Notice the sign that is flashing 50, well i would have loved to have been able to have done 50.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
M5, England, 23rd Oct. Welcome back to Great Britain
Notice the sign that is flashing 50, well i would have loved to have been able to have done 50.
France and Spain, 7th Sept - 22nd Oct
My plan was to drive my car from Rutland Water to the Strait of Gibralter via France following migrating Ospreys and other migrants. First stop was going to be l'Aiguillon-sur-Mer (photo above) on the French west coast to look for passage Ospreys, then Organbidexka in the western Pyrenees to watch more migrating Ospreys along with other birds before crossing into Spain and driving down to the Strait of Gibralter where i had arranged to help count raptors, storks, seabirds and passerines with Fundacion Migres. I then planned to finish off with a week in Extremadura before catching the Santander-Plymouth ferry. Click on pictures for bigger image.
The first French Osprey, 7th Sept
Within 5 minutes of arriving at l'Aiguillon-sur-Mer and 7hrs since going through the Channel Tunnel the first migrant Osprey of the journey was in the bag. It is eating a fish on a post right of center and just below the bridge.
More Ospreys
The Pointe de l'Aiguillon was superb for fishing Ospreys. 5-6 different adults were seen but no juveniles.
A flock of 1000 Black-tailed Godwits contained 10 colour ringed adults but more worryingly only 4 juveniles were present in the group. Other waders included a large flock of Knot(bottom 2 photos) with smaller numbers of Oyster's, Grey Plover and Whimbrel.
Juvenile Honey Buzzard
The first Honey Buzzard of the trip, a juvenile powering south over the estuary. It's heading in exactly the same direction that i will be during the next 6 weeks.
Pointe de l'Aiguillon
The bushes and fences at the end of the point were alive with migrants. Spotted and Pied Flycatchers were lined up along the fences with Robins, Melodious Warblers and fresh juvenile Willow Warblers. Overhead small but constant groups of Yellow Wagtails and Tree Pipits headed south. This was all happening in hot settled conditions so i dread to think what this place would be like with the right fall weather - potentially incredible i think.
Pointe de l'Aiguillon
Many migrants were moving through the dunes including Wheatears, Tree Pipits, Yellow Wagtails and a Grasshopper Warbler. Cardinal Butterflies, a dull version of a Silver-washed Fritillary were common.
Juvenile Osprey, Trois-Villes, 18.30hr, 9th Sept
A distant circling dot over the approaching village turned out to be a Juvenile Osprey. It seemed a little unsure and not surprising really considering the lumps of rock ahead of it. With night drawing close it had gone as far as it could today.
Organbidexka, Pyrenees, 10 - 11th Sept
A beautiful place to sit with a scope and watch migration. Many of the Ospreys, Marsh Harriers, Honey Buzzards and Black Storks knew exactly where to go and didn't waste anytime crossing the pass but some birds were less sure and it was fascinating to watch them decide.
Osprey passing the shooting hides
This adult male Osprey passed some shooting hides where in a few weeks 1000's of migrating Scandinavian Wood pigeons will be slaughtered along with many other species.
Embalse De Yesa (Spain), 12th Sept
Left the campsite in the Pyrenees at 6.30am and drove over into Spain, stopping for a short time at a large reservoir Embalse De Yesa to look for fishing Ospreys. The reservoir must be the first source of food for many of the Ospreys that have just crossed the western Pyrenees. And sure enough while waiting for the kettle to boil an Osprey carried a fish to a dead tree on the opposite side. Also at the same place was a large flock of Swallows and Sand Martins just leaving their roost in a ruined church. Camping at Monfrague tonight before driving down to Tarifa tomorrow.
The Strait of Gibralter, 13th Sept - 14th Oct
Click on pictures for a bigger but not necessarily better image!
Juvenile Hobby, Sparrowhawk and mixed raptors. The Hobby came at us like a missile from the north , flew straight over our heads and headed straight towards Africa.
The Honey Buzzard is one of the few raptors that doesn't hesitate when approaching the sea crossing - it usually just goes for it. You rarely see a Honey coming in off the sea after failing to cross unlike the Booted and S-t Eagles.
Rubbish
The wall of brightly coloured rubbish complete with squabbling Griffon Vultures made for a very interesting scene. At least 400 Griffon's were present at the dump on this particular day.
Satellite tagged Short-toed Eagle
A locally tagged juvenile that flew low overhead one day. It reached West Africa while i was still working with Migres. The tip of the Ariel is just visible at the base of the secondaries.
Ospreys
Top 3 photos show two juveniles and bottom 2 are of an adult male with a suspicious gap in right wing.
Fundacion Migres have been doing a lot of work involving windmills and migrating birds. They have found that it is often just 1 or 2 specific windmills that cause the most fatalities. These windmills also tend to be the most productive in producing energy. Several possible solutions are currently being tested.
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