Finally,
after three missed years, we returned to Zahara de los Atunes, situated on the Costa de la Luz
in the Strait of Gibraltar in Cádiz Provence, Andalucía for the university field course trip on ecological genetics. Much
of the time was spent around Zahara de los Atunes, Barbate and the Valle de Ojén in the Parque
Natural de Los Alcornocales. Some time was possible for birding but in general
the following notes document the observations at the various student
study
sites.
Day 01 06/04/23 London Gatwick Airport >
Malaga > Algeciras >
Tarifa > Zahara de los Atunes Day 02 07/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes >
Facinas
> Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales Day 03 08/04/23
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > La
Breña de Barbate > Conil > Atlanterra Day 04 09/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > La
Zarzuela Day 05 10/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > Valle
de Ojén Day 06 11/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes Day 07 12/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes >
La Breña de Barbate > Marismas del Barbate Day 08 13/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes >
La Breña de Barbate Day 09 14/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes > Marismas
del Barbate > La Barca de Vejer > La Janda > Benalup Day 10 15/04/23 Zahara de los Atunes >
La Breña de Barbate
Day 11 16/04/23 Zahara
de los Atunes > Tarifa
>
Algeciras > Malaga
> London Luton Airport
Map
of main locations visited 2003-2023
1.
Zahara de los Atunes & Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary)
2.
Playa de Zahara
(Theba and beetle study site)
3.
Atlantera, Faro de Camarinal & Cabo de Gracia (Cistus
and beetle study site)
4.
La Zarzuela & El Almarchal (Polistes
& Theba and beetle study site)
5.
Bolonia
6.
Cueva del Moro
7.
Embalse de Almodóvar, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
8.
Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
(Aquarius
& Asphodelus study site)
9.
Sendero Canuto de Risco Blanco, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
(Lavandula
study site)
10.
El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate
11.
Marismas del Barbate
12.
Río Barbate (river mouth) & Playa del Cañillo
13.
West side of the Río Barbate, Marismas del Barbate
14.
La Breña de Barbate (Lavandula
study site)
15.
Sendero Marismas del Barbate (from Km 2.4 on N-314, SE of Vejer
de la Frontera)
16.
La Barca de Vejer
17.
Casa la Palmera, Conil
(Polistes study site)
18.
La Janda - entrance opposite Venta de Retín to Canal Colector del
Este (Río Almodóvar)
19.
Itinerario Ecuestre IE-027.2 (marsh at start of horse track)
20.
Oxbow, near Benalup
21.
La Janda - entrance at Km-47 on the N-340
22.
Sendero Colada de la Costa, Tarifa
Day
1 Thursday 6
April 2023
London Gatwick Airport >
Malaga > Algeciras >
Tarifa > Zahara de los Atunes
Drive
from Malaga to Zahara, via Tarifa Red-rumped
Swallow, Black Kite, Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle,
Bee-eater, White Stork, Sardinian Warbler, Corn Bunting, Stonechat,
Spotless Starling, Crag Martin, Cattle Egret, Woodchat Shrike and
Calandra Lark noted.
View
south over the Strait of Gibraltar to Jebel Musa, Morocco from Mirador
del Estrecho, Spain
Zahara
de los Atunes36° 08' 07.8'' N 05° 50' 48.0'' W Field/Southern
Field
Crickets heard singing each evening near the hotel.
Day
2 Friday
7
April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes > Facinas
> Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales Blue
sky, very strong eastery wind, max 22°C
Highlights Red-rumped Swallow, Montagu's Harrier,
Bee-eater, Earthling Stone Grasshopper, Common Maquis Grasshopper,
Lamenting Grasshopper, Western Bonelli's Warbler,
Iberian Chiffchaff, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spanish Festoon, Moroccan Orange-tip, Three-toed
Skink, Iberian Mantis, Large Psammodromas.
Boardwalk:
Castillo
de las Almadrabas
> Playa de Zahara A
quick along the boardwalk after breakfast produced a Red-rumped
Swallow, serveral Barn Swallows and House Martins, singing Sardinian
Warbler and Corn Buntings. Field Crickets (Gryllus
campestris) were already singing from
the short coastal turf behind the low dunes.
Hotel
Gran Sol & Sierra de Retín, Zahara de los Atunes, April 2023
Hotel
Gran Sol & Sierra de Retín, Zahara de los Atunes, April 2023
Map of
Zahara de los Atunes & Río del Cachón
1.Río del Cachón - river mouth: a few waders/terns/egrets inc
Caspian Tern
2.Sierra de Retín: end of the ridge good for raptors inc Griffon
Vulture; Little Owls in outcrop above the road; Northern Bald Ibis
occasionally pass.
3.Río del Cachón - upriver of bridge: tidal mud and saltmarsh
holds small numbers of waders/egrets/wagtails, inc Black-winged
Stilt and occasional Spoonbill.
4.Castillo de las Almadrabas: Spotless Starling, Pallid Swift
with regular Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow; occasional Blue
Rock Thrush and Black Redstart on castle wall; roof of Gran Sol
Hotel good for observing diurnal passage of many species - occasional
Little Swift.
5.Playa de Zahara: low dunes good for arriving passerines inc
Woodchat Shrike, Nightingale, Subalpine Warbler, Hoopoe, wheatears;
breeding Kentish Plover and migrant Sanderling; offshore movements
of gulls (inc Audouin's), terns (inc Gull-billed), Balearic &
Cory's Shearwater, Gannet, skua, auks & waders. Exhausted raptors
in strong easterly winds.
6.Río del Cachón - bridge NE of town: marsh and grazing
good for raptors, egrets and other migrants.
Coastal
dunes, grassland and scrub, Zahara de los Atunes, April 2023
Drive
to Valle de Ojén,
via Tahivilla, Facinas, and Emblase de Almodovar Extremely
strong easterly winds with most birds keeping low: Bee-eater (3),
Griffon Vulture (2), Montagu's Harrier (1), White Stork (2) and
Corn Buntings noted.
Mallard (20+) at the reservoir.
Arroyo
del Tiradero,
Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (Aquarius
study site) 36°
08' 55.5" N 05° 34' 56.9" W Very
few raptors in the sky with only two Griffon Vultures and a Black
Kite. The oak and alder woodland along the stream was slightly more
sheltered and held singing Western Bonelli's Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff,
Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Great Tit
and Wren. Other birds heard or seen included Hawfinch (3-4), Kingfisher,
Nuthatch, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
Sardinian Warblers were singing from the scrubby edges. Bee-eater
passage could be heard throughout the late morning and early afternoon
with several loose groups observed heading north, including a flock
of 20+.
I
spent most of the time looking for Orthoptera, finding five species:
Earthling Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus), Common Maquis Grasshopper (Pezotettix giornae), Field Cricket
(Gryllus
campestris),
Lamenting/White-banded Grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis plorans) and very small unidentified bush-cricket
nymphs. All the Earthling Stone Grasshoppers were still medium to
large nymphs of three colour types; brown, green, or greenish brown
with a pale band running across the ventral side from head to abdomen
tip. Several Field Crickets were singing in the sheltered sites
out of the wind but, as usual, ceased stridulating on close approach.
Hopefully I see one closely this week.
Butterflies
noted included Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia
rumina), Moroccan Orange-tip
(Anthocharis
belia), Provence Hairstreak
(Tomares
ballus),
and Wall Brown (Lasiommata
megera). Other interesting species seen were Iberian Mantis
(Apteromantis
aptera), Western
Three-toed Skink (Chalcides
striatus) and Red-striped Oil Beetle
(Berberomeloe
majalis).
Asphodel
pasture, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2023
Earthling
Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus) - green
form - fairly common
in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2023
Earthling
Stone Grasshopper (Euryparyphes terrulentus) - brown
form - fairly common
in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2023
Common
Maquis Grasshopper (Pezotettix giornae), common
in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2023
Common
Maquis Grasshopper (Pezotettix giornae), common
in grassland along the Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2023
White-banded
Grasshopper/Lamenting Grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis plorans),
Arroyo del Tiradero, April 2023
Red-striped
Oil Beetle (Berberomeloe majalis), Arroyo
del Tiradero, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2023
Iberian
Mantis (Apteromantis aptera), Arroyo
del Tiradero, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2023
Iberian
Mantis (Apteromantis aptera), Arroyo
del Tiradero, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2023
Alder
& Portuguese Oak-lined stream, Arroyo
del Tiradero, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, April 2023
Boardwalk:
Playa
de Zahara >
Castillo
de las Almadrabas Walk
along the boardwalk, through the castle remains to the hotel. Large
Psammodromus (Psammodromus
hispanicus) paused breifly in the sun before scuttling off into
cover. Polistes paper wasp chewing the wood planks.
The shelter of the castle held a few butterflies: Bath White (Pontia
daplidice) (5),
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) (3) and Mallow/False (Carcharodus
alceae/tripolinus) Mallow Skipper (3).
Day
3 Saturday
8 April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > La
Breña de Barbate > Conil > Atlanterra Blue
sky, wind 20 mph E, min 13°C, max 22°C
Highlights Woodchat Shrike, Black Kite, Iberian Water Frog,
Orobanche densiflora, Common Stick
Grasshopper, Clouded Yellow, Melodious Warbler, Green-striped White,
Smooth-striped Bush-cricket, Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper,
Common Digging Grasshopper.
Boardwalk:
Castillo
de las Almadrabas >
Playa
de Zahara Walked
along the boardwalk at sunrise. Cattle Egrets were moving east along
the coast after leaving their roosting site (20+ in 15 minutes).
At least four male Sardinian Warblers heard singing from the coastal
scrub, with a female observed and several more alarm-calling. Male
Woodchat Shrike perched up close to the boardwalk. Singing Nightingale
and Corn Bunting. Also noted: Goldfinch (17), Barn Swallow, House
Martin, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Yellow-legged Gull and Spotless
Starling.
Boardwalk
through Giant Reed (Arundo donax), Zahara de los Atunes, April 2023
Atlanterra
(2nd beetle study site):
beach below west side of lighthouse 36°
05' 33.6" N 05° 48' 41.3" W Black
Kite passage in progress this morning with 16 in off the sea in
15 minutes. Smaller numbers continued while we were there.
Atlanterra,
Costa de la Luz, April 2023
Orobanche
densiflora, Atlanterra,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
La
Breña de Barbate:
Ruta de los Acantilado 36°
11' 21.2" N 05° 56' 46.2" W Found
my first Common Stick Grasshopper (Pyrgomorpha
conica) on the needle-covered forest floor of the Umbrella/Stone
Pines in a semi-shaded area. Black Kites were arriving in off the
sea or from further east along the coast.
Stone
Pine/Umbrella Pine (Pinus pinea), Sendero del
Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Common
Stick Grasshopper (Pyrgomorpha conica), Sendero
del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Common
Stick Grasshopper (Pyrgomorpha conica), Sendero
del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Casa
la Palmera (Polistes study site near Conil
de la Frontera)36°
15' 09.4" N 06° 03' 54.0" W Found
a late instar nymph of a Smooth Striped Bush-cricket (Odontura
glabricauda)
in rough grassland around the farm.
Casa
la Palmera, Costa de la Luz, April 2023
Smooth
Striped Bush-cricket (Odontura glabricauda), Conil
de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain, Apr 2023
Atlanterra:
beach below west side of lighthouse 36°
05' 33.6" N 05° 48' 41.3" W Returned
late evening to mark the beetles. Found several Common Digging Grasshoppers
(Acrotylus
insubricus) - red wings in flight - in the remaining dune/garrigue interface
areas as well as a single Puissant's Green-winged Grasshopper (Aiolopus
puissanti).
A cicada was singing intermittently.
Atlanterra, Costa
de la Luz, April 2023
Common
Digging Grasshopper (Acrotylus insubricus), Atlanterra,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Spilostethus
pandurus, Atlanterra,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Day
4 Sunday 9
April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes > Atlanterra > La
Zarzuela Blue
sky, wind 17 mph E, min 13°C, max 26°C
Faro
de Camarinal,
Cabo de Gracia, Atlanterra(Cistus
study site around lighthouse) 36° 05' 24.5'' N 5° 48' 37.1'' W Sardinian
Warblers numerous in the garrigue around the lighthouse. Three Alpine
Swifts were over sea-end of the Sierra de la Plata along with serveral
Griffon Vultures. Also Pallid Swift, Black Kite and Nightingale
noted. Numerous Iberian Wall Lizards seen while searching for Orthoptera.
Nymph of a possible Western Stone Grasshopper (Acinipe
hesperica)
found. Striking wasp beetle with a reddish thorax later identified
at Chlorophorus
trifasciatus. Monarch and Small Copper were the only butterflies
in the wind.
Atlanterra:
beach below west side of lighthouse 36°
05' 33.6" N 05° 48' 41.3" W More
sheltered down below where at least four Monarch butterflies were
soaring around and few Spanish Festoons. An unidentified darter
dragonfly was too quick around the small stream for identification
but the Iberian Water Frogs were still calling. More Common Digging Grasshoppers
(Acrotylus
insubricus) observed. Large click beetle photographed: Lacon
punctatus.
Lacon
puntatus, Atlanterra,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
La
Zarzuela:
north side of village (Theba study site) 36°
10' 19.1" N 05° 48' 42.5" W Acrididae
nymphs (Chorthippus/Omocestus) abundant in the lush, wide roadside verge bordered by rough
beef cattle pasture. Three very large locusts were flying around
like small birds, giving soft chirps from Giant Reed. Not approachable
at all in the hot sun but getting the binoculars on them revealled
them to be Garden Locust (Acanthacris
ruficornis).
Another Smooth Striped Bush-cricket nymph observed and photographed.
Several more seen.
Zahara
de los Atunes:
Choni service station Stopped
for ice-cream and water at the fuel station on eastern side of town
at Calle María Luisa. Around 10 Cattle Egrets hanging out with cows,
with one taking a bath in their drinking trough. Also a White Wagtail
here, which never seem to be common in these parts in spring.
Day 5 Monday
10 April 2023 Zahara de los
Atunes > Atlanterra > Valle
de Ojén Blue
sky, wind 7 mph W, min 13°C, max 25 °C
Highlights Common Digging Grasshopper, Tawny Pipit, Thekla
Lark, Cirl Bunting, Iberian Mantis, Earthling Stone Grasshopper, Southern Scarce
Swallowtail, Cleopatra, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Iberian Chiffchaff,
Western Bonelli's Warbler.
Atlanterra:
beach below west side of lighthouse 36°
05' 33.6" N 05° 48' 41.3" W Photographed
and released some specimens collected here yesterday.
Embalse
de Almodovar-Puerto
de Ojén Trackside
birds included Tawny Pipit, Thekla Lark, Cirl Bunting, Black Redstart
and several Stonechats.
Arroyo
del Tiradero,
Valle de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (Aquarius
study site) 36°
08' 55.5" N 05° 34' 56.9" W Very
little wind around the hottest part of the day and I mainly took
some shade watching what was passing through the sunny glades on
the edge of the Cork, Holm and Portuguese Oaks. Good day for butterflies
with Southern Scarce Swallowtail, Spanish Festoon, Cleopatra, Moroccan
Orange-tip, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Large Tortoiseshell, Provence
Hairstreak, Wall, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Painted Lady.
Western Bonelli's Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Short-toed Treecreeper
and Firecrest were singing.
long-horn
moth sp., Valle de Ojén,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Day
6 Tuesday
11
April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes Blue
sky, wind max 12 mph W, min 10°C, max 23°C
Highlights Woodchat Shrike, Western Dappled White, Green-striped
White, Geranium Bronze, Vestal, Trichodes octopunctatus,
Red-rumped Swallow, Bee-eater, Kentish Plover, Blue Rock Thrush,
Subalpine Warbler, Iberian Yellow Wagtail.
Boardwalk:
Castillo
de las Almadrabas
> Playa de Zahara Walk
at dawn, east along the costal grassland, dune and beach. Four Woodchat
Shrike (3 mm/1 f) perched in the Retama brooms,
three singing Sardinian Warblers, three singing Corn Buntings and
aerial displaying Zitting Cisticola and Crested Lark. Several small
groups totalling 36 Cattle Egrets flew west in 20 minutes. At least
38 Spotless Starlings collecting food for nestling, with a few collecting
nesting material. A pair of Kentish Plovers were on the beach. Also
noted: Barn Swallow (8), Goldfinch (30), House Sparrow (50+), Blackbird
(4 mm), Swift sp. (2), Collared Dove (4 singing mm), Feral Pigeon
(3) and Yellow-legged Gull (2)
Castillo
de las Almadrabas,
Zahara de los Atunes A
late morning and mid-afternoon visit to the sandy and flowery castle
remains produced several butterflies: Geranium Bronze (1), Western Dappled White
(3), Green-striped White (4), Bath White (3), Small White (2), Clouded
Yellow (1), Spanish Festoon (1). Also at least 10 Vestal (Rhodometra
sacraria), a few Silver Y (Autographa gamma) and some
nice beetles including Trichodes octopunctatus. A group of
five Red-rumped Swallows arrived in off the sea, flying over the
Hotel Gran Sol, followed later by two Bee-eaters.
Vestal (Rhodometra
sacraria), Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía,
Spain, April 2023
Trichodes
octopunctatus, Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía,
Spain, April 2023
Río del Cachón, Zahara de los Atunes (Zahara
estuary) 36°
08' 16.87" N 05° 50' 34.03" W Walked
from the river mouth inland to where it narrows and almost disappears.
High tide so not the best time. Highlights were a Crag Martin around
the bridge, two Iberian Yellow Wagtails, a female Subalpine Warbler,
Blue Rook Thrush and Little Owl on the end of the Sierra de
Retin, and a Red-rumped Swallow. Also noted: Little Ringed Plover
(1), Cattle Egret (4), Crested Lark (1), Corn Bunting (2 singing
males), Stonechat (singing m + female), Goldfinch (11), Sardinian
Warbler (singing m), Common Sandpiper (6), Blackbird (2 singing
mm), Barn Swallow (12), House Martin (4), Mallard (3 mm), House
Sparrow (100+), Spotless Starling (30+), Yellow-legged Gull (4),
Collared Dove (4 singing/displaying mm), Kestrel (1), Great Tit
(1) and a migrant Song Thrush. Field/Southern Field Crickets heard
singing distantly.
Day
7 Wednesday
12
April 2023 Zahara de los Atunes >
La Breña de Barbate > Marismas del Barbate Cloudy
at dawn, soon clearing to blue sky, wind max 16mph W, min 12°C, max 21°C
Playa
de la Virgen del Carmen,
Zahara de los Atunes The
sea was very quiet between sunrise and breakfast but spent the time
observing 23 Sanderling scuttling along the breaking waves
and also at times feeding closer in on the drier sand towards the
low dunes. Good to sea the dunes roped off to protect nesting Kentish
Plovers (3 singles seen from a single vantage point). Two Audouin's
Gulls passed by.
La
Breña de Barbate:
Ruta de los Acantilado36°
11' 21.2" N 05° 56' 46.2" W Walked
the trail up to the lighthouse (Torre del Tajo) looking for Western
Stone Grasshopper (Acinipe
hesperica) with no luck, but I was very happy to find several
Desert Sand Grasshoppers (Sphingonotus rubescens) on the
rocky undercliff area around 36°
10' 50.2" N 05° 58' 02.8" W. Spiny-footed Lizards
(Acanthodactylus erythrurus) were abundant, running over
sandy ground under the Retama brooms. Blue Rock Thrush, Serin,
Sardinian Warbler, Nightingale, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Wren and
Great Tit were heard singing.
Desert
Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus rubescens),
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Spiny-footed
Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), Sendero del Acantilado,
La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Marismas
del Barbate (south-east side):Itinerario
el Cañillo (Km 3.2 on A-2231) 36° 10' 28.6'' N 05° 53' 34.6'' W Now
also known as Camino de los Flamencos. There were no Greater Flamingos
in the nearest lagoon though I counted at least 54 (in view) scattered
across a wide around but mostly distant. There were good numbers
of waders (15 species) though I counted only the following
at close range as I did not have my field scope on this trip: Collared
Pratincole (191 inc 126 migrants arriving from the south-east),
Black-winged Stilt (42), Stone Curlew (1), Little Stint (4), Curlew
Sandpiper (1), Dunlin (48), Spotted Redshank (2), Greenshank (1),
Ruff (8), Sanderling (4), Kentish Plover (1), Avocet (1), Ringed
Plover (21), Grey Plover (4) and Common Sandpiper (1). Other
wetland birds included single Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Great Egret
and Little Egret, as well as 14 Cattle Egret. The surrounding fields
held song-flighting Greated Short-toed Lark and Tawny Pipit.
Map
of Marismas de Barbate area - where to find birds in April
Barbate:
map showing the river, marshes, lagoons and old saltpans
1.Itinerario el Cañillo: Turn onto the track at km-3.2 on the
A-2231. Bald Ibis often at the roadside. Follow through farm buildings
to edge of lagoon for Greater Flamingo, waders (inc Collared Pratincole,
Black-winged Stilts & Stone Curlew), gulls (inc Slender-billed),
terns, egrets, herons & wagtails.
2.
Itinerario el Cañillo: Continue for Calandra & Short-toed
Lark, Tawny Pipit, Quail, Bee-eater. The tamarisks can hold migrant
passerines.
3. Rio
Barbate mouth: Turn onto track/rough parking area for gulls
(including Audouin's & Mediterranean), terns (including Caspian),
and waders.
4. Sports
Stadium: Acess the estuary behind the Estadio
Municipal de Deportes (off Avenida Joaquín Blume)for best
view of the main channel with waders (inc Marsh Sandpiper in 2008),
gulls, terns (inc Lesser Crested in 2007 & 2019), herons, egrets, wheatears,
wagtails and hirundines
Day
8 Thursday
13 April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes >
La Breña de Barbate Blue
sky, wind max 9 mph W, min 12°C, max 21°C
Highlights Western Stone Grasshopper, Desert Sand Grasshopper,
Spiny-footed Lizard, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow, Pallid
Swift, Peregrine, Griffon Vulture, Little Tern, Cleopatra.
Hotel
Gran Sol,
Zahara de los Atunes 06:40
Barn Swallow started singing; 07:10 House Sparrows started singing
and calling; 07:53 sunrise.
Playa
de la Virgen del Carmen,
Zahara de los Atunes Quick
look after breakfast. Three Little Terns flew east, at least 10
Gannets were diving offshore, and 20 Sanderling were feeding along
the breaking waves.
Drive:
Zahara > Barbate Five
Griffon Vultures circling, 40+ Cattle Egrets in the lush, green
(at this time of year anyway) coastal grassland, and six Pallid
Swifts over the port.
La
Breña de Barbate:
Ruta de los Acantilado36°
11' 21.2" N 05° 56' 46.2" W Walked
the trail up to the lighthouse (Torre del Tajo) looking for Western
Stone Grasshopper (Acinipe
hesperica) but after two hours I needed to return to check
on the lavender study group. Turning around I checked the last trackside
rock face and sitting there was what looked like an 8cm prehistoric
monster: a female Western Stone Grasshopper. Found a few Desert Sand Grasshoppers
too. A Blue Rock Thrush was singing from the crowns of several
Umbrella Pines, quite some distance from the cliff or coastline.
Also singing were Short-toed Treecreeper, Sardinian Warbler, Nightingale,
Serin, Greenfinch, Blackcap, Blackbird and Wren. A Peregrine, Kestrel
and Yellow-legged Gulls were active around the higher cliff edges.
Western
Stone Grasshopper (Acinipe hesperica), Sendero
del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Western
Stone Grasshopper (Acinipe hesperica), Sendero
del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Andalusian
Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia baetica), Sendero del Acantilado,
La Breña de Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Day
9 Friday
14 April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes > Marismas
del Barbate > La Barca de Vejer > La Janda > Benalup
> Marismas del Barbate Another
day of blue skies...
Highlights Hoopoe, Northern Bald Ibis, Lesser Kestrel, Great
Reed Warbler, Purple Swamphen, Melodious Warbler, Vagrant Emperor,
Egyptian Grasshopper, Glossy Ibis, Black-crowned Night Heron, Caspian
Tern, Slender-billed Gull.
Marismas
del Barbate (south-east side):Itinerario
el Cañillo (Km 3.2 on A-2231) 36° 10' 28.6'' N 05° 53' 34.6'' W Short,
extraciricular bird tour with some of the students to see the flamingos.
Over 100 Greater Flamingos scattered across the area in small groups.
At least 60 Collared Pratincoles present as well as five Shelduck
which I think is the first time I've seen this species in April
in southern Spain. Also noted: Black-winged Stilt (30+), Spoonbill
(1), Little Egret (6), Little Stint (2), Dunlin (40+), Sanderling
(5), Common Sandpiper (1), Greenshank (1). A Whimbrel was later
seen from the bridge over the Río Barbate and at least 10 Pallid
Swifts were over the town. On the drive to La Barca the first Hoopoe
of the trip flew over (and my first for four years, after a 22 year
unbroken record of seeing them annually) near La Ribera de la Oliva.
La
Barca de Vejer 36° 15' 17.5'' N 05° 57' 29.5'' W Quick
look at the nesting Northern Bald Ibises. Eleven nests were occupied
on the cliff at the viewing point immediately next to the village.
Difficult to tell whether incubating or brooding but one bird did
fly in and regurgitate food to a nestling that was probably less
that week old. The roles of these adult birds reversed as the brooding
ibis flew off to forage. Another ledge had a single, unattended
egg. The Jackdaws were as cheeky as usual, trying to steal ibis
nesting material or having a quick peck at the sitting birds' tails.
Also heard singing around the watchpoint: Nightingale, Sardinian
Warbler and Cetti's Warbler.
La Janda(Km-47 entrance
on N-34-Canal Colector del Este)
36º
13' 12.2'' N 05º 47' 5.4'' W The
Canal
Colector del Este (Río Almodóvar) is mostly fringed with Phragmites
and some mud, depending on water levels. The first four kilometres
(from the eastern access track opposite the Zahara road end) offer
the best visibility, after which the reeds get quite high. However,
this track is probably not passable in a normal hire car from the
Zahara de los Atunes road-end entrance. Today I entered from Km-47
on the N-340. No water remained from the winter rains and many fields
were already tilled for rice cultivation. This was probably
my most disappointing visit here ever. Best were a single Purple
Swamphen, a Lesser Kestrel and a pair of Spanish Sparrows.
Also of interest were singing Reed, Great Reed, Cetti's and Melodious Warblers,
Woodchat Shrike, Collared Pratincole, and a pair of Tawny Owls calling
from neighbouring Eucalyptus trees in broad daylight. A Vagrant
Emperor was seen along the main channel as well as a few Egyptian
Grasshoppers on the track. Best bird was the Black-winged Kite near
the dehesa patch on the hill.
Oxbow/pool
near Benalup 36° 18' 10.0'' N 5° 47' 47.1'' W The
small pool of water here held a better concentration of birds than
could be seen at the much larger expanse of La Janda with Black-crowned
Night Heron (1), Spoonbill (9), Glossy Ibis (1), Black-winged
Stilt (4), Marsh Harrier (f), Red-rumped Swallow (2), Moorhen (2),
Zitting Cisticola (singing) and Mallard (6).
Marshes
view from behind the sports stadium 36° 11' 45.7'' N 05° 54'
40.9'' W This
vantage point allows an alternative view on the west side of the
Río Barbate. The nearest lagoon was almost dry and devoid of birds.
More distant were three Caspian Terns, three Slender-billed Gulls
and three Spoonbills out around the main river channel. Other waders
in view included Whimbrel (5), Grey Plover (11), Greenshank (4),
Dunlin (200+) and Ringed Plover (100+).
Day
10 Saturday
15 April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes >
Marismas del Barbate Another
day of blue skies...
Boardwalk:
Castillo
de las Almadrabas
> Playa de Zahara Walk
at dawn, east along the costal grassland, dune and beach. A Spectacled
Warbler was singing from low, dry patchy scrub behind the low dune,
c200 metres east of the castle. I've never heard them here before
so wonder if it was a migrant or breeding attempt. Other evidence
of passerine migration did include a male Black-eared Wheatear,
a male Subalpine Warbler and two Yellow Wagtails over. A new breeding
colony of Cattle Egrets was found between Hotel Antonio and the
dunes, in stands of Giant Reeds. Around 70 birds were present including
20 or so collecting nesting material from the dunes. A Red-rumped
Swallow was over the castle on the return walk.
Marismas
del Barbate (south-east side):Itinerario
el Cañillo (Km 3.2 on A-2231) 36° 10' 28.6'' N 05° 53' 34.6'' W A
good hour here in the morning produced some nice birds with 15 Whiskered
Terns arriving from the east, Greater Flamingo (129), Collared Pratincole
(100+), Northern Bald Ibis (5), Short-toed Eagle, Griffon Vulture
(16), Osprey, Little Tern (4), Avocet (26), Curlew Sandpiper (15),
Spotted Redshank, Stone Curlew and Greater Short-toed Lark.
Río
Barbate(river
mouth) A
quick look here produced small numbers of waders including a Turnstone
and pair of Kentish Plovers. A flock of 29 Glossy Ibis arriving
in off the sea looked stunning in the glorious light. Another Bald
Ibis was the town and Pallid Swifts provided nice views. On the
drive inland on the A-314 another (or the same) Hoopoe flew over
the road near La Ribera de la Oliva. Perhaps it is flying between
a nest and a feeding area?
Sendero
Marismas del Barbate (Marisma Alta) 36° 14' 01.5'' N 5° 56'
46.8'' W Accessed
from Km 2.2 on the A-314 La Barca de Vejer-Barbate road. As dry
as ever, except for a very small ditch crowded with Spanish Terrapins
and a single Glossy Ibis, while another flew over. Cetti's Warbler,
Zitting Cisticola and Corn Bunting were singing. Quite a few orthopterns
were sitting on the tracks but jumping or flying quickly away: Egyptian
Grasshopper (3), Lamenting Grasshopper (3), Garden Locust (4) and
singing Field Crickets. When I returned to Zahara at 13:15 it was
choc-o-block and had to park half a mile from the hotel. Another
Garden Locust was seen flying between stands of Giant Reed.
Egyptian
Grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium), Marismas
del Barbate,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Zahara
de los Atunes Recorded
some crickets around the castle at midnight.... Acheta
or Gryllus ?
Day
11 Sunday
16 April 2023
Zahara de los Atunes >
Tarifa > Algeciras > Malaga Blue
sky, wind 24 mph ENE, 14°C, max 23°C
Zahara
de los Atunes Departure
day. Photographed aBrown-headed
Grasshopper/Garden Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis citrina).
Brown-headed
Grasshopper/Garden Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis
citrina), Zahara
de los Atunes,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Brown-headed
Grasshopper/Garden Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis
citrina), Zahara
de los Atunes,
Andalucía, Spain, April 2023
Systematic List
Zahara
de los Atunes & Costa de la Luz 6-16 April 2023[sound
recordings from various years]
Common
Shelduck Tadorna
tadorna
5,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 14-Apr
Mallard Anas
platyrhynchos
20+,
Embalse de Almodovar, 7-Apr
3
mm,
Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary),
11-Apr
pr,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
pr,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 14-Apr
4
mm/2 ff,
oxbow/pool near Benalup, 14-Apr
pr,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
Red-legged
Partridge Alectoris
rufa
pr,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Red-legged
Partridge Alectoris rufa
La
Janda, Andalucia, Spain36º
13' 49.5'' N 5º 51' 27.0'' W 5 April 2016
Regularly seen from Zahara over Sierra de Retín & Sierra de
la Plata.
9,
Malaga-Tarifa-Zahara, 6-Apr
2,
Zahara-Facinas, 7-Apr
2, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 7-Apr
4,
Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, 9-Apr
1,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
5,
Zahara-Barbate, 13-Apr
16,
over El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
Eurasian
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Sierra de
la Plata
Short-toed
Eagle
Circaetus
gallicus
1, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 10-Apr
1,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
Booted
Eagle
Aquila
pennata
3,
Malaga-Tarifa-Zahara, 6-Apr
1,
Atlanterra, 9-Apr
Black
KiteMilvus
migrans
14,
Malaga-Tarifa-Zahara, 6-Apr
1, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 7-Apr
16,
in off the sea in 15 mins, Atlanterra, 8-Apr
Migrants
arriving, Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, 8-Apr
Noted
all along the road between Atlanterra and Conil, 8-Apr
2,
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate, 8-Apr
2,
Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, 9-Apr
Black-winged
KiteElanus
caeruleus
1,
La Janda, 14-Apr
Western
Marsh Harrier
Circus
aeruginosus
f,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
f,
oxbow/pool near Benalup, 14-Apr
Montagu's
Harrier Circus
pygargus
2,
Zahara-Facinas, 7-Apr
Common
Buzzard Buteo
buteo
1, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 10-Apr
Osprey Pandion
haliaetus
1,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
Eurasian
Sparrowhawk Accipiter
nisus
1
m, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 10-Apr
Common
Kestrel Falco
tinnunculus
1,
Malaga Airport, 6-Apr
3,
Common/Lesser, Malaga-Tarifa-Zahara, 6-Apr
1,
Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, 8-Apr
1,
Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary),
11-Apr
1,
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate, 13-Apr
1,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Lesser
Kestrel Falco
naumanni
1,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Lesser
Kestrels (Falco naumanni), Tarifa
Lesser
Kestrel Falco naumanni
Tarifa, Andalucia,
Spain 51°
39' 29.9" N 0° 02' 43.9" W5 April 2016
Two call types from a male returning to the nest with
a lizard shortly before the female had departed: repeated
high-pitched 3 and 4 element phrases and single
and double harsh screeches.
1,
over calling,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 14-Apr
Crested
Lark
Galerida
cristata
Common in many habitats.
Noted almost everywhere including Zahara, La Zarzuela, El Almarchal,
Facinas, La Janda, Benalup, Barbate, Los Caños de Meca, El
Palmar, Bolonia.
Singing,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 7-Apr
Noted, Casa la Palmera, Conil de la Frontera, 8-Apr
1
singing m, east side of La Zarzuela, 9-Apr
1
singing m,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 11-Apr
1,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
1
singing m,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 14-Apr
5
singing mm,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
pr
+ singing m,
behind Estadio
Municipal de Deportes/Avenida Joaquín Blume, Marismas
del Barbate, 14-Apr
1
singing m,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 15-Apr
2
singing m,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
1
singing m,
Río Barbate mouth, 15-Apr
Crested
Lark (Galerida cristata), Zahara de
los Atunes
Thekla
Lark Galerida
theklae
1, Embalse de
Almodovar-Puerto de Ojén, 10-Apr
Woodlark Lullula
arborea
1
singing m, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 10-Apr
Greater
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella
brachydactyla
2
singing mm,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
1
singing m,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
Greater
Short-toed
Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Marismas
del Barbate, Andalucia, Spain
36°
10' 28.6" N 05° 53' 34.6" W17
April 2015
Territorial/advertising
'short' song uttered in flight composed of one to second
phrases of 'dry' warbles, often preceeded
by a longer, more 'musical' element.
1
singing m,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia communis
1
singing m,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 15-Apr
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Abundant
in suitable habitat.
Noted at
Playa de Zahara, Castillo de las Almadrabas, Atlanterra,
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate, Valle
de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, Cabo de
Gracia.
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 6-Apr
Singing
m, Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 7-Apr
Singing, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 7-Apr
4
singing mm, Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 8-Apr
Several
singing mm,
Atlanterra, 8-Apr
Several
singing, Faro de Camarinal, Cabo de Gracia, 8-Apr
Abundant,
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate, 8-Apr
Singing, Casa la Palmera, Conil de la Frontera, 8-Apr
Several
calling/singing,
Atlanterra, 9-Apr
3
singing mm,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 11-Apr
1
singing m, Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary),
11-Apr.
Abundant,
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate, 12-Apr
Singing,
Sendero del Acantilado, La Breña de Barbate, 13-Apr
1
singing m,
La Barca de Vejer, 14-Apr
4
singing mm,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 15-Apr
1
singing m, first 500
metres of trail, Sendero
Marismas del Barbate (Marisma Alta), 15-Apr.
Arroyo
del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, Andalucia, Spain
36°
08' 46.4" N 05° 35' 04.3" W 11
Apr
2011, 1337h
Territorial song
from skulking male in thorny, evergreen scrub on open cork oak
slopes. Fast, chattering, scratchy warblers, each strophe
lasting 3-8 seconds, mostly utter from within cover.
Fairly common
in the Valle
de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales.
Singing, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 7-Apr
Singing, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 10-Apr
Western
Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
Valle
de Ojén, Parque
Natural de Los Alcornocales, Andalucia, Spain
36°
9' 35.16" N 5° 34' 55.40" W
15
Apr
2019, 1421h
Territorial song
from cork oak woodland: ~ 0.7 sec trill composed of
8-10 elements. Singing at a rate of 6 strophes/min.
Note subtle variation between trills.
Fairly common
in the Valle
de Ojén, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales.
Singing, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 7-Apr
Singing, Arroyo del Tiradero, Valle de Ojén, 10-Apr
Iberian
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus
Sendero Canuto de Risco Blanco,
Parque
Natural de Los Alcornocales, Andalucia, Spain
36°
09' 31.9" N 5° 35' 15.2" W 10
Apr
2014
Territorial song
from holm oak woodland. Note this individual shows little
or no slurring of elements compared with birds below.
Part of a 10 minute recording where bird sang from four
different regular song perches.
Valle
de Ojén, Parque
Natural de Los Alcornocales, Andalucia, Spain
36°
08' 46.8" N 05° 34' 58.2" W11
Apr
2011, 1209h
Territorial song
from cork oak/holm oak woodland. This bird was singing
with continual variation between successive strophes.
Note the rapid delivery with more elements than is typical
in the first strophe.
Valle
de Ojén, Parque
Natural de Los Alcornocales, Andalucia, Spain
36°
09' 42.4" N 05° 34' 55.0" W15
Apr
2010, 1132h
Territorial song
from cork oak/holm oak woodland. This strophe composed of
seven notes rhythmically decending in pitch,
followed by faster phrase of four to five higher
notes.
Common,
cliffs around La Breña de Barbate & La Barca de
Vejer.
20+, Casa la Palmera, Conil de la Frontera, 8-Apr
30+,
La Barca de Vejer, 14-Apr
50+,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Jackdaws (Corvus
monedula) sharing a nesting ledge with Northern
Bald Ibis
Common Raven Corvus corax
1,
Atlanterra, 8-Apr
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
Common around
human habitatation, agricultural areas, and semi-natural
grassland.
Noted at Zahara,
Atlanterra, Barbate, El Almarchal,
Facinas, La Janda, Benalup, Barbate, Los Caños de Meca, El
Palmar, Bolonia.
Common,
Malaga-Tarifa-Zahara, 6-Apr
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 6-Apr
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 8-Apr
Noted,
Atlanterra, 8-Apr
38,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 11-Apr
Singing
mm, Castillo de la Almadrabas, 11-Apr
30+,
Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary),
11-Apr
1 singing m, Hotel
Gran Sol, 12-Apr
Noted,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
7,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 15-Apr
10+,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 15-Apr
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Common around
human habitatation, agricultural areas, and semi-natural
grassland.
Noted,
Malaga Airport, 6-Apr
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 6-Apr
60+,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 7-Apr
Noted,
Atlanterra, 8-Apr
Noted, Casa la Palmera, Conil de la Frontera, 8-Apr
50+,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 11-Apr
100+,
Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary),
11-Apr
Noted,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
First
song 07:10, Hotel Gran Sol, Zahara, 13-Apr
Noted,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Noted,
behind Estadio
Municipal de Deportes/Avenida Joaquín Blume, Marismas
del Barbate, 14-Apr
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 15-Apr
Noted,
first 500
metres of trail, Sendero
Marismas del Barbate (Marisma Alta), 15-Apr.
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
pr,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
Spanish
Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Marismas
del Barbate, Andalucia, Spain 36º
14' 24.6'' N 5º 56' 53.5'' W9
April 2018
Calls
from a male Spanish Sparrow adjacent
to a calling House Sparrow. Spanish
calls are higher-pitched and upslurred,
while House calls are lower-pitched
and downslurred.
pr,
first 500
metres of trail, Sendero
Marismas del Barbate (Marisma Alta), 15-Apr.
Common
Linnet Carduelis
cannabina
Montenmedio,
Vejer de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain
20
Apr
2010, 1223h
Territorial song
from Umbrella Pine woodland; a continuous rambling series
of squeaky notes interspersed with short trills (e.g.
5.1 to 5.5 secs) and whistles (e.g. at 6.7 sec).
Common and
widespread in most open habitats including coastal dunes,
rough pasture, agricultural fields & marshes.
Noted around
Zahara de los Atunes, La Zarzuela, El Almarchal, Parque
Eolico, Venta de Retín, La Janda, Benalup, Barbate,
Cortijo
Los Villares, El Palmar, Facinas,
Embalse de Almodóvar, Bolonia.
Noted,
Tarifa-Zahara, 6-Apr
Noted,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 6-Apr
Singing
m, Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 7-Apr
Noted,
Zahara-Facinas, 7-Apr
Singing
m,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 8-Apr
Singing, Casa la Palmera, Conil de la Frontera, 8-Apr
5
singing mm, east side of La Zarzuela, 9-Apr
2
singing mm,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 11-Apr
2
singing mm, Río del Cachón (Zahara estuary),
11-Apr.
Singing mm,El Cañillo, Marismas del Barbate, 12-Apr
13
singing mm,
Canal Colector del Este, La Janda, 14-Apr
1
singing m,
oxbow/pool near Benalup, 14-Apr
3
singing mm,
Playa de Zahara boardwalk, 15-Apr
1
singing m, first 500
metres of trail, Sendero
Marismas del Barbate (Marisma Alta), 15-Apr.
Corn
Bunting Emberiza calandra
Marismas
del Barbate, Andalucia, Spain
36°
10' 28.6" N 05° 53' 34.6" W17
April 2019
Territorial/advertising
song from fence post.
Each
~2.2 sec strophe composed single elements accelerating
into a brief trill before forming a longer buzz (~1.0
sec) which increases then decreases in pitch, ending
with a shorter trill which increases in pitch.
