdTrLUJ-H7EGSDokMF7WY2JNGWpT3NhXOa4emfDPFpA4QdWWVpAGzwFJ1FsFB4/s1600/mandarin+duck_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHhclJc-oqUQmvGCl_1EQRpwNJi0MXsyxtc9P1un2zp6WxYv1oKfsS5RF49N0KCO5c3ihSg-frzVKYOCdTrLUJ-H7EGSDokMF7WY2JNGWpT3NhXOa4emfDPFpA4QdWWVpAGzwFJ1FsFB4/s1600/mandarin+duck_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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Same Mikey was after a <strong>Mandarin Duck</strong> for his UK list, and he got several, but he needn't have gone so far - a couple of days later I spotted this female on the <strong>River Derwent</strong> at YWT reserve <strong>Jefrey Bog!</strong><br />
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Yet another <strong>YWT</strong> reserve ticked off and visited (that's 62 out of 98 now).<br />
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A tranquil place this one and for once the sun shone and there was warmth. Should have brought the butterflies out but it was late in the day so I had to settle for some reasonable pics of <strong>Chimney Moths</strong> amongst the <strong>Ragged Robins, Yellow Flag Iris</strong> and <strong>Marsh Marigolds .....</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmMXTEXZWlKcsKyq8lO5jL_cZMKJWp-BmlULA6KnJi5KREVqzStA19zmMtpIiqj2hQvfdilFFyX0LvEtj_VWdzUDK7qAElVA7kva8JrPbjtPeCMfmdCq2g-XSnA1rTaLVC5fTVqdAbGwE/s1600/chimney+moth_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmMXTEXZWlKcsKyq8lO5jL_cZMKJWp-BmlULA6KnJi5KREVqzStA19zmMtpIiqj2hQvfdilFFyX0LvEtj_VWdzUDK7qAElVA7kva8JrPbjtPeCMfmdCq2g-XSnA1rTaLVC5fTVqdAbGwE/s400/chimney+moth_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chimney Moth, Jefrey Bog, 09/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkisQGp4Bu2GSSspANXvtHEB1Q8NpAb6c3t6Lw4NHBPOt7vHFfRMol_UcJmYPMLlOgy0f8cZKjPhM_EdyjRDD01GwiavgTXFf9XP40W0IEnMa1D9qyqHa39CzSNEbiZapxeXrGgqYEYRQ/s1600/chimney+moth2_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkisQGp4Bu2GSSspANXvtHEB1Q8NpAb6c3t6Lw4NHBPOt7vHFfRMol_UcJmYPMLlOgy0f8cZKjPhM_EdyjRDD01GwiavgTXFf9XP40W0IEnMa1D9qyqHa39CzSNEbiZapxeXrGgqYEYRQ/s400/chimney+moth2_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chimney Moth, Jefrey Bog, 09/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4fQhCVM2umNp3dD7Km-jZ16qR-kzOj2ObjhaaPAHNcHZdqSV-U3hm1nV5y14uXPQUZrBddn9OLXMYE6f133SJ5FEL-arLfFj8CEvT0KgiOpfQoRgr2jM2PqWi-OnxRPpLkcLx6X3nEgN/s1600/ragged+robins_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4fQhCVM2umNp3dD7Km-jZ16qR-kzOj2ObjhaaPAHNcHZdqSV-U3hm1nV5y14uXPQUZrBddn9OLXMYE6f133SJ5FEL-arLfFj8CEvT0KgiOpfQoRgr2jM2PqWi-OnxRPpLkcLx6X3nEgN/s640/ragged+robins_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ragged Robin ... interestingly backlit, Jefrey Bog, 09/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebIYGF_139gRiYEgT-hNGnRrCI9ej8isXBqMTfa9ck3vdzIxX_cfXI_FqGdXFcHxLGXpckVwLmsYRGxa6-xT9TPPiLVXrU1Y9hv_-XDmHKvbJK7U03ygn3ZMXZDRFa07JGjAmbkAf7Bae/s1600/marsh+marigold_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebIYGF_139gRiYEgT-hNGnRrCI9ej8isXBqMTfa9ck3vdzIxX_cfXI_FqGdXFcHxLGXpckVwLmsYRGxa6-xT9TPPiLVXrU1Y9hv_-XDmHKvbJK7U03ygn3ZMXZDRFa07JGjAmbkAf7Bae/s400/marsh+marigold_jefrey+bog_9jun2015.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Marigold, Jefrey Bog, 09/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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A few more early Summer snippets from round and about and in no particular order to round things off before the Solstice tomorrow - I'll be on <strong>Hatfield Moor</strong> again and praying for good light!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHVT0qxDQhMJ4WAAq15_BGiZ1VIseNCWdYdy5eRFDrlrv4UjtNgtlYQdRA9p-GWGsBvVHUoAEu3fXjKG-pY0P-zzQq8GD9iOpsVX0UrmsRgdN43x38jAzypy6wJq_06funSt_pQOmV1Kk/s1600/20150520_IMG_117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHVT0qxDQhMJ4WAAq15_BGiZ1VIseNCWdYdy5eRFDrlrv4UjtNgtlYQdRA9p-GWGsBvVHUoAEu3fXjKG-pY0P-zzQq8GD9iOpsVX0UrmsRgdN43x38jAzypy6wJq_06funSt_pQOmV1Kk/s640/20150520_IMG_117.JPG" width="622" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Red Campions, River Seven at Normanby, 20/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyA0AbGhw2u5MiUMj-I7yiJO-KA-Frv6ahKpKAVj4_genO0LuNQbetEG-fuJQLV5TeqhDSGcnhW-b62BcC9BmCSvIw5VRagv9ep5eeiUqhT1LsKLi1UTA3BbJGlR-Ks0VYgS3qi7SiFr9/s1600/speedwell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyA0AbGhw2u5MiUMj-I7yiJO-KA-Frv6ahKpKAVj4_genO0LuNQbetEG-fuJQLV5TeqhDSGcnhW-b62BcC9BmCSvIw5VRagv9ep5eeiUqhT1LsKLi1UTA3BbJGlR-Ks0VYgS3qi7SiFr9/s400/speedwell.JPG" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Speedwell, </strong><strong>River Seven at Normanby, 20/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93OUD5-LtQoXBPZUT638bjPqr5kc3MsXSpQaHqkBUDk4G4BgY7XJ4j1ZDA_p33wk2EsNxNlrP8BdH784OGn-f_VEB4-49IYWNeM_3vQ9m9kB2axYwM5lPOVN_9OP0otcKhqzmNA8utn1I/s1600/20150613_IMG_379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93OUD5-LtQoXBPZUT638bjPqr5kc3MsXSpQaHqkBUDk4G4BgY7XJ4j1ZDA_p33wk2EsNxNlrP8BdH784OGn-f_VEB4-49IYWNeM_3vQ9m9kB2axYwM5lPOVN_9OP0otcKhqzmNA8utn1I/s640/20150613_IMG_379.JPG" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dog Rose, Askham Bog, 14/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYapDkMXFwHD0aD4c2SLRK-5xJTmmljOdMnlRUZSK5-5Tcgx-1AqF0t0gnk52RGjLAh4eF5_YTXgTgiRBa8ZKxRvF86bgZKR1Lkp3RsaZ3bL6XHcj7lnnb69vEtmrOvMA35QUhMj8koaI/s1600/lastingham_20may2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYapDkMXFwHD0aD4c2SLRK-5xJTmmljOdMnlRUZSK5-5Tcgx-1AqF0t0gnk52RGjLAh4eF5_YTXgTgiRBa8ZKxRvF86bgZKR1Lkp3RsaZ3bL6XHcj7lnnb69vEtmrOvMA35QUhMj8koaI/s640/lastingham_20may2015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lastingham with the NY moors beyond, from Normaby, 20/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVPFlI0o2SzFm1zulEU5t4U8F8-RckuNMdV8gYD4_sUllfjjb7eceXEfADtAUjy2rh_8OCfzmglqudyliRQlRWN5lJPk9rHc2MKHyTdWdmBft4Zxm6J_uYVcyydVtJ5MOP0SxyDLe07k6/s1600/marsh+orchid_askham+bog_13jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVPFlI0o2SzFm1zulEU5t4U8F8-RckuNMdV8gYD4_sUllfjjb7eceXEfADtAUjy2rh_8OCfzmglqudyliRQlRWN5lJPk9rHc2MKHyTdWdmBft4Zxm6J_uYVcyydVtJ5MOP0SxyDLe07k6/s400/marsh+orchid_askham+bog_13jun2015.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Orchid, </strong><strong>Askham Bog, 13/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm853w8QVOWDc0zHefA-cWn9VB1VejEosQCXeeFHAfx-0oD4QV-RjoYlsrxepy42Rhyphenhyphen9A2N_LgQAfeuXsw5-CazDdZyYxPUboyg0rYrme7npGUpj7enkRnL0TOLitIewMq6vDHEelJhFtW/s1600/marsh+thistle_askham+bog_13jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm853w8QVOWDc0zHefA-cWn9VB1VejEosQCXeeFHAfx-0oD4QV-RjoYlsrxepy42Rhyphenhyphen9A2N_LgQAfeuXsw5-CazDdZyYxPUboyg0rYrme7npGUpj7enkRnL0TOLitIewMq6vDHEelJhFtW/s320/marsh+thistle_askham+bog_13jun2015.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Thistle, </strong><strong>Askham Bog, 13/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDXl8qjZ7o9HDGZgMl_7ay_U6hYtpLtBYWTSVxvfH2B-pZ7cKdmML6asWweGDRjaALSOlOfLyqGX-dvgr0Cl8zK7CeJw82GLF8oeILoI3RjvRyDneKj725qUJ4IgYX8wJ-_uw9RvOXElK/s1600/yellowhammer_wykeham_10jun2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDXl8qjZ7o9HDGZgMl_7ay_U6hYtpLtBYWTSVxvfH2B-pZ7cKdmML6asWweGDRjaALSOlOfLyqGX-dvgr0Cl8zK7CeJw82GLF8oeILoI3RjvRyDneKj725qUJ4IgYX8wJ-_uw9RvOXElK/s400/yellowhammer_wykeham_10jun2015.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Singing Yellowhammer, Wykeham, 10/06/15</strong></td></tr>
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-13549536211129398072015-06-02T13:51:00.001-07:002015-08-18T10:46:40.697-07:00Chilling out on Hatfield Moor, a possible new breeder, dashing Hobbies and singing Tree Pipits.Some more good news for <strong>Hatfield Moor / <a href="http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/30030" target="_blank">Humberhead Peatlands</a></strong>, a couple of <strong>Marsh Harriers</strong> look like they're going to breed there this year. Its likely that this is overspill from nearby <strong><a href="http://www.ywt.org.uk/potteric-carr" target="_blank">Potteric Carr</a></strong> where there are at least 3 pairs or even <strong><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/b/blacktoftsands/" target="_blank">Blacktoft Sands</a></strong> where they're also doing well. With so many of our native birds in decline its heartening to witness the continuing expansion of these graceful raptors and it surely can't be long before a pair nest in the<strong> Lower Derwent Valley</strong>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUtfkdUZ3buUvB1yCIsc3Od4nrV7xzGq623HT9_qf89uCKFOX7M9eObfG5NGUaTFv6WTbM8sTPmzqeRwq-WNjelx1jibKYKg4imqu9YC0ra0mlBtIF11hh4AX3fbk7O7PDiUSIRW2Ldce/s1600/marsh+harrier1_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUtfkdUZ3buUvB1yCIsc3Od4nrV7xzGq623HT9_qf89uCKFOX7M9eObfG5NGUaTFv6WTbM8sTPmzqeRwq-WNjelx1jibKYKg4imqu9YC0ra0mlBtIF11hh4AX3fbk7O7PDiUSIRW2Ldce/s400/marsh+harrier1_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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Not the best of pics because of the distance we were away from the nest site but I don't believe anyone else has managed to photographically record this success story and that was my mission on the day. This is the male, a very pale, relatively small individual that could almost be mistaken for a <strong>Montagues Harrier</strong> from a distance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQICLelNVDVPHFuG7vkHTRn4QRrmYJpCwllx86RRDNAzC0w8zJFC56C7Vk3MDz1CdDfOdfuhfvlTnEl76qks6nbRddA0oUV6y4zq2VWOstg3pJY0JBdgDs1EDMRUH4_hf6TPTzDsjBuxp/s1600/marsh+harrier3_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, birds, raptors, breeding" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQICLelNVDVPHFuG7vkHTRn4QRrmYJpCwllx86RRDNAzC0w8zJFC56C7Vk3MDz1CdDfOdfuhfvlTnEl76qks6nbRddA0oUV6y4zq2VWOstg3pJY0JBdgDs1EDMRUH4_hf6TPTzDsjBuxp/s400/marsh+harrier3_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" title="marsh harrier, western harrier, hatfield moor, humberhead peatlands, breeding, male, pair" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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We'll have to wait and see if they breed successfully but the omens are good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbywQUMbL3H5_soGt11MXaFIMAPUVePHsNLwZiVWbB9Kjncu1kkrCEkIjNY6MBOXT4pHLtofc6RbhEw5lI1wGVLjU9VzpCl6Yyz1haz2_KifDeAsU1yOdy5ZWIPVd-WxgW65oaRO_3VOzC/s1600/hobby7_hatfield_28may2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbywQUMbL3H5_soGt11MXaFIMAPUVePHsNLwZiVWbB9Kjncu1kkrCEkIjNY6MBOXT4pHLtofc6RbhEw5lI1wGVLjU9VzpCl6Yyz1haz2_KifDeAsU1yOdy5ZWIPVd-WxgW65oaRO_3VOzC/s400/hobby7_hatfield_28may2015.JPG" title="Hobby, in flight, falcon, Humberhead, peatlands, hatfield moor" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hobby, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Hobbies</strong> have been doing ok on <strong>Hatfield</strong> for some time now and along with nearby <strong>Thorne Moor</strong>, its one of the easiest of places to catch up with these dashing, colourful falcons. This one came out of nowhere as we were waiting for the <strong>Marsh Harrier</strong> to return, caught a dragonfly and in typical fashion ate it on the wing... all over in a flash and I had to be quick to get these pics!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0o8c2DEBaXM3bj-mfUNBf8wzd5St-ccpe-iD3vyagI4FMTk2uaQToJIjVfCand0hTJI8C5EE9BfsjzWKYqLAuFXkCsXjPLVPnwZhj9T1TPIoWjGBygm0BbN0E1bjjQFklmIhyphenhypheneiJfRkL/s1600/hobby2_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, raptor, falcon" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0o8c2DEBaXM3bj-mfUNBf8wzd5St-ccpe-iD3vyagI4FMTk2uaQToJIjVfCand0hTJI8C5EE9BfsjzWKYqLAuFXkCsXjPLVPnwZhj9T1TPIoWjGBygm0BbN0E1bjjQFklmIhyphenhypheneiJfRkL/s400/hobby2_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" title="hobby, hatfield moor, feeding on the wing, dragonfly, breeding" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hobby devouring a dragonfly, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEy4beSdNFLLUp-BwZKuTZPtU5h_PmZ_7MFIQZHNKRdAtdCUPnhxMqzDRPpI111YWaFxnZO7QYJaMYO369DXSAc-mePz6jYlnndIAjGtSXa9Tw7wWjtIzs_XsE4TAV9pcSxfcWw4PQqhA/s1600/hobby5_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEy4beSdNFLLUp-BwZKuTZPtU5h_PmZ_7MFIQZHNKRdAtdCUPnhxMqzDRPpI111YWaFxnZO7QYJaMYO369DXSAc-mePz6jYlnndIAjGtSXa9Tw7wWjtIzs_XsE4TAV9pcSxfcWw4PQqhA/s400/hobby5_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" title="Hobby, in flight, falcon, uk, " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hobby, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUVvd6dYTXlMpT10sNQmu6gjZhlG_ckmeTfLThqpU-52wVfOsADUzCoefoFGOlhHJ85ocpBOZ5LtdqBmLaEgqwlyxt2Jb-P9FOENhydnqsMobYFkm6vkCOSd27d0rzD28Zn4kqIPMrZvm/s1600/hobby6_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUVvd6dYTXlMpT10sNQmu6gjZhlG_ckmeTfLThqpU-52wVfOsADUzCoefoFGOlhHJ85ocpBOZ5LtdqBmLaEgqwlyxt2Jb-P9FOENhydnqsMobYFkm6vkCOSd27d0rzD28Zn4kqIPMrZvm/s400/hobby6_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hobby2, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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We caught up with another <strong>Hobby</strong> later in the day, just cruising around, easier to photograph and perhaps a more 'typical' view but to my mind not as exciting a capture as the previous one ..red trousers on view though!<br />
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Even easier was this nice <strong>Tree Pipit</strong>, one of several singing birds on the moor. To the untrained eye its just another small brown bird; not as exciting as a dashing <strong>Hobby</strong> or as colourful as say a <strong>Redstart </strong>but hey they're just as fascinating. They too migrate 1000s of miles from Africa to breed here and they sing better than <strong>Hobbies</strong>! Holding their own here I'd say but getting scarcer around my vicinity in the <strong>Vale of York</strong>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF3y1Nuz04nXefG_SIHT4oAW-vX4DUBH9UzcqPFcOdJsi5kqvSxQOFaLqtMFAklk0D6ZyTXZtF_umXOt3OFHYRDE-037nlkudxv1LKp4r7HgPKoHCKUXWzf-EoQTSNTm6uYvi9B7Sdp9X/s1600/tree+pipit_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, pipits, south yorks" border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF3y1Nuz04nXefG_SIHT4oAW-vX4DUBH9UzcqPFcOdJsi5kqvSxQOFaLqtMFAklk0D6ZyTXZtF_umXOt3OFHYRDE-037nlkudxv1LKp4r7HgPKoHCKUXWzf-EoQTSNTm6uYvi9B7Sdp9X/s640/tree+pipit_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" title="tree pipit, singing, breeding, hatfield moor" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Singing Tree Pipit, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LHNFKLEsXZ3gNLIK4pvGvf_Dl9YqMHljj6dOzy3bAw5K_kBRDhLuS6G0spB4dIruzL89BmIQzTx73YqZwSky8FBHu2oIg5Euu1KK11qsB-GrUTERpsJVhPUidq5LjC93SSgw8gCjt6cS/s1600/tree+pipit2_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LHNFKLEsXZ3gNLIK4pvGvf_Dl9YqMHljj6dOzy3bAw5K_kBRDhLuS6G0spB4dIruzL89BmIQzTx73YqZwSky8FBHu2oIg5Euu1KK11qsB-GrUTERpsJVhPUidq5LjC93SSgw8gCjt6cS/s640/tree+pipit2_hatfield_28may2015.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tree Pipit, Hatfield Moor, 28/05/15</strong></td></tr>
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Bright, warm sunshiny days have been few and far between this May in the UK and this wasn't one of them but biking around <strong>Hatfield</strong> with me old mucker <strong>Mark</strong> was as enjoyable as ever .. we got the record shots of a potentially new breeding bird for the reserve (mission accomplished), got plenty of other stuff too - disturbed a few <strong>Adders</strong>, heard a couple of <strong>Garden Warblers</strong> and many <strong>Cuckoos</strong>, and just chilled!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8EKhomtDtlG3YO507vknpzOa0LD9Y_cS8ACX2Ny5ljJcWlDadrZkdQh6qUiDZih0o9ReHZA49SNa1ZrAZ8S9WsaDODWire9j3I-GeUm7Czi2oQAjY3_wLCEczCt8iQ3EBnJqk5yRy-9E/s1600/mark+on+Hatfield_28may2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8EKhomtDtlG3YO507vknpzOa0LD9Y_cS8ACX2Ny5ljJcWlDadrZkdQh6qUiDZih0o9ReHZA49SNa1ZrAZ8S9WsaDODWire9j3I-GeUm7Czi2oQAjY3_wLCEczCt8iQ3EBnJqk5yRy-9E/s400/mark+on+Hatfield_28may2015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chilled out on Hatfield</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH6h3FnH05WvdBCYr5s_C-so-nkkqpYrexa6MdZE4Iz1GNCkZFoczUTnqPx3qkSIXVxuDFDGYGuJfWpfKjfHtRw8bgvD7v9iiCre9Qlm6Dk2dS-nhNhUWt7zq7R0yzK-6-MRFm3bqtLyj/s1600/hatfield+moor2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH6h3FnH05WvdBCYr5s_C-so-nkkqpYrexa6MdZE4Iz1GNCkZFoczUTnqPx3qkSIXVxuDFDGYGuJfWpfKjfHtRw8bgvD7v9iiCre9Qlm6Dk2dS-nhNhUWt7zq7R0yzK-6-MRFm3bqtLyj/s400/hatfield+moor2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hatfield Moor</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvxi6fcJbyyxMiIC0K2vM_SbAoQnfFRxHGEvTs0Na1-uV3qjXUtzX5hFKXkDOnU-7iURLWsn6lRQx8LqtbTKFCd0GYZ3HjpvI09fPnzwZHshCRcfDhqWP4kxEVCLp4Iiyy6Z44N-R8vxW/s1600/hatfield+moor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvxi6fcJbyyxMiIC0K2vM_SbAoQnfFRxHGEvTs0Na1-uV3qjXUtzX5hFKXkDOnU-7iURLWsn6lRQx8LqtbTKFCd0GYZ3HjpvI09fPnzwZHshCRcfDhqWP4kxEVCLp4Iiyy6Z44N-R8vxW/s400/hatfield+moor.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hatfield Moor</strong></td></tr>
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Check out the blog for recent sightings here - <a href="https://hmbb1.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hatfield Moor Blog</a> <strong>Red Necked Phalarope</strong> over this past w/e ..where was my lens!<br />
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-8493987058369877142015-05-18T10:35:00.000-07:002015-05-18T10:40:25.781-07:00A good wood found, wild flowers in profusion at last, Snipe a drumming, a wet Moors day and a successful Heron watch event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Its been a tricky old merry month of May for me. Just like the UK spring this year - stumbling and stuttering into some kind of recognisable swing, I've struggled a bit to get into the rhythms of the season. Some kind of 'hangover' effect maybe from so many unfettered, uncluttered days in Spain maybe, who knows .. I'll not dwell, its not very interesting!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Water Avens, Pocklington Wood, 15/05/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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I found a new wood just outside <strong>Pocklington</strong> the other day and these lovely <strong>Water Avens</strong> growing in profusion certainly were of interest as they're relatively uncommon in East Yorks.<br />
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Also known as '<em><strong>drooping</strong></em>' or '<strong><em>nodding</em></strong>' <strong>avens</strong> this native wild flower often finds it way into garden borders because of its attractive pinky red blooms and distinctive shape and I must say it photographs really well!<br />
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Its got history, like most wild flowers, ...said to be an excellent natural remedy for diarrhoea this one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Water Avens, Pocklington Wood, 15/05/15</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">No need to look up the medicinal and culinary properties of this next wild flower that is currently scenting many of our woodland glades at the moment ... <strong>Wild Garlic</strong>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It grows well in the right conditions .. dampish woodland and there were massive carpets of the stuff here, competing for space with equally impressive stands of <strong>Bluebells</strong>, and in many ways more attractive to my mind ... certainly photographs better!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For the record here's some of the <strong>Bluebells</strong>, kind of <em>'de rigueur'</em> to post a pic of the old '<strong>Calverkeys</strong>' at this time of year and catch them while you can.... for they'll be gone in a week or so.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxts8NVLlaMFaF3rUZoHMaGFi4357R8EC_wkzpAzkFClWTArbENUQDoFQiMoJ5DSGGBFKAu1c4qspm55WBDL2k0fQlKTgs-o50wnDitu_cL_VcZiYrPA6VKLuGnMtsOnPfaNBNzPTVlCBw/s1600/bluebells_pocklington+wood_15may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxts8NVLlaMFaF3rUZoHMaGFi4357R8EC_wkzpAzkFClWTArbENUQDoFQiMoJ5DSGGBFKAu1c4qspm55WBDL2k0fQlKTgs-o50wnDitu_cL_VcZiYrPA6VKLuGnMtsOnPfaNBNzPTVlCBw/s640/bluebells_pocklington+wood_15may2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Bluebells, Pocklington Wood, 15/05/15</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We're coming up the best time of year for the vast majority of wild flowers and shrubs now and I'm looking forward to the various <strong>Orchid</strong> species that should be in flower next month. For now though here's another couple of common but attractive flowers currently in bloom ...</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong> <span style="font-size: small;">Pretty sure I heard a <strong>Spotted Flycatcher</strong> here and possibly a distant <strong>Stonechat</strong> perched in the middle of a rape seed field but nothing conclusive either way. Another nice <strong>Common Whitethroat</strong> pic managed though and there were maybe 4 pairs in the general vicinity.</span></div>
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<strong></strong><span style="font-size: small;">Earlier in the month during a brief visit to <strong>Strensall Common</strong>, just outside York I came across a couple of <strong>Northern Wheatears</strong> on passage. A good record for the site. and always a treat to see these chaps on their way through. Here's a nice pic of the male perched on top of the firing range there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Apologies by the way for the uniform 'centering' of text and pics in this post. Another bug in the <strong>BlogSpot </strong>site<strong> </strong>or maybe my limited html skills? Nothing I seem to be able to do about it except stick to the centre ground ... with hindsight something maybe <strong>Ed Milliband</strong> might have considered? Oooh er - a bit of politics on <strong>timbobagginsabroad</strong>! A definite non starter.</span></div>
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<strong></strong> <span style="font-size: small;">A planned trip up to the <strong>North Yorks Moors</strong> last weekend in the great company of messrs <strong>Robin Marrs</strong> and <strong>Mark Paine</strong> was blighted somewhat by the weather but hey we chilled well and explored many moorland nooks, valleys and car parks. Although the light was dismal nearly all day, 2 <strong>Fulmars</strong> gliding inland over <strong>Gorse</strong> bushes at <strong>Ravenscar</strong>, briefly illuminated as they were by watery late afternoon sunshine, has my vote as the best picture I never took this month award. Live long in the memory though!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A few nice captures of <strong>Sand Martins,</strong> maybe 60 or so, feeding across a nearby cliff top pond partially made up for that however. This is the best of the crop</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzDnrKY1TPdviKu92qOde_143f3yfOZhH0RhtDuhi0a9fdwLmNOAtH9x-uhUUdfyA3cJxgYkbzV4BBSLxDRvvtgCIyKaZpUGeAGuxujsSJu5OTmitNSLjBpS7Uv6u1ya3OYQvuYVsZJ9d/s1600/sandmartin_ravenscar_9may2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzDnrKY1TPdviKu92qOde_143f3yfOZhH0RhtDuhi0a9fdwLmNOAtH9x-uhUUdfyA3cJxgYkbzV4BBSLxDRvvtgCIyKaZpUGeAGuxujsSJu5OTmitNSLjBpS7Uv6u1ya3OYQvuYVsZJ9d/s400/sandmartin_ravenscar_9may2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong></strong><span style="font-size: small;"> with this one a distant 2nd ....such a shame the weather gods didn't shine on us that day.</span></div>
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<strong></strong><span style="font-size: small;"> ..... a cheeky <strong>Nuthatch</strong> at <strong>Forge Valley</strong> that has probably been photographed thousands of times and from a thousand better angles was my only other half decent pic of the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A flock of <strong>Crossbills </strong>at <strong>Ellerburn Bank</strong> were my first in years and rumours of <strong>Hen Harriers</strong> speculating and making the odd appearance again over the heather all added to a memorable Moors experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A few more random pictures from my May so far. The Spring courtship flight and sound of displaying <strong>Common Snipe</strong> is as unique as it gets in the bird world... the strange, eerie and sometimes nocturnal 'drumming' sound and whirring flight of these game birds has even led some folk to believe that it is the sound of alien spacecraft about to land!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Broad daylight on <strong>Thornton Ings</strong> in the <strong>Lower Derwent Valley</strong> and here is proof that these noises are earthbound birds with vibrating tails! Not a particularly clear shot but you can clearly see the detached outer tail feathers that act like wind vanes and produce that totally weird sound as they career up, down and around in the skies above their breeding sites.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Snipe a drumming, Thornton Ings, 13/05/15</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Even more random .... here's a rare bird. Me working! This was at the <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ysp.co.uk%2F&ei=JCBaVcm-MozXU76AgaAM&usg=AFQjCNGgKYtKZqH2YM5-MYFGDUmYMB4sxQ&bvm=bv.93564037,d.d24" target="_blank"><strong>Yorkshire Sculpture Park</strong> </a>(<strong>Bretton Lakes</strong>) and the annual <strong><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ysp.co.uk%2Fevents%2Fheron-watching-with-yorkshire-wildlife-trust&ei=nCBaVaOGEISvU8PFgNgK&usg=AFQjCNF4jOCNMm4ufJjB1T38BnUVBWq_eg&bvm=bv.93564037,d.d24" target="_blank">Heron Watch</a></strong> event where more than 600 passers by had the opportunity to watch nesting <strong>Grey Herons</strong>. All pics courtesy of <strong>Carole Tidball</strong>. Great event, lots of interest (surprising how many people didn't even realise that herons nest in trees!), and 11 sign ups for <strong><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ywt.org.uk%2F&ei=1SBaVce1O4OqUevwgZAL&usg=AFQjCNGDy38TEiF0TqrOZ9ePfuCoFlbb3w&bvm=bv.93564037,d.d24" target="_blank">Yorkshire Wildlife Trust</a></strong> by yours truly - some effort in just 5 hrs!</span><br />
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-6249725236331536122015-04-29T07:37:00.001-07:002015-04-29T12:10:06.297-07:00My second Spring, out and about in the Wolds, North Cave Wetlands, atmospheric Barnies and Common Cranes in Yorkshire!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMVYzQZYTSgyZInBjpXMnehuYQuMx2wwHi1TfSu1rf-afnPG1PlL1zkKvVL0xtITFeS4MLXehzfvCFvO2UatkTaHvWZHNGCB8ZOt-zrqoMtjwgE6EbvBr1AYHS3UJ37AKwKCEajGuHCld/s1600/20150405_IMG_999_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMVYzQZYTSgyZInBjpXMnehuYQuMx2wwHi1TfSu1rf-afnPG1PlL1zkKvVL0xtITFeS4MLXehzfvCFvO2UatkTaHvWZHNGCB8ZOt-zrqoMtjwgE6EbvBr1AYHS3UJ37AKwKCEajGuHCld/s1600/20150405_IMG_999_12.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ist Swallow, Thornton Ings, 5apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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Back from my Iberian travels and straight back into a typical stop start UK Spring - not too dissimilar from Spain really... blowing hot & cold! Great to be back into the swing of things with <strong><a href="http://www.ywt.org.uk/" target="_blank">YWT</a></strong> but ain't there a lot to do when you return from a long trip! Almost feel as if the Spring is passing me by such have been the twin demands of work, catching up with folk and a distinct lack of 'get up and go' after so many foreign and exotic adventures. I've had a few trips out though and had some good moments in my 2nd Spring!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barn Swallow, Wheldrake Ings, 20apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Swallows</strong> were back in my neck of the woods first week of April and who knows, some of them might have flown past me when I was in Spain - highly unlikely but a nice thought!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Snakes Head Fritillary, Wheldrake, 20apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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Spring flowers are popping up everywhere with these <strong>Snakes Head Fritillaries</strong> on the sheep field at <strong>Wheldrake</strong> being my favourites of the month</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Snakes Head Fritillary, Wheldrake, 20apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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Closely followed by these gorgeous <strong>Primroses</strong> high up on the <strong>Yorkshire Wolds</strong> nr <strong><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCcQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBishop_Wilton&ei=wutAVd29CsnSU86igOgC&usg=AFQjCNEA2LTBTIcuec8FKi9YvMT7COckYw&bvm=bv.91665533,d.d24" target="_blank">Bishop Wilton</a></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Primroses, Bishop Wilton, 10apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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Lovely indeed but the morning I took these was the day a shed load of poor air drifted in from the continent on SE winds and that wasn't so lovely!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Poor air quality over Bishop Wilton, 10apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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I had my first <strong>Willow Warblers</strong> singing on the 15th and a rare treat of a passage <strong>Ring Ouzel</strong> close to my local patch on the top of <strong>Garrowby Hill</strong> on the 10th, a full on male, but frustratingly shrouded in twigs till it flew off north.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yellowhammer (male), Fangfoss, 5apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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My local birds are looking resplendently colourful and there are singing <strong>Linnets, Yellowhammers, Greenfinches, Skylarks</strong> and <strong>Thrushes</strong> down my back lane here at <strong>Fangfoss </strong>and both <strong>Sparrowhawks</strong> and <strong>Common Buzzards</strong> have been performing their aerial courtship displays with gusto!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRktwa8ynDnV0tJ_KlJGXONZ01qPXmA5GIw25NyAA8bHT_eCJ8e0M-F0Cp1oa0eFYw_8XcfDXcfby4Aysyp0IiGBCz53mmxagzZTgGDpE368T6GnTnWlTn9R3eyIeOF5TOD6omd9MGRuf/s1600/common+buzzard_fangfoss_5apr2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRktwa8ynDnV0tJ_KlJGXONZ01qPXmA5GIw25NyAA8bHT_eCJ8e0M-F0Cp1oa0eFYw_8XcfDXcfby4Aysyp0IiGBCz53mmxagzZTgGDpE368T6GnTnWlTn9R3eyIeOF5TOD6omd9MGRuf/s1600/common+buzzard_fangfoss_5apr2015.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Buzzard, Fangfoss, 5thapr2015</strong></td></tr>
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Talking of raptors, there's a prospective pair of <strong>Peregrines</strong> on York Minster. I hope they breed and with luck I'll get some pics. They seem to be doing alright and this is one of several in the <strong><a href="http://ldvnnr.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Lower Derwent Valley</a></strong> where they nest in the big electricity pylons there ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0i-YrMKT8GVWhyphenhyphen2muBFeV9skQMb2HNk1FYO24LI7nG4Gxo6zp0-yOSTaCCeUS0NkhBEUl7qDvTylMC8rojDqCZ-nYgQ8ZAvJa3QHcACjqP_RIPab-nsSdQlFWBGRgyOzsPhkOaEOZr1H/s1600/peregrine2_wheldrake+ings_17apr2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0i-YrMKT8GVWhyphenhyphen2muBFeV9skQMb2HNk1FYO24LI7nG4Gxo6zp0-yOSTaCCeUS0NkhBEUl7qDvTylMC8rojDqCZ-nYgQ8ZAvJa3QHcACjqP_RIPab-nsSdQlFWBGRgyOzsPhkOaEOZr1H/s1600/peregrine2_wheldrake+ings_17apr2015.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon, LDV, 17apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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After a superbly successful breeding season last year and a relatively mild winter I'm pleased to see so many <strong>Barn Owls</strong> on the wing. I've struggled to get a 'gripper' pic but its always an atmospheric moment when you watch a 'ghost bird' hunting and I'm well pleased with the <em>artsy</em> feel of these...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTrJVl6F7idJbtvvYvrpSndsHf26k3SzvfC8jVNdaYTf-OKuqTub1eRVnxdnUT6bpxHl2Xx6nWfocm50VYGobZaXRgYY4EfPeeRhSYpz01Ruz9AjaCFJzl7RpoohUYzljri8IUTUOISpj/s1600/barn+owl_wheldrake+ings_21apr2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTrJVl6F7idJbtvvYvrpSndsHf26k3SzvfC8jVNdaYTf-OKuqTub1eRVnxdnUT6bpxHl2Xx6nWfocm50VYGobZaXRgYY4EfPeeRhSYpz01Ruz9AjaCFJzl7RpoohUYzljri8IUTUOISpj/s1600/barn+owl_wheldrake+ings_21apr2015.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barn Owl, Wheldrake, 20apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barn Owl, Millington, 6apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barn Owl, Wheldrake, 20apr2015</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Got my first <strong>Swift</strong> yesterday (28/4) at <strong><a href="http://www.northcavewetlands.com/" target="_blank">North Cave Wetlands</a></strong>, along with<strong> Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Common Tern </strong>and <strong>Yellow Wagtail</strong> (all first for the year). Failed to get decent pics of any of them but the <strong>Avocets</strong> were easier ... I so hope the <strong>Black Headed Gulls</strong> don't take all the young this year as they have done in previous years.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Avocet, North Cave, 28apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Avocet, North Cave, 28apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I didn't see a single <strong>Common Whitethroat</strong> all the time I was in Spain, couple of weeks too early, but pleased to see and hear so many in the hedgerows again ....</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Singing Common Whitethroat, North Cave, 28apr2015</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've saved my best birds till last and hopefully you've scrolled down this far. I've had more than my fill of <strong>Common Cranes</strong> in France and Spain over the years but not seen many in the UK, so to see a small bunch turn up in a field in Yorkshire recently was a bonus. Not entirely surprising as they're expanding as a breeding bird with small but successful numbers of breeding birds in Norfolk and Somerset. For obvious reasons I can't reveal the location and don't bother asking, just enjoy the pics ...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Cranes, Yorkshire, Spring 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Common Cranes, Yorkshire, Spring 2015</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Cranes, Yorkshire, Spring 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">More than a little hint of courtship going on so hope they're successful.</span></div>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-66721606152890573422015-04-07T13:32:00.000-07:002015-04-07T13:39:16.936-07:00Return leg - Plains of La Serena, Monfrague, Villafafila. Imperial Eagle mobbing Great Bustards, Montagues Harrier & Sandgrouse.<strong>17th - 21st March La Serena, Monfrague & Villafafila</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEida2NIqK32qax8OYEAArQjg7hoqElN7gjsa1GgUYRn_anRP5ImRul5iJCkSq2hYoglK1tHqY6Vk4OWnZ_E3KQL9mqzTsDJisrgEsSOEjkrmadaBKU4U5u43yvgDB9_1iqAi20ux73_FoWL/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEida2NIqK32qax8OYEAArQjg7hoqElN7gjsa1GgUYRn_anRP5ImRul5iJCkSq2hYoglK1tHqY6Vk4OWnZ_E3KQL9mqzTsDJisrgEsSOEjkrmadaBKU4U5u43yvgDB9_1iqAi20ux73_FoWL/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="435" width="640" /></a></div>
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On the return journey back up through Western Spain now and have to say at the outset that it's good to have a travelling companion in the shape of Mark along for the last few legs. Maybe something else to point out at the outset is that the moment we headed into inland Spain the weather and the light deteriorated vastly! I've done my best with the pics without taking away the true nature of the conditions (its very obviously still winter in the middle of Spain!)<br />
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Our first destination, the plains of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Serena,_Spain" target="_blank"> <strong>La Serena</strong></a> is a huge area of largely untouched 'steppe' land and with a total area of 1025 sq miles it is the largest piece of uncultivated land in Western Europe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FZMTqU6NobZ8zGZui-RzunemXtKPJHBdpI9B7G2NZOgwf216yPdWimuzSPUcGQaCPjaDTKSy2Zvvr5VPUAMRyT6IzJPg8StluRx08j_KJhyphenhyphenRWwTKVf4aO5u2R-Sffpnno-2uL_vhk_-e/s1600/la+serena3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FZMTqU6NobZ8zGZui-RzunemXtKPJHBdpI9B7G2NZOgwf216yPdWimuzSPUcGQaCPjaDTKSy2Zvvr5VPUAMRyT6IzJPg8StluRx08j_KJhyphenhyphenRWwTKVf4aO5u2R-Sffpnno-2uL_vhk_-e/s1600/la+serena3-1.jpg" height="299" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Plains of La Serena</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Plains of La Serena</strong></td></tr>
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A wild and awe inspiring place but I suspect in the middle of Summer it'll be unbearably hot and this river, one of the main water sources in the area will almost certainly run dry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETc4uspZ8OdQrF4aZSV72KruqIhDmgS62BG9hAxW2HlCKN4u8oie6Xkb6jQdlysoZaDzXOrJVWSrJv4UtO7nQByVPtQk1H7xXRC7hCyEOZQ7q2T4F56EphOy40EfXb7l3P1IHzObPhu7z/s1600/la+serena2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETc4uspZ8OdQrF4aZSV72KruqIhDmgS62BG9hAxW2HlCKN4u8oie6Xkb6jQdlysoZaDzXOrJVWSrJv4UtO7nQByVPtQk1H7xXRC7hCyEOZQ7q2T4F56EphOy40EfXb7l3P1IHzObPhu7z/s1600/la+serena2-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rio Guadalefra, La Serena</strong></td></tr>
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Quite rocky in parts too with some strange looking lichen covered outcrops <br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvArVqcANZtfz1BY3JBY7ML87M0c_CApIQWE_2Fql3dBoPWZqruCMItJroXu-gpaJwpFcKLPTFVt8xDr3DUQJWIsaoYjQgTkzYsu1boiBWkJYMhrGqbBWlL6Ts_jDGPw5p42Z9lnoA_WG/s1600/la+serena-1.jpg" height="329" width="640" /></div>
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....there's that same grey sky again and that same strange bloke in my van!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf22XpfPPv35fWIB31TKESU3-Xqjhq0O6zMBAVlSv9lb4Zcn-C4Q3csvoxw7LKdyIrAJurIAc6UdIvQQVUbD7AMDzTD15_mQkwt55ooTBK0rXcqXCrlhDazUKx-0BIGG6kUgk9lWJE6Ll/s1600/la+serena+van+pic-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf22XpfPPv35fWIB31TKESU3-Xqjhq0O6zMBAVlSv9lb4Zcn-C4Q3csvoxw7LKdyIrAJurIAc6UdIvQQVUbD7AMDzTD15_mQkwt55ooTBK0rXcqXCrlhDazUKx-0BIGG6kUgk9lWJE6Ll/s1600/la+serena+van+pic-1.jpg" height="347" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN1OM2HuYfH3MQmmYfqHKymuwZFuctz8T-4duUam8hiEG1V7LJwirIbkc1FCbVnFr5lCMaAGQKSDIFFqLU-gQs0ox77AVM5yJzzg_4UdAuSNn8MPUnpAZKXyCmAyC3q71RKDKcZvBRT1W/s1600/great+bustards_la+serena-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN1OM2HuYfH3MQmmYfqHKymuwZFuctz8T-4duUam8hiEG1V7LJwirIbkc1FCbVnFr5lCMaAGQKSDIFFqLU-gQs0ox77AVM5yJzzg_4UdAuSNn8MPUnpAZKXyCmAyC3q71RKDKcZvBRT1W/s1600/great+bustards_la+serena-1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great Bustards, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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Yep, a big place and some equally big birds. This is one of the best places in Spain for seeing <strong>Great</strong> and <strong>Little Bustards</strong> and we got an eyeful of both.</div>
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Shame the light was so dismal for the <strong>Great Bustards</strong> because they'd all just about got into breeding plumage - check out the 'tash on the prancing one!</div>
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This <strong>Little Bustard</strong> was one of 2 males that were flying around together and calling ...chasing each other maybe? We concluded that it must have been some kind of territorial spat. The only pics I've ever managed of flying <strong>Bustards</strong> anyway!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpOC1e2vXFHbbuFgslUVVbn1WybypbJT3Ofjmge-bBggb2aG3SoXkMnbOm70szW0Ka5jPaefL9SynOMWopgw8UrRHeuMmrXS6DK3rFfvsAbHgJqPSkPgCecvpH5h5Tk1SGgNysrmS4XDb/s1600/little+bustard2_la+serena-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpOC1e2vXFHbbuFgslUVVbn1WybypbJT3Ofjmge-bBggb2aG3SoXkMnbOm70szW0Ka5jPaefL9SynOMWopgw8UrRHeuMmrXS6DK3rFfvsAbHgJqPSkPgCecvpH5h5Tk1SGgNysrmS4XDb/s1600/little+bustard2_la+serena-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Little Bustard, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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.... easier to photograph on the ground but even though these nicely posed males look distinctive it wasn't until we stopped the car and scanned the terrain that we saw them plus 30 or so of the much drabber females.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeEOn0jgbW96mYyK5f22pHZW3BTPnJS5NHlqOM6Fq3bl272t-GiRPHZ-9wThtVqtt05H4LdFIYesd0Yx_wfmMp6l66uT-O9ZA1cuehhtILIGVCk2cnVdk2jJCOEBZJ6JZmOypcvjgFM6v/s1600/little+bustards2_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeEOn0jgbW96mYyK5f22pHZW3BTPnJS5NHlqOM6Fq3bl272t-GiRPHZ-9wThtVqtt05H4LdFIYesd0Yx_wfmMp6l66uT-O9ZA1cuehhtILIGVCk2cnVdk2jJCOEBZJ6JZmOypcvjgFM6v/s1600/little+bustards2_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Little Bustards, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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This is a rubbish pic of a flock of 20 or so <strong>Great Bustards</strong> taking off. They were obviously agitated and it takes a lot to bother these giant 'turkey sized' birds but worried they were and with good reason.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63unwk2sQY-8A7B_lwYebnc37eyplSdFFkNxGKNmP-fM1b8G7miyF1TyQaWcVKu8lLI4HQJ_dyAxi0JwLBGaBOIwIvLfab0PDiQiXLrdUvUSCE8aUW3Mpt3U-cbnansonD1gh-R9PSpvD/s1600/great+bustards3_la+serena-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63unwk2sQY-8A7B_lwYebnc37eyplSdFFkNxGKNmP-fM1b8G7miyF1TyQaWcVKu8lLI4HQJ_dyAxi0JwLBGaBOIwIvLfab0PDiQiXLrdUvUSCE8aUW3Mpt3U-cbnansonD1gh-R9PSpvD/s1600/great+bustards3_la+serena-1.jpg" height="216" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>flushed Great Bustards</strong></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPYryZlfhyphenhyphenymKFHRITjdDZPWz8iEF9WlrvI28Zebae0hxRCam5jWbSKMgEiTpqEdorEry9Y6IqlvReCKHzN6wNCNR6tq2zpALxXvNvDXxrS894J4jb1IMVg3K-kyZ3ZozBEc9d3oEdo1t/s1600/Imperial+eagle5_la+serena-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPYryZlfhyphenhyphenymKFHRITjdDZPWz8iEF9WlrvI28Zebae0hxRCam5jWbSKMgEiTpqEdorEry9Y6IqlvReCKHzN6wNCNR6tq2zpALxXvNvDXxrS894J4jb1IMVg3K-kyZ3ZozBEc9d3oEdo1t/s1600/Imperial+eagle5_la+serena-1.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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In the distance we saw the culprit - juvenile <strong>Spanish Imperial Eagle</strong> lording it over the plains and looking very menacing! It's a a way off in this pic but you can clearly see it looking down on those Turkeys! Like <strong>Golden Eagles, Imperial Eagles</strong> will take young goats so a <strong>Great Bustard</strong> .. why not?<br />
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We watched in awe as this monster cruised above both us and the Bustards. With a global population of circa 350 breeding pairs this is one of the world's rarest eagles -<a href="http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3534" target="_blank"> <strong>more info here</strong></a>, and although I'd spotted one of the breeding individuals at <strong>Donana</strong> (easy enough as they have scopes trained on the nearest ones), to stumble across one in a more wild environment was just awesome. This young bird came a bit closer and afforded some great views and half decent pics ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5xfTZRpRV9TA8lSnFWQzDo6eoJXqbsBWfhTyRrfx1JVCYwbBG-0w1XS0OEoW8T9md5uoN1Cg4Y_9TuE7ZVRtWQmsrT1gk4AQ-8Q7gw3mS3p7Xp6eXe8urR3uEVjhS_r0ESt3j8CP14Va/s1600/Imperial+eagle6_la+serena-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5xfTZRpRV9TA8lSnFWQzDo6eoJXqbsBWfhTyRrfx1JVCYwbBG-0w1XS0OEoW8T9md5uoN1Cg4Y_9TuE7ZVRtWQmsrT1gk4AQ-8Q7gw3mS3p7Xp6eXe8urR3uEVjhS_r0ESt3j8CP14Va/s1600/Imperial+eagle6_la+serena-1.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityJHC4Gu9E6iA-QM4imtHZliEHChDBsFjonX5Q6B3otqOSIxo6_TgSk0AJx05upO0OOUCtYirgGLNARyBIjSKdtRzSPwmIXhaZS-M4msc1upUE3SI5pwS2jlZJL76ZTSiCWJ21BuQigUN/s1600/imperial+eagle2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityJHC4Gu9E6iA-QM4imtHZliEHChDBsFjonX5Q6B3otqOSIxo6_TgSk0AJx05upO0OOUCtYirgGLNARyBIjSKdtRzSPwmIXhaZS-M4msc1upUE3SI5pwS2jlZJL76ZTSiCWJ21BuQigUN/s1600/imperial+eagle2-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDoKjjaNw3uBaRZEGpcVRxFFyErUeiu_ki4xcedfOp69PtF2nvCAwrP9TcWOp_WyLmtIuvUxx8EXLMlM2i46RAXY4a07Ka-7Pqf6EfWkH2AdeZLHE1u3hM46RBp1GPD9M_kNXpPa-m_LY/s1600/imperial+eagle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDoKjjaNw3uBaRZEGpcVRxFFyErUeiu_ki4xcedfOp69PtF2nvCAwrP9TcWOp_WyLmtIuvUxx8EXLMlM2i46RAXY4a07Ka-7Pqf6EfWkH2AdeZLHE1u3hM46RBp1GPD9M_kNXpPa-m_LY/s1600/imperial+eagle-1.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D7LmYtozG6-zfI1Kvjxa0jqiog9dV9j-SiX-EYFSbM5Ip8Ch72h85w7-SxtoClpbTIJpVnB_96J8l4dW4zGodkM7Px2QrY8uL2bZnBwU3I9NG12gj3w0kKm3U29sD7x0ZRndErYFnm-q/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier4_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D7LmYtozG6-zfI1Kvjxa0jqiog9dV9j-SiX-EYFSbM5Ip8Ch72h85w7-SxtoClpbTIJpVnB_96J8l4dW4zGodkM7Px2QrY8uL2bZnBwU3I9NG12gj3w0kKm3U29sD7x0ZRndErYFnm-q/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier4_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Montague's Harrier, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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That was definitely the stand out moment of the trip to <strong>La Serena</strong>. You don't see <strong>Imperial Eagles</strong> or <strong>Great Bustards</strong> every day but to see some dangerous interaction between the 2 was truly memorable but that wasn't all that this remarkable place had to offer. The day before, we had our first good views of <strong>Montagues Harriers</strong>, a female and 2 males and one of them put on a very good hunting show...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTMS8BP1k1dKqcMQQxy6F7ohmhJVjrpDExJPyb9NMEfMw4yqUHFcbJUWdqEIMkkqYJeysTq-5BMSidHMzDhbdQG-ici4utUbLRzUqe3Ys0FA2O2SZDV8aaYpK27SEQ7qGcP0VS71uoGkE/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier2_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTMS8BP1k1dKqcMQQxy6F7ohmhJVjrpDExJPyb9NMEfMw4yqUHFcbJUWdqEIMkkqYJeysTq-5BMSidHMzDhbdQG-ici4utUbLRzUqe3Ys0FA2O2SZDV8aaYpK27SEQ7qGcP0VS71uoGkE/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier2_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Montague's Harrier, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFR8z_4NlA7DQ5qwWHwThy4-_GU45S9kXnNSo65ZpupUAtH3a61w5MCv91q8Y9RVTQ0e4uYpHTMVB5w982REFWt0LK9xHgY3I_DZzFNofebKaJxDDanHsVIHSOfDq8Uzdm_vDqnjUslCe/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFR8z_4NlA7DQ5qwWHwThy4-_GU45S9kXnNSo65ZpupUAtH3a61w5MCv91q8Y9RVTQ0e4uYpHTMVB5w982REFWt0LK9xHgY3I_DZzFNofebKaJxDDanHsVIHSOfDq8Uzdm_vDqnjUslCe/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Montague's Harrier, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6-eAijCGN5bi5HFMiziNxOxsCbXFvnhaoC9S_g4WqxkMrS2PLDzLmYJVSR6dozRVbPrXfafKOZIUmYrXAU7c68fLkipVmIgmYaIVG2jRDGNdKUiIF3GO4Q0116MwdJ1gSXssWf8yJSDY/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier5_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6-eAijCGN5bi5HFMiziNxOxsCbXFvnhaoC9S_g4WqxkMrS2PLDzLmYJVSR6dozRVbPrXfafKOZIUmYrXAU7c68fLkipVmIgmYaIVG2jRDGNdKUiIF3GO4Q0116MwdJ1gSXssWf8yJSDY/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier5_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Montague's Harrier, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQabyj7b4ecWtJYipiRwJ8d4ikMrgrvb_kMrBB3J2HcIU60GoClzb7VVZ4PFw6VW57fZz-C3mRyp7oPEAYIV630RKfg7ZMi1UB8Igur4BIBamFMvG0zn7Ul685xSE1Kzu5nGZc6IRMLKE_/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier3_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQabyj7b4ecWtJYipiRwJ8d4ikMrgrvb_kMrBB3J2HcIU60GoClzb7VVZ4PFw6VW57fZz-C3mRyp7oPEAYIV630RKfg7ZMi1UB8Igur4BIBamFMvG0zn7Ul685xSE1Kzu5nGZc6IRMLKE_/s1600/montague's%2Bharrier3_serena_17mar2015-1.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Montague's Harrier, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Montague's Harrier, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Bellied Sandgrouse, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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Nearby nr the small town of <strong>Campanario</strong>, we had both <strong>Black Bellied</strong> and <strong>Pin Tailed Sandgrouse</strong> flying over at regular intervals ...<br />
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Unfamiliar to most casual birdwatchers, <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandgrouse" target="_blank">Sandgrouse</a></strong>, as the name suggests are creatures of dry and dusty plains, deserts and other arid / semi arid parts of the world. Strong and fast fliers, as they have to be in order to seek out watering holes which can be many miles away from their nests, adult birds have the unique ability to store water in their belly feathers which they then use to 'drip feed' young chicks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Pin Tailed Sandgrouse, La Serena, 18/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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Other good birds here included a pair of <strong>Bonellis Eagle, Black Stork, Lesser Kestrel</strong>, <strong>Pallid Swift, 2 Egyptian Vultures</strong> and lots of <strong>Calandra Larks</strong> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Calandra Lark, La Serena, 17/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Monfrague</strong></td></tr>
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A faulty memory card did for all my bird pics from Monfrague but if I can get it fixed the 8 or so <strong>Black Vultures</strong> we saw here should be worth the effort. In truth I'm not a huge fan (too many tourists) and I did a piece on the place last time I was here <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Villafafila, 21/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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With more bad weather forecasted (including heavy snow) it was time to start putting in some miles if we were to get anything at all out of the Pyrenees, but not before a return trip to <strong>Villafafila</strong>, a series of lagoons set in steppe land nr <strong>Zamora (Castilla y Leon).</strong> <br />
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Dense freezing fog did for any meaningful exploring last time around and the elements weren't much better this time ... grey skies and a howling North-easterly wind. It certainly wasn't sunny Spain!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Villafafila, 21/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fMl-aBhZjphQB_Xvr015YrBSIRPyEPKoT3jB7Q9I0yU2HDdTM4I4VK0bezsXUBfyJQhr8_iqwJkgQQGh32wyX7TlXkQwvsqmlzB18MTwlWE-3qPpCyMkuucU2MnA7_Rs5q3jV3wLNjOY/s1600/villafavilla4-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Finding shelter, hats & gloves and hot tea was the order of the day for what turned out to be the last major birding site before we crossed back into France. Man it was cold! Got some good birds here though including 27 <strong>Great Bustards</strong> (distant), 2 <strong>Merlin</strong>, 4 <strong>Hen Harriers</strong>, c400 <strong>Avocet</strong>, c40 <strong>Ruff,</strong> c250 <strong>Black T Godwits</strong>, 2 <strong>Golden Plover</strong>, 1 <strong>Northern Wheatear</strong>, 6 <strong>Spanish Sparrows</strong> and plenty of ducks including 12 <strong>Wigeon</strong> and a curious looking female <strong>Tufted Duck</strong> that was ringed on its bill as well as its leg ...not a <strong>Ring Necked</strong> <strong>Duck</strong> because it has a tuft but maybe some kind of hybrid that's been marked out? It was the only decent bird pic I took such were the conditions!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tufted / Ring Necked hybrid, Villafafila, 21/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tufted / Ring Necked hybrid, Villafafila, 21/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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A curious place with much dilapidation. <strong>Villafafila</strong> itself was pure 'shanty town' and there was a whole deserted village nr the reserve as well as several of the multi storey mud and straw pigeon coops that the area is renowned for.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Multi storey pigeon coop, Villafafila</strong></td></tr>
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Sadly, poor weather and worse forecast cut short our stay on the border so we 'snuck' across the Pyrenees in a hasty fashion. In the snow nr the ski resort of <strong>Formigal</strong>, both of us bothered by the glare from the white stuff and slightly anxious about the state of the road, we had a solitary <strong>Alpine Swift, House Martins</strong> and a flock of <strong>Goldfinch</strong> around the ski lifts and added a couple of new species for the trip - 40 or so <strong>Alpine Choughs</strong> and 5 <strong>Snow Bunting</strong> - all from the van which we were both reluctant to stop and try for pics!<br />
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Back into France and the weather was little better and I shan't be posting anything from the few sites we visited but Mark had a lifer in the shape of <strong>Black Woodpecker</strong> and some probable <strong>Ortolan Buntings</strong> and yet another species for the trip - a small flock of <strong>Bramblings</strong> at <strong>Le Foret de Gretigne</strong>.<br />
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So the trip ended with a flurry of new birds and more than a flurry of snow! 210 bird species in total which I'll list in my next post along with some pics that I couldn't fit into previous posts.<br />
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<strong>Tavira</strong> and <strong>Castro Marim</strong> being the obvious destinations before heading back into Spain and the salt pans of <strong>Sanlucar de Barremeda</strong> & <strong>Bonanza.</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqPXKo49fRCzGAnEN9a8YlFVUUESDleLDmF_iymGl_GrBRwqbena7CeCboWVV2WSmTwRNWektYbn0H4mbOKPfP5Wb7E0XSF5o6zf8-K58BBPVmF37lJetHbrgwADiCs18fdU48ikVBpS1/s1600/20150312_IMG_999_60.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqPXKo49fRCzGAnEN9a8YlFVUUESDleLDmF_iymGl_GrBRwqbena7CeCboWVV2WSmTwRNWektYbn0H4mbOKPfP5Wb7E0XSF5o6zf8-K58BBPVmF37lJetHbrgwADiCs18fdU48ikVBpS1/s1600/20150312_IMG_999_60.JPG" height="400" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spotted Redshank, Tavira (12th March 2015</strong>)</td></tr>
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<strong>Tavira </strong>is part and parcel <strong>Algarve</strong>, part tourist, part good estuarine birding, always a good spot for waders with <strong>Redshank, Whimbrel, Curlew, </strong><strong>Dunlin, Sanderling, Little Stint, Ringed & Little Ringed Plovers </strong> all in good numbers plus a good <strong>Spotted Redshank</strong> and another first for the trip .. those legendary travellers - <strong>Bar Tailed Godwits.</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwRewhKcXszvFhiOqogwnVbgA7RuQ8_HElzYXXlG3KZjZkpnT8jwD1Q9BbvpiBe6WSxtGeorKUzLcxW3FXreGiwtoZsHH0YYqNUpE085wNAbm6P2k95XQbyVT2Haebm3KhX6zXDoC7dOJ/s1600/20150312_IMG_999_99.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwRewhKcXszvFhiOqogwnVbgA7RuQ8_HElzYXXlG3KZjZkpnT8jwD1Q9BbvpiBe6WSxtGeorKUzLcxW3FXreGiwtoZsHH0YYqNUpE085wNAbm6P2k95XQbyVT2Haebm3KhX6zXDoC7dOJ/s1600/20150312_IMG_999_99.JPG" height="315" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bar Tailed Godwits, Tavira</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKZkIQAYpewTG0kK1jfJaH_JWGwKwCFMRifTGQAROn1ZzKCMDkrDWR_YHitEUsrnsktXYDVzgRWrYGq59Z4YF8bpfeSG4WLeycSAre7jE3CZRG4OHoIou4SKfv0XUVUw5oiG6yXJLCYiK/s1600/20150312_IMG_999_119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKZkIQAYpewTG0kK1jfJaH_JWGwKwCFMRifTGQAROn1ZzKCMDkrDWR_YHitEUsrnsktXYDVzgRWrYGq59Z4YF8bpfeSG4WLeycSAre7jE3CZRG4OHoIou4SKfv0XUVUw5oiG6yXJLCYiK/s1600/20150312_IMG_999_119.JPG" height="400" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Whimbrel, Tavira (12th March 2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMXZZ_sBs1YeQRhkBDhbVVh_OBZyIXDCte87bkZYiTekL-84rqgNbnUk3V8NiFNeM-DxumFtzBVrGS-4YhDUk8-SXWdTxxYw9RCs_5sLH15Qb_1PPXDq18j-rfBfCAcRbD91DFOqkGBql/s1600/sandwich+tern2_castro+marim.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMXZZ_sBs1YeQRhkBDhbVVh_OBZyIXDCte87bkZYiTekL-84rqgNbnUk3V8NiFNeM-DxumFtzBVrGS-4YhDUk8-SXWdTxxYw9RCs_5sLH15Qb_1PPXDq18j-rfBfCAcRbD91DFOqkGBql/s1600/sandwich+tern2_castro+marim.JPG" height="400" width="357" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sandwich Tern, Tavira</strong></td></tr>
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We searched in vain for a different tern species and did get a few <strong>Caspian Terns</strong> but in the main it was <strong>Sandwich Terns</strong> that were passing.<br />
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Further east towards the Spanish border a failed attempt to access the <strong>Castro Marim</strong> parc natural because of roadworks and diversions, took us instead to the fishing village of <strong>Villareal de Santa Antonio</strong> where we saw 100s of passing Gannets, some of them no doubt bound for UK breeding grounds, a few <strong>Great Skuas</strong> and some <strong>Pallid Swifts</strong> in off the sea.<br />
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Of human interest here were the activities of the many local shellfishers ... stretching as far as the eye could sea across the shallow estuary. One of the few times my 400m lens has come out for a landscape pic!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXFoKtNsutYl5Z9DDw93Tn8OEQp0GdzGXS_gsLDNSfKWDxH3Fv2DLcXorg3FHaHvBfMgXKHbJ1hnvj922PYgLi3s_YPdT-SHKFAKp3aAacn9TG0vLI3VQL9iUGJ2xMeMejZXuVvKDjAYy/s1600/20150313_IMG_999_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXFoKtNsutYl5Z9DDw93Tn8OEQp0GdzGXS_gsLDNSfKWDxH3Fv2DLcXorg3FHaHvBfMgXKHbJ1hnvj922PYgLi3s_YPdT-SHKFAKp3aAacn9TG0vLI3VQL9iUGJ2xMeMejZXuVvKDjAYy/s1600/20150313_IMG_999_26.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Shellfishers of Villareal de Santa Antonio</strong></td></tr>
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Nice place for a boat too .....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekmrIbZhQTVPz5LYq6csBI5Cad2x6P0CgKorEXA1Rm-Y5NXli7QcqZPWgOrgaKSPNWwp7gzsN2agwcy4ZNQXMmFvP6mweeouqJ6usNTuqIj4cAZdYwZmG4_n-ibwvUkE57KX6TF1GWYzi/s1600/castro+marim.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekmrIbZhQTVPz5LYq6csBI5Cad2x6P0CgKorEXA1Rm-Y5NXli7QcqZPWgOrgaKSPNWwp7gzsN2agwcy4ZNQXMmFvP6mweeouqJ6usNTuqIj4cAZdYwZmG4_n-ibwvUkE57KX6TF1GWYzi/s1600/castro+marim.JPG" height="414" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Villareal de San Antonio</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPA3Z23TNYGXKH2pfEE3FXz8Xk5b6kAPQw4dtSsvQVhGM-o6MWWlgJJT8BF9GOZSPHoqHUSvrRob84To_3UZMwrp0LW_JXgfugjUJC_frgKrNMEuV8G7oAD93fOo-5geJjRs68XTcUg_T/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPA3Z23TNYGXKH2pfEE3FXz8Xk5b6kAPQw4dtSsvQVhGM-o6MWWlgJJT8BF9GOZSPHoqHUSvrRob84To_3UZMwrp0LW_JXgfugjUJC_frgKrNMEuV8G7oAD93fOo-5geJjRs68XTcUg_T/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="320" width="306" /></a>The saltpans of <strong>Sanlucar/ Bonanza</strong> and
the adjacent forests of parcel pine (or algeida) are old and
favourite haunts of mine and Mark's. They make up the part of the mighty <strong>Donana</strong> reserve on the other side of the <strong>Guadalquiver</strong> river and although only a relatively short distance along the coast from where we were in Portugal, to get there involves a drive all the way to <strong>Sevilla</strong> and then down the other side of the river - 3 hrs!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0A2km0USlryoHyYobuhyDg59JHQYPMDVQun_HfI-9LMrnPkpzC6oUjK84-uCOv3_4edCR9Y3M6ZSyEr6xA2e5NJaTAm6g1bjpzQUE5bRCzPkQa2Do-uV8TnoagpE8hd2kv2xO1OBcYYU/s1600/20150316_IMG_999_9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0A2km0USlryoHyYobuhyDg59JHQYPMDVQun_HfI-9LMrnPkpzC6oUjK84-uCOv3_4edCR9Y3M6ZSyEr6xA2e5NJaTAm6g1bjpzQUE5bRCzPkQa2Do-uV8TnoagpE8hd2kv2xO1OBcYYU/s1600/20150316_IMG_999_9.JPG" height="227" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>On yer bike Mark! Bonanza </strong></td></tr>
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Worth it though. The weather was hot, the birds plentiful and Mark discovered he quite liked riding around on my bike!</div>
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So much to see here as always .... skies full of displaying <strong>Booted Eagles</strong>, <strong>Storks</strong> and migrant <strong>Black Kites</strong>, nesting <strong>Grey Herons</strong> and <strong>Spoonbills</strong>, flocks of <strong>Night Herons</strong> and to cap it all off 3 new migrants - <strong>Subalpine Warbler,</strong>a single <strong>Willow Warbler</strong> amongst the many wintering <strong>Chiffchaffs</strong> and 1 singing <strong>Nightingale.</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Bmebbt1FhLK6y6vMbT0Prxa0rvBsDVP2waj01GAHdq3JqrbsPeBjPTkOAVzBLvuwH2v7ByG9J99YIScVQErPOfuCYAgM8XZFZxFw-P4ZNE45idutnWRL1FtH0RRbIhFgi3O3EVOJa-t-/s1600/20150315_IMG_999_46.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Bmebbt1FhLK6y6vMbT0Prxa0rvBsDVP2waj01GAHdq3JqrbsPeBjPTkOAVzBLvuwH2v7ByG9J99YIScVQErPOfuCYAgM8XZFZxFw-P4ZNE45idutnWRL1FtH0RRbIhFgi3O3EVOJa-t-/s1600/20150315_IMG_999_46.JPG" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nesting Spoonbills, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5NhPeVKlDzkdzR7r8i-XHIXX-MzGpYmynLi6EbOxxBXWae_Hb9vc81jQAE1EMBBPimpqbOJrBRRbUmuhur3Y3bAM4XxwIckoCq5lHPeXbY2FgtNe813jycZkdyFAzg8-HxQyrMjC_kt8/s1600/20150315_IMG_999_56.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5NhPeVKlDzkdzR7r8i-XHIXX-MzGpYmynLi6EbOxxBXWae_Hb9vc81jQAE1EMBBPimpqbOJrBRRbUmuhur3Y3bAM4XxwIckoCq5lHPeXbY2FgtNe813jycZkdyFAzg8-HxQyrMjC_kt8/s1600/20150315_IMG_999_56.JPG" height="400" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>White Storks nest building, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60XuFxdFNW0TV01VgPi3cAE1P_M-3m1Cd0boUU9FzWhkJFLThxnSLmCsApJkpmOYJV-qO5XVEiinYWydR0wSmtvYC3KcB3Lqs-gftGoRmv_ks_Pr1EO0yyQWoZnO4NIhzhj3c7Y62vnM9/s1600/black+kite1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60XuFxdFNW0TV01VgPi3cAE1P_M-3m1Cd0boUU9FzWhkJFLThxnSLmCsApJkpmOYJV-qO5XVEiinYWydR0wSmtvYC3KcB3Lqs-gftGoRmv_ks_Pr1EO0yyQWoZnO4NIhzhj3c7Y62vnM9/s1600/black+kite1.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Kite overhead, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV9NtFde5NPOE7NK5AhibP5aaRMZj370fLM52QtNyIYsgK9nSYGPp68iiCvIV2fB9uQM46WM8_NqUE87Rh4j4IYycYR9CiDvKBMLTCh8mTEqaIgKbn4FvvlELLD2IAuy5YXTojINsNSMI/s1600/black+kite2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV9NtFde5NPOE7NK5AhibP5aaRMZj370fLM52QtNyIYsgK9nSYGPp68iiCvIV2fB9uQM46WM8_NqUE87Rh4j4IYycYR9CiDvKBMLTCh8mTEqaIgKbn4FvvlELLD2IAuy5YXTojINsNSMI/s1600/black+kite2.JPG" height="606" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Kite, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGBPGUohfKSOQjt_injdkoYeCLPNwsFN9b4EHT7M2QcLFflghXpq1XDKU7tSQXjVKpm-rJhYK4l38V4LsPNBRv4TtpPWc0mXG2ogLFYDEUKYnpxFuLyLnFQiwBh0RPOqTgdK7iPIuToOB/s1600/black+stork_bonanza_16mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGBPGUohfKSOQjt_injdkoYeCLPNwsFN9b4EHT7M2QcLFflghXpq1XDKU7tSQXjVKpm-rJhYK4l38V4LsPNBRv4TtpPWc0mXG2ogLFYDEUKYnpxFuLyLnFQiwBh0RPOqTgdK7iPIuToOB/s1600/black+stork_bonanza_16mar2015-1.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Stork, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIsV1w0rFHneQplET7chpCLtbYSrSTJXdkJ7-sroLla6xvJqR994Kal28oESAev0zaPg5Gv4neuyuVWmk84MNYQ1qTsZmWKyl_tEwwG3hl61oNDESi0QwfZJmEBPUOWM43MrLe64atg1x/s1600/willow+warbler_bonanza_16mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIsV1w0rFHneQplET7chpCLtbYSrSTJXdkJ7-sroLla6xvJqR994Kal28oESAev0zaPg5Gv4neuyuVWmk84MNYQ1qTsZmWKyl_tEwwG3hl61oNDESi0QwfZJmEBPUOWM43MrLe64atg1x/s1600/willow+warbler_bonanza_16mar2015-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Willow Warbler, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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Tricky to convey the majesty of displaying <strong>Booted Eagles</strong> in a hot blue sky but here's a pair circling together - a dark phase female and a light phase male.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXb4Qay8WuJ2dPo0ayqnguQuSFyWgk2qAo1P869gf2_85jT7JZBXAX4FAORk4yT0gpdJ4v9zCgve5uY5FnmrAeRoz5d8nM1k3puOprUeSHxagQV6FYtV4lGn7vjdtyA_WG4p3EKULdZyi/s1600/booted+eagles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXb4Qay8WuJ2dPo0ayqnguQuSFyWgk2qAo1P869gf2_85jT7JZBXAX4FAORk4yT0gpdJ4v9zCgve5uY5FnmrAeRoz5d8nM1k3puOprUeSHxagQV6FYtV4lGn7vjdtyA_WG4p3EKULdZyi/s1600/booted+eagles.JPG" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEuHkL2vNOlBj1n1T1L0jfuXI9BsbPbpXRT8Hf7FJgugMsGXki2EfTZUAUfqVFM9QG6EV2iDpRVnK4qi2f_40fRSockHnMvhffbm5cOIB0FUYpOVV9sy8sMsBPcpopBy5KJtVAhbM8kDR/s1600/booted+eagle1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEuHkL2vNOlBj1n1T1L0jfuXI9BsbPbpXRT8Hf7FJgugMsGXki2EfTZUAUfqVFM9QG6EV2iDpRVnK4qi2f_40fRSockHnMvhffbm5cOIB0FUYpOVV9sy8sMsBPcpopBy5KJtVAhbM8kDR/s1600/booted+eagle1.JPG" height="400" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Booted Eagle display flight</strong></td></tr>
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.... and the same male performing, soaring up, curling himself into a ball and then diving down in an almost vertical stoop before repeating in a series of looping soars and dives. Pretty awesome to see, the first time I've managed to photograph the event and these pics don't do the show any justice at all!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Booted Eagle display flight</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Narcissus (wild daffodil), Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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Spring flowers like these<strong> Narcissus</strong> or wild Daffodil look as if they've been out for a week or so, in fact some seem to have 'gone over'<br />
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The other flower is<strong> Halimium</strong>, a kind of rock rose and a flowering shrub that dominates and covers the scrubland in places with gorgeous yellow blooms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Halimium, Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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We searched in vain, as we always do, for a Western 'British' type <strong>Yellow Wagtail</strong> on passage but all seen, and there were a lot, were all of the Blue headed race. Jolly nice to see flitting about everywhere though! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yellow Wagtail (Iberian / Blue headed), Bonanza, 16/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Night Herons, Bonanza, 16/03/15 ... not the best of pics but never seen a flock this big!</strong></td></tr>
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Other good birds seen here but not photographed included <strong>Long Eared</strong> and <strong>Tawny Owl, Purple Swamphen, Osprey</strong>, 20 or so <strong>Marsh Harriers, Ruff, Tree</strong> & <strong>Spanish Sparrows</strong> and <strong>Calandra Larks.</strong></div>
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Onto <strong>Extramudra</strong> next and our first point of call will be the plains of <strong>Serena</strong>, the biggest area of uncultivated land in Western Europe!</div>
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-35788855236501534422015-03-14T03:03:00.000-07:002015-04-12T05:56:01.815-07:00El Rocio and getting out and about in the wilds of Donana<strong>6th - 10th March 2015, Around El Rocio & Donana</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yfo4RH5RjSeeZw16qM499NErLviMQjdLIwm5cm6gIzLx1j5rf-GGtzbbz9JmgyhqenS3UbeVnSvZyHbIA9i4X_tY2c04_xK30NhbkmbQtwFMWRQSvE-033QkJNSnvFtlapLCdNCnQw7J/s1600/20150306_IMG_999_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yfo4RH5RjSeeZw16qM499NErLviMQjdLIwm5cm6gIzLx1j5rf-GGtzbbz9JmgyhqenS3UbeVnSvZyHbIA9i4X_tY2c04_xK30NhbkmbQtwFMWRQSvE-033QkJNSnvFtlapLCdNCnQw7J/s1600/20150306_IMG_999_2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>El Rocio</strong></td></tr>
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After gales of <strong>Tarifa</strong> it was a a bit of a shock to the system to get up and walk around the sandy streets of<strong> El Rocio</strong> in hot, calm sunshine that was approaching 30c during the middle of the day! Although El Rocio itself has become more and more touristy every time I come back here it still retains that sense of 'other worldliness' that has made it such a magnet for travellers and pilgrims for centuries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDpeHpcWHmcJUPz0fX1cjDDdLIZ559cIu8BARsSJEEeoWdS_y5MNjWTHAm4OOKBDsOfPEiq-PUiBF1Wh_e77Zx01eiURnWq22VnvPdU-9VGcjxnK9kOGydZ-Li-grd7S1c7Lpbm9s2Y7M/s1600/20150306_IMG_999_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDpeHpcWHmcJUPz0fX1cjDDdLIZ559cIu8BARsSJEEeoWdS_y5MNjWTHAm4OOKBDsOfPEiq-PUiBF1Wh_e77Zx01eiURnWq22VnvPdU-9VGcjxnK9kOGydZ-Li-grd7S1c7Lpbm9s2Y7M/s1600/20150306_IMG_999_9.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>El Rocio - back of town</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp-D6xz08BTDY-qy3-GTwLpBl_kUHNS5PrlfQTRm6dHon_Dkik2dS0s6nWSFNwP3ALdoKKKRDkapxfpqeJ21luEowiMgN7MlKhK-LY_-lSRzS0NFFFMjeLS9mGG7otnhCHsONgrOsF11G/s1600/spoonbill1_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp-D6xz08BTDY-qy3-GTwLpBl_kUHNS5PrlfQTRm6dHon_Dkik2dS0s6nWSFNwP3ALdoKKKRDkapxfpqeJ21luEowiMgN7MlKhK-LY_-lSRzS0NFFFMjeLS9mGG7otnhCHsONgrOsF11G/s1600/spoonbill1_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spoonbill, El Rocio, 6th March</strong></td></tr>
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If you've never been and find yourself in this part of the world I'd highly recommend at least a day trip if only to sample the atmosphere. <strong><a href="http://www.andalucia.org/en/el-rocio/" target="_blank">More info here</a></strong>.<br />
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Lots of birders and wildlife enthusiasts from all over Europe here as usual .. Dutch, British, German all with the gear, some go on the tours (not for me), some stick around El Rocio and do the nearby reserves of <strong>Rocina</strong> and <strong>Acebron</strong>, and there's plenty see .... Spoonbills in full breeding plumage<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7rKyPNCCTbapLiMDTOlF1qYnzBZEPiSWWbbO6kaxUg-zOlna9YVAnbYeB1BLGNWE2fkAH37cMeEVGcfd7e6WvtJm-YnC2HLxuY7HGVHhXJQmVU9CRhZ_cLFwL4kGwNyUp4baevFFqaxZ/s1600/spoonbill2_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7rKyPNCCTbapLiMDTOlF1qYnzBZEPiSWWbbO6kaxUg-zOlna9YVAnbYeB1BLGNWE2fkAH37cMeEVGcfd7e6WvtJm-YnC2HLxuY7HGVHhXJQmVU9CRhZ_cLFwL4kGwNyUp4baevFFqaxZ/s1600/spoonbill2_donana-1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spoonbill, El Rocio, 6th March</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Glossy Ibis</strong> looking incredibly glossy ...this one, like many is clearly ringed and the number clearly visible so in theory possible to track it's movements.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCuvD9K48fFt72dhCw-YJQOp_QKtMv8awN7FYW0Qb-uczOFnPkNCaB0ocg6OsybvNunHv3VHZUUbHMb_XT87SGuZbxh-UyxJhxPLRoezxVBiWTRy25tcd_yk2OhiecJ5nkzO1P6POCVWj/s1600/glossy+ibis2_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCuvD9K48fFt72dhCw-YJQOp_QKtMv8awN7FYW0Qb-uczOFnPkNCaB0ocg6OsybvNunHv3VHZUUbHMb_XT87SGuZbxh-UyxJhxPLRoezxVBiWTRy25tcd_yk2OhiecJ5nkzO1P6POCVWj/s1600/glossy+ibis2_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Glossy Ibis, El Rocio, 6th March</strong></td></tr>
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.... and small flocks of beautiful <strong>Azure Winged Magpies</strong> floating around the Stone Pine forests of <strong>La Rocina.</strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Azure Winged Magpie, La Rocina, 7th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Full on Spring here of course and every day it seems I come across a new wild flower or freshly emerging butterfly species ....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CEjMWNyaUfBnlRsl95gCJWiuqiW5gOMogDzgif5YQGLwwA7JpDSNKG2_rTCJw_QvKCd4KX1HCX4DReBNMhjkvdDXIc8zkLEb-BEwm6VhlpaDW9kKjBz1fiNU30_avtpTyL_OK58CjYzl/s1600/wild+lavender_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CEjMWNyaUfBnlRsl95gCJWiuqiW5gOMogDzgif5YQGLwwA7JpDSNKG2_rTCJw_QvKCd4KX1HCX4DReBNMhjkvdDXIc8zkLEb-BEwm6VhlpaDW9kKjBz1fiNU30_avtpTyL_OK58CjYzl/s1600/wild+lavender_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wild Lavender, Acebuche (Donana), 8th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLy40dBWrIm23kCQwmEz5Qp8L0BVL0ohzdE1TRWBtzAyJfGY6vEmApms6wfbFIeOy0A3SjV-kNKQDvEcSRFEKV52EItaM451rkxeiPUXx-1VijhQfW7t8xxORnRxGhj_U_2juJceMGDhL/s1600/water+crowfoot_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLy40dBWrIm23kCQwmEz5Qp8L0BVL0ohzdE1TRWBtzAyJfGY6vEmApms6wfbFIeOy0A3SjV-kNKQDvEcSRFEKV52EItaM451rkxeiPUXx-1VijhQfW7t8xxORnRxGhj_U_2juJceMGDhL/s1600/water+crowfoot_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Water Crowfoot, El Rocio, 6th March, 2015</strong></td></tr>
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This is probably my best <strong>Clouded Yellow</strong> effort .....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLX89qrEqQkh8wUu8XooxGAQdC5lFvYj5BZEkANWsVUAjVcqr5hOG3ApHTnOqTMSQHszNMOgXOb8I-dLoBfwk6LMf70hGRFFlmjh_onnbb_waQigQp2svZAzxrzZYSHlQ-7zNzUleiFly/s1600/clouded+yellow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLX89qrEqQkh8wUu8XooxGAQdC5lFvYj5BZEkANWsVUAjVcqr5hOG3ApHTnOqTMSQHszNMOgXOb8I-dLoBfwk6LMf70hGRFFlmjh_onnbb_waQigQp2svZAzxrzZYSHlQ-7zNzUleiFly/s1600/clouded+yellow.JPG" height="640" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Clouded Yellow, Acebron</strong></td></tr>
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A couple of <strong>Swallowtail Butterflies</strong> around too but never quite got either still enough for long enough!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmMK6v6wZiaKQT7UMlADnj6pyioNPUfbxbmLIymiNhHiP3XX8_rJ5IjAegu5sDMYuFGF6KUZ5sXAc2KMnzzV6EepTa2iVJDIWdb31BwPlf6DzAAogBJwT_8EOhiGHEneU3h4tSyd8g_Xq/s1600/swallowtail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmMK6v6wZiaKQT7UMlADnj6pyioNPUfbxbmLIymiNhHiP3XX8_rJ5IjAegu5sDMYuFGF6KUZ5sXAc2KMnzzV6EepTa2iVJDIWdb31BwPlf6DzAAogBJwT_8EOhiGHEneU3h4tSyd8g_Xq/s1600/swallowtail.JPG" height="400" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Swallowtail Butterfly, Acebron, 8th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre4GYrdR2UNuJy5T2co3JMaMGgs_LvYI5cVL1D9o8gGVI3uiHhv_qVHVr186QTEaaBq2WeC14lc69MGv5h4ARVcvF2Pu0-j159Mn-dCRh7OP_OhxrBgKzKDYGugsksSIAmDPUzNEk3gcn/s1600/butterfly+sp_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre4GYrdR2UNuJy5T2co3JMaMGgs_LvYI5cVL1D9o8gGVI3uiHhv_qVHVr186QTEaaBq2WeC14lc69MGv5h4ARVcvF2Pu0-j159Mn-dCRh7OP_OhxrBgKzKDYGugsksSIAmDPUzNEk3gcn/s1600/butterfly+sp_donana-1.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Green Hairsteak</strong></td></tr>
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... and then another small green winged butterfly, a <strong>Green Hairstreak</strong>. All because I stopped the bike for a passing raptor that looked a bit different. Different alright ... a <strong>Goshawk</strong>, an adult male according to my recently arrived amigo Mark.<br />
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Shame it was so distant, hence the thumbnail pics but it's undeniably a Gos!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcb6ooR9JenJy_Zj6G5B4STcvmBRf4Tp_FaEAJz4ZiEIg52v0Tut77AOba8FNNg3-jfwUKHvFZHNtc6Dc17U_MuHienpnwTklAo6L09w8afKcqR3X6c5Gjh7ur0vllvDuo3QGfiXiRpJE/s1600/goshawk2_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcb6ooR9JenJy_Zj6G5B4STcvmBRf4Tp_FaEAJz4ZiEIg52v0Tut77AOba8FNNg3-jfwUKHvFZHNtc6Dc17U_MuHienpnwTklAo6L09w8afKcqR3X6c5Gjh7ur0vllvDuo3QGfiXiRpJE/s1600/goshawk2_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Goshawk, Acebron, 8th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZLRBxqalhGVgqj3EPO1Of1UtOFNu9hSz56ugG6_DUWPMHEsX97udAz_dw5wAOAzrPqLCU8lCBKMclmNEUbgG2yNK38flgKpiYhBeDd_dQBl4fO-SoLxtJatCm__Xu-1MaocZ5hxqdOiC/s1600/goshawk_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZLRBxqalhGVgqj3EPO1Of1UtOFNu9hSz56ugG6_DUWPMHEsX97udAz_dw5wAOAzrPqLCU8lCBKMclmNEUbgG2yNK38flgKpiYhBeDd_dQBl4fO-SoLxtJatCm__Xu-1MaocZ5hxqdOiC/s1600/goshawk_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Goshawk, Acebron, 8th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Beyond the easily accessible reserves of <strong>Rocina, Acebron</strong> & <strong>Acebuche </strong>and access to the wild and wonderful wilderness that is the real <strong>Donana</strong>, its either a guided tour on one of big wheeled 'unimogs' or a 40k trek along dusty tracks beyond <strong>Villamanrique</strong> and <strong>Isla Mayor</strong> towards the <strong>Jose Antonio Valverde Centre</strong>, and unless you know the right roads its potentially vehicle damaging but once there you get everything you would on one of the guided tours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMQQxPwelrspmFE7SiG-qF2N_TiaOf0ECtg0W_AmhfbxzviUNk3HugrI3Emd-0VSCCcLzifLWVUcFp4VipqO3D3YvRngtdy6-xeYooL01Z6-85sI4Lph05QEE6UQXTsnN331ZmXf4ruuS/s1600/20150309_IMG_999_129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMQQxPwelrspmFE7SiG-qF2N_TiaOf0ECtg0W_AmhfbxzviUNk3HugrI3Emd-0VSCCcLzifLWVUcFp4VipqO3D3YvRngtdy6-xeYooL01Z6-85sI4Lph05QEE6UQXTsnN331ZmXf4ruuS/s1600/20150309_IMG_999_129.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Donana, nr the Jose Antonia Valverde centre</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC8ZZVxB79hP8k1In6MJjRJVs571GKQsbEO3YMchfAeuRBgtuoOWMbtVandPJ_Z8GjXOjPCoUBGiCKiuQE7s09dVz2JQe53d63is9qfDIgbiv8M3vp-gkbA47NYdIfWXgWnGzzdV1UM70/s1600/20150310_IMG_999_198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC8ZZVxB79hP8k1In6MJjRJVs571GKQsbEO3YMchfAeuRBgtuoOWMbtVandPJ_Z8GjXOjPCoUBGiCKiuQE7s09dVz2JQe53d63is9qfDIgbiv8M3vp-gkbA47NYdIfWXgWnGzzdV1UM70/s1600/20150310_IMG_999_198.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Donana, nr the Jose Antonia Valverde centre</strong></td></tr>
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In truth, and this is no excuse for slightly dodgy pics, this wasn't photography heaven. The distances are huge, many birds are distant and heat haze never helps. I was lucky enough to see a <strong>Spanish Imperial Eagle</strong> from <strong>El Rocio</strong>, perched on the top a Eucalyptus tree about 2 kilometres away (it was too much of a 'blob' to even attempt a picture!) <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5el2Q-tfzYnrPxxhUmyxHNphij_qx-WkLYUBbPDGEGAeErDetwUNlJe3TpCY-LlVa3RXXvxvTwQzP6XNqXN3xSj7mgNy9vc_7xPxOjJBcgASEW3PSvhoW3Ho-AOS9LasAq1j935JmOOt/s1600/lesser+kestrel3_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5el2Q-tfzYnrPxxhUmyxHNphij_qx-WkLYUBbPDGEGAeErDetwUNlJe3TpCY-LlVa3RXXvxvTwQzP6XNqXN3xSj7mgNy9vc_7xPxOjJBcgASEW3PSvhoW3Ho-AOS9LasAq1j935JmOOt/s1600/lesser+kestrel3_donana-1.jpg" height="400" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lesser Kestrel, Donana, 9th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Many more birds about away from <strong>El Rocio</strong> though ...<strong> Lesser Kestrels</strong> (including a flock of 22 around an old abandoned farm building), all the waders, all the other raptors, <strong>Black</strong> and <strong>White Storks</strong>, <strong>Night Herons, Bluethroats</strong> and just a sense of being in a really wild place! The <strong>Lesser Kestrels</strong> were just great to see, so different in their behaviour than <strong>Common Kestrels</strong> its a wonder they're so commonly confused! Just a shame there was so much heat haze around ... kinda knocked my focus out of kilter!<br />
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I knew they hang around in flocks but still strange to see 20 or so come out of one building! They're also migratory so these must be recent arrivals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93ymfbn8dTvBtsLTPo1DtI04rWuX9JmnjoxO5-OBOOzi_RVR5U_gt_e0tB2OJEefo9lAgrIT81L0npCb7w8kdT0XAiFCj3brgcTO5MTRhUSxZaT7iPNBvwQ2lPaJm2EhBsTUJiWohhwDb/s1600/lesser+kestrel4_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93ymfbn8dTvBtsLTPo1DtI04rWuX9JmnjoxO5-OBOOzi_RVR5U_gt_e0tB2OJEefo9lAgrIT81L0npCb7w8kdT0XAiFCj3brgcTO5MTRhUSxZaT7iPNBvwQ2lPaJm2EhBsTUJiWohhwDb/s1600/lesser+kestrel4_donana-1.jpg" height="358" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lesser Kestrel, Donana, 9th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDs7cCpYyAAv-sQlYc2ZAmrFZlHHS9pyPF6iTQNbjpcoqn9tic-yoTFOyd1BZQ3tqfl65WhmSQhKSWhLVWtnkmnuiU1hTst62Sq4VzUWCYB7ruKEfQKpA6MC7CPbPTamCTSmjQOcPRJw8/s1600/lesser+kestrel_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDs7cCpYyAAv-sQlYc2ZAmrFZlHHS9pyPF6iTQNbjpcoqn9tic-yoTFOyd1BZQ3tqfl65WhmSQhKSWhLVWtnkmnuiU1hTst62Sq4VzUWCYB7ruKEfQKpA6MC7CPbPTamCTSmjQOcPRJw8/s1600/lesser+kestrel_donana-1.jpg" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lesser Kestrel, Donana, 9th March 2015</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzkY39GBkcvRA2K6ux4edelweBR8J6SWHVef83LNnSDiI8R0JlNuIBzNTNAiBRqGG8R2DxvTIzK8MvXR7nxL-txv_Wosvx4H-yshNi5el40W6_u4F0dmC_nhYa5RLvcH1D-w78BA1tWR4/s1600/20150309_IMG_999_136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzkY39GBkcvRA2K6ux4edelweBR8J6SWHVef83LNnSDiI8R0JlNuIBzNTNAiBRqGG8R2DxvTIzK8MvXR7nxL-txv_Wosvx4H-yshNi5el40W6_u4F0dmC_nhYa5RLvcH1D-w78BA1tWR4/s1600/20150309_IMG_999_136.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spanish Horsemen, Donana</strong></td></tr>
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Not sure if these guys were local police or reserve wardens but they came splashing through the water and then ambled right past me casting me imperious looks from on top of there lofty beasts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmLV4nLPhRDjAOAxfvcEmYYG-Ka_gyATdkqfr71Bvln3_dwOtH8lMncTdYBi1OjGrwu21PiR3zYDePNomm2FU3G6w6owKcsBajIfmvAxzL6MchLGz7FocXGi0evfUhFz-Hih0rlpXUU1J/s1600/black+stork2_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmLV4nLPhRDjAOAxfvcEmYYG-Ka_gyATdkqfr71Bvln3_dwOtH8lMncTdYBi1OjGrwu21PiR3zYDePNomm2FU3G6w6owKcsBajIfmvAxzL6MchLGz7FocXGi0evfUhFz-Hih0rlpXUU1J/s1600/black+stork2_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJJoD6cJm9YTffDjOb6NvYRwHHjgOqzY0VO4kbDcNmp0Hz7RFNywWsKD2GHFjF31-ZdJ1wZJ_85hVer5cIgPbkRMf-3L5DLI9-F1AevBOgdaA1LNUBVoWOeExN0MQJQaZ3ikXbwtJKBue/s1600/black+stork1_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJJoD6cJm9YTffDjOb6NvYRwHHjgOqzY0VO4kbDcNmp0Hz7RFNywWsKD2GHFjF31-ZdJ1wZJ_85hVer5cIgPbkRMf-3L5DLI9-F1AevBOgdaA1LNUBVoWOeExN0MQJQaZ3ikXbwtJKBue/s1600/black+stork1_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Stork, Donana, 9th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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In amongst 25ish White Storks there was just one<strong> Black Stork</strong> ... they winter here and this one is most probably on its way back. <br />
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Here's a few more pics from around the <strong>Jose Antonio Valverde Centre </strong>and if you ever visit <strong>Donana</strong> this is definitely the place to head for if you want a taste of the real thing; like I said its 'out in the sticks' and tricky to access unless you know the right tracks but so worth it. Here's a few more pics from the area....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlHFijmwsF7_5Zuf3u8ZW2irKpxeW9bRMoBgPFccPpENe3deNbBpgvThLvJPw_VgEDwg9cksZimNQLUw2nHBW0B7mqVbIXTN6gWpy0diM43KrweBVMjE9jNOrsQmU2iU4z2DJ_yHGUGxp/s1600/bluethroat_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlHFijmwsF7_5Zuf3u8ZW2irKpxeW9bRMoBgPFccPpENe3deNbBpgvThLvJPw_VgEDwg9cksZimNQLUw2nHBW0B7mqVbIXTN6gWpy0diM43KrweBVMjE9jNOrsQmU2iU4z2DJ_yHGUGxp/s1600/bluethroat_donana-1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Singing Bluethroat, Donana, 9th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWY9Ntj2fUXSaN1ySnHmw46hbPOQPdm-Le6MPuB1jUPrdQhEgSvTqIaZ9gx4eUnTMAn-RuNzGnu5HHFp5qiuosLq_JLhgSFjEy7RcFqaFWuwdlHVQWjht7Wry_zEyBw-WP_YL_VSlVkbt/s1600/cattle+egret_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWY9Ntj2fUXSaN1ySnHmw46hbPOQPdm-Le6MPuB1jUPrdQhEgSvTqIaZ9gx4eUnTMAn-RuNzGnu5HHFp5qiuosLq_JLhgSFjEy7RcFqaFWuwdlHVQWjht7Wry_zEyBw-WP_YL_VSlVkbt/s1600/cattle+egret_donana-1.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cattle Egret, Donana</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKK_vF3JtVsm91a29CKHuUA7lA9wJcMl0KdhwHy3oOedEvhD47pY69ZiXP6aEA0XRYXIKNxYcktjKf-L0jZ-1vHhhP_y2gyAdYTfVtAumwNjN7egp0Sqw6O7pvYiSLVBavM_UjvQhDBsM/s1600/night+herons_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKK_vF3JtVsm91a29CKHuUA7lA9wJcMl0KdhwHy3oOedEvhD47pY69ZiXP6aEA0XRYXIKNxYcktjKf-L0jZ-1vHhhP_y2gyAdYTfVtAumwNjN7egp0Sqw6O7pvYiSLVBavM_UjvQhDBsM/s1600/night+herons_donana-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Night Herons behind the Bombeo pumping station, Donana</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqvuN7YOCMXgKJl5jJ-drqNyyiCz0pxrAyKJTzclYXCCWVH0o9Cg9JVaiXgi4DZMjL2O-_O2sD5YkAFhW53UB3MscNyQkXKxfaNx6qb2U6zGmDdjRzv0OtodnCjNATnBZNg8k0zo6L2Pg/s1600/spanish+sparrows_donana-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqvuN7YOCMXgKJl5jJ-drqNyyiCz0pxrAyKJTzclYXCCWVH0o9Cg9JVaiXgi4DZMjL2O-_O2sD5YkAFhW53UB3MscNyQkXKxfaNx6qb2U6zGmDdjRzv0OtodnCjNATnBZNg8k0zo6L2Pg/s1600/spanish+sparrows_donana-1.jpg" height="274" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spanish Sparrows, Donana</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Update March 19th</strong><br />
I've now been joined by my mate Mark and we're currently across in <strong>Portugal</strong> checking out <strong>Tavira</strong> and the <strong>Castro Marim</strong> areas before heading back into Spain to do <strong>San Lucar, Bonanza</strong> and then up into <strong>Extramudura</strong>. New birds for the trip recently added have been <strong>Common Scoter, Bar Tailed Godwit</strong> and a smashing male <strong>Montagues Harrier</strong> over the motorway as I was driving to Faro.<br />
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-24869264482359119422015-03-05T13:34:00.004-08:002015-03-07T11:11:17.358-08:00100s of Eagles & Kites crossing the Straits of Gibraltar,scorching hot around Barbate, a rare Vulture and Spanish Festoons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbNrSZ6rABJp9y8UZNwKIWbLjJQdPV_XgMPZif-gB-GfUx-HVwBYBP673j097K2jzr6GTnhT9qSu-UBPshL6fYFmivIaaL286CHBoeZyK-plewR4MmgCoUdg63FUA-HpTPgVforEBIK2r/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbNrSZ6rABJp9y8UZNwKIWbLjJQdPV_XgMPZif-gB-GfUx-HVwBYBP673j097K2jzr6GTnhT9qSu-UBPshL6fYFmivIaaL286CHBoeZyK-plewR4MmgCoUdg63FUA-HpTPgVforEBIK2r/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="262" width="400" /></a>Its been a long journey and sometimes I wonder just why I'm putting myself out here. Hardships? Not many, I have everything I need to keep body and soul together. Its been a bit lonely and I'm travel weary but that goes with the territory when you're traversing foreign lands looking for wildlife. I think ... I probably think too much! In a matter of weeks I'll be back in the fray, doing a job I love, seeing my family again and making music again with my various musical amigos and, for the last 2 weeks of my trip my best mate Mark is popping over for a share of the migration spoils, so plenty to look forward to.<br />
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Meanwhile I'm at the southernmost tip of Europe and witnessing the annual migration of returning birds from Africa and I'm perfectly positioned!<br />
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....and when the winds are right and you're in the right place at the right time it all becomes obvious why I put myself out there....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4-T9KTnPfpBTEG45kNH3hykiJR_UvcblAVGMmiA6oTC8Oksxv9FSCO_GLysH-T1IfgYhyphenhyphenirBGc7BJFu_0KI_m2NEoe95Xw64mYoeeMR3itsjlptGHXaa6ZOxNca98GIVqe7zjAQdPxC6/s1600/ST+Eagle2_carnero_02mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4-T9KTnPfpBTEG45kNH3hykiJR_UvcblAVGMmiA6oTC8Oksxv9FSCO_GLysH-T1IfgYhyphenhyphenirBGc7BJFu_0KI_m2NEoe95Xw64mYoeeMR3itsjlptGHXaa6ZOxNca98GIVqe7zjAQdPxC6/s1600/ST+Eagle2_carnero_02mar2015-1.jpg" height="425" title="short toed eagle, migration, straits Gibralter, passage, spring" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Short Toed Eagle, over the straits of Gibralter, 2nd March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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These are just 2 of about 150 <strong>Short Toed Eagles</strong> that decided to sail over the <strong>Straits of Gibralter</strong> whilst I was having a 'café con leche' on the sea front at <strong>Getares.</strong> Bloody good job I had my camera to hand!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Short Toed Eagle, over the straits of Gibralter, 2nd March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Proper eagles are <strong>Short Toed</strong> .. don't they just look the part in every way? In their wake came scores of <strong>Black Kites</strong>, the odd <strong>Booted Eagle</strong> and several<strong> Common Buzzards</strong>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM5TN2g0ieKnkDisCayjrcArt2EYfShaNSxM-HcZLgJ1wSHDy99fqHoSpGH_gS5Nd4BjRZoDMdxLQhzEbwVWdxGOI-_KP1p8Ds5rC1HcglmlrcP-RxMKTe2fuSciWyZCHjoiI1OHDl_7-/s1600/black+kite2_carnero_02mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM5TN2g0ieKnkDisCayjrcArt2EYfShaNSxM-HcZLgJ1wSHDy99fqHoSpGH_gS5Nd4BjRZoDMdxLQhzEbwVWdxGOI-_KP1p8Ds5rC1HcglmlrcP-RxMKTe2fuSciWyZCHjoiI1OHDl_7-/s1600/black+kite2_carnero_02mar2015-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Kite over the sea at Carnero, Nr Gibralter</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM95Ejz_FPJ8WAmgvj-dn9INchQx8FE3Oqp15SWcw5Syet33OgyI2ndUnfwMLi2x8NHewFgbz12G1jTwx5Htwi4vVMpBkSGkpYQyYJJWyvUUz5xt59VIFG1vrDxByAvlJpUKD-maJ4cChi/s1600/black+kites_tarifa_02mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM95Ejz_FPJ8WAmgvj-dn9INchQx8FE3Oqp15SWcw5Syet33OgyI2ndUnfwMLi2x8NHewFgbz12G1jTwx5Htwi4vVMpBkSGkpYQyYJJWyvUUz5xt59VIFG1vrDxByAvlJpUKD-maJ4cChi/s1600/black+kites_tarifa_02mar2015-1.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Kites in formation!</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gibralter from Punta Carnero, 2/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Egyptian Vulture, Tarifa, 2nd March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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All it took was a slight shift in the wind to WSW and they were over. Earlier in the day, before the temperature rose and mist was still hanging over the mountains, I was up one of the high valleys behind Tarifa. There had been a modest passage of <strong>Barn Swallows, Chaffinches</strong> and <strong>Griffon Vultures</strong> then a medium sized raptor I first took to be a Booted Eagle floated by - it was some distance off and the light was poor, but I took some record shots anyway. Good job - turned out to be an <strong>Egyptian Vulture</strong>! A scarce bird anywhere in Spain these days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEzvVdf4xpukNgHOW4O_RQiduq6O4i1MqkqXPT-J4faePUk17SyoNCxKpEisQotqRXHay0PT4VOW3wfAbA092vINyLCGz4yEs3LpLOZpTU4KlPCqxTeMHAg23WytdEFaB30KBHErm-9EP/s1600/egyptian+vulture2_tarifa_02mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEzvVdf4xpukNgHOW4O_RQiduq6O4i1MqkqXPT-J4faePUk17SyoNCxKpEisQotqRXHay0PT4VOW3wfAbA092vINyLCGz4yEs3LpLOZpTU4KlPCqxTeMHAg23WytdEFaB30KBHErm-9EP/s1600/egyptian+vulture2_tarifa_02mar2015-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Egyptian Vulture, Tarifa, 2nd March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Alpine Swift, Tarifa, 2nd March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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In the same few moments I also had a <strong>Black Stork</strong> and 70 other distant storks that were probably White and then out of the mist an <strong>Alpine Swift</strong> decided to speed by. It was nearly past me by the time I got my camera on it but reckoned any shot would be worthwhile.<br />
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Awesome bird to have coming straight at you out of the mist of a mountain I can tell you! Twice as big as our <strong>Common Swifts</strong> with a wing span of nearly 60cm no wonder I thought it was a Peregrine coming at me at first!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Stork, Tarifa, 2nd March 2015</strong><br />
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An estimated half a billion birds migrate across this narrow stretch of water from Africa every Spring and to see just a fraction of those, whether that's a sky full of Eagles and Kites, estuaries full of waders or solitary wanderers, is totally fascinating to me and for many birders and wildlife watchers alike 'migration time' is why we get up at the crack of dawn, brave the elements and go up and down tracks and paths most sensible people would frown at!<br />
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March 2nd, that was some day, the best so far for migration. I also had <strong>3 Booted Eagles, 6 Common Buzzard</strong>, a single <strong>Pallid Swift</strong> and several hundred <strong>Barn Swallows</strong> all drifting North.<br />
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A couple of days later in windless and 25c heat I had 11 more <strong>Pallid Swifts</strong> north very high up and an equally high and passing male <strong>Marsh Harrier</strong>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ofh7bBXMUXkdMXJ_OF0VqQNxwzFTJGU9KE8qxt5UpSBYwDqHK8Z5A3QI_4Tg7f17GpHFC09Q7zgZuX_Wqu6fUTB1rsxu-_y9GEh7zCcSxJkh6B_fTudOFr7LD0cATHegiZItysHBGEFN/s1600/hen+harrier_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ofh7bBXMUXkdMXJ_OF0VqQNxwzFTJGU9KE8qxt5UpSBYwDqHK8Z5A3QI_4Tg7f17GpHFC09Q7zgZuX_Wqu6fUTB1rsxu-_y9GEh7zCcSxJkh6B_fTudOFr7LD0cATHegiZItysHBGEFN/s1600/hen+harrier_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>High flying migrating Marsh Harrier, nr Manzanete, 4/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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There was a nice male <strong>Northern Wheatear</strong> at <strong>Barbate</strong> along with 10 or so<strong> Caspian Terns</strong> and the usual common waders, whilst at a very dry <strong>Le Janda</strong> I had the biggest flock of <strong>Calandra Larks</strong> I've ever seen (about 70 in one field) and another new migrant a single <strong>Purple Heron</strong> in amongst the Greys.<br />
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<strong>Chiffchaffs </strong>and<strong> Blackcaps</strong> have been singing purposefully now for the past week or so and there are new butterflies and flowers emerging each and every day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii27hX6MJOjyR9BPECVuskrXQ0eZOAS9QBn7lRsQFIrcf2HrSNomrIwt2G8YK_dHAGC-VPXpTF8ONl_5BbZuC_BiRdsQA6v3U3VQuZ7jHNmx024Y02xUKtVYjMprps-CWJMeWjTq1qodW_/s1600/northern+wheatear_4mar2015_barbate-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii27hX6MJOjyR9BPECVuskrXQ0eZOAS9QBn7lRsQFIrcf2HrSNomrIwt2G8YK_dHAGC-VPXpTF8ONl_5BbZuC_BiRdsQA6v3U3VQuZ7jHNmx024Y02xUKtVYjMprps-CWJMeWjTq1qodW_/s1600/northern+wheatear_4mar2015_barbate-1.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Northern Wheatear, Barbate, 4th March 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp853HE98nHzT50UhWnBg7gDQiYFlcaHwnfMSVEWIvBNSPmcT_sEPHMhyphenhyphenIh9TT_7ocC8mnMZBoneyz__oubhia8chyphenhyphenrbwXA0_7hBfjmrIOE7saTP8hxAl7Q-rgDnHjntWI8JgXcn7c5yV/s1600/purple+heron_le+janda_3mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp853HE98nHzT50UhWnBg7gDQiYFlcaHwnfMSVEWIvBNSPmcT_sEPHMhyphenhyphenIh9TT_7ocC8mnMZBoneyz__oubhia8chyphenhyphenrbwXA0_7hBfjmrIOE7saTP8hxAl7Q-rgDnHjntWI8JgXcn7c5yV/s1600/purple+heron_le+janda_3mar2015-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Purple Heron, Le Janda, 4th March 2015</strong><br />
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This <strong>little Owl</strong> brought some amusement, to us both by the looks of things, on a very hot day around Barbate....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgVzs81FLo18HhRLm4fGnZ612nWhhYObBfO1LwmC5jPSwh_37O07pfs7F4UWsx8O3sWF-izfis4-dvc8XvqBEOSIVb3xif1WNjNyHQ1YaGJQnKupizmwpbVbX7enIhBHSINNUVnwO5lMz/s1600/little+owl2_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgVzs81FLo18HhRLm4fGnZ612nWhhYObBfO1LwmC5jPSwh_37O07pfs7F4UWsx8O3sWF-izfis4-dvc8XvqBEOSIVb3xif1WNjNyHQ1YaGJQnKupizmwpbVbX7enIhBHSINNUVnwO5lMz/s1600/little+owl2_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" height="400" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Little Owl, nr Barbate</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J36u55JnStvbyVAY1uhNxoAvycaEwyAxK325bE5LAM-I4ACnaZzfGug9uVLMfnj8sEsCAvKDsgPPNA6CGE00cX3HlzuiIo9wIuF_vA3XTh-r4xBZ-ujFsj6BjtW6lcOAiao4KMQCqaD4/s1600/little+owl_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J36u55JnStvbyVAY1uhNxoAvycaEwyAxK325bE5LAM-I4ACnaZzfGug9uVLMfnj8sEsCAvKDsgPPNA6CGE00cX3HlzuiIo9wIuF_vA3XTh-r4xBZ-ujFsj6BjtW6lcOAiao4KMQCqaD4/s1600/little+owl_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Little Owl, nr Barbate</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcjZ-3rb-2ots7z7L9XEDP8TY3tz4h2UMZ_ScudZSxxJJHwLK-x6fJbUfsf4jxCTg8iBfmOyx99kF7D1RRsD8-B7urtwPXCthO8AGMqF0LP8R3weqn7Z7Qhow89bW-w4RFLzXwZ_x1z8u/s1600/butterfly+sp2_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcjZ-3rb-2ots7z7L9XEDP8TY3tz4h2UMZ_ScudZSxxJJHwLK-x6fJbUfsf4jxCTg8iBfmOyx99kF7D1RRsD8-B7urtwPXCthO8AGMqF0LP8R3weqn7Z7Qhow89bW-w4RFLzXwZ_x1z8u/s1600/butterfly+sp2_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wall Brown, Barbate, 4/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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I'm beginning to notice <strong>Chiffchaffs</strong> and <strong>Blackcaps</strong> singing now and there are new butterflies and flowers emerging each and every day.<br />
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The <strong>Spanish Festoons</strong> were gorgeous little things I'd never seen before, hardly surprising I suppose - the last time I was in Spain in the spring I wasn't that bothered about butterflies or flowers come to that.<br />
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There was a <strong>Swallowtail</strong> butterfly in the same vicinity too but it eluded my lens!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu63sM4fad1uVXQb9kDLRtPYVkme6SG0ymdrGgbQPtsT82EXsbaNOk3UvES87qGlRGOO8qhrb_gnDzqe7GZPDitfQ7E1qB7_tkpxvpD0Qv-okLNgHwhdMP17ZQ6W-1RVyB8cYAVGYs4HF/s1600/butterfly+sp_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu63sM4fad1uVXQb9kDLRtPYVkme6SG0ymdrGgbQPtsT82EXsbaNOk3UvES87qGlRGOO8qhrb_gnDzqe7GZPDitfQ7E1qB7_tkpxvpD0Qv-okLNgHwhdMP17ZQ6W-1RVyB8cYAVGYs4HF/s1600/butterfly+sp_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spanish Festoon, Barbate, 04/03/15</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-VYQL98Je3WT-O9r1GsCZSNL2c-XkrgPV7iWfI5ibnqezurD2PWbpuhT-C5WTF2LiUsqBe_1XP-i2WQC5oUwF9qImleei7k87S-ViSGVOTJHwCVlvCf2I_sb0p7ZdntTtijhRNqP2aqO/s1600/shrub+sp_manzanete_4mar2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-VYQL98Je3WT-O9r1GsCZSNL2c-XkrgPV7iWfI5ibnqezurD2PWbpuhT-C5WTF2LiUsqBe_1XP-i2WQC5oUwF9qImleei7k87S-ViSGVOTJHwCVlvCf2I_sb0p7ZdntTtijhRNqP2aqO/s1600/shrub+sp_manzanete_4mar2015-1.jpg" height="400" title="" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>unidentified shrub sp, nr Barbate</strong></td></tr>
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I don't know what this shrub is but its beautiful and seems to drape itself around the many stands of <strong>Prickly Pear</strong> cacti that in turn attracts many wasps and flies and the odd Grasshopper! I'm no expert on these things but thinking just a common <strong>Field Grasshopper</strong>?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUbYX8TqXRzSAJpoWReUYKRzYkcxY-MjIXWtMn6bmWHMYOTdD-C_w9fp9Fue7WUwj7H23i5GGh0UFn0_oxRs7uOUNPm5ownLozMg-IaUFOgRQJqeMiukSf2L87xWGwIUGoN7jr_JSceni/s1600/cricket_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUbYX8TqXRzSAJpoWReUYKRzYkcxY-MjIXWtMn6bmWHMYOTdD-C_w9fp9Fue7WUwj7H23i5GGh0UFn0_oxRs7uOUNPm5ownLozMg-IaUFOgRQJqeMiukSf2L87xWGwIUGoN7jr_JSceni/s1600/cricket_4mar2015_manzanete-1.jpg" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Grasshopper species, Barbate</strong></td></tr>
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On the evening of the 4th March some more very strong winds sprung up, blowing this time from the East and forecast that way for the next 4 days with gusts of up to 70mph! Time for me to head off to a calmer area of Spain ... I'm off to <strong>Donana</strong>!<br />
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-8595374646481299572015-02-28T15:32:00.000-08:002015-02-28T15:34:47.007-08:00The big salty lake at Fuente de Piedre - Cranes, Sandpipers & Flamingoes then some Raptor migration in the raw at Tarifa<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibL7Imum8H26BjEGKeudfgwrWmhlrJJ_Uk-RLppcP9gGUbcOZSp4U47GvZMf5tboGH0lNiegEpwjrLgOe59Zz89nCPziu9mA32b4U1z-G-3QT2eiFM3fY8MDrXYp-zLE_vSl883YQYGYnZ/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibL7Imum8H26BjEGKeudfgwrWmhlrJJ_Uk-RLppcP9gGUbcOZSp4U47GvZMf5tboGH0lNiegEpwjrLgOe59Zz89nCPziu9mA32b4U1z-G-3QT2eiFM3fY8MDrXYp-zLE_vSl883YQYGYnZ/s1600/Capture.PNG" /></a>Without taking a ferry across to <strong>Morocco </strong>(been seriously toying with the idea), I've gone as far south as I planned to do and now kicking my heels in the Kite surfing capital of Europe .. <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarifa" target="_blank">Tarifa</a>.</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaj-KQGFiV4Ihx0L6WTusC6NKCh0BH5GfRaPak2oWDGSkP7qBiUyvRA83KPjh77sc58692-miUAfvrRbArvwS6CMT51J5OB2dBfFcylD6XBWjdvRwZN-tP7qb8_IWl8GgsI1Fv-ZqAvUL/s1600/kites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaj-KQGFiV4Ihx0L6WTusC6NKCh0BH5GfRaPak2oWDGSkP7qBiUyvRA83KPjh77sc58692-miUAfvrRbArvwS6CMT51J5OB2dBfFcylD6XBWjdvRwZN-tP7qb8_IWl8GgsI1Fv-ZqAvUL/s1600/kites.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Kites at Tarifa, feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2-oYJZ1xG4Rh-1OP2fg2WhrD7H8kBlaGhOTVCjYll4qU1y5swJXlo1mMs37oOil-9BDrLH8c9SvW9WpmuxZ7EOWogD1GbmjD4NMp1qoDj-YxfMc1J0AEFb2lwiQLETBy2Fh-mbCZ2xLh/s1600/20150224-IMG_1663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2-oYJZ1xG4Rh-1OP2fg2WhrD7H8kBlaGhOTVCjYll4qU1y5swJXlo1mMs37oOil-9BDrLH8c9SvW9WpmuxZ7EOWogD1GbmjD4NMp1qoDj-YxfMc1J0AEFb2lwiQLETBy2Fh-mbCZ2xLh/s1600/20150224-IMG_1663.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barn Swallow, Fuente de Piedre, 23rd Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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En route I stopped off at <a href="http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/article-library/birding-sites/274-las-lagunas-de-fuente-de-piedra.html" target="_blank">Fuente de Piedre </a>after a long drive from Almeria and was immediately into <strong>House Martins, Barn Swallows</strong> and the odd <strong>Red Rumped Swallow</strong> buzzing around my head. I've tried and failed so many times to get decent pics of <strong>Swallows</strong> and other <em>hirundines </em>but in the perfect late afternoon sunshine that greeted me here I was partly redeemed ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6d6AANlskiF5CxtBIXm-gQJIdwDb7FXpwsO4hblxeYvWoMbLmHzdpRIoiXDD7XzLAOet4J_pbZfpHZv9k-SJlrUO3ZHbUTaYToq6HTKSt99dn9TB74jFPzRnL_dJn_HQa2mCD9JcDg1N/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6d6AANlskiF5CxtBIXm-gQJIdwDb7FXpwsO4hblxeYvWoMbLmHzdpRIoiXDD7XzLAOet4J_pbZfpHZv9k-SJlrUO3ZHbUTaYToq6HTKSt99dn9TB74jFPzRnL_dJn_HQa2mCD9JcDg1N/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_146.jpg" height="400" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>House Martin, Fuente de Piedre, 23 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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After spending 30 minutes trying to get what I thought would be my best ever <strong>Wood Sandpiper</strong> pic, it turned out to be a pale <strong>Green Sandpiper</strong>, never mind, the pic wasn't that good anyway but the many <strong>Black Tailed Godwits</strong> were very photogenic in the last rays of the setting sun ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF4nFHWyWewI25CpgebKGUypoCnATwUIHUMOpAXg4ntN0b9s4WQQx1CKAq2aPPLvve4iolbickGN1vTMpIh9pyetwgLei00Ki9R3FsSlmV1k2EW2M5Vz5qnrISd0c0UtPiJ-CZRv8LITZ/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF4nFHWyWewI25CpgebKGUypoCnATwUIHUMOpAXg4ntN0b9s4WQQx1CKAq2aPPLvve4iolbickGN1vTMpIh9pyetwgLei00Ki9R3FsSlmV1k2EW2M5Vz5qnrISd0c0UtPiJ-CZRv8LITZ/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_13.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Tailed Godwit, Fuente de Piedre, 23 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKwZ8vDZOOaVA0hivRVdEp-zJJGk9GEWhu7TXQrEJbBkP7wYpRnGpQM3m-c6EwHsqx-UBJwLlF4KOs-kW6YYW2GvtMBV4gERIA3UG9strejh6-wYOokjCwxRqQB8upaSuKPVinCWsyV0E/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKwZ8vDZOOaVA0hivRVdEp-zJJGk9GEWhu7TXQrEJbBkP7wYpRnGpQM3m-c6EwHsqx-UBJwLlF4KOs-kW6YYW2GvtMBV4gERIA3UG9strejh6-wYOokjCwxRqQB8upaSuKPVinCWsyV0E/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_24.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Tailed Godwit, Fuente de Piedre, 23 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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After so much windy weather it was a joy to have at least one day of calm and although it didn't last long it was good to rest up and explore in relatively kind conditions. I stuck around for a couple of days here and traversed the whole reserve. Birds of note included a female <strong>Hen Harrier</strong>, 4 <strong>Golden Plover</strong>, 6 <strong>Little Ringed Plover</strong>, 2 <strong>Water Pipits</strong>, 4 <strong>Ruff </strong>and a flock of 20 or so <strong>Spanish Sparrows</strong>. This large inland mainly saline laguna (over 1500 Hectares) is world famous for it's resident <strong>Greater Flamingoes</strong> (up to 50,000 some years .. during my visit a mere 3000 or so!) and wintering<strong> Common Cranes</strong> (I counted a max of 360). <br />
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Access to the very best bits is limited and regularly patrolled by the <strong><a href="http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/partners/spain-seobirdlife" target="_blank">SEO</a></strong> (bird life Spain) but there are several viewing areas and the whole lake is easily circumnavigated by minor roads. The visitor centre just outside of the village of the same name is an obvious place to start any visit but if you're a birder its best to avoid weekends when the Spanish and their offspring go a walking!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Cranes over Fuente de Piedre, 23rd Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Cranes in the fields surrounding Fuente de Piedre, 23rd Feb, 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fuente de Piedre, (West side)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAeZqFJrkILafXeWWnq7q6YiXwSupEsF5-xSVyIYvKNy6n8g1Ns4WZlxBdjJI6mVnOsxiiIqn7i3Xl3wFe8mlvFG6aBPZtraSj8su-QLxfiIEGjdN7vCi0lMhWYUxBDwDQeRH8TX4WySd/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAeZqFJrkILafXeWWnq7q6YiXwSupEsF5-xSVyIYvKNy6n8g1Ns4WZlxBdjJI6mVnOsxiiIqn7i3Xl3wFe8mlvFG6aBPZtraSj8su-QLxfiIEGjdN7vCi0lMhWYUxBDwDQeRH8TX4WySd/s1600/20150223-20150223_IMG_999_110.jpg" height="320" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spanish Sparrows, Fuente de Piedre, 24 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKlyqtw2LmqQs94Bul48vjH8PnRhXrOQtwKKhfgMgk7mrw_F2z8HMmSysS7_LHXeKJPGaiGOih79vK0Qg1ky6NFQWPtmGSKqtJEkW_cUt5ZflS5a7kmJmxMWU-cGJfyF3ZinYgFUS4bBM/s1600/20150223-golden+plover_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKlyqtw2LmqQs94Bul48vjH8PnRhXrOQtwKKhfgMgk7mrw_F2z8HMmSysS7_LHXeKJPGaiGOih79vK0Qg1ky6NFQWPtmGSKqtJEkW_cUt5ZflS5a7kmJmxMWU-cGJfyF3ZinYgFUS4bBM/s1600/20150223-golden+plover_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Golden Plover gaining its Summer pl, Fuente de Piedre, 24 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VnAoGYEp7GCja6Dz-Mo7_zyOIZ-mvuvg-9308am7IuyQnIK06fUAP2eUfpgBtxUENIgOajy1lt8DDeqyltO4jNJvc545gDWXXnKTvrt51r9MSWGWeN_oQ-6M1TOQU-JblNQtXGL_ThO7/s1600/20150223_IMG_999_10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VnAoGYEp7GCja6Dz-Mo7_zyOIZ-mvuvg-9308am7IuyQnIK06fUAP2eUfpgBtxUENIgOajy1lt8DDeqyltO4jNJvc545gDWXXnKTvrt51r9MSWGWeN_oQ-6M1TOQU-JblNQtXGL_ThO7/s1600/20150223_IMG_999_10.JPG" height="400" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Water Pipit, Fuente de Piedre</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIJ77AcIARk_Vo5LOsmqYx9Ng4mK52FvqCoqFcoYFVOZIUlzdzvEoGHSaW7DdBzgb7fW0h_XJfGJdnywAJY-Z2HBLfPfoa1J92mjD-Vw-KTO24b8Tz5tXiyPxufP20uuHkE5I3hRPM9Oi/s1600/20150224-20150224-IMG_1635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIJ77AcIARk_Vo5LOsmqYx9Ng4mK52FvqCoqFcoYFVOZIUlzdzvEoGHSaW7DdBzgb7fW0h_XJfGJdnywAJY-Z2HBLfPfoa1J92mjD-Vw-KTO24b8Tz5tXiyPxufP20uuHkE5I3hRPM9Oi/s1600/20150224-20150224-IMG_1635.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Sandpiper, Fuente de Piedre, 23 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMjCi4meJcRMaJDhMvjzp4_a6kS3cQKoiCizb6xhmLFWVFjLXM3vCWpLDrggWa0CZxB4eEniXz-vEf74SLXaTf4Z8qpI5gZmkfSCBjCnhICw7EHlwyS0abaUmWjPLUfWbEVgqiUXP-jfx/s1600/20150224-fuente+de+piedre1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMjCi4meJcRMaJDhMvjzp4_a6kS3cQKoiCizb6xhmLFWVFjLXM3vCWpLDrggWa0CZxB4eEniXz-vEf74SLXaTf4Z8qpI5gZmkfSCBjCnhICw7EHlwyS0abaUmWjPLUfWbEVgqiUXP-jfx/s1600/20150224-fuente+de+piedre1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fuente de Piedre (from the West)</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mexyFSoWf-p_orL-nWNyDJL8RdXsgSD25B0RBZUnrLO4tl11snhIAGZPmp34-7EwlwiHLq2kzIdCvB7p4y6pmwDq3-x4yclQ8m-pdmxYcQYeOifxBYJ0H2pWRI5tXjQYqIoXr91oMcEa/s1600/20150223-corn+bunting2_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mexyFSoWf-p_orL-nWNyDJL8RdXsgSD25B0RBZUnrLO4tl11snhIAGZPmp34-7EwlwiHLq2kzIdCvB7p4y6pmwDq3-x4yclQ8m-pdmxYcQYeOifxBYJ0H2pWRI5tXjQYqIoXr91oMcEa/s1600/20150223-corn+bunting2_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Singing Corn Bunting, Fuente de Piedre, 24 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Lots of common Spanish birds around and about the fields ... <strong>Stonechats</strong> by the dozen, <strong>Chiffchaffs, Crested & Short Toed Lark</strong> (impossible to photograph!) and lets here it for the humble <strong>Corn Bunting</strong> ....the day I come to <strong>Andalusia</strong> and fail to see one of these 'dumpsters' will be a sad one indeed. Their jangly song (likened to a rattling of keys) is already a rare sound in my own corner of the UK due to habitat loss and I wonder how long they'll be as common here. It'll win no beauty contest in the avian world but I love 'em even more for that so here's 3 for the <strong>Corn Bunting</strong> gallery including one singing ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBBfc2J37hP9bjw-c_bTKJXF7I8VxD5NirCHqS9rwBtRGagQOJ_-JdHQHUMduCvzLklGlDzaEw-yhvujZcFVJbHw12n3VQ4Mi3lCRkP-IJ-NzP_eT7Ltavafam_OO0GvxIME-Hrx7WceP/s1600/20150223-corn+bunting3_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBBfc2J37hP9bjw-c_bTKJXF7I8VxD5NirCHqS9rwBtRGagQOJ_-JdHQHUMduCvzLklGlDzaEw-yhvujZcFVJbHw12n3VQ4Mi3lCRkP-IJ-NzP_eT7Ltavafam_OO0GvxIME-Hrx7WceP/s1600/20150223-corn+bunting3_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" height="400" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Corn Bunting, Fuente de Piedre, 24 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGXBIgtiKFVJC0Gr6xiiSFlHZt5o36_s91WnFufObexXphMuw8rAlmQd1XtYvGPcp27dcm1Xa2d0Bz8jOuyX6Q5-1-PFP3ah-r9IiTahWJkutyxh8zP4w2eNz2xwVzPoidUY6RuGBXRrp/s1600/20150223-corn+bunting_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGXBIgtiKFVJC0Gr6xiiSFlHZt5o36_s91WnFufObexXphMuw8rAlmQd1XtYvGPcp27dcm1Xa2d0Bz8jOuyX6Q5-1-PFP3ah-r9IiTahWJkutyxh8zP4w2eNz2xwVzPoidUY6RuGBXRrp/s1600/20150223-corn+bunting_fuente+de+piedre_23feb2015.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Corn Bunting, Fuente de Piedre, 24 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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An overnight stop and a brief morning explore around <strong>Alora</strong> and the<strong> El Chorro</strong> gorge produced more <strong>Swallows</strong>, <strong>Little Ringed Plovers</strong> and another <strong>Teminck's Stint</strong> on the <strong>Rio Guadalhorce </strong>and a rather tasty<strong> Black Crowned Night Heron</strong> perched on a telegraph wire at dusk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicChxok67gxSpi6Smq50ewW49WJprUYxgQPlElFl9cENW42EnI8hOL08JF4DTHXknA1O0c-zZYJmTFg7TdzIs8MQQNIVMEgQZORPPKuTWeCQxvUzyhkhtqHO9F1n56jQhDqR9c2cbLE4oD/s1600/20150225-20150225_IMG_999_41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicChxok67gxSpi6Smq50ewW49WJprUYxgQPlElFl9cENW42EnI8hOL08JF4DTHXknA1O0c-zZYJmTFg7TdzIs8MQQNIVMEgQZORPPKuTWeCQxvUzyhkhtqHO9F1n56jQhDqR9c2cbLE4oD/s1600/20150225-20150225_IMG_999_41.jpg" height="424" title="black crowned night heron, spain, rio guadalhorce, alora, feb 2015" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Crowned Night Heron, Rion Guadalhorce at Alora, 25th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6itWra5QKQw84-TPbHvIaOkzCNKr4hJB7UJGn6PQf-K9epRQtXrNi8oNGlUZh_LYh50zcmeBIhhbzmgjRuXiMZ0Pxj2Azue5bG9_ZwNMZq0MaG5b1-NvKo6q7VDpad1tDPBzIocQ7Woo/s1600/20150225-20150225_IMG_999_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6itWra5QKQw84-TPbHvIaOkzCNKr4hJB7UJGn6PQf-K9epRQtXrNi8oNGlUZh_LYh50zcmeBIhhbzmgjRuXiMZ0Pxj2Azue5bG9_ZwNMZq0MaG5b1-NvKo6q7VDpad1tDPBzIocQ7Woo/s1600/20150225-20150225_IMG_999_7.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cliffs above El Chorro</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Tarifa</strong> meanwhile has been a tad disappointing so far from a migrant point of view with just one brief moment of major passage on the 26th Feb ... with <strong>White Storks, Griffon Vultures, Black Kites,</strong> a few <strong>Common Buzzards, Barn Swallows</strong> and a probable <strong>Ring Ouzel</strong> braving the enduring Westerly winds<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7ojm3CKNM9NYi1eWLU4y-GByCyknQwshRoSNaW0V2InCRe6RMtWxcWgIqcvAZVLde-E0EfHN4QmO8chKerXEZNSSCfgN3Pu1QyQRlAFQIw8Pm7_hgoZXtSny-ujEDl9H9d9MfYWFTEti/s1600/20150226_IMG_999_55.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7ojm3CKNM9NYi1eWLU4y-GByCyknQwshRoSNaW0V2InCRe6RMtWxcWgIqcvAZVLde-E0EfHN4QmO8chKerXEZNSSCfgN3Pu1QyQRlAFQIw8Pm7_hgoZXtSny-ujEDl9H9d9MfYWFTEti/s1600/20150226_IMG_999_55.JPG" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Migrating Black Kite, Tarifa, 26th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Mx2arZwhcS5pq_2cj9RDTaBj-IYFOr4RsE2tL5hojtT7Skw-F5vjrbSfnLhyphenhyphen_ZCdyBzkF-12KI7ZhKw-pjkLm-Wn0C90_gCy6sfgVM5hXaqY8rOWxWXyJcSW3qPRuq83C_uM46HMTOUa/s1600/20150226-20150226_IMG_999_66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Mx2arZwhcS5pq_2cj9RDTaBj-IYFOr4RsE2tL5hojtT7Skw-F5vjrbSfnLhyphenhyphen_ZCdyBzkF-12KI7ZhKw-pjkLm-Wn0C90_gCy6sfgVM5hXaqY8rOWxWXyJcSW3qPRuq83C_uM46HMTOUa/s1600/20150226-20150226_IMG_999_66.jpg" height="330" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Migrating White Storks rising on thermals, Tarifa, 26th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Oystercatchers, Tarifa, 26th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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I'm sure there are plenty of these knocking about in my home county right now but they're not a common bird anywhere in Spain and I was pleased to tick these <strong>Oystercatchers</strong> off the list!<br />
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In the increasing warmth of the SW a few butterflies are on the wing, <strong>Clouded Yellows</strong> being the most obvious amongst the 'whites' and here in <strong>Tarifa</strong> I've had several of these winged beauties - <strong>Monarch Butterflies</strong> ... normally associated with<strong> North America</strong>, there is an <strong>Iberian / Canary Isles</strong> population and very welcome they are too flying around on huge slow wings like small colourful bats!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioa1bJFTXExTl3-90ezdN8WsNig45Hw0V9cO2tAg2szaPUTufWtqbFInNvhsJhmfPX3ghQG90vwMywJuBg3Vc2WTduZx09HOhBctGz_Vq2-Zza6JO4AT77ytr063d3FD99HoN_q1tHurl/s1600/20150226-20150226_IMG_999_90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioa1bJFTXExTl3-90ezdN8WsNig45Hw0V9cO2tAg2szaPUTufWtqbFInNvhsJhmfPX3ghQG90vwMywJuBg3Vc2WTduZx09HOhBctGz_Vq2-Zza6JO4AT77ytr063d3FD99HoN_q1tHurl/s1600/20150226-20150226_IMG_999_90.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Monarch Butterfly, Tarfifa, 26th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ69CexVL-qmePk1XqIIqjPaQy3aSvxt2cuvViz4-tUkPBTa9vZOmH3KiurmMEhS4ECbl_JofucVb-asfwCEpjtXH7N73LZUto24DmhamzWegRry_EVtjz2q3TbgLOpu-39HED7EVcVX0A/s1600/20150224-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ69CexVL-qmePk1XqIIqjPaQy3aSvxt2cuvViz4-tUkPBTa9vZOmH3KiurmMEhS4ECbl_JofucVb-asfwCEpjtXH7N73LZUto24DmhamzWegRry_EVtjz2q3TbgLOpu-39HED7EVcVX0A/s1600/20150224-c.jpg" height="341" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Clouded Yellow, Alora, 25th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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...... and clinging on to the undersides of a drainage pipe some kind of <strong>Geko</strong>?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Geko sp, Tarifa, 26th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Migrating Short Toed Eagle, nr Tarifa, 28th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Today (28th Feb) has been better for raptor migration with some impressive <strong>Black Kite</strong> movements early this morning with appx 100 in off the sea at 09.00ish. I looked up and the sky was suddenly filled with winged shapes! All over within 3 mins and I was so busy watching I didn't get a single shot off. More through the day and in total maybe 250 over the <strong>straits of Gibralter</strong> with the occasional <strong>Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard</strong>, plenty of <strong>Griffons</strong> moving across and 3 <strong>Short Toed Eagles</strong>. There was also a steady movement of<strong> Barn Swallows</strong> and <strong>House Martins</strong>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Dz2HeXqdRB3FXL3Dn2bRzh53ioCMf_OPqe4XUBKES260hGIwNZpeQDmE1m5NtyPVUMk2L12CGW6Zcfc44hnwo2dmkyi8biQuJNvKHmJA8k0cFGuGxZvG66l6Xrr4GKcBwAdIL2gZSW7/s1600/20150228-20150228_IMG_999_76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Dz2HeXqdRB3FXL3Dn2bRzh53ioCMf_OPqe4XUBKES260hGIwNZpeQDmE1m5NtyPVUMk2L12CGW6Zcfc44hnwo2dmkyi8biQuJNvKHmJA8k0cFGuGxZvG66l6Xrr4GKcBwAdIL2gZSW7/s1600/20150228-20150228_IMG_999_76.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Migrating Short Toed Eagle, nr Tarifa, 28th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5fTi-umzm_SQvRBo_aWroP2XMKn-OZ5jRzf565izpaOGYYwnHvHZn0AFSvM8CpHzpf_Ag9JBOMklNFe-GXHmz3oFE_LPVDgCY6KxRphJBAOSrWPNHDPQKZf_6sZ9Dz5STun1X91tz7m5/s1600/20150228-20150228_IMG_999_79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5fTi-umzm_SQvRBo_aWroP2XMKn-OZ5jRzf565izpaOGYYwnHvHZn0AFSvM8CpHzpf_Ag9JBOMklNFe-GXHmz3oFE_LPVDgCY6KxRphJBAOSrWPNHDPQKZf_6sZ9Dz5STun1X91tz7m5/s1600/20150228-20150228_IMG_999_79.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Griffon Vulture crossing over from Africa, nr Tarifa, 28th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Been quite a day and to cap it off 40 or so more <strong>Black Kites</strong> in over Tarifa town itself at dusk. The weather is set fine for a few days with little or no wind so I expect more and anticipating <strong>Pallid</strong> and <strong>Alpine Swifts</strong> any day!</div>
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... and to round off here's a couple of birds that are totally everywhere and thus tend to get passed over ... <strong>Stonechats</strong> are a speciality bird in Yorkshire and <strong>Crested Larks</strong> none existent!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgwuXQyWufKpqjbZ0nWaltckNdNgkq45b2fsT5d_5HIkumrat-vudRFCBRkfF20dCUhvoz-gOb4RSmfleCyKBbLHtaYdFClqFZ9y6jC2z-OIYZuwM1IWeLKio1isK70WZonRWzaDdA9lc/s1600/20150227-20150227_IMG_999_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgwuXQyWufKpqjbZ0nWaltckNdNgkq45b2fsT5d_5HIkumrat-vudRFCBRkfF20dCUhvoz-gOb4RSmfleCyKBbLHtaYdFClqFZ9y6jC2z-OIYZuwM1IWeLKio1isK70WZonRWzaDdA9lc/s1600/20150227-20150227_IMG_999_5.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stonechat (male), Tarifa</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Singing Crested Lark, Fuente de Piedre, 23 Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-16795261200062560742015-02-24T08:03:00.003-08:002015-02-25T06:19:31.742-08:00Mar Menor blasted by the elements, Mountains high and calm, Guadix eagles and a cracking Chough to boot!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN6fIaSsshU-nk14-1Osr8FUBhk2UUt9_IpGJzkZhdNPFeMWaEqmpRNxY1WdF_LhsdtAhefUG_TnlrRvog41RnoRS8z_hF9VDrgViB2B73Ywbu46OS7SqRdKnQC672gkFluy6u0PijHW3/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN6fIaSsshU-nk14-1Osr8FUBhk2UUt9_IpGJzkZhdNPFeMWaEqmpRNxY1WdF_LhsdtAhefUG_TnlrRvog41RnoRS8z_hF9VDrgViB2B73Ywbu46OS7SqRdKnQC672gkFluy6u0PijHW3/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjYEirT615uXjH0Yu7dJYggby-nvag0aYJnkF5TvaB77yune2aHsZgEPd0VpXUdHMHVCqQr8zfUEQDoe49p6hIJxU2axg32oC5xJvzO5k8-CFf6nHOomj9cACIy33D-l-IAwtv40KQ2HA/s1600/Cabo+de+Palos2_18feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, feb 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjYEirT615uXjH0Yu7dJYggby-nvag0aYJnkF5TvaB77yune2aHsZgEPd0VpXUdHMHVCqQr8zfUEQDoe49p6hIJxU2axg32oC5xJvzO5k8-CFf6nHOomj9cACIy33D-l-IAwtv40KQ2HA/s1600/Cabo+de+Palos2_18feb2015.JPG" height="205" title="Cabo de Palos, mediterranean, bad weather, rough seas, spring" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cabo de Palos, Feb 18th 2015</strong></td></tr>
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You can see <strong>Mar Menor</strong> on the map but you'll not see much footage from here because the gale force winds that have been blowing from the North persisted the whole time I was there. It rained all day the 17th at San <strong>Pedro del Pinatar</strong> and the normally calm Med looked like this at <strong>Cabo de Palos. </strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWQvMwnPXmGo-6PpFeMkc4zzZooP4gtNjIkLKKwqIqQoLcgoRS9mQnsBNC9mr5BkbKMztbqJ1isqORD5-R9-IxlYRaGuLFnk70O3J55-iJnlXVOzFHuDmD_ToO7iUK9vSLyTTxVU0aYcq/s1600/Cabo+de+Palos_18feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWQvMwnPXmGo-6PpFeMkc4zzZooP4gtNjIkLKKwqIqQoLcgoRS9mQnsBNC9mr5BkbKMztbqJ1isqORD5-R9-IxlYRaGuLFnk70O3J55-iJnlXVOzFHuDmD_ToO7iUK9vSLyTTxVU0aYcq/s1600/Cabo+de+Palos_18feb2015.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cabo de Palos harbour</strong></td></tr>
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The nice little harbour there housed some nice little and not so little yachts and boats and during a brief lull in the wind and the rain brought a much needed dash of colour to the day.<br />
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Enough was enough and I decided to drive away from the weather, into <strong>Almeria</strong> and the semi desert areas around <strong>Tabernas</strong>, surely it would be dry and warm there!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nr Tabernas, Almeria, Feb 19th 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Nope, not really! In the shadow of the Sierra Nevada to the east I was expecting it to be cold (it was) but in a place that receives less than 250mm of rain a year I wasn't expecting light drizzle and as you can see from this pic of <strong>Almerian</strong> heights rising towards the <strong>Sierra Nevada,</strong> the wind was still blowing! Not nearly as strong but enough to blow those <strong>Tamarisks</strong> around!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Blue Rock Thrush, Tabernas</strong></td></tr>
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From the town of <strong>Tabernas</strong> itself I got my first <strong>Blue Rock Thrush</strong> of the trip, bit of a grainy effort due to the poor light but never seen one perched on Prickly Pear before, and speaking of cactus this is one I've not seen here before and as yet not identified.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-CigpSgQdkzUtdO3S0AmmdvCz9uTZBycyZ2j_K3zN-rjKq7Boy3TU-erxE7zGtwFbvEnICSzQjAhdyMF26N9nleWG6mK2Nxyid-MFQU2K4SLjEIa4aCm7Mfpm9cltNn8_50FtGWWIdNy/s1600/20150219-cactus+sp_tabernas_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-CigpSgQdkzUtdO3S0AmmdvCz9uTZBycyZ2j_K3zN-rjKq7Boy3TU-erxE7zGtwFbvEnICSzQjAhdyMF26N9nleWG6mK2Nxyid-MFQU2K4SLjEIa4aCm7Mfpm9cltNn8_50FtGWWIdNy/s1600/20150219-cactus+sp_tabernas_feb2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cactus sp, Tabernas, Almeria, Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctyqjfXL8dHuKC7QpGSdEXigGtXnx_WVsQBEAsUR_J6fV4gWY1AXtCFRl9wZUT2PLLQ-6uPoZjgwfVEB1D4SKr5t1ONPvWhifXSs0V3eYAXOw11h6RGiAcm8q8vwjChwVX-oqtQNhr5Wh/s1600/20150221-mountain+goat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, feb 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctyqjfXL8dHuKC7QpGSdEXigGtXnx_WVsQBEAsUR_J6fV4gWY1AXtCFRl9wZUT2PLLQ-6uPoZjgwfVEB1D4SKr5t1ONPvWhifXSs0V3eYAXOw11h6RGiAcm8q8vwjChwVX-oqtQNhr5Wh/s1600/20150221-mountain+goat2.jpg" height="266" title="spanish ibex, young, on rocks, castro de Filabres, olula" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spanish Ibex, Olula, Almeria</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amidst the turbulence there were calmer moments and none more so than when I dragged the van up to the top of <strong>Castro de Filabres</strong> and <strong>Olula de Castro</strong> on the eastern edge of the <strong>Sierra Nevada</strong>. Splendid views, hardly a soul to be seen and the only sound to disturb the silence was the clattering of hooves on rock of <strong><a href="http://www.lhnet.org/iberian-wild-goat/" target="_blank">Spanish Ibex</a></strong><br />
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By the sixe of their horns these are surely young 'uns<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZDsBTkVAGPox-d7kCgpyewF110FfCsIjJuFBuddLZkUpIyHOVaXGMcm7MI8q56zDOhSgY9it8vtHOfZ9rk26pOXAwJoE4kfJoPwY6EmwHVBeAhYg1O-T9ffnnLy142zpxAH9HoLZ1BFP/s1600/20150221-mountain+goat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, feb 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZDsBTkVAGPox-d7kCgpyewF110FfCsIjJuFBuddLZkUpIyHOVaXGMcm7MI8q56zDOhSgY9it8vtHOfZ9rk26pOXAwJoE4kfJoPwY6EmwHVBeAhYg1O-T9ffnnLy142zpxAH9HoLZ1BFP/s1600/20150221-mountain+goat3.jpg" height="426" title="spanish ibex, young, on rocks, castro de Filabres, olula" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spanish Ibex, Olula, Almeria</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXcDAYqth2H4RMFQEQSGfmIa6F1UmnUsvaHYj_Odk5quUFKFbHGJgawSzxCylHlDAzsmb4J-U999HEbFBe3jyw53Qc8FHCjECP4TD7gme0GHP_wrzsb8nYHCp_qj_SRnBfr0Chlq-2-p3/s1600/olula+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXcDAYqth2H4RMFQEQSGfmIa6F1UmnUsvaHYj_Odk5quUFKFbHGJgawSzxCylHlDAzsmb4J-U999HEbFBe3jyw53Qc8FHCjECP4TD7gme0GHP_wrzsb8nYHCp_qj_SRnBfr0Chlq-2-p3/s1600/olula+view.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Olula de Castro</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lsj-Fz6xYGIkjIPXe-85JxH56yIH_pSMYxwA3IcNlfPsmrZDlJT3BJGVKI99bso316-2W1FIma9lSR_M5cIRImn0dQDY4DtI5DJUnX7t6sHYEBf_bNsLDGHrmJomuzuYxA0CYdH_jfxa/s1600/almeria+ruins_tabernas_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lsj-Fz6xYGIkjIPXe-85JxH56yIH_pSMYxwA3IcNlfPsmrZDlJT3BJGVKI99bso316-2W1FIma9lSR_M5cIRImn0dQDY4DtI5DJUnX7t6sHYEBf_bNsLDGHrmJomuzuYxA0CYdH_jfxa/s1600/almeria+ruins_tabernas_feb2015.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Almerian rack and ruin, nr Tabernas.</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Further down, in the dusty foothills, this is more typical of <strong>Almeria</strong> and whilst there are the plenty of Larks (<strong>Thekla</strong> and<strong> Crested</strong> mainly) and the odd <strong>Blue Rock Thrush</strong> and <strong>Rock Bunting</strong> nothing much stirs!<br />
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But certainly, if you want to get away from it all and have a quiet time, this is the place!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILXn088Z8LOzNCY7VZ129BBq_lfI4r9g5BSxqy2CVDzKNf56I43qkS9qDvU5FcF3fdHi8ajaflcwhc4lW1mzUT_ixe-03sKE2ojkTX3tdulXMamc8FaCMqRFMke_TbtH7E7xfI73Myevf/s1600/20150221-van+pic+olula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILXn088Z8LOzNCY7VZ129BBq_lfI4r9g5BSxqy2CVDzKNf56I43qkS9qDvU5FcF3fdHi8ajaflcwhc4lW1mzUT_ixe-03sKE2ojkTX3tdulXMamc8FaCMqRFMke_TbtH7E7xfI73Myevf/s1600/20150221-van+pic+olula.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>On the edge of the Sierra Nevada, nr Olula de Castro</strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E4q8DnsFcMQevy886OUWhKOn3FJHUo36bt7Lp20VzBxDBbXQcdYnQRAeW-IOs_B4rFgzkdxDwKwbtH1DDTCFAEe2tbzZh4igrfHE5kHe9HKbCzT2pp1_7qHlZgYwDYR9NfhuO7u4VWJ6/s1600/el+almendral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E4q8DnsFcMQevy886OUWhKOn3FJHUo36bt7Lp20VzBxDBbXQcdYnQRAeW-IOs_B4rFgzkdxDwKwbtH1DDTCFAEe2tbzZh4igrfHE5kHe9HKbCzT2pp1_7qHlZgYwDYR9NfhuO7u4VWJ6/s1600/el+almendral.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>El Almendral, Almeria</strong></td></tr>
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The van loved the descent from there! Back down in<strong> Gergal</strong> and a café on the outskirts of town, a Spanish naturalist tapped me on the shoulder as I was processing some pics and despite his English being as bad as my Spanish, by the power of the photographic image I was able to establish that he was a butterfly enthusiast, but he knew his birds too, and he pointed me in the direction of a pair of<strong> Bonelli's Eagles</strong>. I didn't see them but the trip up to said place was memorable and around the small village of <strong>El Almendral</strong>, where they were supposed to be, was wild, weird and wonderful!<br />
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Heading further west I stopped for a day close to the <a href="http://www.andalucia.com/environment/protect/baza.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Sierra de Baza parc naturel</strong></a><strong> </strong>nr <strong>Guadix. </strong>Wind free and warm for a change, the sandy dry riverbed of the <strong>Rambla de Finana</strong> brought me a splendidly close <strong>Red Billed Chough</strong>, one of a pair that looked like they were nest prospecting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo1ZEgq2lC_1SJK7__3wnTyPuUVlZd3BkV6MDT_XIks6l0-WHvvRy-UQP_0zI38_R4NBTCLcgFzMnVDNWiKv13xF3ZRWg_7Zli7udi4Ih1xza_8QbEGCZlkMSloMfO8wmotaL4bXue9fQ/s1600/r+l+chough1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo1ZEgq2lC_1SJK7__3wnTyPuUVlZd3BkV6MDT_XIks6l0-WHvvRy-UQP_0zI38_R4NBTCLcgFzMnVDNWiKv13xF3ZRWg_7Zli7udi4Ih1xza_8QbEGCZlkMSloMfO8wmotaL4bXue9fQ/s1600/r+l+chough1.JPG" height="640" width="467" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Red Billed Chough, nr Guadix, 22nd Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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There are dry river beds, or<em> ramblas </em>as they are known colloquially, right across the region of Almeria and the trick is to find one that still has a bit of water in it ... then you'll get wildlife. This one started off dry and barren then suddenly developed a trickle!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AICqgaGBXuPsmrlbW4ShkDRyh-xlKgO_F9xLOHDijBJ3IbM8ynwL0-Nrg_DUilF7iukTw1zMvj-0eSDCdskkznvdgC4Rp7AaBQmkjSR3o4_dhajDDvFO5SbJURX7YCl6jOWlAJGV8mLK/s1600/rambla1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AICqgaGBXuPsmrlbW4ShkDRyh-xlKgO_F9xLOHDijBJ3IbM8ynwL0-Nrg_DUilF7iukTw1zMvj-0eSDCdskkznvdgC4Rp7AaBQmkjSR3o4_dhajDDvFO5SbJURX7YCl6jOWlAJGV8mLK/s1600/rambla1.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rambla de Finana, Nr Guadix</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QsYz8d3oH_kpXjsVuTjNCUunK4Ck04MMeFb0Of5F6LC8DHOw1IipxHoc_kpmRlxxbmvk6mZ3YqV4hiQDnvOivctluWuzG1ikYyaX33ykNeuIpjPtxzsZ-VDmERPcelNJo1Scd7FTWTj8/s1600/rambla2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QsYz8d3oH_kpXjsVuTjNCUunK4Ck04MMeFb0Of5F6LC8DHOw1IipxHoc_kpmRlxxbmvk6mZ3YqV4hiQDnvOivctluWuzG1ikYyaX33ykNeuIpjPtxzsZ-VDmERPcelNJo1Scd7FTWTj8/s1600/rambla2.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rambla de Finana, Nr Guadix</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUviQvDwAnz09By792X8efgsFZnPVOi8j9IQUYjceBiSyTiILhaa6sdDNP7-R4eQjE1wI_c5i5CfydVUZ3VY3AAcg3aX5xskfx8HaPRHgyzbeYVRrQwIwq-awzws-ALU62xD3cqPsz6BIr/s1600/rambla3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUviQvDwAnz09By792X8efgsFZnPVOi8j9IQUYjceBiSyTiILhaa6sdDNP7-R4eQjE1wI_c5i5CfydVUZ3VY3AAcg3aX5xskfx8HaPRHgyzbeYVRrQwIwq-awzws-ALU62xD3cqPsz6BIr/s1600/rambla3.JPG" height="318" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rambla de Finana, Nr Guadix</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-MrCVgu0dI7FQx4EAfQFxRsKov8zjIfaTkJVLTXEPyHcJlb4_6nqmYgLKmgx1b-iT-sjpMEW2_VV1GUmajmhwjAzcq1_wP8AQUH1RJRb4Pa6nKR6k_AhuUVfP4NbFBlcnnyEcPQVWNkt/s1600/rambla4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-MrCVgu0dI7FQx4EAfQFxRsKov8zjIfaTkJVLTXEPyHcJlb4_6nqmYgLKmgx1b-iT-sjpMEW2_VV1GUmajmhwjAzcq1_wP8AQUH1RJRb4Pa6nKR6k_AhuUVfP4NbFBlcnnyEcPQVWNkt/s1600/rambla4.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rambla de Finana, Nr Guadix</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.... and as soon as you get water, you get life<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9q8j4HQ-1TYr78q0tELbYQ9OLwkyuci9ZcUhHBZIot_UjHWqYyBngDBL7a0RPP3_bk88iinA0WP4trEV1j2EbT6wqr29XbMAGdUBKS0VnOlPKeN1qvbTgIogku5Ttkc2_q795B14YFhV/s1600/red+squirrel2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9q8j4HQ-1TYr78q0tELbYQ9OLwkyuci9ZcUhHBZIot_UjHWqYyBngDBL7a0RPP3_bk88iinA0WP4trEV1j2EbT6wqr29XbMAGdUBKS0VnOlPKeN1qvbTgIogku5Ttkc2_q795B14YFhV/s1600/red+squirrel2.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Red Squirrel, Rambla de Finana</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHzXvjmm6BdMNtBhcc6Slx1bxJ4FMaXlwBVf2DeFwxUvp2PsTWxpfz39ZFRZKGmAIBauirgrtUOOn1Z41tF5XQtUcOTE5r6e8a5blC806W_BDiAbIuzzfCHFND9iOGAUfxnCoxWYaEkg1/s1600/red+squirrel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHzXvjmm6BdMNtBhcc6Slx1bxJ4FMaXlwBVf2DeFwxUvp2PsTWxpfz39ZFRZKGmAIBauirgrtUOOn1Z41tF5XQtUcOTE5r6e8a5blC806W_BDiAbIuzzfCHFND9iOGAUfxnCoxWYaEkg1/s1600/red+squirrel.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Red Squirrel, Rambla de Finana</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKQ9uPewW03PEOgFGbid4zlve68gLGdSfs-nWEmdxoOL9kCw4M63UMt-6TgXz7_pXKwivEY2gHjuWT33rK7yYv7PoohX24YL3xzUZaMTLFF3xnK28oOgq9VS53LkZFTixG7ijO3MJ_FRa/s1600/chiffchaff1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKQ9uPewW03PEOgFGbid4zlve68gLGdSfs-nWEmdxoOL9kCw4M63UMt-6TgXz7_pXKwivEY2gHjuWT33rK7yYv7PoohX24YL3xzUZaMTLFF3xnK28oOgq9VS53LkZFTixG7ijO3MJ_FRa/s1600/chiffchaff1.JPG" height="366" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chiffchaff, Rambla de Finana</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPDw7S9fI2y5IojXY-T5e2fG6v5qLBEVaAXXqd_kThnRJvgWzN_5Z7UQQOxE03ErLNqawr9iIr_7mnAXfD32yoxzRq9Nx3daI_zCiO6nDtQoNlfXz7HVj4MUxf2R3JVdFj_yAwqUrgHbU/s1600/chiffchaff2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPDw7S9fI2y5IojXY-T5e2fG6v5qLBEVaAXXqd_kThnRJvgWzN_5Z7UQQOxE03ErLNqawr9iIr_7mnAXfD32yoxzRq9Nx3daI_zCiO6nDtQoNlfXz7HVj4MUxf2R3JVdFj_yAwqUrgHbU/s1600/chiffchaff2.JPG" height="330" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chiffchaff, Rambla de Finana</strong></td></tr>
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The <strong>Chiffchaff</strong> was one of 10 or so all within 30 metres of wet stream.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0bPipu1mtJoqEHLIyy95lPOPYvaXThh3oVaDf6qGHr1JDjBnMc4R5yy580Vg3HiWk3GQYIMQJBqw5AS1CWVkXezj2xH6rFGsJOfgG4wVNgXDPeBXBfYNxojdKGExW0EKFS46ZCuQIpr3/s1600/black+wheater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0bPipu1mtJoqEHLIyy95lPOPYvaXThh3oVaDf6qGHr1JDjBnMc4R5yy580Vg3HiWk3GQYIMQJBqw5AS1CWVkXezj2xH6rFGsJOfgG4wVNgXDPeBXBfYNxojdKGExW0EKFS46ZCuQIpr3/s1600/black+wheater.JPG" height="400" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Wheatera, Rambla de Finan</strong></td></tr>
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Its easy to get lost in a world of your own down in some of these <em>ramblas</em>. With a bit more care and attention, not to mention focus, this could have been my best ever <strong>Black Wheatear</strong> pic .. they're devilishly skitty!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCjAzo-C1qLFPM9e9ewz0yyjnBoxHCsBT-6LEkVwbfManHPPlUeiUuAKWgSQkOLO3vmb32rBfVvrv4AFfYS_2fhbs9QTMMKS8KLbnXzyxEv6ULJ2fGxG5rVaLcWDdBQEVT0pSVUfm74tF/s1600/20150222-golden+eagle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCjAzo-C1qLFPM9e9ewz0yyjnBoxHCsBT-6LEkVwbfManHPPlUeiUuAKWgSQkOLO3vmb32rBfVvrv4AFfYS_2fhbs9QTMMKS8KLbnXzyxEv6ULJ2fGxG5rVaLcWDdBQEVT0pSVUfm74tF/s1600/20150222-golden+eagle1.jpg" height="360" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Golden Eagle, imm / juv, Rambla de Finan, 22 feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Stepping outside the river bed in an attempt to gain some height and perspective I certainly did have to focus as 2 immature / juv <strong>Golden Eagles</strong> sailed past!<br />
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Never easy to get a close shot, these 2 came right over my head and then kept going without flapping once! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPSNeVcmcSxKsxQKq8hBmhZT7MckMBRFPW-jnihYP4qlHL13ICYzQ7UbyDd76Jo2FoxhmfuKMCahX5QnJq6ry1-tLwW-OOGe86CumXRyNWymZTFGYumLhqqvzi12v4KJbo9Jgubhpui1d/s1600/20150222-golden+eagle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPSNeVcmcSxKsxQKq8hBmhZT7MckMBRFPW-jnihYP4qlHL13ICYzQ7UbyDd76Jo2FoxhmfuKMCahX5QnJq6ry1-tLwW-OOGe86CumXRyNWymZTFGYumLhqqvzi12v4KJbo9Jgubhpui1d/s1600/20150222-golden+eagle3.jpg" height="337" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Golden Eagle, imm / juv, Rambla de Finan, 22 feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGj-2rrxthKdNPHkaRjdC0a7GaVdQebRDwuwojWJ3IIygWsiWIZIU9KYHew54tm1jjpPPhUE4BRIkRFQ72FfWI8Yf4Ybwk48PQBn3nQ7FFHKZViGhXXd2TFAjY0GVfGW5ctBbMmUkAZ_N/s1600/golden+eagle4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGj-2rrxthKdNPHkaRjdC0a7GaVdQebRDwuwojWJ3IIygWsiWIZIU9KYHew54tm1jjpPPhUE4BRIkRFQ72FfWI8Yf4Ybwk48PQBn3nQ7FFHKZViGhXXd2TFAjY0GVfGW5ctBbMmUkAZ_N/s1600/golden+eagle4.JPG" height="320" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Golden Eagle, imm / juv, Rambla de Finan, 22 feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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That made my morning, the way the light was shining through these magnificent bird's wings as they sailed majestically above me was nothing short of breath taking. This last pic isn't the best by any means, this bird was a kilometre above me, but look at those wing spots ... awesome!<br />
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-LN0JaUw6-Ic%2FVOs_BbEwqFI%2FAAAAAAAAG20%2Ffxxvr5pFGbY%2Fs1600%2Fgranada%252Band%252Balmeria_nr%252Btabernas_feb2015.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xNItUkPd9Oi2P6aaa6rcZ7StDGt9Wf3Kc-oG7LnWUNhvIQ7ZksByFI07orER0FykqIeE3ky1lmw5PXzp1WRxZEuPZOckc_z1ah0yk3A_svcY-9bsk0G5brtT1fi89H67XnqpR2fSgD0a/s1600/granada+and+almeria_nr+tabernas_feb2015.jpg" -->BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-1041233343022009342015-02-18T14:42:00.000-08:002015-02-18T14:45:28.720-08:00A brief excursion into the Steppes of Petrola, Great Bustards, Teminck's Stint and lots of wind and rain!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UL7kpuwHTw8Tc5OzaaQ0hxgSTfufyCw2aENS5R25zOuldUw6Wxc9SzaM0KXWWYkLI9xGVQqpdTWTe87Ls56BuZKtT1fgq4MV6NvIE824XoYsrT9WYP-HmngjHvJRQfi7fUvm-6jHHjqm/s1600/Capture2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UL7kpuwHTw8Tc5OzaaQ0hxgSTfufyCw2aENS5R25zOuldUw6Wxc9SzaM0KXWWYkLI9xGVQqpdTWTe87Ls56BuZKtT1fgq4MV6NvIE824XoYsrT9WYP-HmngjHvJRQfi7fUvm-6jHHjqm/s1600/Capture2.PNG" height="278" width="400" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Petrola Steppes location</strong></td></tr>
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During my time around<strong> El Fondo</strong> I was pointed in the direction of some good old Spanish steppe land by <strong>Graham Critchell</strong> - the <strong>Petrola Steppes</strong>, some way North and West of <strong>Alicante</strong> and a stunning example of this type of habitat. Its at altitude and a good 10C colder than the coast.<br />
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The good bits are around and between the small villages of <strong>Petrola</strong> itself, <strong>Calle Rubio, Higueruela</strong> to the north and<strong> Los Anorias</strong> to the south. There's almost no traffic and almost no people so easy enough to pull off and scan for good birds<br />
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Many thanks to Grahame for putting me onto this spot and I'd thoroughly recommend his guide books for anyone visiting the area - <strong><a href="http://www.finesystem.co.uk/birdwatchingcostablanca/book.html" target="_blank">GO HERE for more info</a></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>19-Petrola: 20-Calle Rubio: 21-Higueruela: 22-Ls Anorias</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnXRfRBS9TG083rUZ8aecFlxit3wJvtVPoPhw0EyPjkDsnbQmzNbSnR2JyLL98duyMVtz87zX9d0rY9O9XkoiHLifWoTv-1iPvXRkKLsdozgYwH2pRqW-XmG-aEWNAQEF2-_vStKCZ07-/s1600/ruff_petrola_14feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnXRfRBS9TG083rUZ8aecFlxit3wJvtVPoPhw0EyPjkDsnbQmzNbSnR2JyLL98duyMVtz87zX9d0rY9O9XkoiHLifWoTv-1iPvXRkKLsdozgYwH2pRqW-XmG-aEWNAQEF2-_vStKCZ07-/s1600/ruff_petrola_14feb2015.JPG" height="273" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ruff, Laguna de Petrola (14th Feb, 2015)</strong></td></tr>
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I arrived here late Saturday afternoon (Feb 14th) and though windy (story of the trip so far!) I was immediately into good birds with an unexpected flock of 32 <strong>Ruff</strong> on the <strong>Laguna de Petrola</strong>.<br />
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As I was watching the<strong> Ruff</strong> and wondering if they were over wintering up here or just in transit, a small wader fluttered in on the wind and landed no more than 10 metres away from me. A <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temminck's_stint" target="_blank">Teminck's Stint</a></strong> no less, a tiny but strongly migratory wader that winters in N.Africa and breeds in the Arctic circle. It was so close and so unbothered that I had to step back to get some 'in focus' shots and these were the only two that came out ok.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHITfJbhXE7EpPapGHgL_Q-ncKhW7t_I304nyIXgj1g7E-J3y5ii_IGTMS_eGcH13xnF9hpw5VeJO1WswsWQHdUgvixIwiVD9jmkSG6nx3ot_ZKv7v80bxGziDzRdM0LuosAtHCep8zUo7/s1600/20150214-20150214_IMG_999_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHITfJbhXE7EpPapGHgL_Q-ncKhW7t_I304nyIXgj1g7E-J3y5ii_IGTMS_eGcH13xnF9hpw5VeJO1WswsWQHdUgvixIwiVD9jmkSG6nx3ot_ZKv7v80bxGziDzRdM0LuosAtHCep8zUo7/s1600/20150214-20150214_IMG_999_20.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Teminck's Stint, Laguna de Petrolla, 14th Feb, 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeluG_A3JuzBzQfowhBGcPtuRcAABvAWH3tspPotWgck9niZ70_QWN3oKDJPLA0hDUYD3R4YLiqwBdpNPckJP2GfYGPu9Gqnb4qYWj4quo5RIN1YYpGpj3I6_-SgoFj_ArG6WIIG32h1x/s1600/20150214-20150214_IMG_999_41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeluG_A3JuzBzQfowhBGcPtuRcAABvAWH3tspPotWgck9niZ70_QWN3oKDJPLA0hDUYD3R4YLiqwBdpNPckJP2GfYGPu9Gqnb4qYWj4quo5RIN1YYpGpj3I6_-SgoFj_ArG6WIIG32h1x/s1600/20150214-20150214_IMG_999_41.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Teminck's Stint, Laguna de Petrolla, 14th Feb, 2015</strong></td></tr>
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It was another bird for the trip and shortly afterwards I got another ... bit bigger, Turkey size in fact. They still roam in pretty good numbers across the steppe lands of Spain and Portugal and recently been re-introduced to <strong>Salisbury Plain</strong> in the UK. <strong>Great Bustards</strong>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5qtXO5IYbohQjjuR5gSOQxQChwh2OmojLbR4WxF5nrsheWubPjTuAMq8WKH5Tnuv1wXT3bRTKRKfzu4P51aGFgCpNmpNnq1rVLceooYKSPG4P582VzqdVV6skWNgpJuTQpzNfwiJbDog/s1600/great+bustards_petrola_14feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5qtXO5IYbohQjjuR5gSOQxQChwh2OmojLbR4WxF5nrsheWubPjTuAMq8WKH5Tnuv1wXT3bRTKRKfzu4P51aGFgCpNmpNnq1rVLceooYKSPG4P582VzqdVV6skWNgpJuTQpzNfwiJbDog/s1600/great+bustards_petrola_14feb2015.JPG" height="266" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great Bustards, nr Calle Rubio, 14th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqayc9TpHjcg_uNb8v5PwBnHIqWAnotrvs58M7kVp2wFP9WtBUQRJIyLck72LtKqR7Sc_feWEkYTxz3yc2FOQAoyMJctHiSSX_lhYIkDgzFADg770BZA7DHAIEgyB9wS8ZbS9dc-ekQOJg/s1600/20150215-great+bustards_petrola+steppes_15feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqayc9TpHjcg_uNb8v5PwBnHIqWAnotrvs58M7kVp2wFP9WtBUQRJIyLck72LtKqR7Sc_feWEkYTxz3yc2FOQAoyMJctHiSSX_lhYIkDgzFADg770BZA7DHAIEgyB9wS8ZbS9dc-ekQOJg/s1600/20150215-great+bustards_petrola+steppes_15feb2015.jpg" height="244" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great Bustards, nr Los Anorias, 15th Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Sadly, wind and rain for much of Sunday put a dampener on things and I was lucky to get a further shot of the <strong>Great Bustards</strong> from the confines of my van. I got out and tramped across some fields in the rain in the hope of some closer views but they'd flown away .. the bustards!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvbfew_61_sQHCLLF1My5Scju-Fkp-8ofSPGJYQCckdDGyk-Y5hru4EJfprAnE6pSmlWgJsXv35nfSQGeJvKnd2nIkjqusHfUQKsT_98XIbNVU-uFr2kERv7ux2zcJg4Bz5bhRyo90MRb/s1600/quail+egg+tapas_calle+rubio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvbfew_61_sQHCLLF1My5Scju-Fkp-8ofSPGJYQCckdDGyk-Y5hru4EJfprAnE6pSmlWgJsXv35nfSQGeJvKnd2nIkjqusHfUQKsT_98XIbNVU-uFr2kERv7ux2zcJg4Bz5bhRyo90MRb/s1600/quail+egg+tapas_calle+rubio.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Quails eggs or something else? I did eat!</strong></td></tr>
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The only bar in <strong>Calle Rubio</strong> beckoned, friendly as most of these out of town bars are, as a birder I was slightly taken aback by one of the 'mini tapas' you get with every drink you order ...<br />
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<strong>Calandra Lark</strong> and <strong>Black Wheatear </strong>were add<strong>ed</strong> to the list later as I braved the weather but in such inclement conditions I was unsurprised to miss out on my other target species -<strong> Little Bustard, Pin Tailed & Black Bellied Sandgrouse</strong> ... yet to photograph any of these species. It wasn't the conditions either to take landscape pics but this might give you some idea ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXnSThib-2fZRo5vKloCcHyBO-BuG7zWzuRXn1PdSGftkDReDi-69HhohdIxQOlu-r0VzXhxzOgl66TkHZ2WFUEcR9xpo0cZHa2hlQ_WamUlKSQeuTr95MIbUNTlG1PorW-C1WdPUrXOH/s1600/20150214-20150214_IMG_999_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXnSThib-2fZRo5vKloCcHyBO-BuG7zWzuRXn1PdSGftkDReDi-69HhohdIxQOlu-r0VzXhxzOgl66TkHZ2WFUEcR9xpo0cZHa2hlQ_WamUlKSQeuTr95MIbUNTlG1PorW-C1WdPUrXOH/s1600/20150214-20150214_IMG_999_7.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Steppe land, nr Calle Rubio</strong></td></tr>
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I had some people to see in <strong>San Vicente del Raspeig</strong> the day after, the Vape shop people who very kindly contacted me to say that I'd left my wallet there. A huge thank you to <strong>Francesa</strong> and ?<strong>Sucho</strong> for their honesty, gratitude and just for being nice people. Very happy to give you guys a plug on my little old blog ... great products guys. <a href="http://www.eblow.info/" target="_blank">E-Blow, the best Vape shop on the Costa Blanca</a><br />
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Back at <strong>El Pinet</strong> nothing much had changed, my camping spot was still unoccupied ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwinBXfZMxxAh95qfo5_bm6MVo-5uDWPaW4Yp8fawqL3dsYjtiwtHOe-j7KDdydpYWLPynruUCc9Hx-fao_w3XjF-Ps-rTaogKEFKlYfXQxX8e4q-MXaGchbSIzI7lTt9Wj5-fr8Xp_OvC/s1600/20150216-2015-02-16+17.40.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwinBXfZMxxAh95qfo5_bm6MVo-5uDWPaW4Yp8fawqL3dsYjtiwtHOe-j7KDdydpYWLPynruUCc9Hx-fao_w3XjF-Ps-rTaogKEFKlYfXQxX8e4q-MXaGchbSIzI7lTt9Wj5-fr8Xp_OvC/s1600/20150216-2015-02-16+17.40.36.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Van spot, El Pinet</strong></td></tr>
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... the inside of the van was still messy <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCOgtM67PdJKoZ9LVC0lMTxGewb778fKAZbtmRvacD3i122v_ncaPmSUnXtAVolsEK40x_483MMOnsWsoB0IkIY8jyEdy5phIQwdUq_MZoiT4968wnZzq58Mnm725jTqqR1NyTLhDpEAc/s1600/van+mess.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCOgtM67PdJKoZ9LVC0lMTxGewb778fKAZbtmRvacD3i122v_ncaPmSUnXtAVolsEK40x_483MMOnsWsoB0IkIY8jyEdy5phIQwdUq_MZoiT4968wnZzq58Mnm725jTqqR1NyTLhDpEAc/s1600/van+mess.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Van mess!</strong></td></tr>
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The same <strong>Little Egrets, Black Winged Stilts</strong> and <strong>Dunlin</strong> were braving the wind....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1cGL7XsFAPPDwaE-xzJ_5LlFiX48yew_Ce8ROJcLnxyd6zE0MTKY8mEBPGdV7gjjtjFtAtBhi3t4nOGckYxBUAY9nJAOzHM7ILZ3lbLdTdaeQENvlTA21NjoWaVGLPMWKSEhPl7Zhwvl/s1600/littel+egret_el+pinet_17feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1cGL7XsFAPPDwaE-xzJ_5LlFiX48yew_Ce8ROJcLnxyd6zE0MTKY8mEBPGdV7gjjtjFtAtBhi3t4nOGckYxBUAY9nJAOzHM7ILZ3lbLdTdaeQENvlTA21NjoWaVGLPMWKSEhPl7Zhwvl/s1600/littel+egret_el+pinet_17feb2015.JPG" height="400" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Little Egret, El Pinet, 16th Feb2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Winged Stilt, El Pinet, 16th Feb2015</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 <strong>Little Stints</strong> (the commoner of the Stints seen over here) were the only addition, here's one that came quite close to the hide</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQCRLyAMYoFJxPUFI4H3plPzN8LdCbLRLhB9X5jA1o7ZJVn04QGaMBMNZIyx-vT2klG46T7zUUjKYSXGAaIhaPTAuRRPXAaQN5gb3k0epp_q7QZmxKXozO3LqYtSAp-t0EPOiG8eoCrLK/s1600/little+stint_el+pinet_16feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQCRLyAMYoFJxPUFI4H3plPzN8LdCbLRLhB9X5jA1o7ZJVn04QGaMBMNZIyx-vT2klG46T7zUUjKYSXGAaIhaPTAuRRPXAaQN5gb3k0epp_q7QZmxKXozO3LqYtSAp-t0EPOiG8eoCrLK/s1600/little+stint_el+pinet_16feb2015.JPG" height="400" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Little Stint, El Pinet, 16th Feb205</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8SqedIJ_aZ95C4kp0om4h9gl5TRg999QsXm9OIs4lxhJCNL_TX3X-Q38cKecyx3z8BoHfP8D0uiiYzHOQ1SchgEoNPQlUuiM5HyYBfPwDi5zSW4cFN4MJUhuT5gj3-QH1dLYMLl7VMXc/s1600/small+waders+in+flight_el+pinet_16feb205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8SqedIJ_aZ95C4kp0om4h9gl5TRg999QsXm9OIs4lxhJCNL_TX3X-Q38cKecyx3z8BoHfP8D0uiiYzHOQ1SchgEoNPQlUuiM5HyYBfPwDi5zSW4cFN4MJUhuT5gj3-QH1dLYMLl7VMXc/s1600/small+waders+in+flight_el+pinet_16feb205.JPG" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dunlin, Sanderling and 1 Little Stint .. can you spot it?</strong></td></tr>
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and one for all you Gull fanatics, nothing fancy but if a <strong>Yellow Legged Gull</strong> turns up on your local patch this might be good for id if its a juv ....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNNgjEVcpxZjD_lt2h7eKQybzIjsI7RPLlyyIjTyaVyW1WLRu6c0IYWi_H4cp_77550Oe7W7cZ7lujBZZe8ijVib5hy3UjhpUzGLWKLLecVIeK8kraL-n3QxsvazklGn1zyHw6_wyViek/s1600/y+l+gulls_el+pinet_17feb_2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNNgjEVcpxZjD_lt2h7eKQybzIjsI7RPLlyyIjTyaVyW1WLRu6c0IYWi_H4cp_77550Oe7W7cZ7lujBZZe8ijVib5hy3UjhpUzGLWKLLecVIeK8kraL-n3QxsvazklGn1zyHw6_wyViek/s1600/y+l+gulls_el+pinet_17feb_2015.JPG" height="307" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Yellow Legged Gulls, adults and immatures</strong></td></tr>
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I've gone a bit further South now and presently around the <strong>Mar Menor</strong>, nr <strong>Cartegena</strong> but not had a decent day's birding since the w/e because of gale force winds and rain!<br />
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-67737926419727147122015-02-15T11:37:00.000-08:002015-02-15T12:10:26.704-08:00El Fondo memories and a new haunt at El Pinet, a place to rest up in the company of Eagles, Waders, Shrikes, Gulls & friendly birders<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>14 - Pego / Marjal: 15 - El Fondo: 16 - El Pinet: 17 - Segura River: 18- Santa Pola saltpans</strong></td></tr>
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For the past week or so, me and my van have been camped out at <strong>El Pinet</strong>, few kilometres away from the notable, if restricted from an access point of view, reserve at <strong>El Fondo</strong>. Restricted it may be but it brought me a 'lifer' and lets start with that' ... my first ever <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_spotted_eagle" target="_blank">Greater Spotted Eagle</a></strong>. A bird of the Baltic states and Northern Asia, a handful over winter in Spain and what a glorious sight it was to see it soaring high over El Fondo. Many thanks to <strong>Graham Critchell</strong> and his mate<strong> Gordon</strong> for pointing me in the right direction and enabling me to capture this aquiline monster, even if it was a kilometre away!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mDFm7rKmvP7CPAzeTY8P5zZa-W58mJZaAteK-Qy0haL0JtfgZuAt3S5X27EqF41YoonVEsdNMhTjjVHbPAcbSwphpAum-91ubQBGnrH6LsdrVAgxTzWzrUVwG2w3roPDZysZ1uG2SmJb/s1600/20150207-spotted+eagle_el+fondo_7feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain, " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mDFm7rKmvP7CPAzeTY8P5zZa-W58mJZaAteK-Qy0haL0JtfgZuAt3S5X27EqF41YoonVEsdNMhTjjVHbPAcbSwphpAum-91ubQBGnrH6LsdrVAgxTzWzrUVwG2w3roPDZysZ1uG2SmJb/s1600/20150207-spotted+eagle_el+fondo_7feb2015.jpg" height="357" title="Spotted Eagle, Spain, El Fondo, wintering, Raptor, eagle, flight, soaring" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greater Spotted Eagle, El Fondo, Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfEItH3P2qVXYuBPQQc-HULK2N6x_33nPGkwI0PC9CytUP7-zA_gquzXfi5I46op-tqva9IpIy1d1pgDmZYXglgPOmW_u2G_G2T0d0BSD5Q2-BPUrbOeoGVOLisGc0s7YjvjWWqrn6eoY/s1600/20150202-booted+eagle2_pego_2feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain, birds, " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfEItH3P2qVXYuBPQQc-HULK2N6x_33nPGkwI0PC9CytUP7-zA_gquzXfi5I46op-tqva9IpIy1d1pgDmZYXglgPOmW_u2G_G2T0d0BSD5Q2-BPUrbOeoGVOLisGc0s7YjvjWWqrn6eoY/s1600/20150202-booted+eagle2_pego_2feb2015.jpg" height="342" title="Booted Eagle, raptor, eagle, flight, spain" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Booted Eagle, Pego, Feb 2015</strong></td></tr>
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Perched their size can be misleading, but with a wingspan of nearly 6 feet, in flight they are monstrous and to me akin to a Black Vulture in their sheer presence. At one point this bird was being mobbed by a<strong> Booted Eagle</strong> (pic right) and then a <strong>Peregrine,</strong> both of which it dwarfed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWWMtjIukQBiG5wOURTc4F_aWcgg0tQMMrSOdb1zULY0iJAKd-1gk3yk-ZZ-_IvU7qXS_h-foSzPecpoAsHh12CzZpdn26dNVDvF9odQvhE6hUWIXl8xX826on_qVQTq3XzssyPe-YA3s/s1600/audouins+gull_siguera+river_9feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, birds, travel, rare bird, " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWWMtjIukQBiG5wOURTc4F_aWcgg0tQMMrSOdb1zULY0iJAKd-1gk3yk-ZZ-_IvU7qXS_h-foSzPecpoAsHh12CzZpdn26dNVDvF9odQvhE6hUWIXl8xX826on_qVQTq3XzssyPe-YA3s/s1600/audouins+gull_siguera+river_9feb2015.JPG" height="353" title="Auduoin's Gull, gull, flying, spain, med, rare" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Audouin's Gull, Segura River, Guadamar (9/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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Just before I landed at <strong>El Fondo</strong> and the surrounding good birding areas just south of <strong>Alicante</strong>, I paid a brief visit to <strong><a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_natural_del_Marjal_de_Pego-Oliva" target="_blank">Marjal de Pego-Oliva</a></strong> a smallish but very undisturbed little reserve nr the village of <strong>Pego</strong>. Here I finally caught up with my first <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audouin's_gull" target="_blank">Audouin's Gulls</a></strong> of the trip. <br />
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Restricted to the Med and N.Africa this is one of the rarest gulls in the world with around 10,000 prs, but on the East coast of Spain they can be seen quite readily. My hurried pic at Pego was useless ...this is a better one taken some days later along the <strong>Segura River</strong> at <strong>Guadamar.</strong><br />
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<strong>Pego</strong> itself is a small hillside town that I didn't go into (it looked a bit exclusive!) but the reed fringed reserve was just a delight to walk around. All the usual birds were here and I got my first <strong>Wood Sandpiper,</strong> broke some records for numbers .. like appx 50 <strong>Bluethroats</strong> and maybe 200 <strong>Chiffchaffs</strong> in the wet fields and reeds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1utegl5HAlToWnLbRA4EYzLZv4Dw3q-hibX1X3tG9rMKjN627T-DDN2kaYqBZe8UX-dcZtItzQ81zQz4Cu2Xu2dwXdQjBSIKXLNUoXTcKFRFkMLIfT7zdPUJnf8Rh146YWbWBNIa0oDT/s1600/20150201-pego2_1feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1utegl5HAlToWnLbRA4EYzLZv4Dw3q-hibX1X3tG9rMKjN627T-DDN2kaYqBZe8UX-dcZtItzQ81zQz4Cu2Xu2dwXdQjBSIKXLNUoXTcKFRFkMLIfT7zdPUJnf8Rh146YWbWBNIa0oDT/s1600/20150201-pego2_1feb2015.jpg" height="400" title="Pego, village spain, reedbeds, parc naturel" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Pego & surrounding reedbeds (1/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK2eHZIRhntYsm1b0c7ytje2jIDFyOqD08QgZIXbVnG-1-1i_AaBWXtAhKycgNAHziP_7G-XFunptwLsj-r1M0Ea2-NDupCM7KLoVXz4FngsTQ0SZ7fGvY1Jq23lFnKSMO8y7r7FMmo4Y/s1600/pego+reeds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK2eHZIRhntYsm1b0c7ytje2jIDFyOqD08QgZIXbVnG-1-1i_AaBWXtAhKycgNAHziP_7G-XFunptwLsj-r1M0Ea2-NDupCM7KLoVXz4FngsTQ0SZ7fGvY1Jq23lFnKSMO8y7r7FMmo4Y/s1600/pego+reeds.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marjal de Pego-Oliva</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7qM_pewC2ksEMkxkKxASH3-LrpTILcYOwOURAS-gx_qc95u6coDSzzsWg_eDLfb1DZcfi92NAYOg8RiY5Z0vhLJnIdmlpJe4TiaIk-dZBjzPleaQwfuxj5lKiUf9tEP1-xm3dHuRhh_W/s1600/20150202_IMG_999_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain, road trip" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7qM_pewC2ksEMkxkKxASH3-LrpTILcYOwOURAS-gx_qc95u6coDSzzsWg_eDLfb1DZcfi92NAYOg8RiY5Z0vhLJnIdmlpJe4TiaIk-dZBjzPleaQwfuxj5lKiUf9tEP1-xm3dHuRhh_W/s1600/20150202_IMG_999_12.JPG" height="266" title="pego, marjal, parc naturel, barca, boat, reeds" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>In amongst the reeds at Marjal / Pego reserve... a great spot for lunch!</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB88vea2jschoaFvP4Tisv73FiABP6LcAiU3Fa71o7ObxQmKcvQlw449RF3Xt4-OKIalZpmR62_MtGImYfn6r0-NXMHkEeAptpFtLAexXrgmAHBhQyCIlJ27I0_xR_0y64ra5AEdRW8Sh0/s1600/20150202-marsh+harriers+mobbing3_pego_2feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB88vea2jschoaFvP4Tisv73FiABP6LcAiU3Fa71o7ObxQmKcvQlw449RF3Xt4-OKIalZpmR62_MtGImYfn6r0-NXMHkEeAptpFtLAexXrgmAHBhQyCIlJ27I0_xR_0y64ra5AEdRW8Sh0/s1600/20150202-marsh+harriers+mobbing3_pego_2feb2015.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harriers encircling and mobbing a Booted Eagle, Marjal-Oliva (02/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I counted a total of 6 <strong>Marsh Harriers</strong> here and at one point they were all in the air together, calling and shrieking like demented <em>harpies. </em>I've rarely heard them call and this was an exceptional racket ... I later figured out after seeing a departing and very harassed big bird that they were in fact all mobbing a grounded <strong>Booted Eagle</strong>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2ocVqOuLGMpjr99Ep73vONIL9sv6nymjbmK2TwPEh8Wq7ZXvN5BO9JUH4a7OczZjrXHy-PhkNVgaUvxTeJgXdbho_QYI0Xeyn6nGvq6zCim6jDmTAVSyRCMJOIlgqV0S21OPBgqmR21Z/s1600/20150202-marsh+harriers+mobbing_pego_2feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2ocVqOuLGMpjr99Ep73vONIL9sv6nymjbmK2TwPEh8Wq7ZXvN5BO9JUH4a7OczZjrXHy-PhkNVgaUvxTeJgXdbho_QYI0Xeyn6nGvq6zCim6jDmTAVSyRCMJOIlgqV0S21OPBgqmR21Z/s1600/20150202-marsh+harriers+mobbing_pego_2feb2015.jpg" height="356" width="400" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier calling / mobbing behaviour, Marjal-Oliva (02/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K0DbIxfEkaEPklRjrSyEZdtZT6ETrNmoYG3ryOFwBXTMVd08QNtxtPfTNQ1GYqJM6J-KHFcEpC1ot6vq6tc86SS__PUu79-VZt-k6AFDfNJChlq5Xr3Oo2EoGbZCm1CptVdfXNr-rHnC/s1600/20150202-booted+eagle3_pego_2feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain, road trip" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K0DbIxfEkaEPklRjrSyEZdtZT6ETrNmoYG3ryOFwBXTMVd08QNtxtPfTNQ1GYqJM6J-KHFcEpC1ot6vq6tc86SS__PUu79-VZt-k6AFDfNJChlq5Xr3Oo2EoGbZCm1CptVdfXNr-rHnC/s1600/20150202-booted+eagle3_pego_2feb2015.jpg" height="266" title="Booted Eagle, perched, raptor, eagle" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Booted Eagle, Pego / Marjal. (2/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Booted Eagles</strong> themselves are relatively common around the whole area and always great to see cruising around but perched they tend to look a bit 'scruffy'!<br />
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Not in the least bit scruffy is this splendid quartet of smaller birds that are all showing well on this stretch of the<strong> Costa Blanca</strong> at the moment ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXTQYZcKYdbL94EuBiDghoPkw9LKpDxFknT7YxMQ9PH8bLmiXZcDAGOjS_o7mO1tyLEAxE3dnrrgvAYKfIcWqa0bm6GG6AiaDLnfWRfw893Hh4wr9kOqJeo0RQHkwTMVnbsBdSdeRJkD4/s1600/20150205-gg+shrike2_el+pinet_5feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXTQYZcKYdbL94EuBiDghoPkw9LKpDxFknT7YxMQ9PH8bLmiXZcDAGOjS_o7mO1tyLEAxE3dnrrgvAYKfIcWqa0bm6GG6AiaDLnfWRfw893Hh4wr9kOqJeo0RQHkwTMVnbsBdSdeRJkD4/s1600/20150205-gg+shrike2_el+pinet_5feb2015.jpg" height="640" width="498" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great Grey Shrike, El Pinet (04/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vnFdtNXaR-DnDKc0fMdKMmI-LFf-U2bXCaUbw5Vd2EBF3Ny69N7SB3oPWRrAF5ntUoxmHZhyNe8n7pof77m-zXpbWTd8PZQVZi_IgJk-kZyWK0Igrqu_afZthC5sNlwAX6sUReBMLH_C/s1600/20150209-bluethroat_siguera+river_9feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vnFdtNXaR-DnDKc0fMdKMmI-LFf-U2bXCaUbw5Vd2EBF3Ny69N7SB3oPWRrAF5ntUoxmHZhyNe8n7pof77m-zXpbWTd8PZQVZi_IgJk-kZyWK0Igrqu_afZthC5sNlwAX6sUReBMLH_C/s1600/20150209-bluethroat_siguera+river_9feb2015.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bluethroat, Segura River (09/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lFyde_lzlNALloFK5yVKpcsS_wY1PLa7DVUEn8KX01a8QT42am2GyfUGGCcDrhG_sTxnX-xO1-35_DMnkX9LQ8N21WF5VDyhYEOmPZ8k3Rv1gD-rqJOojyI0khhRdLBuxUEyqRC36B5U/s1600/20150210-dartford+warbler_el+pinet_10feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lFyde_lzlNALloFK5yVKpcsS_wY1PLa7DVUEn8KX01a8QT42am2GyfUGGCcDrhG_sTxnX-xO1-35_DMnkX9LQ8N21WF5VDyhYEOmPZ8k3Rv1gD-rqJOojyI0khhRdLBuxUEyqRC36B5U/s1600/20150210-dartford+warbler_el+pinet_10feb2015.jpg" height="400" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dartford Warbler, El Pinet (10/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEQhy-2e5GVASS9_ImZjSLTrXUHbL3OGMr1pJQ37mNQrBOiGzTovd-SQaLBsuAP2rD6TZj_AfTyXfTbmM6DI_sZ-2eg04LOaVbrPABqnUO-XU5T-NCWDPRlw06NMqDlKNlyI5i3O6ksIG/s1600/20150206-bn+grebe_el+pinet_6feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, roadtrip, spain, 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEQhy-2e5GVASS9_ImZjSLTrXUHbL3OGMr1pJQ37mNQrBOiGzTovd-SQaLBsuAP2rD6TZj_AfTyXfTbmM6DI_sZ-2eg04LOaVbrPABqnUO-XU5T-NCWDPRlw06NMqDlKNlyI5i3O6ksIG/s1600/20150206-bn+grebe_el+pinet_6feb2015.jpg" height="426" title="Black Necked Grebe, winter plumage, spain, santa pola, el pinet, salt pans" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Necked Grebe beginning to emerge from Winter plumage, El Pinet (06/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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Its been a bit of a strange 10 days or so down here but also strangely relaxing. The weather for one has been literally blowing hot & cold, with alternate blustery cold winds one day and then calm and sunny the next. I've found a bit of a spot alongside the <strong>Santa Pola salt pans</strong> and apart from brief excursions to some of the nearby hotspots I haven't done a lot and in many ways just realized that I'm on holiday and don't <em>need</em> to do much!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigubXSrCdhNOveWZwtYfrzO7K413xmXqKMjOEupMguMp1p9Xa2z0kSrkYkAhkVfTBmLVZzn-3RJ8g7pxk1Ej2I-NbUlO917Z0DGr2suhgEg5zGBIhn_vcKgODz0_hFntDXBusQ2Vwt1Hka/s1600/motorhomes+bonnet+to+bumper_el+pinet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigubXSrCdhNOveWZwtYfrzO7K413xmXqKMjOEupMguMp1p9Xa2z0kSrkYkAhkVfTBmLVZzn-3RJ8g7pxk1Ej2I-NbUlO917Z0DGr2suhgEg5zGBIhn_vcKgODz0_hFntDXBusQ2Vwt1Hka/s1600/motorhomes+bonnet+to+bumper_el+pinet.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a>Strange to see so many other motorhomes .. Brits, Dutch, Germans all parked together 'bonnet to bumper' in the usual convenient but unattractive places.<br />
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With a bit of effort (going the extra mile?), your very own spot and a view similar to mine not difficult!<br />
(both images lifted from <strong><em>Google Earth panoramio.</em></strong><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwgVLJ2SAKoKenBTqcNVT12CI96j06X6wabWOP0TyLSVqid69bLw9MMtcTg1tJhjnynPHVZDqqyliCzYi06Hw58vpajAocZ7lAi3AhXygV8PlQufEUOSMRPgVPoiILn6hK2d0SdrR8cG0/s1600/83081641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwgVLJ2SAKoKenBTqcNVT12CI96j06X6wabWOP0TyLSVqid69bLw9MMtcTg1tJhjnynPHVZDqqyliCzYi06Hw58vpajAocZ7lAi3AhXygV8PlQufEUOSMRPgVPoiILn6hK2d0SdrR8cG0/s1600/83081641.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Santa Pola saltpans and my base for 10 days or so.</strong></td></tr>
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Not strange but a thorough waste of time .. I stupidly left my wallet on a counter top in a shop in Alicante but actually thought I'd lost it or had it pinched. The whole business of stopping one card, a phone call to VISA to arrange some emergency cash and a tedious conversation with an automaton I was never entirely sure was human was ameliorated somewhat by an email from <strong>Yorkshire Wildlife Trust</strong> to say that the shop owner had found said wallet in the shop (they'd found my YWT email address in the wallet.. good thinking guys!). I'd lost the will to live after stopping 1 card with VISA so thankfully I was able to access funds from another account and just transfer money. Just as well too .. got a call a full 4 days later to say that my emergency cash had been authorised. On my own in a foreign country with 4 euros in my pocket, begging for food / money could have been a reality! Cheers VISA ... bet you're not so keen for me to complete that customer satisfaction survey now are you!! Count to 3, breathe and ..... relax ....and let it go .....YOU USELESS VISA BOTS!!!<br />
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Strangely relaxing waiting around for the early Spring migrants to start returning ( there's already been a trickle of <strong>Yellow Wags</strong> and <strong>Sand Martins) </strong>and just taking it all in. Here's a few more from my ramblings along saltpan alleys, reed beds and dirt tracks ...<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5WS5T2HdVvUyMNjmU4GmldkRNr4CWZtRgyABYx0nZ57TtTly6eFSnmDAy_AmF33GkOot8lM5UzFFCwzNFxkrN7lky0e6LE6B70SYlVG_WpzcZHt7FJqseD4zay8nu5AFMnFko2lJuUek/s1600/20150210-sb+gull2_el+pinet_10feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain, 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5WS5T2HdVvUyMNjmU4GmldkRNr4CWZtRgyABYx0nZ57TtTly6eFSnmDAy_AmF33GkOot8lM5UzFFCwzNFxkrN7lky0e6LE6B70SYlVG_WpzcZHt7FJqseD4zay8nu5AFMnFko2lJuUek/s1600/20150210-sb+gull2_el+pinet_10feb2015.jpg" height="391" title="Slender Billed Gull, breeding plumage, rosy, Spain, " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Slender Billed Gull, El Pinet (10/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Slender Billed Gulls</strong>, one of 10 or so at El Pinet, now developing that glorious rosy tinge on their breeding plumage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhpt9l9DBDrXrsZSK26Ejmq8iJuDE3NFCiOmqLkH54YAYSPafgD8GGAi8AixK8Leh_sKDsDroHPJIqvynOj5ZKiM9510I6_mwUY_EFSTYkcfkoqsPJKkg7aFT9cyYexny-aXs2rTn-cCN/s1600/20150210-sb+gull_el+pinet_10feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhpt9l9DBDrXrsZSK26Ejmq8iJuDE3NFCiOmqLkH54YAYSPafgD8GGAi8AixK8Leh_sKDsDroHPJIqvynOj5ZKiM9510I6_mwUY_EFSTYkcfkoqsPJKkg7aFT9cyYexny-aXs2rTn-cCN/s1600/20150210-sb+gull_el+pinet_10feb2015.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Slender Billed Gull, El Pinet (10/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Prickly Pear</strong> bearing fruit and other emerging plant / wild flowers, some of which I've managed to identify some not (I'm on holiday!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbJwM4iYPgp3n434DFOM-J9PHtVR1c7UVcDXkG5ODSv2UCot5ulPwYK4mT-G8LDmeWT7CholHqgJzJ6ANJOp5DYVGS6kbaZ-omx9w7r9xonP2JtJ1qfeCQkqpB7OakLwurC9r8Js3BFz6/s1600/20150202-prickly+pear_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbJwM4iYPgp3n434DFOM-J9PHtVR1c7UVcDXkG5ODSv2UCot5ulPwYK4mT-G8LDmeWT7CholHqgJzJ6ANJOp5DYVGS6kbaZ-omx9w7r9xonP2JtJ1qfeCQkqpB7OakLwurC9r8Js3BFz6/s1600/20150202-prickly+pear_pego_feb2015.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Prickly Pear, Pego (02/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbqJWYAATQPVfL5_JeWNNRs0LE5699xJOJgNW_r4QrNv2RwHzX1fQxYPFVBAqNGtESI6z8rZcTC27pSeML44BxYVs9rX345JmJaIUFRwNK8Q9MCOkWYtaGTrtuOYqUq3kMUaa-uiKVnim/s1600/flower+sp2_el+pinet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbqJWYAATQPVfL5_JeWNNRs0LE5699xJOJgNW_r4QrNv2RwHzX1fQxYPFVBAqNGtESI6z8rZcTC27pSeML44BxYVs9rX345JmJaIUFRwNK8Q9MCOkWYtaGTrtuOYqUq3kMUaa-uiKVnim/s1600/flower+sp2_el+pinet.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mediterranean Storksbill, El Pinet (13/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeKEoAu24OiufOVNAqSAxp5wJRkB5Og2uSkkAGFKA72alcySttKrjr472ml5avxE_G01a4I4J4GFOKVW7YxXHeuWf0K1tc0Hz7teKM-t0oFbGeOXPKeBXSNIjiM11D9XicgZ7ZOI4uwGu/s1600/20150213_IMG_999_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeKEoAu24OiufOVNAqSAxp5wJRkB5Og2uSkkAGFKA72alcySttKrjr472ml5avxE_G01a4I4J4GFOKVW7YxXHeuWf0K1tc0Hz7teKM-t0oFbGeOXPKeBXSNIjiM11D9XicgZ7ZOI4uwGu/s1600/20150213_IMG_999_4.JPG" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mediterranean Ragged Robin?</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA9Q6Zp2x7KJyc8szz9XdRh1qMe_CssOImb6ss5jv02N5xk0iY_aQ-JFHkT8qO7IV6I7rQpKq6U2MQXuPWqbuGDrJUxK-geDzEIBUrNCo8zADhAlzjGwK_0sHBnQLhSp1FWrjJpBLLQBQ/s1600/Bermuda+buttercup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA9Q6Zp2x7KJyc8szz9XdRh1qMe_CssOImb6ss5jv02N5xk0iY_aQ-JFHkT8qO7IV6I7rQpKq6U2MQXuPWqbuGDrJUxK-geDzEIBUrNCo8zADhAlzjGwK_0sHBnQLhSp1FWrjJpBLLQBQ/s1600/Bermuda+buttercup2.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bermuda Buttercup ... an invasive but attractive & its everywhere!</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qMFdRTyAxqiLy30qS6iDwSx1MND7tTZsqCsdjvPaTEcmSQ0Ywmy4Q4qusAann503fvthtQiiDsB3UNBnD4YCz_so0cgIwGB3sNHhzNHgLhEMmR7nHr19EhP4XIndPjoeDZm6BcmZXTEy/s1600/flower+sp_el+pinet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qMFdRTyAxqiLy30qS6iDwSx1MND7tTZsqCsdjvPaTEcmSQ0Ywmy4Q4qusAann503fvthtQiiDsB3UNBnD4YCz_so0cgIwGB3sNHhzNHgLhEMmR7nHr19EhP4XIndPjoeDZm6BcmZXTEy/s1600/flower+sp_el+pinet.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Onion Weed ... another escapee from Western European gardens</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sweetpea sp?</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqc7rlzRr8fOQliD9KGr-VeyqoFOr67GnjX4h-adTFh4GghQWfnyshDNOdaxxWhHFFG3PTXLr0TrH1FD7t9-MLTljyQ81BQQKTlbb5uJ1luzs0R8O_AmoTdaOe068hj-8VbhzKiwDgVmo/s1600/20150202-flower+sp2_pego_feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAL2ear-tZ9Z4CGuZqONPVh6IT2L99XjhxVDC99WeV5YUlaN9K8Udihvap6go4k0Y_IDHrURrpcyp4Psm4rlmrfJoyR9u5xJgk3eKPEeMNoRKM9ioeEx-FjAw0EaW4rIA9FHT0IXPDMmY/s1600/20150206-osprey1_el+pinet_6feb2015.jpg" height="266" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" unselectable="on" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Osprey with a fish, Santa Pola saltpans (06/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAL2ear-tZ9Z4CGuZqONPVh6IT2L99XjhxVDC99WeV5YUlaN9K8Udihvap6go4k0Y_IDHrURrpcyp4Psm4rlmrfJoyR9u5xJgk3eKPEeMNoRKM9ioeEx-FjAw0EaW4rIA9FHT0IXPDMmY/s1600/20150206-osprey1_el+pinet_6feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>One of a pair of <strong>Ospreys</strong> that were hunting over the <strong>Santa Pola Saltpans</strong>... distant shots the both but you can clearly see this one has been successful!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDrLcDLyWGE_7_tbQy64UrW7o899yQRdifQIL_Y8xSeysZAq4tvXS-xSHB1fJyYxt2jRJHHKJSHUBLS64ssCyC3zQ88jdjxxXmI3eRpV1JV3l1_eAPCaD-nktRmdTwX5GZ9o2o29nVojr/s1600/20150206-osprey3_el+pinet_6feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDrLcDLyWGE_7_tbQy64UrW7o899yQRdifQIL_Y8xSeysZAq4tvXS-xSHB1fJyYxt2jRJHHKJSHUBLS64ssCyC3zQ88jdjxxXmI3eRpV1JV3l1_eAPCaD-nktRmdTwX5GZ9o2o29nVojr/s1600/20150206-osprey3_el+pinet_6feb2015.jpg" height="353" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Osprey with a fish, Santa Pola saltpans (06/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6avAIJb5mcw_Hok0ypMoKXGpV_xIgugn0utLkak7Zj407gBDY4ftBQmECi0yeb818N-qaBfh_oklpo3HKxAYn2dDq3dlLi41BSeG1E4UuLcvQwoJSo-2fyCN-v1ctptkqMlZM97czt7y/s1600/20150204-white+headed+duck_el+fondo_4feb2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6avAIJb5mcw_Hok0ypMoKXGpV_xIgugn0utLkak7Zj407gBDY4ftBQmECi0yeb818N-qaBfh_oklpo3HKxAYn2dDq3dlLi41BSeG1E4UuLcvQwoJSo-2fyCN-v1ctptkqMlZM97czt7y/s1600/20150204-white+headed+duck_el+fondo_4feb2015.jpg" height="285" title="White Headed Duck, El Fondo, Spain, endangered, " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>White Headed Duck still in eclipse plumage, El Fondo (04/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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This was first <strong>White Headed Duck</strong> I'd seen in Spain for nigh on 25 yrs! <br />
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They are in fact fairly numerous at <strong>El Fondo</strong> but the Spanish population is down to about 2,500 individuals with habitat loss, shooting and the hybridisation with the non native <strong>North American Ruddy Duck</strong> the main causes for decline.<br />
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Across the road on the <strong>Santa Pola</strong> side I estimated about 1300 <strong>Greater Flamingoes</strong> stretching out into the distance like a pinky white wave of confetti across the salt pans. On my side of the road there were never more than 30 or so but they were very entertaining at times ....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8V1Pj2KBN-wvcA7sE88sHl8CAt6FAGFwuXggzJnjGGBm6c1gZnexVaLXESG70l8f8HQ-cpvLEST-PU2SLSEa3TFN7FxpuKLpm_y3P7TxWdgZme_j8lWUXcUbfOXUDfmv4I1zEBnzlnmn/s1600/flamingoes2_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8V1Pj2KBN-wvcA7sE88sHl8CAt6FAGFwuXggzJnjGGBm6c1gZnexVaLXESG70l8f8HQ-cpvLEST-PU2SLSEa3TFN7FxpuKLpm_y3P7TxWdgZme_j8lWUXcUbfOXUDfmv4I1zEBnzlnmn/s1600/flamingoes2_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" height="400" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greater Flamingo agro, El Pinet (13/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYJz6yiQZ7awFOqzUGddgBhHeZ_UbK0HYdaMC1mb3QhubF19OjMHwdqP8E4sskbzC7GtqC-1zRCC2g1wGUkpuxiXnre4exAQl8NbdAgad281_13-ULIZ41bF1ZCo0y3cu-h899QgsMtgZ/s1600/flamingoes_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYJz6yiQZ7awFOqzUGddgBhHeZ_UbK0HYdaMC1mb3QhubF19OjMHwdqP8E4sskbzC7GtqC-1zRCC2g1wGUkpuxiXnre4exAQl8NbdAgad281_13-ULIZ41bF1ZCo0y3cu-h899QgsMtgZ/s1600/flamingoes_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greater Flamingo agro, El Pinet (13/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Og4kbohJEI2urjuKkM91S-mP1acyrncs_R6sgjBeMHq2XZxBlpVsvCUG8fXpZRiQqXkvXgKYXId6bT31Fj3N0lyE4IdkqymeDH1F_L4Oe5YfVSqiVnBvpCMy9ZKuhlnwnjOw5fXV2YRl/s1600/flamingoes3_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Og4kbohJEI2urjuKkM91S-mP1acyrncs_R6sgjBeMHq2XZxBlpVsvCUG8fXpZRiQqXkvXgKYXId6bT31Fj3N0lyE4IdkqymeDH1F_L4Oe5YfVSqiVnBvpCMy9ZKuhlnwnjOw5fXV2YRl/s1600/flamingoes3_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" height="355" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greater Flamingo agro, El Pinet (13/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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So yesterday morning (14th Feb) things came full circle with another trip out to<strong> El Fondo</strong> for the weekly 1/2 day opening of the best parts of the reserve. I can't believe and don't understand the restrictive public access to this wonderful place (with some help and advice from the Wildlife Trusts or the RSPB, <strong>Comunidad Valenciana</strong> could make a killing and secure much needed funds to preserve the wildlife of this under threat environment!) ... anyway, less of the political (I'm on holiday!) <strong>Greater Spotted Eagle</strong> spotted again but the pics turned out to be rubbish, <strong>3 House Martins, 1 Red Rumped Swallow</strong> and 1 <strong>Barn Swallow</strong> this morning at <strong>El</strong> <strong>Pinet</strong> are all good early returning migrants and although not a migrant and sadly no pic (they're a bugger!), my first ever<strong> Richard's Pipit</strong> flushed from my little patch at <strong>El Pinet</strong> .... been a bogey bird for me for years that one!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1E1O3ibWBiZo13R1lsReOTKawYaztmlq55u0DNskXtO-EgVD9ALom4nUyzjtxW4DG7c8tqWSNekrTkd2Yf2QOncIXOLmRpGX6CR_yyWIyoY0Dkwb6ebozJavOxNyvmbUlaf4TCEelGGl/s1600/gpc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1E1O3ibWBiZo13R1lsReOTKawYaztmlq55u0DNskXtO-EgVD9ALom4nUyzjtxW4DG7c8tqWSNekrTkd2Yf2QOncIXOLmRpGX6CR_yyWIyoY0Dkwb6ebozJavOxNyvmbUlaf4TCEelGGl/s1600/gpc.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Graham Critchell, Spain birding guide.</strong></td></tr>
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It was good to meet up again with <strong>Graham</strong> and <strong>Gordon</strong> and may I take this opportunity to thank both for their tips and tricks for birding around this bit of the <strong>Costa Blanca</strong>. <strong>Graham Critchell</strong> is probably no stranger to birders in the area but to anyone wishing to experience bird watching of the highest quality with an experienced guide here he is.....<a href="http://www.finesystem.co.uk/birdwatchingcostablanca/guide.html" target="_blank"><strong>Graham Critchell</strong></a><br />
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Other birds around here not mentioned above include a roving flock of <strong>Stone Curlew</strong> and a very average ney disappointing pic! <strong>Greenshank</strong> (2), <strong>Redshank</strong> (2), <strong>Avocet</strong> (c450 on te Santa Pola side), <strong>Kentish & Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Little Stint, Black Tailed Godwits</strong> (c150 Santa Pola), <strong>Black Winged Stilt, Curlew</strong> (not many) <strong>Whimbrel</strong> (1), <strong>Common & Green Sandpiper, Shelduck</strong> (100s), a pair of distant <strong>Bonellis Eagles, Meadow Pipits</strong> (c60), <strong>Stonechat, Audouin's Gull</strong> (single numbers) and a resident and very noisy <strong>Little Owl</strong>!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCmWXjKbOCZMWDTHoofk6ObC7vc9legi2bTGT1nduYnEE8lnPP3e6UTgD0YD3ALPvHb0-7gkG7tNxsGWeSzXTigPgPliqJ0YyXRmP_2_nhENT_AvJ6rjZ_-64EGTBfX4e_i8ZQXZP02oV/s1600/stone+curlew_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCmWXjKbOCZMWDTHoofk6ObC7vc9legi2bTGT1nduYnEE8lnPP3e6UTgD0YD3ALPvHb0-7gkG7tNxsGWeSzXTigPgPliqJ0YyXRmP_2_nhENT_AvJ6rjZ_-64EGTBfX4e_i8ZQXZP02oV/s1600/stone+curlew_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" height="327" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stone Curlew flying past, El Pinet (13/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxTL0y7KPAv9qM4fT1wHFPShKMe9xflniGHamWWWMxaWWyG5CZboLzjLgh01RLBaFXvh-Xhj0szQ1z7uYelbVzEOC68THa_CJCsyNVTil0v8K6NRN_bReEHIOqCAk1jEQfDpLIxKcUORv/s1600/avocet_el+pinet_6feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxTL0y7KPAv9qM4fT1wHFPShKMe9xflniGHamWWWMxaWWyG5CZboLzjLgh01RLBaFXvh-Xhj0szQ1z7uYelbVzEOC68THa_CJCsyNVTil0v8K6NRN_bReEHIOqCAk1jEQfDpLIxKcUORv/s1600/avocet_el+pinet_6feb2015.JPG" height="301" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Avocet, El Pinet (06/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LCEoId1JtOsbvBgCJmT0EdXU7xTx4HaRg8iKbTiZbL-LIyxTf_NCHNRU-Jh6vwaoVHvgqd7m___hxk0aAIrWApCZX1sCNHvqa5lsFzwJqMZOMKcz_8Gbn0F424RfIOy-XMXJ3pkXpeYt/s1600/shelduck_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="timbobagginsabroad, spain, road trip, 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LCEoId1JtOsbvBgCJmT0EdXU7xTx4HaRg8iKbTiZbL-LIyxTf_NCHNRU-Jh6vwaoVHvgqd7m___hxk0aAIrWApCZX1sCNHvqa5lsFzwJqMZOMKcz_8Gbn0F424RfIOy-XMXJ3pkXpeYt/s1600/shelduck_el+pinet_13feb2015.JPG" height="425" title="shelduck, male, breeding, red knob, spain" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>That's one fit Shelduck!, El Pinet (13/02/2015)</strong></td></tr>
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Ok that's me for another week, I've already moved on ... currently in some cracking <strong>Steppe</strong> lands around <strong>Petrola</strong> and already have <strong>Great Bustards</strong> in the bag ... next post ok!</div>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-69248837885717159972015-02-07T10:15:00.003-08:002015-02-09T10:44:58.618-08:00Back to the mountains and blown away all the way back! Morella, Ares del Maestre, Cabanes & Alberfura.Seems a bit strange to say but I got a little tired of tramping around rice fields full of birds at Ebro. I don't know if it was the lack of relief, the shooting or just the sameness of it all, or a combination of all 3 plus a dash of 'itchy feet',... I just fancied going back into the mountains to see if the conditions were less harsh and the birds more plentiful - they weren't on both fronts!<br />
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Anyway, I shouldn't moan, here's the places covered in this posting - <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aPE7hNDnu3DM2My_s3YVbkm8Ac2fJXVD0fiI5zbgSlSr1TNaXvIlip6_OTB4js9ZgfF4LH8weqwD4276lAK9LgZvqvc091ecx6CBxauAau1ahruTqRioZBPmsDqrMLAwL4axhfS35FUt/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aPE7hNDnu3DM2My_s3YVbkm8Ac2fJXVD0fiI5zbgSlSr1TNaXvIlip6_OTB4js9ZgfF4LH8weqwD4276lAK9LgZvqvc091ecx6CBxauAau1ahruTqRioZBPmsDqrMLAwL4axhfS35FUt/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="411" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>9:Ebro Delta 10:Morella 11:Ares 12:Prat de Cabanes 13:Alberfura</strong></td></tr>
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Don't let the blue skies deceive you, the high towns of <strong>Morella</strong> and <strong>Ares Del Maestre</strong> were feisty cold and more than bracy windy! They were however uniquely Spanish and beautiful places. <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morella,_Castell%C3%B3n" target="_blank">Morella</a></strong> was cited in one of my guide books as a good base for exploring the <em><strong>Meastrat</strong></em> region. The place took me completely by surprise as I rounded and a bend and saw this ....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBusL_UdXum5tR-AICs5JFNpe6cKTCwvQNwzxtv-fSYBUIfr4lORaqDj_8RG_YzgVLYiuZ16ikeZxf17lgkffs5P0jki9kVPww2u10faYtMvDIGegFBuDZW_2JAp0lZl538Xas7Sni1VTg/s1600/morella2_25jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBusL_UdXum5tR-AICs5JFNpe6cKTCwvQNwzxtv-fSYBUIfr4lORaqDj_8RG_YzgVLYiuZ16ikeZxf17lgkffs5P0jki9kVPww2u10faYtMvDIGegFBuDZW_2JAp0lZl538Xas7Sni1VTg/s1600/morella2_25jan2015.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Morella, Castellon</strong></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg775Bzhokg4LAZLaZCukVkaOprTrFgGPwVX1A4vAJofWITmxroIsowfYzsCAeRq5G8gVox-tBvKT_k5Je3z9Kt4U7wSb-7VQq9I3glJopcSSwY9kWro6czLt8XQ24Bksr6uwff3yA4VITv/s1600/morella_25jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg775Bzhokg4LAZLaZCukVkaOprTrFgGPwVX1A4vAJofWITmxroIsowfYzsCAeRq5G8gVox-tBvKT_k5Je3z9Kt4U7wSb-7VQq9I3glJopcSSwY9kWro6czLt8XQ24Bksr6uwff3yA4VITv/s1600/morella_25jan2015.JPG" height="253" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Morella, Castellon (back of the town)</strong></td></tr>
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Some info <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morella,_Castell%C3%B3n" target="_blank">here on the wiki </a></strong>if you want it on this ancient walled city and its strategic influence between the <strong>Ebro</strong> and the coastal plains of <strong>Valencia</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3ifRpFUNI8xsfGBd3oOc2eMcFQIw3aMXSFf5yLGCjDSX6cya_oM7wmz2W2n5P0Y1EnI_AWcOiKLTlOd0BsqQwT1HdsUnKWSYUrQf5WZjA-F55azKrQxWyeRTZsUEWV4LCqQGCwxOtYah/s1600/icicles+at+Morella_25jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3ifRpFUNI8xsfGBd3oOc2eMcFQIw3aMXSFf5yLGCjDSX6cya_oM7wmz2W2n5P0Y1EnI_AWcOiKLTlOd0BsqQwT1HdsUnKWSYUrQf5WZjA-F55azKrQxWyeRTZsUEWV4LCqQGCwxOtYah/s1600/icicles+at+Morella_25jan2015.JPG" height="320" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Icicles on the north side of Morella</strong></td></tr>
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Like I said, it was cold up there and on the north side even colder, and with a force 6 or 7 blowing, totally useless for any kind of wildlife watching, so I did what us Brits do best and had a day out shopping!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXHdX2ZJlA3wMm3YzhB30Q7XQDJ0wuwArkMTHAUG3c6eN2K5L_ZUXKr_0Olm-85dzGDrLaJrRI_kdOuL6mFrqST0d_juwkbgNnNlVMyZ2b6-cjfbXTTW13qg0hg9BIxXvTlRx-00Xc5_3/s1600/morella.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXHdX2ZJlA3wMm3YzhB30Q7XQDJ0wuwArkMTHAUG3c6eN2K5L_ZUXKr_0Olm-85dzGDrLaJrRI_kdOuL6mFrqST0d_juwkbgNnNlVMyZ2b6-cjfbXTTW13qg0hg9BIxXvTlRx-00Xc5_3/s1600/morella.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Streets of Morella</strong></td></tr>
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Only one street of shops to choose from but I got what I wanted.... some new gloves and another hat, fresh fruit & veg and some pork loins for cooking later, oh and of course a couple of these<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71F0OcFVi_FLXX2GiKstHgoaUXkJ_flmOzUBDKGyLJmrm4mpDWMzTG9SlAw3FV8BSkfpZ_ak8hvnLVxBZtgPL0u2KkoeVz5nuVgNcsVuveOP6TRG4YnU1k_4dq2Nk9qeiYVAPVykHRGC0/s1600/wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71F0OcFVi_FLXX2GiKstHgoaUXkJ_flmOzUBDKGyLJmrm4mpDWMzTG9SlAw3FV8BSkfpZ_ak8hvnLVxBZtgPL0u2KkoeVz5nuVgNcsVuveOP6TRG4YnU1k_4dq2Nk9qeiYVAPVykHRGC0/s1600/wine.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcelcyVCnLABfT99Ii1DeV23Wf7V8JuY5zlY4ahAUMTcIzIplIaVBadF_P5kL4aHWWMDQSih16F2oh1eJylkgnoluQsIQJb8mk_dsYkEhvbN1Nx1j8qiKSr0tJIMuSx75hJJFrOuTH9ISz/s1600/tortitas_de_flaons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcelcyVCnLABfT99Ii1DeV23Wf7V8JuY5zlY4ahAUMTcIzIplIaVBadF_P5kL4aHWWMDQSih16F2oh1eJylkgnoluQsIQJb8mk_dsYkEhvbN1Nx1j8qiKSr0tJIMuSx75hJJFrOuTH9ISz/s1600/tortitas_de_flaons.jpg" height="233" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a>and a bag of some of the most delicious cakes you can get anywhere and a speciality of the Catalans - <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaons" target="_blank">flaons</a></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XkCL3kp7_JbLRY7hix1qwqpnyW9YtX1zc4UUkBM5oU2jJFiEz-30JisauR8W8HyKhrYSvCOKhNqMf1OkE0lvOx7aupaCkk2mqMoHiqHzSkP_TmYuVofkOygghADIUrWc9lQwAHoY1SEy/s1600/morella2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XkCL3kp7_JbLRY7hix1qwqpnyW9YtX1zc4UUkBM5oU2jJFiEz-30JisauR8W8HyKhrYSvCOKhNqMf1OkE0lvOx7aupaCkk2mqMoHiqHzSkP_TmYuVofkOygghADIUrWc9lQwAHoY1SEy/s1600/morella2.JPG" height="272" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Streets of Morella</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfK46VoBX7Ql96CaLWphdDFAUCFWb5XxLp72WIW9bmi8ooj2idcfV2aI9iZ70pVgUh-dTVB9fVBOhvsbeBmRAn9ccBY-eqWKY44BJeFc-WtiSRCFh-fOuwJ-mHpDiVz5BYfWosxzxBm8j/s1600/school+at+morella_25jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfK46VoBX7Ql96CaLWphdDFAUCFWb5XxLp72WIW9bmi8ooj2idcfV2aI9iZ70pVgUh-dTVB9fVBOhvsbeBmRAn9ccBY-eqWKY44BJeFc-WtiSRCFh-fOuwJ-mHpDiVz5BYfWosxzxBm8j/s1600/school+at+morella_25jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfK46VoBX7Ql96CaLWphdDFAUCFWb5XxLp72WIW9bmi8ooj2idcfV2aI9iZ70pVgUh-dTVB9fVBOhvsbeBmRAn9ccBY-eqWKY44BJeFc-WtiSRCFh-fOuwJ-mHpDiVz5BYfWosxzxBm8j/s1600/school+at+morella_25jan2015.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I passed the school and whilst the building itself was totally out of character to the rest of <strong>Morella</strong> I could only wonder how any pupils attention could be held with a view like that for distraction!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Had a couple of <strong>Rock Buntings</strong> on that roof and a new species for the trip!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Next stop another mountain town in the<strong> Maestrat</strong>
area- <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares_del_Maestrat">Ares
del Maestre</a></strong>. One steep road in and one out (the van
handled it like a dream), just as stunning, just as windy, just as
cold, in fact more so. Almost no people, 1 hotel (closed), 1 shop
(thankfully open) and a bar (always open) with internet access and
hot coffee - perfect!.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1NICwqAprVz3JPAAWxI5Ll4z9un67MUIlJrwmcnj_HzKzDP4nLgofUnqhlztXLpbUBs_v1CW4q6aYjl5-usQFvn6mc8LA_qQ_LJDUuQiM3sdOptwU6TOiU92MgpdocxP_h6o2cmLWQ9q/s1600/ares+del+maestra_26jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1NICwqAprVz3JPAAWxI5Ll4z9un67MUIlJrwmcnj_HzKzDP4nLgofUnqhlztXLpbUBs_v1CW4q6aYjl5-usQFvn6mc8LA_qQ_LJDUuQiM3sdOptwU6TOiU92MgpdocxP_h6o2cmLWQ9q/s1600/ares+del+maestra_26jan2015.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ares del Maestre</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ6q1tG20-z3C3zeVDGCfHFElxw6LhFhAJUJeXye5w4oQjq9xmF6u-PMgzKrMErTDcXI05caBO-S4oKWvbQ8OU5G77P9rzALT7OTgDnK4mxkgygcCBhPDi49xVD6HTHcBQNsQJNaJUHBv/s1600/ares+del+maestra+street.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ6q1tG20-z3C3zeVDGCfHFElxw6LhFhAJUJeXye5w4oQjq9xmF6u-PMgzKrMErTDcXI05caBO-S4oKWvbQ8OU5G77P9rzALT7OTgDnK4mxkgygcCBhPDi49xVD6HTHcBQNsQJNaJUHBv/s1600/ares+del+maestra+street.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Deserted streets of Ares</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I took a brief stroll on one of the many paths around the town and
took my life in my hands negotiating sheer drops around every
bend .... silly thing to do in that wind really, I'm no young Gazelle anymore!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomKQAs6AeJvuuVloFnlq_vqlE1hPMHRez78lzyXnlqDFeQZtt9fxArY237dG33HEoUNFsdBouIOyoaGK40rBAt6m1F2f3BAebz-y5GDrrf7vhvyCQ5yPyOWU-ME5ZoXvAJVibAW5BwM22/s1600/moustached2_700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomKQAs6AeJvuuVloFnlq_vqlE1hPMHRez78lzyXnlqDFeQZtt9fxArY237dG33HEoUNFsdBouIOyoaGK40rBAt6m1F2f3BAebz-y5GDrrf7vhvyCQ5yPyOWU-ME5ZoXvAJVibAW5BwM22/s1600/moustached2_700.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So that was that, my second trip up into mountainous
areas and yes you could say I was blown away, and I was by the
scenery but I quickly realised that this is no habitat for warm
bloodied flying things!</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;">Back down to the coast I went, into <strong>Valanciana</strong> region and a place where there are reputedly up to 200 pairs <strong>Moustached Warblers</strong> - <strong>El Prat de Cabanes</strong>. It was less blowy and the habitat superb for the hairy top lipped little ones I've been scouring the reed beds of north-eastern Spain for, but did I see one, did I hell .. 200 pairs my new bobble hat Mr Michael Rebane!) <strong>Cetti's, Fan Tailed, Dartford </strong>and<strong> Sardinian</strong> warblers a plenty but not a sniff of a 'tashed! Never photographed one so its on my list to get this trip. This is what I'm looking for .......(<strong>pic right</strong>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Not to worry, I did get close to not a dozen, not 50, but several hundred <strong>Crag Martins</strong>. This was indeed the place of the Crag and I got close on a perfect pic of one over the reeds .....</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF5Jt1uF1A7FqTttdVTtV4iM_FVS6qH0maX16IQK60xck_rzUagjyarxTD4LUCVUmBPWUq2Syrjo5ni0qhmRHI-RubqeZMrXmeyTL05K2al9rHPuQ-4SWRfTsMrO5PQ4pA08YvJDMibx3/s1600/crag+martin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF5Jt1uF1A7FqTttdVTtV4iM_FVS6qH0maX16IQK60xck_rzUagjyarxTD4LUCVUmBPWUq2Syrjo5ni0qhmRHI-RubqeZMrXmeyTL05K2al9rHPuQ-4SWRfTsMrO5PQ4pA08YvJDMibx3/s1600/crag+martin.JPG" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Crag Martin, Cabanes</strong></td></tr>
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</span>I heard from the UK that there's a huge weather system in the North Atlantic that's been sending in high winds and snow to much of Western Europe and set to dominate for another week at least. Its not particularly cold here but at the risk of repeating myself I'm sure getting the wind. It stops most birds flying about but it don't stop the land so here's a few more landscapes from <strong>Cabanes </strong>...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8piGjls4xqSSZ-NtFeVAayRhbOQ6iECsCFLOukE8QpOsue6ZTMsELMkW2kD31L7UeSPVNl29FAWivo-Qxvca5GAbPV0-lmJaR9rSSEN0n3aWBrOESiQqK9cKM_Sb6VeQlAFbMiWRpAet/s1600/20150128_IMG_999_3.JPG" height="231" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Shingle beach at Cabanes</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUbqnY0Z3upub9y3J5jE9Ner2FuYRaA4CekMnL8OuuOV3NrybZjQEqHc4jJXuT16HJc_FA9cUqGErNqtpmXI4hQpmv1Ujo1Yk3IIFcKIyTpvEJXVXPOMsmYs0BMOZY3mLTNumFNnrnHbZ/s1600/20150128_IMG_999_22.JPG" height="305" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mohicans hiding in the sand? Cabanes</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaS3IlDaVCcFgsCbFJ5YICiSBEc3-xz3VGwvi8rfNVUBHLsVZTZmxLRsIrw5bpmwvmItFt_3vo2pfwUHjW5kS6RxvcNxZ-fkl_JRvcAC4gZSb0LWvVrgQ3k22F8ikBRfxGDB2URbCNhJe/s1600/20150128_IMG_999_6.JPG" height="237" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reed beds at Cabanes</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisT0ToiQs2aRS6uLf3I8UWF1XpBfg3iFH8DWgdZYHNYy0Ko8qlEvryDc2QuClWbbuOJ3ZwGthvX5bP9FSMORfABVUYxOSARPpDfMjRG0AjVsfUsvog6G0-KsZPfQ0eUjjlYmFl_1wLVyHk/s1600/20150128_IMG_999_46.JPG" height="265" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reed bed walkway, Cabanes</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">On the way to the well known and notable wetland areas of <strong>Alberfura </strong>I took a wrong turn (thanks satnav) and ended up in 5 lanes of city centre traffic in <strong>Valencia</strong> itself. Not for the feint hearted and to anyone even slightly tempted to take a motorhome into this madcap place ... just don't do it. It was mayhem! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I just drove out anyway I could, ended up on the motorway to <strong>Madrid</strong> but it didn't matter, I was out. I couldn't because I was driving but felt like both of these after that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Eventually navigated my around to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albufera" target="_blank"><strong>Alberfura</strong> </a>and guess what....</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Alberfura wind</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfWupZVOxfiFH3MFtyGEaWlPldCZ7XuyUxFKVo5XbuincmigsGrLuRm0owf_D9C-sL5uUR-7ULNyNanlINBGZHzdtH4_yOS2TRfPFPhrJJTi2rFRPbcDyqWJ2MIkVYsSbnQrCeatu_BC1/s1600/alabfura+wind2.JPG" height="425" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Alberfura lake in a force 7/8 wind</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">They actually closed the reserve bit whilst I was there because of falling trees. I took shelter best I could and parked on the streets of nearby <strong>El Perolet</strong> for the night but my oh my the van was rocking ... and not just because I was playing my guitar till midnight!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Some degree of calmness in the morning and the rice fields around <strong>El Palmar</strong>, a quaint and relaxing village full of fancy fish restaurants, and a nice place to hang out for a couple of days in the hope of better weather ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Got my second<strong> Merlin</strong> of the trip here so all was not bad. Well hunkered down out of the wind it looked a little forlorn and a trifle exposed , maybe this is a young one, a young male? Not quite good enough to elude my lens but good camouflage oh little falcon!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCy3pyy565WEDCEvPBNUJ3_Msv0QYxtEG5-7sqvkUSzMdcogToAl-aa5byiB14Qpycnu215IVUF4spso_26KtKo6iN1iKp9-iUDO5wfuFMoVuazyZOQBUPs-c5pOEq4cYp-kz5KcGSARh/s1600/merlin_el+palmar_31jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCy3pyy565WEDCEvPBNUJ3_Msv0QYxtEG5-7sqvkUSzMdcogToAl-aa5byiB14Qpycnu215IVUF4spso_26KtKo6iN1iKp9-iUDO5wfuFMoVuazyZOQBUPs-c5pOEq4cYp-kz5KcGSARh/s1600/merlin_el+palmar_31jan2015.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> A nice flock of <strong>Black Tailed Godwits</strong> braving the wind felt like a bonus</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXonGGsnRcaG5grlrhfO9BB_LHyM3wyjmAQjPoezmTqLf4LLHYmuDdGUdf4hzkaZ-8jUq4fwP2GB5ct0N_8QU_O_r6skeA4_GMqtC7TEks9f2DGImZQ86Rv_MyyOhyphenhyphenmgeStzYw0gH4Y4Ga/s1600/black+t+godwits_el+palmar_31jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXonGGsnRcaG5grlrhfO9BB_LHyM3wyjmAQjPoezmTqLf4LLHYmuDdGUdf4hzkaZ-8jUq4fwP2GB5ct0N_8QU_O_r6skeA4_GMqtC7TEks9f2DGImZQ86Rv_MyyOhyphenhyphenmgeStzYw0gH4Y4Ga/s1600/black+t+godwits_el+palmar_31jan2015.JPG" height="376" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Tailed Godwits in flight, El Palmar</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Marsh Harriers</strong> fly anytime they want and almost seem to revel in the extra challenge a strong wind brings. I'd love a Hen Harrier down here and was expecting more after my last trip but I suspect they're all further West from here where there's less disturbance. I'll certainly make do with <em><strong>Marshie's</strong></em> though, especially when they come this close!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvieStjHQlpAIWDKfPB8oq_LOlsMRRc5BEckccPqdkiEpDLtnThPy1j_WhrNnSE9RwjTcvNCLtdLeYukgs0EFboTrF3wdpsEYRzjC5VrbOCITPVYPMe4nFqS5Ja9J3wIrVQ_CxfBE6fuJw/s1600/marsh+harrier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvieStjHQlpAIWDKfPB8oq_LOlsMRRc5BEckccPqdkiEpDLtnThPy1j_WhrNnSE9RwjTcvNCLtdLeYukgs0EFboTrF3wdpsEYRzjC5VrbOCITPVYPMe4nFqS5Ja9J3wIrVQ_CxfBE6fuJw/s1600/marsh+harrier.JPG" height="400" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier, El Palmar</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is such a common site at this time of the year in the rice fields of Spain .... specially designed tractors ploughing the rich chaff back into the wet fields to add nutrients to the ground ready for the planting of more rice in the Spring. Followed at all times by Egrets, Herons and Gulls by the bucket load! For something to do whilst I sat and ate my lunch one day I decided to count all the Heron species in this very field - <strong>62 Grey Herons, 131 Little Egrets and 22 Great White Egrets </strong>in one field<strong>!!</strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbcFPKGGMvwljtH6rmjkBACNMg5XyvYIyihdj06tEa87SzzS5qABQr8uV3pnuQFJmbqdJxOWopHJVespN-n5z1rP54Eu20SlQTf2p3sDBHw7_aLcJjqF9q0iSX69xGoE0Q07nR_k2NK9a/s1600/rice+field_el+palmar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbcFPKGGMvwljtH6rmjkBACNMg5XyvYIyihdj06tEa87SzzS5qABQr8uV3pnuQFJmbqdJxOWopHJVespN-n5z1rP54Eu20SlQTf2p3sDBHw7_aLcJjqF9q0iSX69xGoE0Q07nR_k2NK9a/s1600/rice+field_el+palmar.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Typical rice field in Winter before its ploughed back in, El Palmar.</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've been to some of the best reed bed habitats in <strong>Eastern Spain</strong> and despite the weather I've revelled in them but always, just over the horizon or round the next bend, the spectre of 'urbanization' raises its ugly head. The Spanish have no viable equivalent to the <strong>Wildlife Trusts, RSPB</strong> and the rest that fight hard to maintain wild places where wildlife can flourish and the people can enjoy it, <a href="http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/partners/spain-seobirdlife" target="_blank">SEO</a> (Spain's only viable wildlife organisation is tiny in comparison) and whilst this is the case, bit by bit, this country's wild places will wither and be engulfed and lost. What a Brit abroad, you or anyone can do about this I'm not sure but let's be clear about this, wild places are being lost every single day to the 2 major culprits - intensive farming & urbanisation and I hate to see more of this every time I come back to Spain.....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnShJneUlVDqosP5MEp71vtxYG3evzBEhJz50_gqiknTFOPk2_VPwI62db7EPMQf9VyoHA17vUdQSaeGzwjCqXBTMGFZhR-qw_jFvCXo-jZ67vzvnEg7GlIGKU9PSVfuTzy4e9HKYWHEz/s1600/urbanization+el+saler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnShJneUlVDqosP5MEp71vtxYG3evzBEhJz50_gqiknTFOPk2_VPwI62db7EPMQf9VyoHA17vUdQSaeGzwjCqXBTMGFZhR-qw_jFvCXo-jZ67vzvnEg7GlIGKU9PSVfuTzy4e9HKYWHEz/s1600/urbanization+el+saler.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ok that's me done for another week and apologies for not too many bird pics but this weather! I'll leave you with some of the emerging plant and flower sp that are beginning to emerge here ... only really sure about the first one ....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Salicornia, Glasswort</strong> or <strong>Samphire</strong> ... take your pic on the name but it glows red around here!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAwCNtwfXpR76ftY2Nucm5TxvwmbQ0nrodZOwpzKaWMXh5nTlYQJKkC_mH_kDGngar5sftZRPiAJDicBKs3TtxYxwYJJax0CvyPhAL5U_Goe4qBev0J2og11fmQ6QZa3LWklBXRDM4YVZ/s1600/plant+sp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAwCNtwfXpR76ftY2Nucm5TxvwmbQ0nrodZOwpzKaWMXh5nTlYQJKkC_mH_kDGngar5sftZRPiAJDicBKs3TtxYxwYJJax0CvyPhAL5U_Goe4qBev0J2og11fmQ6QZa3LWklBXRDM4YVZ/s1600/plant+sp.JPG" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">No Idea, will have to look in the book but resembled Gorse.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2YzktwI6hOveEkMPMvF5sv5qjlH-AQPy9dCWAq7EjFRv1bSHqFJovl4uFEx_k5LMrEjIFMDJRUWpyueEfjYPMZiRW6rQcOui7ZKkLRt7VgtnhEzJt-vzD1uNgvEForsL8TDAY5m2b2zo/s1600/plant+sp2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2YzktwI6hOveEkMPMvF5sv5qjlH-AQPy9dCWAq7EjFRv1bSHqFJovl4uFEx_k5LMrEjIFMDJRUWpyueEfjYPMZiRW6rQcOui7ZKkLRt7VgtnhEzJt-vzD1uNgvEForsL8TDAY5m2b2zo/s1600/plant+sp2.JPG" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">and I believe this is a <strong>Mediterranean Liverwort</strong> sp</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyo-hpDPgJs64c5V8N9mTTeVK2qRFg3x4y-J89KSnXk4fs4mw6CWacV9tdggUr0MxwIapZ5pb6mJF2QRNticG0o49Bleqp8EFWTxjrO6XxsccHDJqmYz6VD0WH0gLCKW1o_bCb61Qfl0w/s1600/plant+sp3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyo-hpDPgJs64c5V8N9mTTeVK2qRFg3x4y-J89KSnXk4fs4mw6CWacV9tdggUr0MxwIapZ5pb6mJF2QRNticG0o49Bleqp8EFWTxjrO6XxsccHDJqmYz6VD0WH0gLCKW1o_bCb61Qfl0w/s1600/plant+sp3.JPG" height="400" width="251" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well into<strong> Valencia</strong> region now, passed the monstrosity that passes for a holiday place - Benidorm, where the apartment blocks of this once sleepy little fishing village have been replaced by skyscraper holiday blocks... nice; and now camped out at <strong>El Pinet</strong>, some 15k from <strong>El Fondo</strong> and 30k south of <strong>Alicante</strong>... lots of Dutch, German and a few Brit motorhomes down here but some great salt pans and have now caught up with a few of the Costa Blanca birders so I'll be hanging around here for a couple of weeks and hoping for a bit of early passage. <strong>Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin</strong> and <strong>Yellow Wagtails</strong> have all been seen in the past week!</span></div>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-27710930796411175152015-01-31T11:29:00.000-08:002015-01-31T11:56:18.772-08:00Ebro days..dashing falcons, massing waders, ditches and shooters!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0_noexRIr0Y3xHu6dsNViOVYO33q2wlwKxo_TzQRnE8wGLsFabOBnKlZJcnwMxhSAB9A0OLA_xw8TtTA8GG-JMrnvnqd9lbEUPB5YkWCMfCmuqQC5zV1-Sbt38UJfEKlMX0d8yeV9Q6_/s1600/ebrodelta2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0_noexRIr0Y3xHu6dsNViOVYO33q2wlwKxo_TzQRnE8wGLsFabOBnKlZJcnwMxhSAB9A0OLA_xw8TtTA8GG-JMrnvnqd9lbEUPB5YkWCMfCmuqQC5zV1-Sbt38UJfEKlMX0d8yeV9Q6_/s1600/ebrodelta2.PNG" height="287" width="400" /></a>At 320 square kilometres, the <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebro_Delta" target="_blank">Ebro Delta</a></strong> is one of the biggest wetland areas in the Western Mediterranean. Its a curiously shaped area due the twin effects of deposited soils washed down by the mighty Ebro and then coastal erosion. <br />
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Although designated as a natural park much of the area is given over to rice growing and the associated wet (flooded in winter) fields. Its definitely a 'working' environment but many birds are attracted to the rice fields and there are many areas of saltmarsh / lagoons and reed beds with copious tracks and irrigation canals everywhere .... it was great for the bike and although I got a bit fed up with the level of duck shooting going on I spent close on a full week there exploring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ac8JRT_Kua3bb0qsxzVKr1p5QiRQPsZ1M0HMBNsp4N92QlQI1aihEFh9LE6UFBZGUW2v9FO73Qd4T7L_SDfYmobxNFGuLyg2CtwegUqp_8mYXqAmU-NQ6nA1sm2Cu5F8ClwQydNt5Pvq/s1600/ebrodelta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ac8JRT_Kua3bb0qsxzVKr1p5QiRQPsZ1M0HMBNsp4N92QlQI1aihEFh9LE6UFBZGUW2v9FO73Qd4T7L_SDfYmobxNFGuLyg2CtwegUqp_8mYXqAmU-NQ6nA1sm2Cu5F8ClwQydNt5Pvq/s1600/ebrodelta.jpg" height="348" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6XVMqX0dLXi3LgiGI3Ebf8f93iLtcg-CGRDCQzYcvxs5y7IgYqZIFTQtFRhpQN-SfWrDcT1Jj4PdnuIaJL6OkXXcDnkAkEh17DFePTNvtJbDXLdM4JOTKw9NIkVzrL42aFbEH_SgoW-Y/s1600/20150118-2015-01-18+12.26.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6XVMqX0dLXi3LgiGI3Ebf8f93iLtcg-CGRDCQzYcvxs5y7IgYqZIFTQtFRhpQN-SfWrDcT1Jj4PdnuIaJL6OkXXcDnkAkEh17DFePTNvtJbDXLdM4JOTKw9NIkVzrL42aFbEH_SgoW-Y/s1600/20150118-2015-01-18+12.26.51.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rice fields, Ebro Delta</strong></td></tr>
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From ground level this is fairly typical of the terrain......<br />
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As you might expect I took a bucket load of pics and although not totally overwhelmed by birds there was lots of scope for landscapes and plenty to keep me happy. No doubt I'll be finding other pics in the coming days as I revel in good internet / 'plug in access' but for now these are some of my stand out images.....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Uyk37sti7t_oV_bI57y3-g6hhXtNo32LEdRNrVFG1U72qIMBSL1MLk7-HSL6TR8_ljTDriscOTOt0ZgZbKgT3FVdjzHmEqSHC5El35OdcIVUXKDGlL_8Nt9TJkzTpE3LGuNxJ_uUgZwl/s1600/GW+Egret2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Uyk37sti7t_oV_bI57y3-g6hhXtNo32LEdRNrVFG1U72qIMBSL1MLk7-HSL6TR8_ljTDriscOTOt0ZgZbKgT3FVdjzHmEqSHC5El35OdcIVUXKDGlL_8Nt9TJkzTpE3LGuNxJ_uUgZwl/s1600/GW+Egret2.JPG" height="426" title="Great White Egret Ebro Delta" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great White Egret, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR8963BRCWBR0m1TtAzLNBe97nMpImWpb3Pr26jKAWgoPsOAz9g69ftGKf6lBiwZMBs1-Jb618mRpQwBy6ObPGx670qawvmQL-L9YW7vuvj8DutpVaif4OHayarzWTFzsRNnoJYI-CDvN/s1600/GW+Egret3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR8963BRCWBR0m1TtAzLNBe97nMpImWpb3Pr26jKAWgoPsOAz9g69ftGKf6lBiwZMBs1-Jb618mRpQwBy6ObPGx670qawvmQL-L9YW7vuvj8DutpVaif4OHayarzWTFzsRNnoJYI-CDvN/s1600/GW+Egret3.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great White Egret, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8be9k0nWFYq3hmPOjzZ75OhIWHkZv-fdjayY_w18tIHzp4b7duUTwNihgKwuwxOAIiHm6xHb5FC1npOuUWIoUiJJZ0KblEu-ol9ZKac6l1i781LmkDYd20x5fhmdRikmKdSF0_40YnXJ/s1600/med+gull1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8be9k0nWFYq3hmPOjzZ75OhIWHkZv-fdjayY_w18tIHzp4b7duUTwNihgKwuwxOAIiHm6xHb5FC1npOuUWIoUiJJZ0KblEu-ol9ZKac6l1i781LmkDYd20x5fhmdRikmKdSF0_40YnXJ/s1600/med+gull1.JPG" height="640" width="499" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mediterranean Gull, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVti0X7lRXDv976bwMSmiGRYytGAUnjBG3RXKN5VRZP0z0eUp60oWdDyYHnDkniMA2-Pean49sBMoVUhCsaIT9BE82z5qSxH5-k-UzrO-1lfAHHIoyns0_YgZQYZ2W5qfeE98ET_olynZL/s1600/med+gull2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVti0X7lRXDv976bwMSmiGRYytGAUnjBG3RXKN5VRZP0z0eUp60oWdDyYHnDkniMA2-Pean49sBMoVUhCsaIT9BE82z5qSxH5-k-UzrO-1lfAHHIoyns0_YgZQYZ2W5qfeE98ET_olynZL/s1600/med+gull2.JPG" height="640" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mediterranean Gull, Ebro</strong><br />
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It was good to see so many <strong>Mediterranean Gulls</strong> (made up for a big fat zero on <strong>Audouin's Gulls</strong>!) and the above fly past shots in good evening sunshine were very pleasing. Caught this one mid air as it was fishing ...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxbTvWHfZlQVrw_HOYsJNI_pqOz0ReeQlHrw6i-JPe8mxTwVfvsxJeDqkPra_3FerzIEQR-_7zpg2iyvMINyQxQuXkQHDp2OE1KYPsFmBKtjvSKXNHd9To-yE0mWJX6le_xQKuoF2AQAK/s1600/20150121-med+gull3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxbTvWHfZlQVrw_HOYsJNI_pqOz0ReeQlHrw6i-JPe8mxTwVfvsxJeDqkPra_3FerzIEQR-_7zpg2iyvMINyQxQuXkQHDp2OE1KYPsFmBKtjvSKXNHd9To-yE0mWJX6le_xQKuoF2AQAK/s1600/20150121-med+gull3.jpg" height="596" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Med Gull fishing, Ebro Delta</strong></td></tr>
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Lots of these about, as one would expect almost anywhere in Spain ...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEgY0lVr6bK9bZo5Fvp3xzDJEYyhhvPoE62zXqgs1RPC3AqsqamDvoxgpMp074vPzIk2BrEjlt6sW7rZaLkwJW7tCfZI6gSI_p6Gzd6H0h4GNhPGNCHqRjmIGuNGOyrTPRK3cc_YHijAq/s1600/stonechat1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEgY0lVr6bK9bZo5Fvp3xzDJEYyhhvPoE62zXqgs1RPC3AqsqamDvoxgpMp074vPzIk2BrEjlt6sW7rZaLkwJW7tCfZI6gSI_p6Gzd6H0h4GNhPGNCHqRjmIGuNGOyrTPRK3cc_YHijAq/s1600/stonechat1.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stonechat, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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.... and even more of these little blighters. I've remarked on it before but I'm constantly amazed at the sheer numbers of <strong>Chiff Chaffs</strong> that almost litter the paths, bushes and almost any insect laden little place ....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chiffchaff, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxsFukSkdW_TbQBysOGfnPyu-6Aj2CMQtugMi6HwxW00-tveimgz49c8BwL3A8Oe1hU95ifyt2AZGZQ_QCfsw78CT6t0M86NDYAdLnCuC1ZTJs5v9W1ZazmWI9VX4mmbIMqoAdeVx3TVE/s1600/chiff+chaff3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxsFukSkdW_TbQBysOGfnPyu-6Aj2CMQtugMi6HwxW00-tveimgz49c8BwL3A8Oe1hU95ifyt2AZGZQ_QCfsw78CT6t0M86NDYAdLnCuC1ZTJs5v9W1ZazmWI9VX4mmbIMqoAdeVx3TVE/s1600/chiff+chaff3.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chiffchaff, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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Not as many <strong>Bluethroats</strong> about as I expected but this one played my stalking game to a point ... 20 minutes crouched on a ditch bank with pins and needles and still she wouldn't come the side I wanted so here's a 'backlit' female getting her feet wet... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MPaR_LeUCkjQKPzuTKp8BRZJXSj8yZ8f2gGrAaJtwhlI57c5bM_wTRtbD-d3wBQZf9duHw17uqCJvuiK7dcOYYjneXy3Z4hDx3ixSybwT7z2FuC-O0NNx3n5YGIAJUR9WQev5XDd5vqa/s1600/bluethroat_illa+de+budha_24jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MPaR_LeUCkjQKPzuTKp8BRZJXSj8yZ8f2gGrAaJtwhlI57c5bM_wTRtbD-d3wBQZf9duHw17uqCJvuiK7dcOYYjneXy3Z4hDx3ixSybwT7z2FuC-O0NNx3n5YGIAJUR9WQev5XDd5vqa/s1600/bluethroat_illa+de+budha_24jan2015.JPG" height="640" width="578" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bluethroat (female), Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>Lapwings </strong>and the usual herons / egrets aside, wading birds weren't exactly abundant, no <strong>Avocet</strong>s, no <strong>Black Winged Stilts</strong> but both <strong>Common</strong> and <strong>Green Sandpipers</strong> were popping up frequently and I snapped this one from the van one lazy afternoon when I was so fed up with shooters I just drove to the nearest quiet wet field and watched the birds come and go for 2 hrs!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIpFwU_TVMGLRrrK0SRqqGUp9RhDI8RdIEbHG5BcjILJM0calqjJuxBgKMp506msF9KWUShlYkvuFdAPue2y2e1t5DCq6069Fwxofx-hvk2eaUXTTYMBlUConwvIJXP4Ad72IEz328yUu/s1600/20150124-20150124_IMG_999_59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIpFwU_TVMGLRrrK0SRqqGUp9RhDI8RdIEbHG5BcjILJM0calqjJuxBgKMp506msF9KWUShlYkvuFdAPue2y2e1t5DCq6069Fwxofx-hvk2eaUXTTYMBlUConwvIJXP4Ad72IEz328yUu/s1600/20150124-20150124_IMG_999_59.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Sandpiper, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Sandpiper, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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I managed a half decent shot of a flock of <strong>Greenshank</strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97IRtMA5ah6vjDYvGGGaGCk6YxO-DleK-cNmx7Hb_Xjq9IyR8ORZjOZqBkjvGbS5Cnbj063dn7eA98N7tmKqo6HSe0_IR3sslIOLYszLDmXtUexTezNKx16atQaUFiuK40kg3L31fXCvR/s1600/20150123-greenshank+in+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97IRtMA5ah6vjDYvGGGaGCk6YxO-DleK-cNmx7Hb_Xjq9IyR8ORZjOZqBkjvGbS5Cnbj063dn7eA98N7tmKqo6HSe0_IR3sslIOLYszLDmXtUexTezNKx16atQaUFiuK40kg3L31fXCvR/s1600/20150123-greenshank+in+flight.jpg" height="273" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greenshank flock, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnDA2EkpfhOIy9xAjUyJVg9bse_fM4FZv48cmdalnBkxwZl85WAjEmG41aSaB3ToSuXQjShsWdCd6qEI9z9aWT_uXEWml02YsSNTL_5euWd72bNhSg0cJrZvP9LaH8skKlyG_GwKg3Ay3/s1600/20150118-2015-01-18+16.55.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnDA2EkpfhOIy9xAjUyJVg9bse_fM4FZv48cmdalnBkxwZl85WAjEmG41aSaB3ToSuXQjShsWdCd6qEI9z9aWT_uXEWml02YsSNTL_5euWd72bNhSg0cJrZvP9LaH8skKlyG_GwKg3Ay3/s1600/20150118-2015-01-18+16.55.23.jpg" height="300" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Glossy Ibis flock, Ebro</strong><br />
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A couple more numerous birds on the Delta were <strong>Glossy Ibis</strong> (I estimated between 800 - 1000) in total. Here's a flock taken with my mobile during an evening bike ride. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzQAGj4VwVXFMzOHCQipY3Ns_HEaX0dUsyBj-FuMWhKp_jMARqouWGJyfCFNOIP_UWBqV-AU0JsdhaDWS7edkhSOMWBA1eFrdoGtHcdpkfDvPWcUvTyVUI03g-RzpIaxoCSQav7LLXdPH/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzQAGj4VwVXFMzOHCQipY3Ns_HEaX0dUsyBj-FuMWhKp_jMARqouWGJyfCFNOIP_UWBqV-AU0JsdhaDWS7edkhSOMWBA1eFrdoGtHcdpkfDvPWcUvTyVUI03g-RzpIaxoCSQav7LLXdPH/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_34.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Glossy Ibis with food, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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I had plenty of time of to observe these birds that have steadily increased in number over the years on the delta and at the risk of sounding like David Attenborough I realised that their life here is not straightforward - largely due to the equally large numbers of <strong>Black Headed Gulls</strong> that harry and chase the Ibis. Took me a while to twig but what they were doing was acting in pairs and forcing the Ibis to let go of food which the gulls then snapped up. Not brilliant pics but it shows the action that was going on time after time...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmPdWfFOBj8ALFPGjg5_QN839Ymnhsd-G1iMBdjJXygFcR1W91JaDkHsw9XAhOHG8qsU4skZ7bY5xCNot9sP3-yCBtNFqSiDX8ttrtKNHY91f6lK05hPAAjO7c_TU6Qip5AJ5RMjFNNZc/s1600/20150118-20150118-20150118_IMG_999_46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmPdWfFOBj8ALFPGjg5_QN839Ymnhsd-G1iMBdjJXygFcR1W91JaDkHsw9XAhOHG8qsU4skZ7bY5xCNot9sP3-yCBtNFqSiDX8ttrtKNHY91f6lK05hPAAjO7c_TU6Qip5AJ5RMjFNNZc/s1600/20150118-20150118-20150118_IMG_999_46.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2lp5_cdLC4kt8Kot0Lr4d_gwtGhu27O4lpITfrj2y-0B4DRTeAup9MAKpjvWqDG6cZgmu-GdNcecvuuoXDlEFuGRkHQZN9KVKvW-FECJIUedGGV9qJGGnslq1-fcvGDNNnet3hfWTKLg/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2lp5_cdLC4kt8Kot0Lr4d_gwtGhu27O4lpITfrj2y-0B4DRTeAup9MAKpjvWqDG6cZgmu-GdNcecvuuoXDlEFuGRkHQZN9KVKvW-FECJIUedGGV9qJGGnslq1-fcvGDNNnet3hfWTKLg/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_52.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUWv3g0z_Ms3HR2GjntJrmxgUc5zjlXjwhI0IVGtdUbcxx_4y6XZtfL28iHabCInnnch_OkG4B9yiT6bKRQEA02ogQSCqNLnZaWJCFkVNA5IPyG1sSim1Aynky9bLxvP9JLNNA2PqKrXc/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUWv3g0z_Ms3HR2GjntJrmxgUc5zjlXjwhI0IVGtdUbcxx_4y6XZtfL28iHabCInnnch_OkG4B9yiT6bKRQEA02ogQSCqNLnZaWJCFkVNA5IPyG1sSim1Aynky9bLxvP9JLNNA2PqKrXc/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_54.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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... this kind of thing was happening time and time again and I began to feel sorry for the poor<strong> Ibis</strong> but at the same time very impressed with the tenacity, persistence and eventual success of the<strong> B.H. Gulls</strong> tireless work!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT9Y40q5_HrkhsgRwTBiTxnTbbROwM0ingZ3_qJe0L_L0aINDhOT0e69G148OHTmLrVLQa_gQsMyMhr_MauGnS2ZnErxWrpYv_CfFUPMudqy6WNMoHmm3HWmp-msjGJWJQWfTNSLYO9aP/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT9Y40q5_HrkhsgRwTBiTxnTbbROwM0ingZ3_qJe0L_L0aINDhOT0e69G148OHTmLrVLQa_gQsMyMhr_MauGnS2ZnErxWrpYv_CfFUPMudqy6WNMoHmm3HWmp-msjGJWJQWfTNSLYO9aP/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_35.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUycpHokn-XChk5i_5wT6AX8WdRby7CYuttHw0qGf6VM4Roe-2fdK25DSa4FdhX-B1mlhwMHClkIdPFSOzGEYHEo-uKYy1aUYk4ik6nR1skOxZwqW1qJhhRLuGwWvu9RgYfXGFS4qJ_dHk/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUycpHokn-XChk5i_5wT6AX8WdRby7CYuttHw0qGf6VM4Roe-2fdK25DSa4FdhX-B1mlhwMHClkIdPFSOzGEYHEo-uKYy1aUYk4ik6nR1skOxZwqW1qJhhRLuGwWvu9RgYfXGFS4qJ_dHk/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_36.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dunlin murmuration? Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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Even more numerous on the Southern side of the delta and towards the salt pans were<strong> Dunlin</strong> with a huge flock of certainly 1000+. Many pics I took as quite conveniently they were massing very near to where I was parked up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lKSHsTGh8kKgPbs39FXiG9TAoripbGGgjnI4_C3fHqhl-XdqryTMAcgCpYZeiAIDkHsBIa1Y339Vq7o-FBAS4qaIw2N8-sc1vsbag5c58RIQQ4L5EhlaH2K2V1cPOcvJ8eLECwfj69mr/s1600/dunlin+flock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lKSHsTGh8kKgPbs39FXiG9TAoripbGGgjnI4_C3fHqhl-XdqryTMAcgCpYZeiAIDkHsBIa1Y339Vq7o-FBAS4qaIw2N8-sc1vsbag5c58RIQQ4L5EhlaH2K2V1cPOcvJ8eLECwfj69mr/s1600/dunlin+flock.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
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... this is where I was parked up along 3 others along the <strong>Trabucador</strong> (southern peninsular of the delta)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU_ie4J-ZIwjiHNVDWL69J-K0DpStgaqHPtDBChpeJ1kS2NFJ3EiKIKUC032Bc77NIvBxKicDavCxGSYX0_U3QduilCMVEPoWxt58yOHhEmiqtsO7R_IifYxYwFlOsyYVG-r0V6HYBAig/s1600/20150121_IMG_999_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU_ie4J-ZIwjiHNVDWL69J-K0DpStgaqHPtDBChpeJ1kS2NFJ3EiKIKUC032Bc77NIvBxKicDavCxGSYX0_U3QduilCMVEPoWxt58yOHhEmiqtsO7R_IifYxYwFlOsyYVG-r0V6HYBAig/s1600/20150121_IMG_999_3.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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With so many small waders about it wasn't surprising to catch up with a <strong>Peregrine Falcon</strong> but I didn't expect such good photo opportunities... this one was making good use of the pylons that stretch right down the peninsular and allowed</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8T3M_wiNJ5SGJRHRL62P6XN7N_JHFteEvqjtkwFQYL-nAtp2eyN7Yzb9csDurLlAPu_kk8WdtUXsn8HgO0VRXy774I9tgSFP-3dlQxSjNsUcVjN7nJ8u1ULFhGXvrOS7PVudf8vrjd5Su/s1600/20150122-peregrine6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8T3M_wiNJ5SGJRHRL62P6XN7N_JHFteEvqjtkwFQYL-nAtp2eyN7Yzb9csDurLlAPu_kk8WdtUXsn8HgO0VRXy774I9tgSFP-3dlQxSjNsUcVjN7nJ8u1ULFhGXvrOS7PVudf8vrjd5Su/s1600/20150122-peregrine6.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieN_Xy6TsV591YHkCU7oOKdjsQ4F9gwkNrzIf9LDwpWcwTcwNDngY6T8MoSpkR9t9Fy8hv_EBooBHT-5CV00pA5gwxdwdzrsRtV2SG4Mhn579h4hyphenhyphenn5FoGellQLVl6IBI0b9MBuw0IFLtP/s1600/20150124-20150124_IMG_999_106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieN_Xy6TsV591YHkCU7oOKdjsQ4F9gwkNrzIf9LDwpWcwTcwNDngY6T8MoSpkR9t9Fy8hv_EBooBHT-5CV00pA5gwxdwdzrsRtV2SG4Mhn579h4hyphenhyphenn5FoGellQLVl6IBI0b9MBuw0IFLtP/s1600/20150124-20150124_IMG_999_106.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPMf8F45WI-Bep8BwX9VKDZqbWeT_qBzGGGRqsn5nlOxSIGyPUryHxaYHngpVB29y-lHujXOn4-Os0J2xhlUFf9TKmf3pp4NZo0EhqWiq2v-5VU_nS-ySTmCbisT8AAa7pCrZ6lgJQGpB/s1600/20150122-peregrine7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPMf8F45WI-Bep8BwX9VKDZqbWeT_qBzGGGRqsn5nlOxSIGyPUryHxaYHngpVB29y-lHujXOn4-Os0J2xhlUFf9TKmf3pp4NZo0EhqWiq2v-5VU_nS-ySTmCbisT8AAa7pCrZ6lgJQGpB/s1600/20150122-peregrine7.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcTRoGpW930dbXPvW4M1mxyimMXOad-Xp2iVXP-qAQKGR0NZ2xBL1eB98jggA-6smSUyCHFKG9RGGdsULBYWH4WDCHhjn7r1XGcqiH9_reYNXYQ8sIIt-aNJ3tJEHdFi6jHiz6e8nHEQL/s1600/peregrine1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcTRoGpW930dbXPvW4M1mxyimMXOad-Xp2iVXP-qAQKGR0NZ2xBL1eB98jggA-6smSUyCHFKG9RGGdsULBYWH4WDCHhjn7r1XGcqiH9_reYNXYQ8sIIt-aNJ3tJEHdFi6jHiz6e8nHEQL/s1600/peregrine1.JPG" height="640" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peregrine Falcon, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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I was well impressed with those pics and it made up for a very long and otherwise largely fruitless walk down to the saltpans. </div>
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Never far away though there's always a <strong>Marsh Harrier</strong> to snap ...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCq9arU8Zr0XAqYGucEYM_p0ZJ0f-bV2Cj8MPDXNS1j71EvrhsFp846_z2T10bo2UJKFkH12kx3RoJ280wUw0gxvzZT60ZyT372Ttf5G1rYZyMTcE2xWe2RjR94sA5ZA4QC1dgU7vdZOP/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCq9arU8Zr0XAqYGucEYM_p0ZJ0f-bV2Cj8MPDXNS1j71EvrhsFp846_z2T10bo2UJKFkH12kx3RoJ280wUw0gxvzZT60ZyT372Ttf5G1rYZyMTcE2xWe2RjR94sA5ZA4QC1dgU7vdZOP/s1600/20150118-20150118_IMG_999_1.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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...and always good to get a bit of variety of the raptor front, this <strong>Booted Eagle</strong> had obviously just eaten - check out that bulge!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2WutvzlRM9FM4zixnztdt0IWsUS219mQGhS8cS-1aigLLaFZctTkkgTekiaD7xd1fP9eTAo0tM9eGFkUM10pQHbpzPi3RN7KK_JFomp2_YU1CJdEDJWkfHSzpbAPvaSj5_F4LFiB2q-K/s1600/20150117-20150117_IMG_999_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2WutvzlRM9FM4zixnztdt0IWsUS219mQGhS8cS-1aigLLaFZctTkkgTekiaD7xd1fP9eTAo0tM9eGFkUM10pQHbpzPi3RN7KK_JFomp2_YU1CJdEDJWkfHSzpbAPvaSj5_F4LFiB2q-K/s1600/20150117-20150117_IMG_999_9.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Booted Eagle, Ebro</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKenI4u_uOq_6DMshxzBZmgN2uEqEFbjGaDiiAL1_qPEfqPLcCoYfeowZjqJUfXcRnwU6HstRxev7SonoGbH4O9P8KaCUlmgadZA_uN51vJ1GRR3O2s2JxbW6nB69sePbLotciRQoI-PL0/s1600/20150124-20150124_IMG_999_71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKenI4u_uOq_6DMshxzBZmgN2uEqEFbjGaDiiAL1_qPEfqPLcCoYfeowZjqJUfXcRnwU6HstRxev7SonoGbH4O9P8KaCUlmgadZA_uN51vJ1GRR3O2s2JxbW6nB69sePbLotciRQoI-PL0/s1600/20150124-20150124_IMG_999_71.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Meadow Pipit .. commonest bird on the Ebro?</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ok this has been a big post and apologies for that ... many I know won't have scrolled down this far but here's a few more birdy pics and some landscapes from my week on the delta...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvvGqrXzxPFj1q-_4E4ouhwZzKK34uSqNGN8tQjeG1gNxrH55UEkK2SQ6r5637VxwnI7NMDQgtLrhCNk_BFbSmJmmPoB_8EdPOW3hjS0SD2L1mWpG0v55Ek7wH_FeyO-H4WlP5MQDA3Py/s1600/20150123_IMG_999_46.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvvGqrXzxPFj1q-_4E4ouhwZzKK34uSqNGN8tQjeG1gNxrH55UEkK2SQ6r5637VxwnI7NMDQgtLrhCNk_BFbSmJmmPoB_8EdPOW3hjS0SD2L1mWpG0v55Ek7wH_FeyO-H4WlP5MQDA3Py/s1600/20150123_IMG_999_46.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>My van from the viewing platform on the Ille de Budha</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXclSnww8iqsCzE7NnKGtA-tjdctd0964w7GPYfDytqFMza6Rin87JwLwFIS6ZfT25DUYiRf5felM-Bhg0b9zv7MzOMapXcNDSrBBUx5l8H0Nk8KdenzpYCzPG8GA41RklbMv7u5q-Pxyx/s1600/squacco+heron1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXclSnww8iqsCzE7NnKGtA-tjdctd0964w7GPYfDytqFMza6Rin87JwLwFIS6ZfT25DUYiRf5felM-Bhg0b9zv7MzOMapXcNDSrBBUx5l8H0Nk8KdenzpYCzPG8GA41RklbMv7u5q-Pxyx/s1600/squacco+heron1.JPG" height="400" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Squacco Heron from distance and same viewing platform</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXjCLsyaLJx1ASwwheMVd0ja75tdDGPFSQ-fmj4ml1mgBDKjOvHdXWJSxCBWsdvERQGWgjDvtvl9snEtIFu7XjnSVZqDaZs5fZUytmrhSnqpSjYL-uXPS4qR2BQ2ImEfLLEEVcL6TDGNT/s1600/20150124_IMG_999_9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXjCLsyaLJx1ASwwheMVd0ja75tdDGPFSQ-fmj4ml1mgBDKjOvHdXWJSxCBWsdvERQGWgjDvtvl9snEtIFu7XjnSVZqDaZs5fZUytmrhSnqpSjYL-uXPS4qR2BQ2ImEfLLEEVcL6TDGNT/s1600/20150124_IMG_999_9.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Kindred spirits ... these trees are just about as laid back as me!</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UAS84TmQg-jbqnRhuBqWtNnP75cMZxLYGmHyy5t9tpoMbVV5ivJV116D44CaquB1H2pyL7i6zTiJx6ZqWWfI5fj6Jj9Z9UbTJ4kClzuKELj88mDJrcS6-3FkiM55B-Q1tB7s5CT9rA6s/s1600/20150124_IMG_999_23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UAS84TmQg-jbqnRhuBqWtNnP75cMZxLYGmHyy5t9tpoMbVV5ivJV116D44CaquB1H2pyL7i6zTiJx6ZqWWfI5fj6Jj9Z9UbTJ4kClzuKELj88mDJrcS6-3FkiM55B-Q1tB7s5CT9rA6s/s1600/20150124_IMG_999_23.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>...and where did that come from?</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-REf0OC9yg44LWcDNoOvdXRo9x3765o8mzQVH9HNjh1uWU8ThC_a6mMcxVsWfKbnw_oGFwOVgviDNjEnveM0b2N8m5Y6ToQZ5OAl4ODH1nqMxdM5qe2glB5GHGGFfcu6QtT_x7eXfkPQ/s1600/20150123_IMG_999_36.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-REf0OC9yg44LWcDNoOvdXRo9x3765o8mzQVH9HNjh1uWU8ThC_a6mMcxVsWfKbnw_oGFwOVgviDNjEnveM0b2N8m5Y6ToQZ5OAl4ODH1nqMxdM5qe2glB5GHGGFfcu6QtT_x7eXfkPQ/s1600/20150123_IMG_999_36.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>one of the many canals that maintain and irrigate the delta</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcRVs-U56CcF-rq1DL_uim8GbBP4UsNCm7IwXTe79QWbeRHiEmlfIodLRV0lSgXlpx8IRCx4C5sHy2-mm09IHSnFXgQS4RS9OZLI5hFH1zWnPB7_s00SGwFrvcXweUARVdQmXkt2gUiXX/s1600/20150117-20150117_IMG_999_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcRVs-U56CcF-rq1DL_uim8GbBP4UsNCm7IwXTe79QWbeRHiEmlfIodLRV0lSgXlpx8IRCx4C5sHy2-mm09IHSnFXgQS4RS9OZLI5hFH1zWnPB7_s00SGwFrvcXweUARVdQmXkt2gUiXX/s1600/20150117-20150117_IMG_999_19.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Spring flowers emerging... don't know what they are but they're common!</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCIVcwUMorDwsyIbOigmdScWAVpq0yTYjANvoAKyQRoVwQ7js_vF6H_85XY7uhF3o66hr3r9d5t8wxHYwBuhl_QOZ9ZW111NQ4CHSFhxtcN1aX3r8YfXt_6VrnRPdua_5zcqv_MXLAu1N/s1600/20150124_IMG_999_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCIVcwUMorDwsyIbOigmdScWAVpq0yTYjANvoAKyQRoVwQ7js_vF6H_85XY7uhF3o66hr3r9d5t8wxHYwBuhl_QOZ9ZW111NQ4CHSFhxtcN1aX3r8YfXt_6VrnRPdua_5zcqv_MXLAu1N/s1600/20150124_IMG_999_12.JPG" height="241" width="640" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Just what the Ebro doesn't need!</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Like I said, a bit too much shooting going on for me to completely enjoy the delta but hey I understand the dynamics and the need to take what is needed from this land but way too noisy at times for me!</span></div>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-54123082604753465192015-01-24T11:46:00.000-08:002015-01-24T11:46:28.063-08:00Negociating the fog and the wind, Swallows in the freezing cold, Marsh Harriers by the dozen then Griffons in the sunny high tops<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy1zufYP3CEa1xsuxxmteeO8u32dU4_3Uca-t7XghwS1mzQYRy6c3iHl9S6Sr1Nh5OUKB8Fmv53Zo4pMwKPNFPKgdJZagL7nF-mBaFf5H7T7LKuiJ3tL_-xh30yd-cEtoq5CbVCFeF71N/s1600/20150114_IMG_999_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy1zufYP3CEa1xsuxxmteeO8u32dU4_3Uca-t7XghwS1mzQYRy6c3iHl9S6Sr1Nh5OUKB8Fmv53Zo4pMwKPNFPKgdJZagL7nF-mBaFf5H7T7LKuiJ3tL_-xh30yd-cEtoq5CbVCFeF71N/s1600/20150114_IMG_999_6.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier in the fog, Valverd</strong></td></tr>
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One of the problems with travelling in
Spain in the Winter months, as I found to my cost during my last
visit in Nov/ Dec 2013, is FOG! Usually of the freezing variety it
hangs around in great swathes and typically affects the interior
plains and what remain of the steppes. My destination after the
<b>Pyrenees</b> was to the south of <b>Lleida</b> and one of the last
remaining areas of steppe land in <b>Catalyuna</b> that hasn't been
given over to intensive farming. Looking forward to photographing
some <strong>Sandgrouse</strong> I was, or maybe catching a glimpse of some <strong>Great
Bustards</strong>. I got neither because of FOG! Went to all the right places
and sure I could have stayed longer but after 4 days of hanging about
I gave up and drove South and out of it!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXd8J9oHAOd9US4_kQfNH6VRix8IZ8h6R1AUt2RkYfOIHTdlkrX6gibhW_fNTfJ-90zwJd1xc3hKbV3LZfgmXdrHGnUg4pqvgVbyD4bVR26RDQLJQ770rqQ7Hx01J_kKDzv3vONW9gxFc/s1600/20150113_IMG_999_115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXd8J9oHAOd9US4_kQfNH6VRix8IZ8h6R1AUt2RkYfOIHTdlkrX6gibhW_fNTfJ-90zwJd1xc3hKbV3LZfgmXdrHGnUg4pqvgVbyD4bVR26RDQLJQ770rqQ7Hx01J_kKDzv3vONW9gxFc/s1600/20150113_IMG_999_115.JPG" height="400" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Merlin, Utxesa</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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During a brief respite from the stuff
whilst I was at <b>Utxesa </b>I got my first <b>Merlin</b> of the
trip...distant shot but good enough to tell it was a male.</div>
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.<br />
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..and lots more <b>White Storks</b>,
apparently a whole bunch of them winter around a big rubbish tip on
the outskirts of Lleida city.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXTuAGa5tDw2AilBy-_oHBLnjgNr7R1iViuUiAeN6FGJbpbtSZJRuIk6rDHBbjyd6-KxS93Zw-DJ7i9XsUPV_5zg0ZMAzCFovxeWb7salwxgIIUi-cLf6AYXcAkYeKtErWiUP7jDPFxWv/s1600/20150113_IMG_999_75.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXTuAGa5tDw2AilBy-_oHBLnjgNr7R1iViuUiAeN6FGJbpbtSZJRuIk6rDHBbjyd6-KxS93Zw-DJ7i9XsUPV_5zg0ZMAzCFovxeWb7salwxgIIUi-cLf6AYXcAkYeKtErWiUP7jDPFxWv/s1600/20150113_IMG_999_75.JPG" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
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... and at <strong>Valverd</strong> my first <strong>Purple Swamphens</strong> of the trip. I have a soft spot for these comical giants of the reedbeds and these were the first of many over the coming days as I headed ever closer to the <strong>Ebro Delta.</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElrKrqzSqwgJ1P1lV0iYtpdzoR0FhwQu960zSkLkb30sUhScoZn-K7vS9HJKq9oLpoHzVpJeY4cwxTPUjujeOP57z7vE6_-D4AHz6D5P6Mgxey6nB3vAort3Wu1mooTHaQ1P4tEDXX6KJ/s1600/purple+swamphens_valverd_13jan2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElrKrqzSqwgJ1P1lV0iYtpdzoR0FhwQu960zSkLkb30sUhScoZn-K7vS9HJKq9oLpoHzVpJeY4cwxTPUjujeOP57z7vE6_-D4AHz6D5P6Mgxey6nB3vAort3Wu1mooTHaQ1P4tEDXX6KJ/s1600/purple+swamphens_valverd_13jan2015.jpg" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Squabbling Purple Swamphens, Valverd</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Seen many more <strong>Lapwings</strong> this time around, with many flocks of 200 plus roaming about the fields. This smallish flock crossing the reclaimed lake at <strong>Valverd</strong> made a pleasing sight as I sat in the sun and chomped away at a chorizo & cheese sandwich!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesee01L5f4ir2dKSZSy4l2EB6AXv1bU9TPpDDNLXDoUW7VFQRJMEBw0arqOiCHhYYPRNpNe_TXch4OIAvpKK0g0mtbchgjt4VveYM71J2uWKB0DjK_5_kRzZPOwY0bNWJLlszKlhiBifv/s1600/lapwings_valverd_13jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesee01L5f4ir2dKSZSy4l2EB6AXv1bU9TPpDDNLXDoUW7VFQRJMEBw0arqOiCHhYYPRNpNe_TXch4OIAvpKK0g0mtbchgjt4VveYM71J2uWKB0DjK_5_kRzZPOwY0bNWJLlszKlhiBifv/s1600/lapwings_valverd_13jan2015.JPG" height="220" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchaVk4S_Zs4KLTLTfMvD7swIQU2Oz0nhGvPnxIsZJiytWx7iL8HyhtoNl40qQB4SJ1IgAzJeDf_aA9pt3tM6TxW_gxn6i16Au7wJg3m5JJDbE7TcKDGlSzY-BavYuAgeoPBb_N2xU6KyO/s1600/20150114-20150114_IMG_999_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchaVk4S_Zs4KLTLTfMvD7swIQU2Oz0nhGvPnxIsZJiytWx7iL8HyhtoNl40qQB4SJ1IgAzJeDf_aA9pt3tM6TxW_gxn6i16Au7wJg3m5JJDbE7TcKDGlSzY-BavYuAgeoPBb_N2xU6KyO/s1600/20150114-20150114_IMG_999_13.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a><br />
<br />
Earlier in the day, in the freezing fog
and whilst my hands could barely operate the camera I took a chance
on photographing some <b>Crag Martins</b> over the lake that didn't
look quite right. They turned out to be a couple of <b>Swallows</b>!
Rubbish pics but good enough for me to tell these are the most
northerly wintering <b>Swallows</b> I've ever seen … lord knows how
they were existing or what they were feeding on in such harsh
conditions but this was major surprise bird species in this part of
Spain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK1wvw1iFCrdZDDs5RCC7H5C6Hx_1cYLr8Rypp-sz85606urIgOjR_rsmqGdNkoxdrzhAViVlQQZmj8hy2wFKqjL7VVHvR8LLaP89dWTnh2sdaOVf3kN5ydDVOU2f06XbAun0vy3Yoeym/s1600/20150114_IMG_999_18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK1wvw1iFCrdZDDs5RCC7H5C6Hx_1cYLr8Rypp-sz85606urIgOjR_rsmqGdNkoxdrzhAViVlQQZmj8hy2wFKqjL7VVHvR8LLaP89dWTnh2sdaOVf3kN5ydDVOU2f06XbAun0vy3Yoeym/s1600/20150114_IMG_999_18.JPG" height="304" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eUqbpeKhCucrcai5Bq7xpAJai1gLpijEtOPbi4VvlTc9VyGV2UQnmEwTlleXGnvmIfkRFruCE9JEfnYzMsq6CqrzwjQcIdihoQjiyYjAW7OKwrIgxSGFQxCY4Neup-jwOdy30A00mHYV/s1600/bearded+tit2_utxesa_14jan2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eUqbpeKhCucrcai5Bq7xpAJai1gLpijEtOPbi4VvlTc9VyGV2UQnmEwTlleXGnvmIfkRFruCE9JEfnYzMsq6CqrzwjQcIdihoQjiyYjAW7OKwrIgxSGFQxCY4Neup-jwOdy30A00mHYV/s1600/bearded+tit2_utxesa_14jan2015.jpg" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bearded Tit (male), Utxesa</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
....moments later I got another unexpected
bird to add to the list... a pair of <b>Bearded Tits</b> fraternising with 20
or so <b>Chiff Chaffs</b> on the margins of the lake …<br />
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At this point grabbing the camera was like holding a block of ice and my fingers were none too happy about being removed from my gloves, so these are a few degrees from decent shots! Another first for Spain for me though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYomRwcuB6IjBAWFuUfGUkxwsG7GNKcDIdtxtKlxfQVQvCQqhQQhd0-Y27rboMwE0nW2DyOZEfvcr3I8OTYt63xYQfz2EPqjfCk0MWemNZEA-47oOiJ72-qo15bY1jj9o3QWUNYmZtNW2/s1600/bearded+tit_utxesa_14jan2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYomRwcuB6IjBAWFuUfGUkxwsG7GNKcDIdtxtKlxfQVQvCQqhQQhd0-Y27rboMwE0nW2DyOZEfvcr3I8OTYt63xYQfz2EPqjfCk0MWemNZEA-47oOiJ72-qo15bY1jj9o3QWUNYmZtNW2/s1600/bearded+tit_utxesa_14jan2015.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bearded Tit (female), Utxesa</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You can't beat driving South and as I
expected, in just 50 kilometres and through a couple of mountain
ranges, I was into bright sunshine and spirit uplifted I pulled the
van over at the first most likely spot for a stroll. I was immediately into a
secluded valley full of singing <b>Song Thrushes, Chaffinches</b> and
close on 50 <b>Blackcaps</b> darting in amongst the mixed olive and
almond groves.<br />
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Time to stop for the night and I
stumbled upon a nature reserve nr the town of <b>Flix</b>, on the
banks of the mighty <b>Ebro</b> and a place where much toxic shit
waste was uncovered in 2005. Its been cleaned up and the work
continues … I witnessed it going on as I biked back down the track
from the reserve into town and across the river. Never has biking
been such fun!!</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The reserve itself – <b><a href="http://www.riverebro.com/2012/02/sebes-nature-reserve-flix/" target="_blank">Sebes d'Ebro</a>,</b>
was certainly worth a stop over, not least because I met and
befriended one of the reserve guardians - a guy called Mathew from
Huddersfield, UK no less!<br />
<br />
Got some half decent <strong>Marsh Harrier </strong>and<strong> Kingfisher</strong> shots here but the light was less than perfect so theses are a tad grainy....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw43Y9m2kFDeleFMmyNwZ3Xs4ka4M65ErPUaduNQ8fwFEO62h9H8pTdex6eAVHNJ_UjUKI9fyiDnqp2cZZy3frAzsi8Tcxo85tYT-jVutN_c-Gn7h_S5GO421rw8YE8CsZ2ONWPfGrL0a/s1600/marsh+harrier2_sebes_16jan2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw43Y9m2kFDeleFMmyNwZ3Xs4ka4M65ErPUaduNQ8fwFEO62h9H8pTdex6eAVHNJ_UjUKI9fyiDnqp2cZZy3frAzsi8Tcxo85tYT-jVutN_c-Gn7h_S5GO421rw8YE8CsZ2ONWPfGrL0a/s1600/marsh+harrier2_sebes_16jan2015.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Marsh Harrier, Sebes</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3pLC4iOzG7gPo9MN_FrY51T52h0NKw5kPnRNad9p8qDcbBFezqQc-RNWiJk0z_nizSVE-TBe1eBE_sEjd4uMD6gp-XUq6cdfS2YxYg2oOdh0rNc4bzVasRB14D8QN59vKptKFgufKHV1/s1600/marsh+harrier_sebes_16jan2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3pLC4iOzG7gPo9MN_FrY51T52h0NKw5kPnRNad9p8qDcbBFezqQc-RNWiJk0z_nizSVE-TBe1eBE_sEjd4uMD6gp-XUq6cdfS2YxYg2oOdh0rNc4bzVasRB14D8QN59vKptKFgufKHV1/s1600/marsh+harrier_sebes_16jan2015.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Male Marsh Harrier, Sebes</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg87QBkd56R3FoOYP2v7KqXvTOnWz8j-s4ycLkq8vnD87qSN-KaddMsBOkK56Cblj5Stv971GugOJVRKl6WQjkLXV81UHXBk1kbpvtZz9d1uhCq9J305qn_VfupSXSgshkjM3HYqk-dFY3/s1600/kingfisher_sebes_16jan2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg87QBkd56R3FoOYP2v7KqXvTOnWz8j-s4ycLkq8vnD87qSN-KaddMsBOkK56Cblj5Stv971GugOJVRKl6WQjkLXV81UHXBk1kbpvtZz9d1uhCq9J305qn_VfupSXSgshkjM3HYqk-dFY3/s1600/kingfisher_sebes_16jan2015.JPG" height="400" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Kingfisher, Sebes</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UouUTXfjVQxKFMq_iKBx32-h6NkjNKz5afK-U-mMwNqhEQnJi4OS363rglmjx9HkscqrnNeyfJtHboCeYUZM42bZhDePYtaqOQtIcsgAoFdlDOPyskJYnYoSl_L7fbgpJEJ0QPz0VdVQ/s1600/alfara2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UouUTXfjVQxKFMq_iKBx32-h6NkjNKz5afK-U-mMwNqhEQnJi4OS363rglmjx9HkscqrnNeyfJtHboCeYUZM42bZhDePYtaqOQtIcsgAoFdlDOPyskJYnYoSl_L7fbgpJEJ0QPz0VdVQ/s1600/alfara2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Alfara de Carles</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Huge winds crossing the mountains around <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortosa" target="_blank">Tortosa</a></strong> caused a stop over there and they were no less fierce the next morning as I attempted some kind of mountain terrain experience around <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfara_de_Carles" target="_blank">Alfara de Carles</a></strong><br />
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Got my first <strong>Griffon Vultures</strong> up there plus a very distant <strong>Bonellis Eagle </strong>and a <strong>Citril Finch</strong> plus lots of <strong>Blackcaps </strong>in just about the only place I could find out of the wind. I know it looks idyllic and yes the sun was shining but man I could hardly stand upright up there!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6vTATIDck_S-RbmVsDg0W_muN3F3T2QW6wnbtBwFMjtuUmqyZVA26243YHXFdC5Jp2uy-Ut4oyTrT-fkSDAQzGjQs7HB5q1rP63nqkCKdKHqMe3CTKtG6-DlAwyvjg354feVLDLCNqSp/s1600/alfara1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6vTATIDck_S-RbmVsDg0W_muN3F3T2QW6wnbtBwFMjtuUmqyZVA26243YHXFdC5Jp2uy-Ut4oyTrT-fkSDAQzGjQs7HB5q1rP63nqkCKdKHqMe3CTKtG6-DlAwyvjg354feVLDLCNqSp/s1600/alfara1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Just about the only place out of the wind at Alfara!</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDhA9DwkE9ggC-Vmty-lzvwC9rIymqyX99HtrG_qnI0ee7pYbwJC2jV4DrNThaLae_TPhaAAiscn6siq-9d3xFkpBlW82k_Tr7A_-tJZVoNksC0m4gN0JeCfcOrX40gDrq4VhsTE5Js5u/s1600/griffon1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDhA9DwkE9ggC-Vmty-lzvwC9rIymqyX99HtrG_qnI0ee7pYbwJC2jV4DrNThaLae_TPhaAAiscn6siq-9d3xFkpBlW82k_Tr7A_-tJZVoNksC0m4gN0JeCfcOrX40gDrq4VhsTE5Js5u/s1600/griffon1.JPG" height="400" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Griffon Vulture, Alfara</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So those last shots in the mountains were on the 17th Jan and since then I've been on the <strong>Ebro Delta</strong>. Internet access has been tricky, otherwise I'd have posted more frequently, no camp sites are open either so its just been me and the van and some very inventive use of wet wipes!!<br />
<br />
Next up will be highlights from the <strong>Ebro</strong> and whilst the experience was spoilt somewhat by the excessive amount of shooting that takes place over here, there's plenty of goodies to stay tuned for!</div>
BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-81796347166717456412015-01-15T14:06:00.000-08:002015-01-16T11:11:25.169-08:00Lazy days in San Pere Pescadore, Kingfishers, Shearwaters then a 3 point turn enforces the help of Catalan mechanics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've moved on of course and now around the plains of<strong> Lleida</strong>. Its been decidedly foggy for the past 4 days so pics have been thin on the ground but I've had my moments and will include in the next post. </div>
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So here's the second part of my days around <strong>Emporda </strong>and beyond....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVTLQ3P4H79XgsKaItAsFDl4CmYEK3XNIlYJuDZyYJ2rb2o_KD6BpMBUPveKXT8Ss8d_PvwY9B_V1DeXJxnah-5fdm-irM_Qblbm7BBJorJGAC7bpTZXxtw9WLEp7T2NipuiwtuNSEygV/s1600/20150108-20150108_IMG_999_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVTLQ3P4H79XgsKaItAsFDl4CmYEK3XNIlYJuDZyYJ2rb2o_KD6BpMBUPveKXT8Ss8d_PvwY9B_V1DeXJxnah-5fdm-irM_Qblbm7BBJorJGAC7bpTZXxtw9WLEp7T2NipuiwtuNSEygV/s1600/20150108-20150108_IMG_999_32.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a>Kinda felt I'd outstayed my welcome in the car park at <strong>El Cortalets</strong> so moved a few kilometres south to a beach side spot for campervans at <strong>San Pere Pescadore.</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSFR7j5CnEUlje8C4pH3JyenJ0Wt2irSVh57ikWucVRmhe6OeoFDMV14wdkVDT6atmHFgeBhcLOto5Qy6KQPXGtE3C00AGofSi4fCuX9X_VApJ5djuPgfho9LWsU5Jr6Ukcs6iYD3wm8e/s1600/20150108_IMG_999_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSFR7j5CnEUlje8C4pH3JyenJ0Wt2irSVh57ikWucVRmhe6OeoFDMV14wdkVDT6atmHFgeBhcLOto5Qy6KQPXGtE3C00AGofSi4fCuX9X_VApJ5djuPgfho9LWsU5Jr6Ukcs6iYD3wm8e/s1600/20150108_IMG_999_2.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mouth of the Rio Fluvia</strong></td></tr>
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How wonderful it is to have a bike on
board! During my 3 days at the beach me and the bike went
all over the place – into town for provisions, the odd bar visit
and all around the various tracks along the coast there. <br />
This is the mouth of the <strong>Rio Fluvia</strong>, the southernmost of the 2 rivers that empty into the Med in this area..10 mins on the bike!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoW35gg4MRw5HWcUYKXB-TFDPbZdVj-TubSpSKpA0NL3angYIpzXsK8SpsWCTFGUEb6iaddSAdSFmELPWDLMVKtpV-YNwO-VfkvfCJD8d114zCdMzjdpAMtxI4dBj5e-GEInFzzCdBNtJ/s1600/bike+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoW35gg4MRw5HWcUYKXB-TFDPbZdVj-TubSpSKpA0NL3angYIpzXsK8SpsWCTFGUEb6iaddSAdSFmELPWDLMVKtpV-YNwO-VfkvfCJD8d114zCdMzjdpAMtxI4dBj5e-GEInFzzCdBNtJ/s1600/bike+selfie.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Englishman abroad aboard a bike!</strong></td></tr>
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10 minutes later I was enjoying prolonged views of a <strong>Kingfisher</strong> and probably my best ever photo shots as this one fished from a wall alongside the river mouth.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hXIJYLqMOGPOQ1wPwH6J5mBOIKSw_az_pQBeqFneS2auhAlXUfPWZNgbW2fVICuQ0Fw2_W59GrY9j5N-yMXBE4Uov3hg5Bsv2X6pZcq6JMXDAKf5jQ-lxseyh0Z8By7i_E3E0jVEAm9m/s1600/20150109-20150109_IMG_999_50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hXIJYLqMOGPOQ1wPwH6J5mBOIKSw_az_pQBeqFneS2auhAlXUfPWZNgbW2fVICuQ0Fw2_W59GrY9j5N-yMXBE4Uov3hg5Bsv2X6pZcq6JMXDAKf5jQ-lxseyh0Z8By7i_E3E0jVEAm9m/s1600/20150109-20150109_IMG_999_50.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Kingfisher, Rio Fluvia</strong></td></tr>
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Back at the ranch and with the Med like an absolute millpond in almost zero wind, I enjoyed several long lazy sit downs on the beach gazing out to sea!<br />
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During the entire time I was there, there was a flock of appx 160<strong> Balearic Shearwaters</strong> in the bay and though mostly distant they occasionally came close enough to photograph. You can see the odd gull in amongst and I know friends and colleagues who'd be wanting to id them but all I was seeing were <strong>Black Headed</strong> & <strong>Yellow Legged Herring Gull</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUp8ugtm8swzJlBm0M_k2ErX2erA15NP0HgzeTeKdsdIaLlVVavD3cCVY00-Ch5sd_O7sx-f0HUxtJQytee5ttLxRZ5FKMr-n6xkav6QkzR41EduM9FoJ86b06Dd6iCXH7bRoFj60BiHe/s1600/20150107_IMG_999_103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUp8ugtm8swzJlBm0M_k2ErX2erA15NP0HgzeTeKdsdIaLlVVavD3cCVY00-Ch5sd_O7sx-f0HUxtJQytee5ttLxRZ5FKMr-n6xkav6QkzR41EduM9FoJ86b06Dd6iCXH7bRoFj60BiHe/s1600/20150107_IMG_999_103.JPG" height="194" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Balearic Shearwaters, San Pere Pescadore</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28fMty8xHk3YFdfuh0uSDGpwPirnN3MoN1tHFTt_ouZZALwYaGyM38nu7KOUa4wGzJcy4PpKmdlSk7SQYqViKV6EBLSat1lP9HrlzQmKw77l76IZsrS94XVcvb-0nC_UKpHpmQY6TwP3A/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28fMty8xHk3YFdfuh0uSDGpwPirnN3MoN1tHFTt_ouZZALwYaGyM38nu7KOUa4wGzJcy4PpKmdlSk7SQYqViKV6EBLSat1lP9HrlzQmKw77l76IZsrS94XVcvb-0nC_UKpHpmQY6TwP3A/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_100.JPG" height="236" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Balearic Shearwaters, San Pere Pescadore</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Em1L9dB9aFy7aR42je1L10a7M2lCkymP96MtHZ8aEQMi9eLxEboSoIN2BUX_n7FASKbmqsW8FOBi0zgpdtx42zhxU9hc5vaHLx2-3Bu7ugZ-ZROhPgJzewFH-rzlPaoWzJ3_DJ3-V7il/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_107b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Em1L9dB9aFy7aR42je1L10a7M2lCkymP96MtHZ8aEQMi9eLxEboSoIN2BUX_n7FASKbmqsW8FOBi0zgpdtx42zhxU9hc5vaHLx2-3Bu7ugZ-ZROhPgJzewFH-rzlPaoWzJ3_DJ3-V7il/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_107b.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Balearic Shearwaters, San Pere Pescadore</strong></td></tr>
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Pretty amazing to get half decent pics of any <strong>Shearwaters</strong>, such are their ocean going tendencies and these are certainly my best to date of any <strong>Shearwater</strong> species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrjYakjT4Fxu0ZXpBNUUMMNMZsIu-cINy4p4H1WH8-U5BdZOYZwAYSfs1Q6Zxcp8XkfPhcNIZQD9oFs3_G82tQ2dpLjL8TrGjXhx9FDhLBNZB2TWzKKOsNKxxE2cuCMFVmvzUNzxlDv30/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrjYakjT4Fxu0ZXpBNUUMMNMZsIu-cINy4p4H1WH8-U5BdZOYZwAYSfs1Q6Zxcp8XkfPhcNIZQD9oFs3_G82tQ2dpLjL8TrGjXhx9FDhLBNZB2TWzKKOsNKxxE2cuCMFVmvzUNzxlDv30/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_11.JPG" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Throated Diver on the Med at San Pere Pescadore</strong></td></tr>
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Along with the <strong>Shearwaters</strong> there were also a couple of <strong>Black Throated Divers</strong>, bit distant but showing reasonably well and enough of a pic of the bill to distinguish from <strong>Red Throated</strong>.<br />
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I heard that at about the same time there were gale force winds and snow blizzards in the UK, well I've got freezing fog now so what comes around goes around and sorry to sound so smug... but these were some of the balmiest January days I can ever remember!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCor6oXo6459CBI0snIf5ERAUEqthNfLYFiQJv6PdlzafeKZ8RdGH2SMRL4OPTofeIHNFfLaNX_3nR0QQSwP6XKotESCPjoCo6YgQPSc0P3jYBJmamjnXcStJVwxQN0USpV3VBFDqdcAA/s1600/20150108_IMG_999_56.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCor6oXo6459CBI0snIf5ERAUEqthNfLYFiQJv6PdlzafeKZ8RdGH2SMRL4OPTofeIHNFfLaNX_3nR0QQSwP6XKotESCPjoCo6YgQPSc0P3jYBJmamjnXcStJVwxQN0USpV3VBFDqdcAA/s1600/20150108_IMG_999_56.JPG" height="220" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Starlings across the Pyrenees</strong></td></tr>
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Always warmer on the coast of course and you can clearly see on these pics of <strong>Starlings</strong> coming into roost in the reeds of <strong>Emporda</strong> and across a backdrop of a section of the<strong> Pyrenees...</strong> that it ain't that warm inland and higher up!<br />
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... but at sea level things carry on and even the commonest birds provide me with all the entertainment I need to make a bike ride worthwhile....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlmoy6iLhft6V1yxzFmb1AtLL8ALWKgDajA2qNxDO4M_WFVJyxhgekfLhH48gIODtWjug4i9lyg-ly9-xZmAO-DU-do-bEyCue-zj7FMwHzWyLMVk97dUYmIm32TipFLJwT6fcalKaLlv/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlmoy6iLhft6V1yxzFmb1AtLL8ALWKgDajA2qNxDO4M_WFVJyxhgekfLhH48gIODtWjug4i9lyg-ly9-xZmAO-DU-do-bEyCue-zj7FMwHzWyLMVk97dUYmIm32TipFLJwT6fcalKaLlv/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_23.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cormorants fishing in formation on the Rio Fluvia</strong></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUuhi9cZOpz_zD2LMsh7dVC35oh07-v_bqOfCFGOlizRFfhlwfuCIeF7k6k7M6rhStSRXnJ0hbeQoYqUGMngkgpliGE2kozkvOFEWc10c7-AxO23LvJi7svA9q2_LAO-6KgVQ3QAc-TLK/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUuhi9cZOpz_zD2LMsh7dVC35oh07-v_bqOfCFGOlizRFfhlwfuCIeF7k6k7M6rhStSRXnJ0hbeQoYqUGMngkgpliGE2kozkvOFEWc10c7-AxO23LvJi7svA9q2_LAO-6KgVQ3QAc-TLK/s1600/20150109_IMG_999_35.JPG" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Headed Gulls getting feisty! Pre breeding territorial behaviour?</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnGyhiv28vAfrI91oQGc2fvb1n0BdYQJ0RrSEVC5JLmi1yy5o6NTa7hGw8g5kXTdByDlRgMWhf5wjUDTM9-QqJDg2dozY5jBmsiAzyqcJ9t5eOvtasD78DVPjM0I7oMuM1MWSkJgQQkjY/s1600/2015-01-11+15.54.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnGyhiv28vAfrI91oQGc2fvb1n0BdYQJ0RrSEVC5JLmi1yy5o6NTa7hGw8g5kXTdByDlRgMWhf5wjUDTM9-QqJDg2dozY5jBmsiAzyqcJ9t5eOvtasD78DVPjM0I7oMuM1MWSkJgQQkjY/s1600/2015-01-11+15.54.11.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gaffer tape don't hide it all!</strong></td></tr>
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Argh...maybe I should have stayed put because I had my first mishap of the trip the day I left the balmy Med coast. En route for <strong>Lleida</strong> and some Steppe habitat I spotted a lovely spot from the van and thought it was worth a stop off. Ended up going down a track I thought might deteriorate so I looked for a likely turn-around spot and failed to look hard enough ... the result, an all too familiar 'crunch' of bumper hitting hard material... Ah and it was all going so well!<br />
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The place in question was about here nr the town of <strong>Artes</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiw2B5-SBHXpcYoq51dHEL2ZwPUdG8rSRNK_RXpRaaYzhdiwW7JOm7fmK3Yl39-XvLOkpRcVwclfEM3QAaL1OXhwTz9ppWKSbhxvNDdn6drF5UWC-dUODEnd992jzzhR18DQINJQgzsxi/s1600/20150111_IMG_999_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiw2B5-SBHXpcYoq51dHEL2ZwPUdG8rSRNK_RXpRaaYzhdiwW7JOm7fmK3Yl39-XvLOkpRcVwclfEM3QAaL1OXhwTz9ppWKSbhxvNDdn6drF5UWC-dUODEnd992jzzhR18DQINJQgzsxi/s1600/20150111_IMG_999_12.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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...and what I was seeing was this sort of thing and was actually where the <strong>Rierra Garressa</strong>, a tributary of <strong>El Lobregat</strong> that in turn empties into the Med through <strong>Barcelona</strong>, happened to pass close to the C25 motorway I was happily progressing along! Big note to self - the bike is for exploring and van doesn't do tracks!<br />
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So that was me for the day. Ironically, if I'd carried on just a little further I would have found the perfect reversing spot but it was found too late, it was a Sunday and nothing to be done except explore till the morning. With no working offside indicator, effectively I couldn't turn left safely... and that's tricky on any continent. Best call the RAC!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuRK6bdaU22R93qRLOaij3bBfViMgPp-VP7yA7EEbPw-nFxNA5K6EnW2AkDMHuK7-mR16wX1FKO4OAEtHQSxzawh5XmsKuK_rpuJ5SSse78LTr9waJthOnPIFvwX38azvgAzV8qY7A6_3/s1600/20150111-20150111_IMG_999_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuRK6bdaU22R93qRLOaij3bBfViMgPp-VP7yA7EEbPw-nFxNA5K6EnW2AkDMHuK7-mR16wX1FKO4OAEtHQSxzawh5XmsKuK_rpuJ5SSse78LTr9waJthOnPIFvwX38azvgAzV8qY7A6_3/s1600/20150111-20150111_IMG_999_17.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></div>
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Wandering around I was semi consoled by the fact that I'd been seduced and then snaffled by a beautiful vista that many of my kind would have fallen for, I was semi justified but still felt like an idiot abroad, even the hills seemed to be talking to me!<br />
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<a href="http:///#SiSi" target="_blank">#SiSi</a> is of course part of something far more important than me straying onto the wrong side of the tracks ... <strong>Independence for Catalyuna!</strong> I'd vote for it if I were from around here ... proud people, good people.<br />
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... if you saw this from the motorway wouldn't you want to stop? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3BIwgOnY5uHGmo6M6DCsCwcf9hzQYWJulBEphA0EKqsy97V6fqL65PizL07CTlHjitgauQkRu7J6NkpCsfj9e81eajHBDg5CdCCjo3o68akY5-jQL7yr4mikJSKT8okWjcXnyCjizeFK/s1600/20150111_IMG_999_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3BIwgOnY5uHGmo6M6DCsCwcf9hzQYWJulBEphA0EKqsy97V6fqL65PizL07CTlHjitgauQkRu7J6NkpCsfj9e81eajHBDg5CdCCjo3o68akY5-jQL7yr4mikJSKT8okWjcXnyCjizeFK/s1600/20150111_IMG_999_21.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Rierra Garessa nr Artes</strong></td></tr>
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Stop I had to do and this was a good thought gathering spot....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>thinking spot, nr Artes</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Black Redstart, Artes</strong></td></tr>
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Tramping around with the noise of the motorway ever present and mulling over my options I did see a few things ... 5 new species of birds for the trip in fact - <strong>Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker </strong>(amazingly<strong>), Crested Tit, Treecreeper </strong>and<strong> Firecrest</strong>. Got pics of none of em and you wouldn't thank me for drab <strong>Dunnock</strong> would you? <br />
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A nicely posed <strong>Black Redstart,</strong> of which there are many in almost every kind of habitat, and a cheeky <strong>Robin</strong> of which there are even more, did get my focus though.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Robin, nr Artes</strong></td></tr>
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The van was sorted reasonably quickly the next day - took me 2 hrs to find the Fiat garage RAC pointed me to in <strong>Manresa</strong>, 1 hr to explain that I didn't want the bumper repaired.. just the indicator, 1 hr for them to suggest a Spanish lighting panel ... 2 hrs to fit. Hey look they were friendly, helpful, I was hopeless with my Spanish, the job got done, I'm road worthy again and not likely to get stopped by <em><strong>el policia</strong></em> (that would never do) .... and I had the chance to chance to hang around downtown <strong>Manresa</strong> .. as <strong>Catalan</strong> as you get, in fact the flags and banners on these pics are replicated in just about every town and village in <em>Catalyuna</em> ... they want independence and I'm with 'em, I've had nothing but smiles from these proud <strong>Catalans</strong> and I love their spirit. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_Solidarity_for_Independence" target="_blank">find out if they deserve it more than Scotand by clicking here</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Manresa</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Manresa</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Catalan flags everywhere</strong></td></tr>
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Got some new walking boots here though whilst I was walking around <strong>Manresa </strong>and waiting for those Catalan mechanics to do their stuff....some original Spanish <em>Paredes </em>for a good price. Slight oversight with the boots I bought in the UK ... too f****** small! - should have tried em on first I suppose!<br />
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Already had my first Spanish adventure then .... really must take care of this van now it's patched up, New bumper will cost me £200 from Swift when I get back but hey ho - I live andI learn, I'm very alive and hell yeah clocked up 118 bird species to date!! I push on through the fog!<br />
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<br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-63738945478027392302015-01-09T13:34:00.000-08:002015-01-10T11:03:26.965-08:00Regreso a España... Emporda and its many marvels ..Bluethroat, Penduline Tits and the biggest bird hide ever!First post from my second road trip to <strong>Spain</strong>, and about time ... been giving it the big easy since leaving my sisters house in<strong> Montmorillon, France</strong> and 4 days of merriment and music making over New Year. Before crossing over into Spain I spent a few days around the wetland areas around <strong>Narbonne</strong> and filled my boots with some nice <strong>Flamingoes</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dq4drKOuXKizdCzbPmyQI5v2qJxnw8gxHxR6t6Dt6Hhp1sK-4dv9xSttmrCkS9qWCFHkLGvc_SqsoL_mzFKD5u3cfQA4h4kzGs9RW9PGQMS8WuiR4PTzcn5i0hf8cNIn_W53_czeWKBM/s1600/20150105_IMG_999_9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Narbonne" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dq4drKOuXKizdCzbPmyQI5v2qJxnw8gxHxR6t6Dt6Hhp1sK-4dv9xSttmrCkS9qWCFHkLGvc_SqsoL_mzFKD5u3cfQA4h4kzGs9RW9PGQMS8WuiR4PTzcn5i0hf8cNIn_W53_czeWKBM/s1600/20150105_IMG_999_9.JPG" height="432" title="Flamingoes" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greater Flamingoes, St Pierre, nr Narbonne</strong></td></tr>
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Plenty of birds about and some great weather once I cleared a belt of mist and rain across central France, lovely light and a chance for some landscape pics nr <strong>port Leucate</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnH2E1C9JeYU9t_3sT2Zaqi0gpNu2WNo6WkjWKKmvb2e4sImFC0USn3iuxDuC3FzsE3kzYNwzdlyusml3XGoK1B0pJ8oZViz1Dmh_n-b61bHjxM9DdTdp8s4S0Bg7ZCvlFCM25BwAniTK/s1600/20150105-20150105_IMG_999_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnH2E1C9JeYU9t_3sT2Zaqi0gpNu2WNo6WkjWKKmvb2e4sImFC0USn3iuxDuC3FzsE3kzYNwzdlyusml3XGoK1B0pJ8oZViz1Dmh_n-b61bHjxM9DdTdp8s4S0Bg7ZCvlFCM25BwAniTK/s1600/20150105-20150105_IMG_999_15.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Port Leucate, with the Pyrenees in the background</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dartford Warbler, early morning shot.</strong></td></tr>
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My best effort yet of a <strong>Dartford Warbler</strong> and some nice flying <strong>Great White Egrets</strong> were useful sign off pics from my last good outing in the south of France, but I could sense Spain beckoning, and I crossed the Pyrenees on the 5th Jan. Didn't stop ... it was dark and just too cold and bitter this time of year, be better on the way back!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great White Egret</strong></td></tr>
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...and so to my first landing spot in Spain - <strong>Aiguamolls D'Emporda</strong>. <br />
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Been here 5 days now (so it must be good!)... just exploring this rich and varied coastal area in <strong><em>Catalunya. </em></strong>There's a major 'parc naturel' at <strong>'El Cortalet'</strong> but the whole area between the 2 rivers <strong>Muga</strong> and <strong>Fluvia</strong> is impressive, well managed and in this part of Spain second only to the <strong>Ebro Delta</strong> in terms of wildlife importance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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<strong>El Cortalet</strong> is a wetland area to rival the best ... all the usual suspects I guess but I never tire of watching Marsh Harriers do their stuff...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYehQltNvBr8xDcJqstfFI2K-hEmtXNt1eqArvlJwHzVlYEnsEl-Z-XRvkl-3ippCv3eFJiHPljXAoILylJjgbvaUA26RQM7Ck8czjTE2vXOEEgMojTxiq4XBrwLEUcQj-lgRC-SEZ9ek/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYehQltNvBr8xDcJqstfFI2K-hEmtXNt1eqArvlJwHzVlYEnsEl-Z-XRvkl-3ippCv3eFJiHPljXAoILylJjgbvaUA26RQM7Ck8czjTE2vXOEEgMojTxiq4XBrwLEUcQj-lgRC-SEZ9ek/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_183.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Marsh Harrier, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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....<strong>Water Rails</strong> all over the place but as ever - the devils own business to photograph! Of half a dozen seen and more than treble that heard, these were my best efforts - <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_3xi9-THVxY05AkobJg2hRL8ME8psI2BT9HpyMCBXbkEstQg5wse7_qtQYH-w5nhPawOztLGjyNk0xeKCIEvTSEUWXmYAsI41PyzUgTzLUHU8L__yWNMHvL9lii_7pMQpLUafjq4a8Gv/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_3xi9-THVxY05AkobJg2hRL8ME8psI2BT9HpyMCBXbkEstQg5wse7_qtQYH-w5nhPawOztLGjyNk0xeKCIEvTSEUWXmYAsI41PyzUgTzLUHU8L__yWNMHvL9lii_7pMQpLUafjq4a8Gv/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_268.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Water Rail, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkruqosyomIvI4sNIH_IVEyNA9iQh6TFhaG06F6ZXQV2xv-T2agStuYOGC0-X8tbJFN764OhHsStr3d5TbKzTDumm8KaS-3Ioe5bopNjd6tAtuhZ7beVqQk-c1nI7Z_VFwbkOX2QXaGas/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkruqosyomIvI4sNIH_IVEyNA9iQh6TFhaG06F6ZXQV2xv-T2agStuYOGC0-X8tbJFN764OhHsStr3d5TbKzTDumm8KaS-3Ioe5bopNjd6tAtuhZ7beVqQk-c1nI7Z_VFwbkOX2QXaGas/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_271.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Water Rail, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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The <strong>White Storks</strong> here are just about to start breeding and making a right racket with all that bill rattling! There was a big nest just above my van in the car park at the reserve but right across the patch they weren't exactly difficult to photograph!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0kq1Ala2SByHjHs0bFvPpkOq_ZZWyyVU1i5vpCnSep5vBxkaQfybrRBCzG-cOWhtCGAK736ujJVD2qslKyXg_2Ec5lg26llwuoyFH____vXgf_s0XhUI9jGeArY_gmSuv0M-OMWqrDZ6/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0kq1Ala2SByHjHs0bFvPpkOq_ZZWyyVU1i5vpCnSep5vBxkaQfybrRBCzG-cOWhtCGAK736ujJVD2qslKyXg_2Ec5lg26llwuoyFH____vXgf_s0XhUI9jGeArY_gmSuv0M-OMWqrDZ6/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_38.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Like I say, tis the breeding season here for storks ... think she's giving the nudge to a slow starter?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHDoS6BJySCqBMgCkAMmBMxxgsHAWW7cHLkhKjmyQrqi5P-3xI4f1cI2lAa-7j_Z3y69L3qmKkL3p-ZsCM1VmUffXiBl8E8xv0r5m6tfBbykSNbp998QRjiOhHMb8aAkXhHyYJVLSjFPE/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHDoS6BJySCqBMgCkAMmBMxxgsHAWW7cHLkhKjmyQrqi5P-3xI4f1cI2lAa-7j_Z3y69L3qmKkL3p-ZsCM1VmUffXiBl8E8xv0r5m6tfBbykSNbp998QRjiOhHMb8aAkXhHyYJVLSjFPE/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_24.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlH25SxRdCJrsNp4EbItnWQKajzPwLD9K3-Im6LhpSHvYlAfLPQWMlODXnC_qpV_oCJiBoyKSV4xFtO2GKIEh2adZdtilut_UHt_DcRtlI1d-9TE965-GSbpTZ__4Ype47fQ8zl1r4lbq/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlH25SxRdCJrsNp4EbItnWQKajzPwLD9K3-Im6LhpSHvYlAfLPQWMlODXnC_qpV_oCJiBoyKSV4xFtO2GKIEh2adZdtilut_UHt_DcRtlI1d-9TE965-GSbpTZ__4Ype47fQ8zl1r4lbq/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_109.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Penduline Tit, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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Last time I was in Spain (Nov/Dec 2013) I was totally thrilled to get my first ever <strong>Penduline Tit</strong> in the <strong>Brazo del Este</strong>. It was a good view, but fleeting and no chance to get the camera out. Double, nay treble my thrills, add ecstasy and a bar of Cadbury's Whisper Gold for good measure and what you get is not one but a flock of said Tits... and I got to take pictures!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiDarnysabVEEdD8mfilrumB_RKci-cB7UtWw4PaiC3CIww7OocZcnYlCKeRA5SZvgecFPjzZ2dnkf3NiTjdUvAEjZ_LiCGy50hn4sR81imtKvgAk_SGH70n_S5uQHMD7chzWI4tN3wdL/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiDarnysabVEEdD8mfilrumB_RKci-cB7UtWw4PaiC3CIww7OocZcnYlCKeRA5SZvgecFPjzZ2dnkf3NiTjdUvAEjZ_LiCGy50hn4sR81imtKvgAk_SGH70n_S5uQHMD7chzWI4tN3wdL/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_119.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Penduline Tit2, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp-_I-u5Gre1P7vbLgBHIGruUz-IauA6GPY72AC3w8pEx1j30_E4ONFySgT5pmAhuZS63pQ8_owHpZ0G5Cp6ORkNn0_j4dOH_-teDquvhw3cYd5St9uf-UxsvxUUVMCzbnM-YEZOVoXOV/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp-_I-u5Gre1P7vbLgBHIGruUz-IauA6GPY72AC3w8pEx1j30_E4ONFySgT5pmAhuZS63pQ8_owHpZ0G5Cp6ORkNn0_j4dOH_-teDquvhw3cYd5St9uf-UxsvxUUVMCzbnM-YEZOVoXOV/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_125.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Penduline Tit3, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAmxzy5krxKt-Rh9cxkWsuvuyknoNaGJpGScWIhMgxhoqIAblMD2CmbstPVlD3A0yDNSti4cW4YH4Ei0Mt3opm-nQbF9A1FvuU46F6c9dQtuN52LWJXXVXEHNroq5x6f1-ABB8dtvX-iC/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAmxzy5krxKt-Rh9cxkWsuvuyknoNaGJpGScWIhMgxhoqIAblMD2CmbstPVlD3A0yDNSti4cW4YH4Ei0Mt3opm-nQbF9A1FvuU46F6c9dQtuN52LWJXXVXEHNroq5x6f1-ABB8dtvX-iC/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_127.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Penduline Tit4, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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I was totally captivated by these fantastic wee birds, counted 8 in total, feeding on mast heads and actually stripping some kind of goodness out of the reed stalks (pic3). At the risk of sounding like David Attenborough, as I watched them flit from reed to reed, I was struck by how totally adapted they are to this environment.. swaying and sinking down on mast heads (like a pendulum doh!) and the way their feet fit the exact diameter of a reed stem... awesome!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCViWfuWA5N9DwEaQmTzXLgzTUFfH0fvgfGG1UgAqbqtxP16dMms-wnBbrCgbIbCPLxH6h-niaX8TtOGj4Ty4hgTUN05jAQ0xc9TvE84xl8qZ3mYuDVjFNkYP_YcR4N_RhkSlD-wy_V4n/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCViWfuWA5N9DwEaQmTzXLgzTUFfH0fvgfGG1UgAqbqtxP16dMms-wnBbrCgbIbCPLxH6h-niaX8TtOGj4Ty4hgTUN05jAQ0xc9TvE84xl8qZ3mYuDVjFNkYP_YcR4N_RhkSlD-wy_V4n/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_214.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bluethroat, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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First day in Spain was already beyond expectations and it kept going.... fancy a bit of <strong>Bluethroat</strong>?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMluZkuIdY-kuU6AyU2Gyn2tbJHdF_7GeMF396evsVO3pWmasad-7yPF2dtEQiF-Xns6DicYQG7givVM3zb1VyYYyTaf5VE62emQ7coKL2Duwy0rm5P4Key6UqgEaSA7cscJ3fMoFjm0Go/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMluZkuIdY-kuU6AyU2Gyn2tbJHdF_7GeMF396evsVO3pWmasad-7yPF2dtEQiF-Xns6DicYQG7givVM3zb1VyYYyTaf5VE62emQ7coKL2Duwy0rm5P4Key6UqgEaSA7cscJ3fMoFjm0Go/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_238.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bluethroat2, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVRYvqsXyStFEnkDwVWSEqRynGWYQueq3anCvScg-Kn4tZyIk5u5W5nwLsXw-tuRELLETj9KW8xFEdRlOt-0a8iWFfjKzA4y-jMIdNuxnHourGhCCHbvjvReH9GE3uOmS0jUL2eJTB5m7/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVRYvqsXyStFEnkDwVWSEqRynGWYQueq3anCvScg-Kn4tZyIk5u5W5nwLsXw-tuRELLETj9KW8xFEdRlOt-0a8iWFfjKzA4y-jMIdNuxnHourGhCCHbvjvReH9GE3uOmS0jUL2eJTB5m7/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_237.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bluethroat3, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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Amazingly, my dear mother had given me a framed picture of a pretty bird she stumbled across in an antique store ... turned out to be a limited edition print of a <strong>Bluethroat</strong>! She wasn't to know but I love these cunning little birds ...aren't mums brilliant! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQorffK0WNA09HC1Qfi3mtOx3p4RWVMboZyhFVbdRkDhBKupIJ50qPtHk-bnhWUouvNpYkhiZ2-talmlkxCZP5WUmyEIW9o3Mg6Rsdv9wSmzQnkkVIVmAQHk9lU2ixh26aCoNKUTYugOe/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQorffK0WNA09HC1Qfi3mtOx3p4RWVMboZyhFVbdRkDhBKupIJ50qPtHk-bnhWUouvNpYkhiZ2-talmlkxCZP5WUmyEIW9o3Mg6Rsdv9wSmzQnkkVIVmAQHk9lU2ixh26aCoNKUTYugOe/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_164.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chiff Chaff, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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Sticking with wee birds and as with the last time I was in Spain, the wintering numbers of<strong> Chiff Chaffs</strong> here is as staggering as ever, along with <strong>Starlings, Stonechats</strong> and <strong>Reed Buntings</strong> they are the most populous bird out here.<br />
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A few more <strong>Willow Warblers</strong> than last time too but not got a decent pic yet!<br />
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Every remaining fruit bearing bush and tree has some kind of bird in it and if its not a <strong>Blackbird</strong> its a <strong>Blackcap</strong> ... here's a female devouring a fruit I should be familiar with. Blueberry?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd51knSgmJPIMPZUAQDAh5QWcrIe0HsAxuziT9gNfRCTAB7b7ExRuqNs-6-VAraeJEGE76fyiqAttgG0TJ7TGMxWsWTE4Wd5ngmxoFutj3__HMfdXdSrxnScsA3RwxdNvZF-DoCk24RcbJ/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd51knSgmJPIMPZUAQDAh5QWcrIe0HsAxuziT9gNfRCTAB7b7ExRuqNs-6-VAraeJEGE76fyiqAttgG0TJ7TGMxWsWTE4Wd5ngmxoFutj3__HMfdXdSrxnScsA3RwxdNvZF-DoCk24RcbJ/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_229.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Female Blackcap, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dKDs4-WObHPZWfDdlLmHowtQhiXRJG2fJl0UtYvQ6ehTLN83nEaBiT9Dy3pTuKdawiqydmUYxYr5HcZ6dBqUO_47gYrAtwIS5oT-HelWB9gtoIFU38dvI2pLQESmAk5MVfV0V83WufXb/s1600/20150107_IMG_999_106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dKDs4-WObHPZWfDdlLmHowtQhiXRJG2fJl0UtYvQ6ehTLN83nEaBiT9Dy3pTuKdawiqydmUYxYr5HcZ6dBqUO_47gYrAtwIS5oT-HelWB9gtoIFU38dvI2pLQESmAk5MVfV0V83WufXb/s1600/20150107_IMG_999_106.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a><br />
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The terrain is dominated by salt loving shrubs and plants, with lots of <strong>saltmarsh rocket, sea bindweed</strong> and tree-wise the short and stubby <strong>Salt Cedar</strong> trees. <br />
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Great for <strong>Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Goldfinch, Wood & Crested Larks</strong><br />
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Although there's an abundance of wet fields I've not had huge numbers of wading birds .. a few <strong>Spotted Redshank, Green & Common Sandpiper, Curlew</strong> and <strong>Lapwing</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HsYofjZMALOcQC31vhEMiBBLJzz0Y_xvJjBLgqIBZTT6sFjb9NXBxn1udQIpZ2RQ_j0AMrTVkwN5ImKGTKYEBhxXaYOpcSZ0yPgzeP5STlMjqXdburcff9sE-thRpT-WS2-3tsJdhcqa/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HsYofjZMALOcQC31vhEMiBBLJzz0Y_xvJjBLgqIBZTT6sFjb9NXBxn1udQIpZ2RQ_j0AMrTVkwN5ImKGTKYEBhxXaYOpcSZ0yPgzeP5STlMjqXdburcff9sE-thRpT-WS2-3tsJdhcqa/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_258.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lapwing, El Cortalet</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and from the highest and most impressive bird hide I've ever clambered into, and I was breathless when I got to the top of this one ...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZirD-E4kc0dGrpUuajEehNlvumiHBUhcHAguYKjlNBblHOUfIH2VnaelDTH-3J1C8SelA_mb6kqHC2QybyQI-RXOa5hnpZZ6i0bIUjJ__vMpBtK0TuUEuwrxXyQMqlnKB_b_My0QwX78/s1600/2015-01-09+15.47.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZirD-E4kc0dGrpUuajEehNlvumiHBUhcHAguYKjlNBblHOUfIH2VnaelDTH-3J1C8SelA_mb6kqHC2QybyQI-RXOa5hnpZZ6i0bIUjJ__vMpBtK0TuUEuwrxXyQMqlnKB_b_My0QwX78/s1600/2015-01-09+15.47.11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mega bird hide at El Cortalet!</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.....some cracking views of the reserve<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxExklZFefk7u97q6apUrHF-LhyphenhyphenSIkdnIZLVGuitx0xcBrhQ6VuczHSM5Suh5MjRmrWSRMfRmfqe1LjQK2VW-uTYvYTKrQHSf51r_craBNr4PD-OC3MKL__6UDfIBxFCypsoI2V7jGxkd/s1600/20150106_IMG_999_56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxExklZFefk7u97q6apUrHF-LhyphenhyphenSIkdnIZLVGuitx0xcBrhQ6VuczHSM5Suh5MjRmrWSRMfRmfqe1LjQK2VW-uTYvYTKrQHSf51r_craBNr4PD-OC3MKL__6UDfIBxFCypsoI2V7jGxkd/s1600/20150106_IMG_999_56.jpg" height="374" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>El Cortalets from the tower hide</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qzvOSljTNLpftMnfHI2MZScsX2thyjib6s-qEyiJKXD-9taq5HqVorWqBMK28iJqhVjg9qlmwuM1TIZ_bpN97bgMHHy3Rxm0hiABDR9Hlc_4-6FtmLiH5K1C2VgrsEES78TerCwVdWXm/s1600/20150106_IMG_999_69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qzvOSljTNLpftMnfHI2MZScsX2thyjib6s-qEyiJKXD-9taq5HqVorWqBMK28iJqhVjg9qlmwuM1TIZ_bpN97bgMHHy3Rxm0hiABDR9Hlc_4-6FtmLiH5K1C2VgrsEES78TerCwVdWXm/s1600/20150106_IMG_999_69.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Not the prettiest, but of all the bird hides on all the reserves I've ever visited, this is certainly the tallest .. and with the Pyrenees behind mighty impressive!</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7qZlt-OTremAVvRXja0vUz9V2NYLe7ge5eEkAsxH2-Tj6-jgPSfaw9rQ34uM7QDq3RfXwQEI7Zj-xHdDueL_HxOPu-XZz-i4JSh4ODfC2pu8V5IMJVXoAlzcTrDCf0GwRbUtoW0A-81L/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7qZlt-OTremAVvRXja0vUz9V2NYLe7ge5eEkAsxH2-Tj6-jgPSfaw9rQ34uM7QDq3RfXwQEI7Zj-xHdDueL_HxOPu-XZz-i4JSh4ODfC2pu8V5IMJVXoAlzcTrDCf0GwRbUtoW0A-81L/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_203.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Snipe flock, El Cortalets</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.... and from the top of that very hide, a passing <strong>Marsh Harrier</strong> put up a ton of <strong>Common Snipe</strong> ... not the sharpest of pics by any means but as a spectacle I enjoyed every frame ... when was the last time you saw a flock of 200+ Snipe!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ggam4yvsLdF7EmsnUkxHpfG9pwDuWVcZi5bOvhmQoXrLo_Zh4GLR7QOeQ_H_oSHZblxY9O_R93PDwAgRQgAxBrWgGIUoyxqPuxz68OJy9v5Nd_3begjncvvNK_dOtbm2OtHcB15NNhtT/s1600/20150106_IMG_999_200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ggam4yvsLdF7EmsnUkxHpfG9pwDuWVcZi5bOvhmQoXrLo_Zh4GLR7QOeQ_H_oSHZblxY9O_R93PDwAgRQgAxBrWgGIUoyxqPuxz68OJy9v5Nd_3begjncvvNK_dOtbm2OtHcB15NNhtT/s1600/20150106_IMG_999_200.JPG" height="336" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Common Snipe flock, El Cortalets</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wow, nearing the end of my first week in Spain and I haven't hardly moved from <strong>Emporda, </strong>believe me I could have doubled the number of pics in this post with worthwhile shots but not bad for a start and already topped 100 bird species.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-myHBrAexBevD18N84cE1PXTwZBGqenIX53VhvjucpqAnzUMMH6viXVkQqLFm6DynQvkLXUgqDxlc_jHGnm13pN00r5StE89bZJFBJPTiYK_UgFP9F37eXNVIgOxSyyd1yAJ99RzuHMG/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-myHBrAexBevD18N84cE1PXTwZBGqenIX53VhvjucpqAnzUMMH6viXVkQqLFm6DynQvkLXUgqDxlc_jHGnm13pN00r5StE89bZJFBJPTiYK_UgFP9F37eXNVIgOxSyyd1yAJ99RzuHMG/s1600/20150106-20150106_IMG_999_279.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hoopoe, San Pere Pescadore</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500374820235142651.post-29478430959454953852014-12-19T13:54:00.000-08:002014-12-19T13:55:39.853-08:00Winter begins around the Yorkshire Wolds... tricky thrushes, cunning hawks and peckers out of the window!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At last a taste of real Winter .... early morning frosts, crisp sunshine and biting winds. I don't mind the first two bits of weather and just as well there hasn't been too much of the latter, I don't do wind of any sort!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk9iUpoqimWWmkS3fhZIrdnhVSaHnAkSlOiL1y-tLejw5EVDqKsGsbriNfg8di85SIuwupxBKCNXz_CEJdKFLZFj2JeAGwNLMm3_g2JJdeuKlTguEqWQh7Tf-Cpbufx6FD-jnbiQFn_j8/s1600/stoat_cot+nab-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk9iUpoqimWWmkS3fhZIrdnhVSaHnAkSlOiL1y-tLejw5EVDqKsGsbriNfg8di85SIuwupxBKCNXz_CEJdKFLZFj2JeAGwNLMm3_g2JJdeuKlTguEqWQh7Tf-Cpbufx6FD-jnbiQFn_j8/s1600/stoat_cot+nab-1.jpg" height="327" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stoat_Cot Nab</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk9iUpoqimWWmkS3fhZIrdnhVSaHnAkSlOiL1y-tLejw5EVDqKsGsbriNfg8di85SIuwupxBKCNXz_CEJdKFLZFj2JeAGwNLMm3_g2JJdeuKlTguEqWQh7Tf-Cpbufx6FD-jnbiQFn_j8/s1600/stoat_cot+nab-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk9iUpoqimWWmkS3fhZIrdnhVSaHnAkSlOiL1y-tLejw5EVDqKsGsbriNfg8di85SIuwupxBKCNXz_CEJdKFLZFj2JeAGwNLMm3_g2JJdeuKlTguEqWQh7Tf-Cpbufx6FD-jnbiQFn_j8/s1600/stoat_cot+nab-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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So, with a road trip to <strong>Spain</strong> almost upon me, <strong>Otters </strong>in my back yard (so to speak) and some recording studio work to complete I've stayed very local and just tried to get a feel for December around my bit of the <strong>Yorkshire Wolds</strong>.<br />
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Scanning the beck at <strong>Fangfoss</strong> nearly every day in the hope of seeing those <strong>Otters</strong> again has proved predictably fruitless but I did get another mammalian shot recently - a nice <strong>Stoat</strong> during a splendid morning walk around <strong>Cot Nab</strong> and <strong>Swingling Moor</strong>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjluUnE_Dxt0b8N8Ac1jyMOc7eESUm966fNAS0NEPl1G5e6biGkEMWuQ8K2Ig6vK5tFi9wKdf08wcOymMMr5vynW6RsJgqaI20iGMUZ1tU7kPWXwSy_ZFbHxDsGpJS6Zv7tyxKvOfp63c/s1600/Swingling+Moor2_wolds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjluUnE_Dxt0b8N8Ac1jyMOc7eESUm966fNAS0NEPl1G5e6biGkEMWuQ8K2Ig6vK5tFi9wKdf08wcOymMMr5vynW6RsJgqaI20iGMUZ1tU7kPWXwSy_ZFbHxDsGpJS6Zv7tyxKvOfp63c/s1600/Swingling+Moor2_wolds.JPG" height="433" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Swingling Moor</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kVY7mNm22Ckw7OMriYOMREDEJl3VM7sn2pUhsE5bQJTJHD50Mnltyc-GYzKOrHlCnNn6KJXTPpQO3OGLHMAIYSt3gTGPh-IjxpzmHIUerzGMlWcwOw47kFEcsSA1Em7D9-HpzvsQza_l/s1600/Swingling+Moor_wolds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kVY7mNm22Ckw7OMriYOMREDEJl3VM7sn2pUhsE5bQJTJHD50Mnltyc-GYzKOrHlCnNn6KJXTPpQO3OGLHMAIYSt3gTGPh-IjxpzmHIUerzGMlWcwOw47kFEcsSA1Em7D9-HpzvsQza_l/s1600/Swingling+Moor_wolds.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Swingling Moor</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iv5d2jZhfcoO3Z_WpjNE7YYIm__Z6FTM2lRoCnq-ZK9VTyZjz14UVQFAd7Fe1UWzCLeKSlluZPQS5Qay4QdJ11L1uWFTiF-k1AlHEnAgUHjMvmEDoJgDEw5pKsul9m77Cs3Up3QdAApw/s1600/Fieldfare7_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iv5d2jZhfcoO3Z_WpjNE7YYIm__Z6FTM2lRoCnq-ZK9VTyZjz14UVQFAd7Fe1UWzCLeKSlluZPQS5Qay4QdJ11L1uWFTiF-k1AlHEnAgUHjMvmEDoJgDEw5pKsul9m77Cs3Up3QdAApw/s1600/Fieldfare7_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fieldfare_Fangfoss</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I don't think I'm alone in finding both of our most attractive winter thrushes, <strong>Redwings</strong> and <strong>Fieldfares</strong>, seriously tricky to photograph. It was the same last year and I recall getting quite frustrated by their tendency to perch nicely but always just beyond reach of the lens! <br />
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Faired a bit better this year I think, mainly because they're all over the hedgerows here at <strong>Fangfoss </strong>so you can't miss them. Don't make em any easier though! This is a reasonable handful out of more than a hundred discards...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixflbVoatUTGFV605fnGtlMnjsdDZuw0x6letyP75Aymd7LuXJoXo9oxS3w5daWgnl2w0beOZBEYB8yKXVRv6vPBS3rYEa-0T3A4kHbcqKl3ltTrFKfgyCKKk7MLtuE8Ibw1d3akn7UvOZ/s1600/Fieldfare4_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixflbVoatUTGFV605fnGtlMnjsdDZuw0x6letyP75Aymd7LuXJoXo9oxS3w5daWgnl2w0beOZBEYB8yKXVRv6vPBS3rYEa-0T3A4kHbcqKl3ltTrFKfgyCKKk7MLtuE8Ibw1d3akn7UvOZ/s1600/Fieldfare4_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fieldfare_Fangfoss</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugwkSjkByQgmnp22R_aCfwQn08LFXTUI676mlwNjAQSuci9dmbX041ZhunG6tgHQ60DTh3tSvaIyCWsd5YUBIcn_2w9VA3KygRiQL7geLZpwsOJfpr0f_lmwugyiWNOZMFxYewKHZHsI5/s1600/Fieldfare_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugwkSjkByQgmnp22R_aCfwQn08LFXTUI676mlwNjAQSuci9dmbX041ZhunG6tgHQ60DTh3tSvaIyCWsd5YUBIcn_2w9VA3KygRiQL7geLZpwsOJfpr0f_lmwugyiWNOZMFxYewKHZHsI5/s1600/Fieldfare_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fieldfare_Fangfoss</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsEJVKUIPwimXGo_-iuS-NGpVqZwi6ys0YqGishG4f8ifQsoTSE6gW4dGA_AZgRmmU1HH1c4npkShR0d3GVo8-KWCjLeGzCf2ELK8KqgxpK-e_1f_SEOHNTwtcnXF2_LwdSC5K-O9eChN/s1600/Fieldfare6_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsEJVKUIPwimXGo_-iuS-NGpVqZwi6ys0YqGishG4f8ifQsoTSE6gW4dGA_AZgRmmU1HH1c4npkShR0d3GVo8-KWCjLeGzCf2ELK8KqgxpK-e_1f_SEOHNTwtcnXF2_LwdSC5K-O9eChN/s1600/Fieldfare6_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fieldfare_Fangfoss</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVFVm4duJdzRyHOGE7EDfwObAyTnkanLe2cYeFPkmeV5KIpsLgBEvUphxGNWxZpT65f2twENI8Dl4duJ3Zn2JRRYC3nO0RgF6jEd6cQqNlyw9prVYkDJO5nxf0oKC6JtdZl4BS-38yCto/s1600/Redwing2_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVFVm4duJdzRyHOGE7EDfwObAyTnkanLe2cYeFPkmeV5KIpsLgBEvUphxGNWxZpT65f2twENI8Dl4duJ3Zn2JRRYC3nO0RgF6jEd6cQqNlyw9prVYkDJO5nxf0oKC6JtdZl4BS-38yCto/s1600/Redwing2_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Redwing_Fangfoss</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<strong>Redwings</strong> seem to be even skittier, the slightest movement of lens towards the bird and they're off!<br />
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This little bunch are all distance shots, and to my mind might as well have been <em>digi scoped </em>such is the poor quality, but at least the light was good on all 3<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKvTsdx-_XNkWzjdHV45t9ODi_nmivKQbfOADG6xUZPddHLXKR4BjTaomfWa3-XegeL8WFZHkCtlbSnDMXyi28zzgG2Cyqbx_0GqqfDAExNnHb5EJ3Z9buCGvN2NLDLHXDT6WD0cqYqFB/s1600/Redwing_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKvTsdx-_XNkWzjdHV45t9ODi_nmivKQbfOADG6xUZPddHLXKR4BjTaomfWa3-XegeL8WFZHkCtlbSnDMXyi28zzgG2Cyqbx_0GqqfDAExNnHb5EJ3Z9buCGvN2NLDLHXDT6WD0cqYqFB/s1600/Redwing_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Seriously need to consider upgrading or getting a second hand 'full frame' camera with a faster shutter speed to stand me a better chance of sharper images when birds are in flight. Too many of my 'bird flying' pics have those annoying blurry wing tips goddammit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">No wing tip movement from this startlingly good looking male <strong>Yellowhammer</strong> I managed to get the other day though....</span><img height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxjd0z4_FwOSsALiud3sMGyVY4hyphenhyphen7fJTYDKMiSo26FsOp79bnvI0X_BjeutQEWP2Q3mCKcYEy0yZrHwiQZoPMOylZWUTFcrKFyv9VFyZUBFVfFbthaHt-CFEsQM02Qt6U1chGMUwC5UkB/s1600/Buzzard6_fangfoss-1.jpg" style="left: 729.36px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 5000.83px;" width="96" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zpWRKilZtLc1WoLFrX7WqYSt208-Ob6goC0T5EJKAS36vGjNZkllreokbS7GBuA1L4FrTDq8evpOc2WZLBNxTROE0CTI1OEJLp0JcV4wj8d-FpZ8T3AZ8Bk_kka_dmv8innVUPDUgau0/s1600/Yellowhammer_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zpWRKilZtLc1WoLFrX7WqYSt208-Ob6goC0T5EJKAS36vGjNZkllreokbS7GBuA1L4FrTDq8evpOc2WZLBNxTROE0CTI1OEJLp0JcV4wj8d-FpZ8T3AZ8Bk_kka_dmv8innVUPDUgau0/s1600/Yellowhammer_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What a beauty! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Not as immediately striking perhaps but smart nonetheless, closely related <strong>Reed Buntings</strong> are relatively scarce around here but there are quite a few around the numerous becks that run through many of the Wold valleys, this was one of several hanging around the natural springs near<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Wilton" target="_blank"> <strong>Bishop Wilton.</strong></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-HKw_LelN2CMWdwNd9IXpHnLrco8ne8L-uxahP-REMs9555O0bPpwPs9Mr7NeHn7fBzofhlp4cbewRqKqgH9EwWeweb5l_ogPfgWdc5TsuNh5ncyCX5OxgYvLxo0Z_8kvErVJEQGJ_Lv/s1600/Reed+Bunting_givendale-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-HKw_LelN2CMWdwNd9IXpHnLrco8ne8L-uxahP-REMs9555O0bPpwPs9Mr7NeHn7fBzofhlp4cbewRqKqgH9EwWeweb5l_ogPfgWdc5TsuNh5ncyCX5OxgYvLxo0Z_8kvErVJEQGJ_Lv/s1600/Reed+Bunting_givendale-1.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<strong> Reed Bunting_Whitekeld Dyke</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Not a winter visitor as such but our UK numbers of <strong>Reed Buntings</strong> are swelled by continental birds at this time of the year. <strong>Golden Plovers</strong> are a totally different type of bird and one I always associate with cold weather days. These 'plump' waders form vast flocks across our remaining grasslands as they move in for the Winter. Although they do breed in upland areas of the UK (including the <strong>Yorkshire Dales</strong> and <strong>Moors</strong>) many more come here from the<strong> Arctic tundra</strong> and the way this smallish flock (there were 65 in total) flew in from a north easterly direction and settled in a winter wheat field on the highest point of the Wolds, maybe that's just where they'd come from ... they did look knackered!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcipBbxTmZE5EdFGE3_FFeeDl59tdgIsKVT1iDLICf_qs4GEkZHDydCS7q9LztTX6PIOTJiPJWknF_sPW-DmzGQdB5jDXao3WZlRA85wuMd7AgLO_e4Imgc1rBTfIg9pZKyvO2nBkMbIj8/s1600/Golden+Plover2_cot+nab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcipBbxTmZE5EdFGE3_FFeeDl59tdgIsKVT1iDLICf_qs4GEkZHDydCS7q9LztTX6PIOTJiPJWknF_sPW-DmzGQdB5jDXao3WZlRA85wuMd7AgLO_e4Imgc1rBTfIg9pZKyvO2nBkMbIj8/s1600/Golden+Plover2_cot+nab.JPG" height="355" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span> <strong>Golden Plover_Bishop Wilton Wold (Garrowby Top)</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yx_RPrDHP609apzwf8afSQrthXVUF4XVARZBOoiZnydRe7R4ih_BTZeHV5PRtvgS6uz61Ds9TsugOpDKaoOTdrm8B9GXmt5hPS-vcinqtFWQGKNAA8uL2MAbSmJFhKPjtFkdsSdkc_gh/s1600/golden+plover4_cot+nab-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yx_RPrDHP609apzwf8afSQrthXVUF4XVARZBOoiZnydRe7R4ih_BTZeHV5PRtvgS6uz61Ds9TsugOpDKaoOTdrm8B9GXmt5hPS-vcinqtFWQGKNAA8uL2MAbSmJFhKPjtFkdsSdkc_gh/s1600/golden+plover4_cot+nab-1.jpg" height="332" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERHHzU48ucK623T2nL8Xk-iY7Q6wCSwDx3IuwysZctWI5tEeNmW0KjY9WKY6ECbkt4U-dPjkcJ25MQET2GasMqJM2MZpAYRC5r69xk4BDeWzIM1NcP-WdeY1Pq8KxXLPvsS9GxoLrNe7B/s1600/golden+plover_cot+nab-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERHHzU48ucK623T2nL8Xk-iY7Q6wCSwDx3IuwysZctWI5tEeNmW0KjY9WKY6ECbkt4U-dPjkcJ25MQET2GasMqJM2MZpAYRC5r69xk4BDeWzIM1NcP-WdeY1Pq8KxXLPvsS9GxoLrNe7B/s1600/golden+plover_cot+nab-1.jpg" height="273" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span> <strong>Golden Plover_Bishop Wilton Wold (Garrowby Top)</strong></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieK5Wz4mu-MNI2wpviGfqwAroLgkWiSbpfH3G1o9a7xnkiCauPdNBw5ziP6Wlz_Oju70MZT4uzuG6vgyZbylWB4RKe34c68x2-h6DMa7ClqStq69uWdY4sxNFEbRNWk9vCXU3J3JtZfJ30/s1600/Buzzard2_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></div>
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<strong>Common Buzzard_Fangfoss</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My local <strong>Buzzards</strong> are looking as menacing as ever.... commonly photographed by all and sundry these days they still have the power to thrill me and always provide a challenge in terms of that perfect 'hawk shot'. This isn't it by any stretch of imagination but I decided to track this one and my patience was rewarded with a nice stoop shot .......</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxjd0z4_FwOSsALiud3sMGyVY4hyphenhyphen7fJTYDKMiSo26FsOp79bnvI0X_BjeutQEWP2Q3mCKcYEy0yZrHwiQZoPMOylZWUTFcrKFyv9VFyZUBFVfFbthaHt-CFEsQM02Qt6U1chGMUwC5UkB/s1600/Buzzard6_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxjd0z4_FwOSsALiud3sMGyVY4hyphenhyphen7fJTYDKMiSo26FsOp79bnvI0X_BjeutQEWP2Q3mCKcYEy0yZrHwiQZoPMOylZWUTFcrKFyv9VFyZUBFVfFbthaHt-CFEsQM02Qt6U1chGMUwC5UkB/s1600/Buzzard6_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="395" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> ..........and some unusual images of the same bird hunting low down behind trees. Suitably 'menacing' I thought.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFq3E3JQLl5ppLjKU3wu8RRrdpX1MbQ8agiVVVQ3bgXEWPmCNnDBwH7uSM9auDzAOYiOfma701tLjOYz69vpuy-ukyhkRuIy6uae6ep2P9_lakN3eEhCPSmjrSoW13DOKQLQojXJZuXI/s1600/Buzzard3_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFq3E3JQLl5ppLjKU3wu8RRrdpX1MbQ8agiVVVQ3bgXEWPmCNnDBwH7uSM9auDzAOYiOfma701tLjOYz69vpuy-ukyhkRuIy6uae6ep2P9_lakN3eEhCPSmjrSoW13DOKQLQojXJZuXI/s1600/Buzzard3_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMmMYDvozW2BXRGC6k92NjQbOEMyUP0qAJGyKrVzHp8GAVIQvG6C2wFsMovecNDFFMRcLkYIgjXH22J0HAND1MFiTA196yKD4GBSX48Coqp4mfdpA082S8lhqmhYkdKBTzbLHi28xLpSg/s1600/Buzzard4_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMmMYDvozW2BXRGC6k92NjQbOEMyUP0qAJGyKrVzHp8GAVIQvG6C2wFsMovecNDFFMRcLkYIgjXH22J0HAND1MFiTA196yKD4GBSX48Coqp4mfdpA082S8lhqmhYkdKBTzbLHi28xLpSg/s1600/Buzzard4_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back at the ranch and preparing lunch one day I got my first good pics using the Van as a hide. I heard a <strong>Great Spotted Woodpecker </strong>calling, one of a pair that hang around the site but right at the top of the trees behind my van. So these are out of my back window ... </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZZDxpDnQ2NKpzMNpS4YEB2kTuB_VBsWneWAPCMQkXKG2KB4kWOIYt5TEoDJn8ayyuy_f54h6stgnRHmniOI9gFinVfEZMi2NqlIj0JQ_ZXL1GZRCPGzQqFOHLzSktqsZN-T9QCUM5kkB/s1600/GSPecker2_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZZDxpDnQ2NKpzMNpS4YEB2kTuB_VBsWneWAPCMQkXKG2KB4kWOIYt5TEoDJn8ayyuy_f54h6stgnRHmniOI9gFinVfEZMi2NqlIj0JQ_ZXL1GZRCPGzQqFOHLzSktqsZN-T9QCUM5kkB/s1600/GSPecker2_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></div>
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<strong>Great Spotted Woodpecker_Fangfoss Park</strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <br /><br />On the up apparently are <strong>GSPeckers</strong>, not sure why but any increase in woodpecker numbers is jolly good order and I just love that splash of red ... always reminds me of a coat I bought for a girlfriend many years ago in exactly the same shade of red!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJIT52JAYHRwzmJndkO6AzwiSgMOg8c9c_hZ6gGDRV9-fR9xRHe2qVIZt2GCYOFppJf1j08kwxw8STcywZI2e21PubSE23WP_eZHurK8esng9ZX_2UDVHi_eJqmwEXK7x5trS9LJsVWkD/s1600/GSPecker_fangfoss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJIT52JAYHRwzmJndkO6AzwiSgMOg8c9c_hZ6gGDRV9-fR9xRHe2qVIZt2GCYOFppJf1j08kwxw8STcywZI2e21PubSE23WP_eZHurK8esng9ZX_2UDVHi_eJqmwEXK7x5trS9LJsVWkD/s1600/GSPecker_fangfoss-1.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span> <strong>Great Spotted Woodpecker_Fangfoss Park</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <br /><br />Ok! So that's my brief little round up of Winter fare around these parts, nothing out of the ordinary perhaps but I've really appreciated this corner of rural East Yorks, its wonderful wildlife and landscapes, and having this fabulous caravan site ( <strong><a href="http://www.fangfosspark.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fangfoss Caravan Park</a></strong>) as a base for the past 3 months has been a real bonus.... that's gotta be worth £50 off my ground rent for next year Simon!<br /><br /> <br /><br />So now its Spain a go go! I'm all ready, have everything I need and want for the trip except, bizarrely, my passport...don't ask, its a long story and it involves overblown bureaucracy, so very boring and it wont stop me ... Southwards here we go! Oh and Merry Christmas everyone!</span></div>
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