Nightingale - luscinia megarhynchos
A quick stop off at the Rio Velez revealed a rapidly changing environment. Water levels are naturally down on a week ago and the banks and surrounding meadows are recovering with new plant growth. I parked below the old road bridge and immediately spotted a pair of Cirl Buntings in the large trees. They were gone before I was able to prepare my camera, but the sound of Nightingales filled the air and there were many of these delightful songsters in the canes by the dirt track, easy to locate when they are in full song.
Nightingale - luscinia megarhynchos
The Nightingale is a very plain, nondescript brown bird with no real distinguishing features, apart from it´s famous song. However when the sun catches the hint of orange in the long upcocked tail and it perches with typically "dropped" wings, I think it makes an elegant picture.
Whitethroat - sylvia communis
Further downstream I was very pleased to catch sight of what I thought was a Spectacled Warbler, but which was subsequently confirmed as a Whitethroat. Thanks again to Bob Wright for providing a conclusive ID as the two species can look remarkably similar.
Whitethroat - sylvia communis
We can clearly see a dark lore in front of the eye here, and the touch of grey on the lower throat, typical of a Spectacled Warbler.
But n the photos below however it looks quite different and indeed much more Whitethroat like.
But n the photos below however it looks quite different and indeed much more Whitethroat like.
Whitethroat - sylvia communis
Can this in fact be a photograph of of the same bird? I was not aware of two in the same bush so assume that it must be one and the same. However the species is definitely whitethroat and there may have been more than one, I was too busy snapping to count.
Monk Parakeet - myiopsitta monachus
There was no doubting the identity of this character though. One of a flock of Monk Parakeets feeding on thistle seedheads and therefore more interested in getting their fill than worrying about me and my camera.
It was fun watching them climb down the cane stems, reach out to rip off a seedhead then make their way back to the top of a broken pole to scrutinise and devour their prize.
It was fun watching them climb down the cane stems, reach out to rip off a seedhead then make their way back to the top of a broken pole to scrutinise and devour their prize.
Monk Parakeet - myiopsitta monachus
White Stork - ciconia ciconia
Surprise of the day was this White Stork that flew over heading West.
I don´t remember seeing one of these here before, it seems a long way east for this species which is common in Cadiz Province, Donana, Extremadura etc but not so around here.
I don´t remember seeing one of these here before, it seems a long way east for this species which is common in Cadiz Province, Donana, Extremadura etc but not so around here.
