Pesky LBJs

September brings a welcome intensity in avian activity. Passage migrants start to appear and summer residents become restless in preparing to depart. Bee-eaters have been flocking in our area, feeding up and gathering in collective strength for the long journey ahead, their numbers boosted by an influx from the North and East. We see and hear then daily and they have taken to perching in the valley below our terrace, pausing to rest between hunting forays.

Bee-eater

Bee-eater

Bonellis eagle

Raptors have been moving overhead towards the crossing points to Africa around Tarifa and Gibraltar. Honey Buzzards are in large numbers, I am always surprised by how many there are, where do they all come from? Not the UK or Spain that's for sure. They are one of the most numerous of the large migrants seen streaming across the Straights. In company with the Honey Buzzards was this magnificent adult Bonelli's Eagle which at first I assumed was another Honey Buzzard until a friend Kevin Wade pointed out the difference. Thanks Kevin.

Another raptor that spends its summer holidays in Spain is the Short Toed Eagle, we see them a lot searching for snakes in the countryside around our house. At this time of year they are slowly heading back towards Africa, usually in pairs. The one below was one of a pair that hung around for a few days.

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Honey Buzzards -

Short Toed Eagle -

After some recent heavy rain I took a short walk around the Rio Velez which has become very overgrown. The riverbed is almost dry as bullrushes and reeds have sucked out what little water is available. Hopefully we will have lots more rain this winter, it is much needed.


The bullrushes are good for some birds like this Penduline Tit which I watched stripping a seedhead. Unfortunately it was at a distance so the shot is very poor but I post it as it is the first time I have been able to capture this uncommon and attractive little species.

Short Toed Eagle -

Penduline Tit -

I noticed there were some Reed Warblers about. I would expect most of them to be gone before too long but I do believe a few remain here over winter as we were seeing them here all year, even in December/January. The bird below is definitely Reed but given the size of that bill it could even be a Great Reed Warbler, hard to say.

Reed Warbler -

Compare the bird above with the one below. can they be the same species? I think not but if the lower one is not a Reed Warbler then what is it? I really don't know.

Unknown, possibly Reed Warbler

It is about now that Chiffchaffs return from Northern climes to spend the winter here. At the same time we also have Willow Warblers and other small passage migrants passing through and it is sometime difficult to distinguish the species. The one to the right is a Chiffchaff I think, note for example the dark legs and eyestripe. 


The bird below is a most likely a Willow Warbler even though there is not much yellow colouring. Look at the pale legs and pale eyestripe with little or no black. The length of the primaries can be a good indication, here being a bit too long for a Chiffchaff, also the overall size and length were more typical of Willow Warbler.

Chiffchaff?

Willow Warbler?

But what about this one below? I really don't know for sure but it looks more like a young Western Orphean Warbler than anything else in the Field Guide.

Western Orphean Warbler