Our final day and Derek suggested we head down to the coast near Tarifa. This turned out to be a new and spectacular site for us and what a beautiful area it was, very green with stunning views of the coast and across to Morocco. The weather was mostly clear but with a few rain showers and we could clearly see Tangiers and Ceuta and all the ships traversing the narrow Straights of Gibraltar. I immediately started to pick up small birds in the shrubs, including this pleasing view of a Linnet. I like the colours and composition of this one.
And yes, there they were again, Subalpine Warblers, plenty of them flitting about in the low bushes. Having only ever had occasional sightings of this charming species we now had a surfeit, but that's birding and I was delighted to take more pictures.
We gradually started to pick up more species as the morning wore on. A few larger migrating birds started to come across. Black Kites, White Storks, Booted Eagle, Short-Toed Eagle and Griffon Vultures. There were several Little Owls around, this one looked quite comfortable perched in an air-vent on a ruined building. Turnstones on the rocks and Whimbrel flying inland and a diving Sandwich Tern entertained us.
Little Owl
Sardinian Warbler
Sardinian Warbler female
Sardinian Warbler
An Osprey gave us all a thrill as it flew past very close, moving West along the coast, at one point driven off by the local Gulls did who not appreciate its presence.
Osprey
By 1 pm hundreds of Black Kites, White Storks and Griffon Vultures filled the sky, the Storks and Vultures making use of the thermals to whirl around and gain height. Others we saw included Common and Lesser Kestrel. My final shot is a nice one of a Griffon Vulture that appeared over a nearby ridge and flew just over our heads. Spectacular.
Griffon Vulture
By 2 pm we had had our fill and it was time to take our leave. Thanks to our birding friends for a super weekend in great company and with some super birds seen. In total we picked up over 100 species. We will be back.
