An Axarquia Bird Group trip into the Sierra Loja met with mixed success. My car with Elena, I & Mary-Anne Murphy soon became separated from the rest of the convoy, while they went to the quarry to look for the elusive Eagle Owl on the nest, I chose to go on up the hill expecting them to catch me up, but they didn't. On the way up we picked up several Azure Winged Magpies and a few Mistle Thrushes, this one seen sharing a rock with a Rock Sparrow.
Rock Sparrow and Mistle Thrush
Rock Bunting - emberiza cia Rock Buntings were a frequent sight along the lower stretch of the road. They dwindled in numbers as we got higher, then the most common sightings became Black Eared Wheatear, a very attractive bird in my opinion with its striking black and white summer plumage, it cut a dashing figure on the thistle heads and in exposed positions on the scrub.
Black Eared Wheatear - oenanthe hispanica
Up here the Black Eared species greatly outnumber their Northern Wheatear cousins, perhaps by a factor of ten to one or even more. Black Wheatears rounded off the family group nicely with a few individuals frequenting the steeper rock faces up at the top.
 Black Wheatear - oenanthe leucera |  Northern Wheatear - oenanthe oenanthe |
A Little owl was seen but it warily moved away as I tried to approach for a photo. Jackdaws and Red Billed Choughs represented the Crow family although I did spot a solitary Raven.
Jackdaw - corvus monedula
| The Hoopoe below seemed to be relishing the big fat caterpillar in its bill as it was in no hurry to swallow it Enjoying the anticipation of a very juicy meal no doubt. |  Red Billed Chough - pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax |
Hoopoe - upupa epops
Thekla lark - galerida theklae Thekla Larks are so common up here that I wouldn't normally bother to photo them, but this one looked picturesque on the skyline so I fired off a snap for the blog.
It's much the same with Stonechats. I don't bother with them unless they have a nice tidbit in the bill, as does this one on the fence here.
It's much the same with Stonechats. I don't bother with them unless they have a nice tidbit in the bill, as does this one on the fence here.
Stonechat - saxicola torquatus
| One of my absolute favourite small birds is the Linnet. They add a splash of colour to the landscape and a close look reveals a very pretty little bird which under-appreciated and also quite difficult to photograph, being so wary of people. I was therefore very pleased to get a few reasonable shots of this one using the car as a hide. There were plenty about I am pleased to say, they are not in decline up here in such unspoilt landscape, safe from habitat loss or intensive agriculture. The only raptor seen all day was a single Kestrel, but hunting species I suppose include the Little Owl and this Iberian Grey Shrike, the only one seen all day. |  Linnet - carduelis canabina |
Iberian Grey Shrike - lanius meridionalis
Other birds seen include Red-legged Partidge and Blue Rock Thrush, but unfortunately I did not spot a Rock Thrush, one of our target species. Elena thinks she saw one and her description fits the bill, but she was the only one who did, not surprising as she has eyes like a hawk.
I complete the blog with another look at a Black Eared Wheatear, easily the most spectacular bird of the day.
I complete the blog with another look at a Black Eared Wheatear, easily the most spectacular bird of the day.
Black Eared Wheatear - oenanthe hispanica
