Hoopoe juvenile - upupa epops This was Easter weekend in the Orthodox Calendar, so I delivered Elena to the bus station in Malaga for her onward trip to the church in San Pedro de Alcantara, and then I went over to the Ponds at Guadalhorce.
I parked outside the Church at Guadalmar and immediately spotted a brood of young Hoopoes foraging along the rocky roadside soil bank. Those characteristic white lips indicated they were first year birds, and luckily for me they were unafraid of an approaching human, even one with a long lens on his camera. It is unlikely that an adult Hoopoe would allow such a close approach.
Incubating females and fledgling Hoopoes secrete a foul smelling liquid reminiscent of rotting flesh, which they smear into their plumage to deter predators.
I parked outside the Church at Guadalmar and immediately spotted a brood of young Hoopoes foraging along the rocky roadside soil bank. Those characteristic white lips indicated they were first year birds, and luckily for me they were unafraid of an approaching human, even one with a long lens on his camera. It is unlikely that an adult Hoopoe would allow such a close approach.
Incubating females and fledgling Hoopoes secrete a foul smelling liquid reminiscent of rotting flesh, which they smear into their plumage to deter predators.
Hoopoe - upupa epops The Hoopoe´s powerful head muscles enable it to open its beak and grab prey underground. They are one of the few predators of the Processionary Caterpillar Moth as they dig out the pupae which form after the caterpillars burrow into the soil. This gives the Hoopoe protected status in many countries.
Wood Warbler - phylloscopus sibilatrix The Ponds were relatively quiet with regard to birds, still no raptors of any description! where have they all gone? The Main Hide revealed nothing of any note, the beach was deserted except for a few naked men, and the sea watch equally unproductive. The Old River held plenty of waders but they were all some distance off, and anyway, waders just sort of...well...wade! I find nothing terribly exciting about distant birds standing in water with their heads down, I cannot get enthusiastic about them. Perhaps i should get a telescope as other people picked up a quite rare Broad-billed sandpiper. However, give me little brown jobs that flit about in the trees and reeds any day. In fact I spotted what I thought was my first Willow Warbler of the year. It is a sad fact that Willow Warbler numbers in the UK have declined by 70% in the past 25 years. Just another tale of eco-disaster from the Old Country. Closer examination of the bird in question however reveals that it is more likely to be a Wood Warbler, a first for me so I´m delighted. I referred this to Bob Wright for an opinion as I had very clear views of a Wood Warbler a few weeks later in the same spot, far too late for Willow Warblers and much too yellow, with long wings and yellow tinged primaries. It reminded me of this picture which I remember having doubts about at the time, Wood Warbler for sure.
My mother always taught me that intelligent people never get bored, so with that in mind and because of the lack of birds I turned my attention to other things. The wild flowers for example were spectacular. Here´s a photo of a beautiful blue one which caught my eye.
Also there were a few butterflies around including this delightful Skipper, one of the so-called "Golden Skippers" that I find difficult to distinguish. It seemed quite large to me, but the coloring and marking most closely resembles the "Small" Skipper, or possibly it´s closest relative the Essex Skipper, I really don´t know.
I picked up a single dragonfly, a female Black-tailed Skimmer, and photographed some beetles doing their thing on a flower head, insect porn?
Also there were a few butterflies around including this delightful Skipper, one of the so-called "Golden Skippers" that I find difficult to distinguish. It seemed quite large to me, but the coloring and marking most closely resembles the "Small" Skipper, or possibly it´s closest relative the Essex Skipper, I really don´t know.
I picked up a single dragonfly, a female Black-tailed Skimmer, and photographed some beetles doing their thing on a flower head, insect porn?
 Skipper - Small, Essex, or Large? Well, to be fair there was a bit of bird activity, for example the male White-Headed Ducks were swimming about with their tails cocked and necks extended trying to impress the females, either that or to warn off other males.....  White Headed Duck - oxyura leucocephala |  Black-tailed Skimmer - orthetrum cancelatrum  The Beetles? .... and there are always some birds around worth snapping away at. This Zitting Cisticola for instance sat nicely on a twig allowing me to take a few shots, thank you zit.  Zitting Cisticola - cisticola juncidis All in all quite a pleasant walk in the fresh air and sunshine with at least something to show for it after all. |
