Birds of Andalucia Spring 2014 Volume Three, Issue Two
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Birds of Andalucia Spring 2014 Volume Three, issue two Trekking for the Phillipine Eagle Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder ABS Photographic Competition The Quarterly editorial journal of the andalucia bird society 1 . Front Cover Photograph In this issue.... Notice Board 2 News from the Editor - Brenda Jones A new regular feature is an article by Roger Marchant, which will help you with your nature Important dates for your diary 3 photography. On the same theme we are also running a quarterly photo competition. See pages 14 4 and 15. ABS February Field Meeting Once again, a very big thank you to advertisers and contributors! Birds of Serrania de Ronda 6 1st - 4th of May Birdfair Doñana Our Noticeboard Avutardas y Pinsapos 8 Our friends at SEO/Birdlife are staging the Donana International If there are Members that Trekking for the Phillipine Eagle 12 Bird Fair this year during 1-4th May at the Dehesa de Abajo Visitor wish to put a note on the Centre near Villamanrique in the Donana. There will be exhibitor Magazine’s Notice Board Nature in Focus - Photographic Competition 14 stands, excursions and photography events, besides the normal please send your note to birding opportunities at this, the best of year. The Dehesa VC is one the Editor. Your note needs Montes de Málaga National Park 16 of the lesser known centres in Donana but I have always found that to be short, no more than Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 18 Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) section to be very productive, birdwise. The event also provides the 120 words, and succinct. Its The most common and most widespread of opportunity to visit the Canada de los Pajaros Reserve in Puebla del subject should be related to Food for thought 20 all the nuthatches. It is found throughout Rio, a site which I had been unaware of until now. the Society or bird watching temperate Europe and Asia, most 22 commonly here in our oak woodlands. More information on www.donanabirdbirdfair.es and directions on in Andalucia. My Local Patch - Sevilla Province Photo courtesy Roger Marchant www.dehesadeabajo.es. DID YOU KNOW? Studies show that most wild birds will die in their first year of life. But if they can survive this first year then they stand Field Meeting Attendance Spring Migration a strong chance of living for some considerable time, e.g. Sardinian Warbler 8yrs, Eurasian Collared Dove 5yrs, House Our membership continues to increase and most of those By the time you get this magazine the Sparrow 13yrs, Raven 17yrs, Peregrine Falcon 19yrs, Golden Eagle 28yrs. who have joined in the last twelve months have taken an Spring migration will be well under active part in the Society by joining our monthly Field way. One of the better places to view Meetings. It is great to see you all and your attendance the Spring migration is from Punta is encouraged, but with larger groups participating, the Carnero, near Algeciras in Cádiz. So Important dates for your diary Society is having to look at the best way to organise why not give this site a visit? See the Attendance of all Field Meetings and meetings are free to members of Andalucia Bird Society. future Field Meetings. You can help by letting us know ABS web site for directions and other you are attending these meetings by replying to the Field information. On the front page find May 18th 2014, Sunday. Areas around the city of Córdoba, Córdoba province, led by Florent Prunier at 10:00hrs. Meeting thread on the Forum (under Calendar Events) as Birding Information and click on We will visit former gravel pits, take a small drive in Sierra Morena and visit a Lesser Kestrel colony in cliffs along the we need to know how many of you are attending prior to “Bird Sites”, then on “Cádiz”, then on Guadalquivir. It will be very hot so wear long, fine clothing and a hat. Bring plenty of water and a light picnic. This the day of the Field Meeting. Please do not send us emails “Migration Watching”. Scroll down the is a new site for the Society. Saturday could be spent at the “patio festival” in Córdoba City. anymore as they sometimes get lost among the many page until you find Punta Carnero. If June 21st 2014, Saturday. Field Meeting at Odiel Marshes, Huelva province, led by Manu Mojarro at 09:30hrs. emails that we receive daily. you do visit, let us know what you see. We will meet in the car park of the Odiel Marshes Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. The meeting will involve driving and walking around the Odiel Marshes. We will then move on to the beach area to have a look at the fresh water lake of El Portil. Bring a light picnic with you. Please see the Forum for further details. July 12th 2014, Saturday. Areas around Ronda, Málaga province, led by Peter Jones at 08:30hrs. Andalucia Bird Society Quaterley Magazine We wil meet at the Venta La Vegas on the junction of the MA-505 to Montejaque and the A372 Ronda to Sevilla road. After the Field Meeting there will also be an Extraordinary General Assembly for the Election of Officers of the Officers of ANDALUCIA BIRD SOCIETY: Committee. This will be followed by a barbeque. Please see the Forum for further details. President: Alfredo Carrasco Chairman: David Hird Treasurer: Pieter Verheij Secretary: Helen Wallbank Membership Officer: Robert Wright Field Meeting Officer: Frank Hair August 23rd 2014, Saturday. Montes de Málaga, Málaga province, led by Luis Alberto Rodríguez at 09:00hrs. Editor: Brenda Jones We will meet on A-7000 (Carretera de Los Montes, Málaga to Colmenar) at Fuente Olletas. Alberto will introduce To learn more about the society’s activities visit our website: www.andaluciabirdsociety.org us to some of the Montes de Málaga Natural, which extends an area of 5,000 ha. north of the city of Málaga. Bring ContactContact us us AdvertisingAdvertising 20132014 Membership Membership Fees Fees a picnic lunch. AndaluciaAndalucia Bird Bird Society Society ContactContact the the Society Society for for advertisement advertisement IndividualOrdinary € 25€ 25 ApartadoApartado de de Correos Correos 375 375 1/41/4 page page € € 45 45 CoupleJoint € €30 30 2940029400 Ronda Ronda (Málaga) (Málaga) 1/21/2 page page € € 80 80 AffiliatedAffiliated € €40 40 Please see the Forum for more details and any changes a few days before each meeting. SpainSpain FullFull page page € €140 140 CorporateJunior € €60 10 E-mail:E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] BackBack page page € €180 180 LifeLife € €300 300 NOTE: Please let us know via the Forum if you are attending any of these meetings, as we need to know numbers beforehand. More details of meeting places can be found via the website and Forum. 2 3 Larks, Collard Doves, busy little White off to one of the many local Ventas for Wagtails, Black Redstarts, Blue Rock their lunch, the rest opting for a spring Thrush, Crag Martins and returning ABS walk in the sunshine along the nearby member Claus from Denmark spotted the Guadalporcún river. two illusive Bonelli’s Eagles and of course The fast flowing small river was a very Vultures the big unmissable Griffon Vultures, too pretty site but not so hot on the bird count; many to count. nevertheless, Chaffinches Chiffchaffs, After a while on the viaduct and several noisy Blackcaps having an outrageous aborted attempts to re-asses our own tree party, Green Sandpiper, Serins, head count it was decided to say adiós to Meadow Pipits, Finches, Cettis and other the gliding Griffons and move on up to Warblers. The presence of lots of little and see Franks friends at the nature reserve yellow Celandine flowers throughout the reception centre and the birds in the surrounding meadow confirming that picnic area. spring surely was not far away. There were more birds to be seen - despite After an hour walk-about Frank arrived our constant chit-chat and the chirping of and invited those left to re-join the group passing Sunday Cyclists, who seem happy at the nearby Artesania del Prado Pottery to spend a grand plus on a bicycle but and Glass Studio. Time was running short Viaducts reluctant to give the local Halfords just two but the pottery proved to be worth the and sixpence for a warning bell, however extra effort, delightful bespoke craft work there was room enough and friendly by owners Liz and Jenny and a Green greetings from both sides, the cyclists and Woodpecker hiding in a tree. the ABS birders, who in all fairness will Black Bird, on the way back a “cloud” of Five twenty-five, the light was starting to three legged ENL generator windmills persist in standing in the middle of any Natterjack Toad Tadpoles in a puddle and fade, all in all another excellent day out and a ruined fortified look-out tower path or road, oblivious to all and sundry, a lovely Bee Orchid under a bush. and for us, time for home. ABS February Field Trip from a bygone era. Eventually, despite whilst peering through rubber coated After a rest up and a sandwich, Frank Any ABS field trip is always preceded Airport at 8.07, the frost warning light the confusing mismatched road map tubes at the back and beyond. Crested lead us back across the puddles and Pete Woodall & Satori Casanova - by a degree of excitement, checking the came on, showing a cooler 4ºc and the numbers, the winding road reached the Larks, House Martins, both Blue and Long potholes to Estación de Olvera, where ABS Members weather, planning the packed lunch and first birds of the day appeared.