Friday 27 March 2015

Urban birding Malaga

After a very successful time in Extremadura attending the bird fair and taking a brief trip around the region I took a four drive south into Andalucia bound for Malaga. Now, I'm no stranger to this coastal city as I have been here several times before with my mum but never in the guise of The Urban Birder.
 A male Peregrine on the Malaga Cathedral
My hosts were Yingda Li for Malaga City Tourism and local urban birder Luis Alberto and one of the first places we visited was the roof terrace of the Molina Lario Hotel to spy on a pair of Peregrines that use the tower as a watchpoint.

We were soon watching a stunning display firstly put on by the male who was eventually joined by his larger partner.
 Male Peregrine patroling
 The female joined in
Serin 
 I won't go into the full rundown of my trip here as I am preparing an forthcoming article for Bird Watching Magazine
 Collared Dove
 Blackbird
 Yingda (Malaga City Tourism), TUB and Luis Alberto
 An immature Crane
White-headed Duck
A 'sinensis' Cormorant surveying the scene
A happy Malaga Urban Birder!

Saturday 14 March 2015

I'm liking Extremadura!

 Sunset
 Griffon Vulture
 Black and Griffon Vultures
 White Stork
 Black Redstart
 Azure-winged Magpie
 Rene Pop and Killian Mullarney
 TUB with Stephen Moss
 House Sparrow
 Purple Swamphen at Arrocampo, Extremadura
Marsh Harrier

Sunday 8 March 2015

Feeding time in Extremadura, Spain

I was very privileged to spend a morning watching a carcass being devoured by a mass of around 130 vultures and a supporting cast of Ravens, Red and Black Kites, Azure-winged Magpies, Spotless Starlings and bizarrely, a Blue Tit and a couple of Crested Larks!

All this action began at dawn outside a photographic hide that I was sharing with the legends that are Killian Mullarney (Collins Bird Guide) and Rene Pop (The Sound Approach). We were participants in the FIO Extremadura Birdwatching Fair and were afforded the opportunity of watching the vultures do their thing.
 Black Vulture head on
 Motley crew of Griffon Vultures
 A poser
 Three Griffons
 How do you like me now? 
A Black Vulture spreads
 Black and Griffon Vultures
 Raven
 Black Vulture 
 Red Kite
Gathering at first light