Agustin has created a virtual paradise for lovers of wildlife photography here in Southern Spain. Where else can you watch and photograph magnificent species in the wild with such certainty? I came tentatively hoping to photograph Hawfinch and Golden Eagle. I was not disappointed. I could have selected Imperial, Bonellis or Booted Eagles, Eagle Owl, Iberian Lynx or various other species. Eco tourism like this supports wildlife and encourages the local community to appreciate and protect the riches of nature around them.
Golden Eagle - aquila chrysaetos
The Golden Eagles came to the baited tree and rock perches on a regular basis. They flew up from the wooded valley below the hide which is located on a high point overlooking the Sierra Morena landscape. It is a truly awesome sight watching these magnificent wild birds of prey at close quarters, the perches were about 7 - 9 metres from the hide, too close to use a 500mm lens.
Golden Eagle - aquila chrysaetos
Golden Eagle - aquila chrysaetos
Golden Eagle - aquila chrysaetos
Golden Eagle - aquila chrysaetos
Here is the view through the glazed window of the Golden eagle Hide, taken with my mobile phone. It is slightly misleading as the perches are closer than they appear in this phone image.
Golden Eagle - aquila chrysaetos
Eagles were not the only birds attracted to the bait and I quite enjoyed photographing the Eurasian Jays that were constant visitors along with many Iberian Magpies. The jay shots were also taken with my old Canon 400mm f5.6L lens which is a superb workhorse in good light, all these images were taken through the glazed windows of the hide so I was quite pleased with the results.
Eurasian jay - garrulus glandarius
Eurasian Jay - garrulus glandarius
Eurasian Jay - garrulus glandarius
