Clients: Brian and Lucy, England
Highlights: Lammergeier, Short-toed Eagle, 'inside' Citril Finch/Crossbill flock
Shortly after a coffee and biscuit stop upon our arrival in the Cadi-Moixero National Park, we stopped again to look at some resting Crag Martin on a ledge just above the road. Then again at a small group of Rock Bunting that flew across the bonnet and landed nearby, seemingly in ‘the place to be’ as Crested Tit and Black Redstart had already taken up residence. We watched them flit and fly and hide and eventually caught them full scope before moving up to the Greixer Valley.
Usually a good spot for Lammergeier, today we were rewarded 'only' by Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle and Golden Eagle so, as always in times like these, we packed up and headed for the other side of the valley.
This trek is almost guaranteed to bring an encounter with at least one family of Crossbill, which feed on the year-round supply of pine cones, and within twenty metres of leaving the car we were attracted by their calls coming from the wooded bank below. However, it was a small flock of Citril Finch gleaning from the shrubs in the undergrowth that persuaded us to follow and we somehow found ourselves right smack in the middle of feeding flocks of both species, with birds within three or four metres. Fantastic 'no-need-for-binoculars' moment.
Encounters with Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Dunnock, White Wagtail, Stonechat and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker interrupted the never-ending flow of Coal Tits and the sporadic calling of a Black Woodpecker kept our hopes of a close encounter with it high.
However, with this species not materialising, we drove up to the Coll de Pal with fingers crossed and sure enough, just after switching between simultaneous nearby views of a hovering Short-toed Eagle and a small group of Red-billed Chough drinking from the brook (having separated off from a flock of about two-hundred), two large birds glided into view. Lammergeier. They settled briefly on the hillside sending us all grabbing for our binoculars and scanning for ‘orange rocks’, catching them just in time to see them rise up, circle and fly off into the far valley.
It provided a timely end to the day’s proceedings and we made our way back down the mountain allowing the car to flush alternate fleeing Raven, Jay, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch and Serin.
[CENTER]“Thanks again for the excellent two days we birded together and the information you provided for the rest of my holiday. It was very useful to travel with a knowledgeable birder who understands the natural history of the birds and their distribution when visiting new areas and looking for specific species.
Both Lucy and I found both days nicely paced with plenty of variety and many opportunities to not just simply tick off the birds but to observe them as well.”
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[RIGHT]Brian and Lucy Coleman, England
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Thanks for the feedback guys
Great stuff Stephen, I'm envious. Unfortunately I managed to dip out on Rock Bunting when I went to the Pyrenees in the summer, it'll just have to be vicarious pleasure for me (though did connect with Lammergeier).
Excellent report.
J.