23/4 July
The ferry crossing from Plymouth to Santander had several Striped Dolphins and a Northern Bottlenose Whale. Seabirds seems almost nonexistent, with just a few Gannets for company.
The drive through Spain towards the Pyrenees was better. Red and Black Kites were numerous, along with several Griffon and Egyptian Vultures. We arrived in Jaca at last, and eventually found a campsite. As we were pitching the tents, a "prrrrp" noise made me look up. Flying over were 60+ Bee-eaters, my first ever.
25 July
I got up at dawn, listening to Quail calling in the stubble. Serin flew about everywhere, and more kites drifted past. A Golden Oriole was heard singing, and 2 Woodlarks perched on a fence.
Later, when the others were up, we went down to Jaca park, where I saw Siskin, 3 Firecrests, and several Black Redstarts.
The Old Citadel just north of the park had Tree Sparrows, 2 Rock Sparrows and a Booted Eagle.
The small village of Asieso near Jaca held 5 Crested and 5 Short-toed Larks, 60 more Bee-eaters and a Corn Bunting.
26 July
3 lifers today: Honey Buzzard, Alpine Chough, Red-backed Shrike. All seen near Le Scun. Also several Melodious and Garden Warblers.
27 July
Marsh Tit, more Serins and Melodious Warblers, Sand Martin, 21 Griffons, and 3 Wheatear.
28 July
Honey Buzzard, 50 Crag Martins, Red-backed Shrike, Common Sandpiper, and a superb Lammergeier.
29 July
Sparrowhawk, Alpine Choughs, Short-toed Eagle, 2 Golden Eagles.
30 July
Short-toed Eagle, Lammergeier, 2 Red Backed Shrikes, Alpine Choughs, Melodious Warblers, Kites, Crag Martins, vultures.
31 July
Crag Martins, Black Redstarts, Serins.
1 August
Lammergeier, Griffons, Alpine Choughs, Crag Martins, Black Redstarts, lots of White Wagtails.
2 August
2 Honey Buzzards, 5 Alpine Swifts, 2 Crested Tits, Red-backed Shrike, Firecrests.
3 August
No birding done.
4 August
100 Black and Red Kites, 2 Short-toed Eagles, great views of 2 Honey Buzzards, Peregrine, Egyptian Vulture.
5 August
Dipper, 3 Crested Tits, Honey Buzzard, 20 Griffons, 5 Firecrests.
6 August
2 Honey Buzzards, Booted Eagle, 5 Short-toed Larks, 30 Bee-eaters, Red-backed Shrike, juv. Golden Oriole, Kites, E. Vulture.
7 August
White Stork, Little Egrets, Crested Lark, Yellow-legged Gulls, Common and 3 Sandwich Terns, Balearic Shearwater, Cory's Shearwater, 6 Black Terns.
8 August
Great Northern Diver, Kittiwake and Fulmar, Great-crested Grebe.
A very successful family holiday. 102 Species recorded, 3 of them heard only.
More detailed report next time.
Jyothi Ray, age 12
