No time for birding lately with family visitors occupying my time. Daughter Louise, Husband Wade & 2 yr. old Grandson Arlo staying, plus Elena's Grandaughter Maria who is 7, so all-in-all a pretty busy time. However we did take Maria up to the Area Recreativa El Alcazar in the mountains above Alcaucin so I took my camera along. It was a beautiful sunny but cold day and there were lots of small birds that were glad of the breadcrumbs Elena spread on the picnic tables, not least this superb little Crested Tit.
Crested Tit - lophophanes cristatus
Crested Tits are one of my favourites, Tiny, constantly active and usually high up in the canopy they are very difficult to photograph so I was pleased to have this opportunity, even though it was lured by breadcrumbs. The light was pretty good and we can see here the distinctive raised crest and a nice red iris on this very attractive little woodland bird.
Crested Tit - lophophanes cristatus
Nuthatches were the most numerous, I don't think I have seen so many in one place before, something to do with the exceptionally cold spell perhaps but they were very eager for the chance of a free meal.
Nuthatch - sitta europaea Quite a photogenic bird Nuthatches are sometimes easy to capture as they pause on the way up or down a treetrunk. On this occasion I was also able to get a nice close-up of one on the feeding table.
Nuthatch - sitta europaea
Others after the breadcrumbs were Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Chaffinch. A great Spotted Woodpecker was also seen.
Crossbill - loxia curvirostra
Crossbills were numerous as usual up here, although they are not interested in the bird table there were plenty to be seen and heard in the surrounding trees.
Crossbill - loxia curvirostra
The only other photo worth posting was not a bird but the local Fox, this guy is well known for being extremely tame, it will eat out of your hand which indeed is what happened when Maria offered it a fig. It accepted gladly.
Red Fox - vulpes vulpes
