A flying and unexpected visit to the Tarifa area, staying in Barbate overnight in place of Bob Wright who missed out due to his wife Jenny falling down the stairs in my house. I and I'm sure all our birding community and friends send her love & best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Roller - coracius garrulus
Roller - coracius garrulus
This was an ideal opportunity to test my new lens, Canon's new 500mm f4L IS USM. I hope it justifies the enormous price tag and that I can manage the huge increase in size and weight compared with my little 400 f5.6. One of the first shots took was of this friendly Roller found resting near the Northern entrance to La Janda, I used a 1.4 tele-converter to give even greater magnification and the result is encouraging. Lots of crisp detail and a nice soft bokeh, I like it. The colours do not transfer well to the internet blog but the actual image is extremely vibrant.
Not all birds are quite so easy to photograph, this Montagus Harrier required much more effort but I am fairly pleased with the result, and it gave my arms a good workout.
Not all birds are quite so easy to photograph, this Montagus Harrier required much more effort but I am fairly pleased with the result, and it gave my arms a good workout.
Montagus Harrier - circus prgargus
Before retiring to the hostal in Barbate I had a sweep around the marshes fringing the estuary and thought the Greenshanks, already in full winter plumage, were looking very attractive, here's a look at what I mean.
Greenshank - tringa nebularia
Attractive is not an adjective that applies to the Bald Ibis. I was fascinated to see a full coachload of Spanish tourists standing watching them from a distance, complete with telescopes and bridge cameras. Amazing what coach tour operators can come up with to sell trips. Does this bird look a bit miserable? well wouldn't you if as well as permanent manacles around both legs you had to carry a radio rucksack around on your back for the rest of your life.
Bald Ibis - geronticus eremita Its cousin, the Glossy Ibis is common in and around the rice fields of La Janda. I imagine they feed on the crayfish and other crustaceans that live in the paddies.
Glossy Ibis - plegadis falcinellus
I couldn't resist a shot of one of the many Stonechats that sit up begging for a photo of themselves. This rather handsome male was very obliging.
Stonechat - saxicola torquatus
A Hoopoe crossed the road in front and settled in a bush, so I snapped him through the car window.
Hoopoe - upupa epos
I decided that is such strong SE'ly winds there would be few if any birds crossing the Strait today, so instead of the usual lofty migration watch points around Tarifa I went down to the slopes along the coast into the military exercise zone, not too worried about the entry prohibited signs. Down here the air was filled with swirling raptors waiting for the wind to change. Literally hundreds of Black Kites, but other species mixed in amongst them.
Black Kite - milvus migrans
Honey Buzzards were fairly numerous....
Honey Buzzard - pernis apivornus
...but I was surprised to see so many Egyptian Vultures, lots of them. I didn't realise there were so many of these quite uncommon raptors, perhaps it's a sign that recent declines in their numbers have been reversed.
Egyptian Vulture - neophron percnopterus
Egyptian Vulture subadult - neophron percnopterus
Booted Eagles were the next most numerous species, I post shots here of a pale morph and a contrasting dark morph bird, useful for distinguishing this bird in the future.
Booted Eagle, pale morph - aquila pennata
Booted Eagle, dark morph - aquila pennata
It had been a quick trip, I departed for home at 3 pm but was well pleased with the valuable experience gained in using my new lens. The final raptor shots here were taken using a tripod which definitely relieves the strain on my shoulders and arms. I have not been a fan of tripods in the past but am going to have to get used to it to get the best out of my new investment, so this was quite a useful session with some pleasing results.
