Short-toed Eagle, Bee Eaters and the first Firecrest of the year! 5th August 2009

 Wednesday morning, and car trouble on the hillside above the village means we've got an hour to kill while the engine cools down. With the Lanjaron river below us a slow walk up the side of the valley was the perfect distraction. A pale-form Booted Eagle drifted lazily overhead as we set off, giving us a glimpse of it's tell-tale black and white wings before it caught some warm air and soared effortlessly away.

We followed a water course upstream above the river, mercifully shaded from the sun by trees along the path. As we worked our way a little higher we had great views of Crag Martins, swooping overhead around the rocks above us. Damselflies and dragonflies added interest along the way, but soon the highlight of the day so far...a Short-toed Eagle, circling slowly on the skyline across the valley, the pale underside and distinctive dark hood clearly visible. I hadn't seen a Short-toed for a little while and it was another great addition to the start of the month. I could see at a distance the eagle was being mobbed by a flock of birds on the crest of the hill opposite us...I thought Hirundines or Swifts but they turned out to be Bee Eaters, their characteristic silhouettes just about recognizable before they moved on. 

Hoping to try for Bee Eaters at another location took us back through Lanjaron once the car had cooled, but the engine protested going uphill and it looked like I'd be walking on alone...not before we followed a track above and beyond the village, and unexpectedly found a "first-of-the-year". A tiny warbler-like bird grabbed our attention, foraging busily in a stand of trees only a short distance off the main road. Firecrest! With no Goldcrest this far south in Spain there was little room for confusion, I was sure I'd eventually see one but thought it would be higher up in the conifer belt. With what I thought was fairly muted plumage and a complete lack of fear I suspected it may have been a juvenile...I have resolved to look for them specifically again soon so watch this space!

Bee Eaters are starting to congregate in ever increasing numbers around the village now, and I had been told there was a good chance of some photos on my old patch where I used to work above the village. The heat of the day meant I was walking up on my own, but as I approached my destination everything started to look good. The by now very familiar calls of Bee Eaters were getting closer, and as I turned the last corner there they were! Swooping and circling overhead, perched in dead trees along the track...the best views of these magnificent birds I've had to date.

So, photography. These wary birds can be difficult to approach, and I knew that it wouldn't be straightforward. I spent a good half an hour slowly walking a section of track, trying to get in range for that elusive "magazine cover" shot. The best of the photos I managed are here. Apologies for the dips in quality!

No room for any disappointment here...to be watching one of Europe's most colourful, exotic birds in such numbers will of course always be a privilege. As thirst and the heat of the afternoon drove me back down towards the village, I decided maybe a car would be the perfect mobile hide. That's that. back this weekend...