On the first day of Autumn, on what is a beautiful morning here in #Norfolk, here are some views from our Houseboat on the broads. Looking forward to the magic of Autumn migration over the next few months. See you there?
Yorkshireman in Almeria, Spain. Mad keen birder. Boozer. LUFC. Woke lefty. Pro EU.Garry.
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On the first day of Autumn, on what is a beautiful morning here in #Norfolk, here are some views from our Houseboat on the broads. Looking forward to the magic of Autumn migration over the next few months. See you there?
Almeria highlights wk comm 24/8.....migration the theme again this week but this time raptors. 5 ringtail Montagu's Harriers at Cabo salinas on 25th and another plus a Honey Buzzard at Vela Blanca on 27th. Pic is the old kilns at Lucainena thanks to Almeria Trips. #birds
A quiet start to the migration season at Vela Blanca this afternoon. 10 Marsh Harriers, 1 Monty's, 1 Honey Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk plus the local Bonelli's Eagles. #birds
The salinas at Cabo on form this evening. 14 wader species and 5 tern but the highlight was 5 ringtail Montagu's Harriers on passage. #birds
Almeria highlights wk comm 17/8.......this has been White Stork week. Hundreds passing over the province with reports from many locations. Also Black Kites over Almeria city on 18th and Iberian Chiffchaff at Puerto de La Ragua on 22nd.
A single Golden Oriole flitting between tall trees by the river.
Excellent early session at Rambla Morales this morning. Started with great views of Rufous Bush Robin feeding a fledgling then several Night Herons(pic) followed by 6 Wood Sandpipers, single Common and Curlew Sands and lots of Flamingos and hirundines. #birds
A quiet afternoon at Punta Entinas. The highlight was the usual flock of 250+ Black Terns. Also a few juvenile Collared Pratincoles,one Gallinule and 2 Glossy Ibis.
A small flock of Red rumped Swallows racing through a clear blue dawn.
A male House Sparrow trying and failing to catch a juicy insect on the wall of my house.
Why not try a great day birding in Norfolk? #birds
A flock of around 25 Goldfinches bursting from a field of weeds.
Almeria highlights wk comm 10/8....... nothing out of the ordinary this week. Best I can do is a Garganey at Salar de Los Canos. Enjoy this pic of Agua Amarga.
Very much a high summer feel to the north arm of El Fondo,Alicante this morning. But species I didn't see yesterday on the main reserve included Gt Egret,Little Bittern, Night Heron,Peregrine,Kingfisher and Bee eater so not too shabby. #birds
A stunning sunrise at El Fondo, Alicante this morning. The main lagoon is looking perfect for waders. Wood and Green Sandpipers ,Ruff, Little Stints and more present. Also saw Squacco Heron,Purple Heron, Cattle Egret,Glossy Ibis and much more #birds
Way past time to end driven grouse shooting in the UK but it wont happen due to vested interests.
The benefit of benefits www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/08... There are few things in life that are more straightforward than the economics of paying benefits to those who need them. The fact every politician should know is that paying benefits can, and often does, pay for itself.
Almost silent here too but the Golden Orioles are still fluting however the first bird of my day was a single Spotless Starling flying across the sky.
Almeria highlights wk comm 3/8......a quiet week with just one report, the Barnacle Goose again (feral?) at the mouth of the Rio Almanzora. Pic is La Rambla in Almeria city courtesy of Almeria Trips.
Simply Google spanish greenhouses The Guardian and you will in fact find several.
The situation in Almeria is exactly the same. It is nothing new. The Guardian ran an article almost identical many years ago. I live in Almeria, I love Spain but these greenhouses are an environmental disaster and thrive on exploitation.
The group of Golden Orioles that frequents the tall trees near my veg garden.
We also visited a hidden lagoon which I didn't know about. Holds water all summer. Could be interesting #birds
An excellent evening at Punta Entinas with friends Rai and Jan. 16 species of wader inc Curlew and Wood Sandpipers and Collared Pratincole, 5 species of tern inc a flock of 300+ Black Terns. Also Spoonbill,Squacco Heron,Glossy Ibis and more.
2 Golden Orioles overhead, just silhouettes but at least one a male with it's fluting call.
Almeria highlights wk comm 27/7.....after last week's flurry no reports of anything unusual this week. Enjoy this lovely pic of Vera thanks to Almeria Trips.
Just for fun I decided to try and see ten bunting species in Spain this year. This camera-shy Ortolan I saw with Mick from lojawildlife.bsky.social at Veleta on Friday was no.7. Three species to go. Watch this space!!
What a stunning day at La Veleta in the Sierra Nevada with Mick from lojawildlife.bsky.social. Breakfast at 2500m then Ortolan Bunting, Rock Thrush and Dunnock before a minibus up to 3200m,incredible views of Alpine Accentors and 2 adult Lammergeiers overhead on the walk down,my first in Andalucia .
August 1st. Happy Yorkshire Day. Feliz Dia de Yorkshire from my tiny little corner of Spain.
A female Sardinian Warbler flitting around in an orange tree in my little veg garden.
Great news.
UNESCO Demands Urgent Action to Protect Donana World Heritage status under threat as Spain is urged to accelerate efforts to safeguard the aquifer and migratory bird haven. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/U...
Join our campaign to end hunting 👇 protectthewild.org.uk/end-hunting-b/
A hot afternoon at Punta Entinas and all the lagoons at the eastern end are now bone dry. The western ones still have water so Black,Common and Gull billed Terns were present also Purple Gallinule, White headed Duck and a dozen species of waders #birds
Almeria highlights wk comm 20/7 ....3 good sightings this week ,all on the 26th. Caspian Tern at Cabo salinas, Black kite and Iberian Chiffchaff at Rambla Morales. Pic is a mural from the picturesque village of Almocita.
A Hoopoe flying towards me,just a silhouette against a bright blue sky.
Lots of very vocal Little Terns over a dried up salinas.
Enjoyable morning at Punta Entinas with Green and Curlew Sandpipers,Little Bittern (pic),Purple Gallinule, Gt Reed Warblers, Med Gull and lots of Little Terns #birds
Sam, lightning please, no e.
A male Sparrowhawk on the ground with a prey item.
Pic thanks to Enrique Lopez. Note not ringed but still possibly feral.
Almeria highlights wk comm 13/7......2 interesting sightings this week. First a Pomarine Skua on the beach at Cabo de Gata on 15/7 then a Barnacle Goose at the mouth of the Rio Antas(pic) on 19/7.
“Nothing undermines climate resilience in this country as much as the private ownership of our water system, and nothing reveals the drought of political ambition like the refusal to renationalise it.” Spot on @georgemonbiot.bsky.social 👇
Swifts,both Common and Pallid,hundreds over the city of Toledo where I'm doing the tourist thing for a couple of days.
I thoroughly recommend a visit to Toledo. Such a beautiful city. Plus for the birders, over my hotel I've seen Red Kite,Bee Eater,Golden Oriole and Green Woodpecker. (Pic is view from hotel)
Whether you would like to sample extra virgin olive oil under expert guidance, visit a gypsum cave in a Karst landscape, do some local sightseeing, take an early-morning trek or enjoy a stunning sunset yacht cruise, you can do it with us! Book your experience at www.almeriatrips.com! #Almeria
The easy-to-use online booking system for all our excursions and experiences is available in English at: www.almeriatrips.com --- Nuestro sistema de reservas online para todas nuestras excursiones y experiencias está disponible en español en: www.almeriatrips.com/es
Heading to Toledo for a couple of days sightseeing. Took the chance to spend a morning birding the plains near Ciudad Real. Pin tailed Sandgrouse,Stone Curlew,Chough,Little Owl,Marsh Harrier and lots of Calandra Larks.
Juvenile gull.
A female Golden Oriole on the fence of my little veg garden.
Almeria highlights wk comm 6/7........nothing unusual reported this week but there was some good news in that Rock Thrush was confirmed breeding,with both adults seen taking food to the nest. Pic is the secluded hamlet of Velefique.
"How the church has sowed its religion in Spain", Propaganda poster issued by the UGT priest, sword at his waist, sowing little crosses of death associating the Catholic Church during the Spanish Civil War with militarism and fascism. 1936, Valencia by artist called Raga
As a student at Leeds Poly I was called out of a lecture because my partner had failed to turn up at work and her boss called the Ripper squad.
Lots of House Martins flying around the village church tower as I waited for the breakdown truck because my car wouldn't start. Not a good beginning to the day but there are always birds to brighten the mood.
After a 66 day trip around Spain with Deb and Ian, my good friends from Australia I am way behind with doing the blog (www.lojawildlife.com). Part of the trip included two weeks on the Canary Islands. Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura all gave us good species. Firstly Tenerife.....
Golden Orioles, at least 3 singing and calling from tall trees by the river.
Great to be back to birding in Spain. Super views of a bird that has eluded me so far this year Rock Thrush ,male and female at La Tetica de Bacares (pic).
Almeria highlights wk comm 29/6......just one unusual record this week,a Caspian Tern at Punta Entinas on the 29th. Enjoy this lovely picture of the castle at Velez Blanco thanks to Almeria trips.bsky.social
A family of Mute Swans on the river I was fishing, 2 adults and 3 cygnets.
Almeria highlights wk comm 22/6......nothing out of the ordinary reported this week. Please enjoy a pic courtesy of Almeria trips.
An absolute honour to play at the Menin Gate,Ypres with Knottingley Silver Band yesterday. Such a moving experience. We are giving a concert in the central church this afternoon. Looking forward to that then tomorrow a tour of the battlefield sites.
Another enjoyable visit to Punta Entinas, this time via the main entrance. Little Bittern, Squacco Heron,Glossy Ibis,Collared Pratincole, a stunning breeding plumage Spotted Redshank and a very unseasonal Pintail the best bits. #birds
A pair of Little Terns fishing over a shallow salt lagoon.
Almeria highlights wk comm 15/6.......the summer heat continues to build and the birding is quiet but 2 notables this week ; a White Stork near Tabernas on 15th and a Rock Thrush at Tetica de Bacares on 21st. This is a species I thought we'd lost as a breeding bird so pleased with this sighting.
Great to get back to Punta Entinas this morning now the mozzies have gone. Curlew Sand,Whimbrel, Stone Curlew,Gt Reed,Night Heron and lots of Yellow Wagtails the highlights.
I'm back home in Spain so of course my neighbour's roof has to figure in FBOMD......the lovely Black Wheatear there,singing in the dawn light.
Almeria highlights wk comm 8/6.......A bit of action this week with Storm Petrel off Cabo de Gata on 14th. Pic is the lovely little resort of Agua Amarga.
Spotless Starling Chris??
Wryneckbirdingnk.bsky.social
Only in Norfolk for a couple of days but lucky enough to get a twitch to Cley NWT for a Marsh Warbler with my brother Wryneck Birding Norfolk #birds
Back in UK for a couple of days. FBOMD a male Blackbird belting out his mellifluous song from the TV aerial on my brother's house.
Another from the Danube delta, a stunning Purple Heron. #birds
Almeria highlights wk comm 1/6........nothing unusual reported this week as we enter the summer quiet period but hopefully still chance of a surprise or two. Pic is the village of Escullar.
A lovely little Serin on a fence,twittering away.
Same for me ,a House Sparrow but this one doing a passable impression of a Swallow perched on the phone lines next to my house.
2 more from the Danube delta. Red footed Falcon male and Long legged Buzzard. #birds
A lovely Icterine Warbler from our first morning in the Danube delta. #birds
Last leg of the journey. Madrid Atocha to Almeria by very comfortable train approximately 550km,price 15€. Unbelievable value.
Sorry Dauphne,should have said. Red breasted Flycatcher and Red backed Shrike. 2 stunners for me having never seen the RB Fly in breeding plumage before and the Shrike only occurs in northern Spain so I see it very infrequently.
I'm going to post a few of my favourite pics from my Romania trip but promise I wont overdo it. All are by members of the Spainbirds Nature Tours group #birds
#birds
A very happy Spainbirds Nature Tours group at the end of a great week. A last day lifer for me: Pied Wheatear also Isabelline Wheatear,Black headed Bunting, Lesser spotted Eagle,Long legged Buzzard,Tawny Pipit,Ruddy Shelduck and more. Noroc!#birds
Almeria highlights wk comm 25/5......Very quiet week for reports. Just one of note,a Storm Petrel past Cabo de Gata headland. (Fittingly the pic is the roundabout at the entrance to Cabo village)
Our last day on the water started in the most amazing manner. 2 flocks of Gt White Pelicans,over 100 birds in each in a feeding frenzy. Plus great views of E.Olivaceous Warbler. Then a gentle cruise back to Tulcea with a Black Woodpecker right at the end.
In the afternoon we cruised along in the floatel to our final wilderness mooring then back into the small boat to visit "Water Chestnut Lake". Covered in water lilies,hundreds of Common and Whiskered Terns nesting also several Black Terns and Black necked Grebes. Breathtaking.
Another great day started with a visit to Letea marshes where we saw Lesser Grey Shrike, Collared Pratincole and several other wader species. On the way we had great views of this absolute unit...White tailed Eagle.
Well the Stilt Sandpiper is definitely getting my name in lights even if they have spelt it wrong 😀
Day 4 in the Danube delta and we started at the salt pans at Caraorman where 7 Pallas's Gulls were the highlight. Then a trip through the narrowest canal yet for superb views of Penduline and Bearded Tits. Then an afternoon on the floatel as we cruised to another remote mooring.
Returning to base moored deep in the Danube delta,miles from anywhere and surrounded by birds. Day 3 another beauty. Grey headed (lifer) and Black peckers,hundreds of egrets,herons,pelicans,Pigmy Cormorants plus 5 White tailed Eagles, Penduline Tit,Hobby and much more.
Probably the only time I'll make it onto Birdguides news. Sadly the location they've given is a hundred miles incorrect.
This is where the group will spend the next 5 nights, a floating hotel on the Danube as we explore all the channels and backwaters from a small boat. ¡Vamos!
Day 2 in the Danube Delta and another stunner. 2 lifers; Levant Sparrowhawk and Eastern Black eared Wheatear plus Middle spotted Pecker,Red breasted Flycatcher, Lesser spotted Eagle in the morning woodland session and Lesser Grey Shrike, Ortolan Bunting, Long legged Buzzard in the afternoon.
All pics are thanks to members of the Spainbirds Nature Tours group #birds
The incredible first day in the Danube Delta was at the lagoon complex outside Vadu. As well as 3 lifers (see pics)I also saw Gt White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Pigmy Cormorant, Red footed Falcon, Ferruginous Duck,Garganey, Purple Heron, Arctic Skua and much more. #birds
Possibly the best birding day of my life. Incredible views of 2 lifers; Paddyfield Warbler and Pallas's Gull and then a self found lifer; Stilt Sandpiper which is also A FIRST for Rumania. Outstanding.
Arrived in Tulcea for a weeks birding in the Danube Delta. Bring it on!!
Almeria highlights wk comm 18/5.......18/5 pair of Ferruginous Ducks at Punta Entinas and 3 Ortolan Buntings at Laguna Seca. 24/5....3 White Storks at El Alquian. Pic is the Village Hide at Cabo de Gata salinas.
That is surprising. Passing through some good birding country there.
(2 of 2)Almeria has it's downsides like most places,especially the plastic greenhouses which I hate. But what I love is the variety. One moment you can be in coastal salinas or the desert and an hour later in mountains above 2000m with verdant valleys,meadows and forests.
A top morning in the Sierra de Los Filabres above Escullar. Sub alpine, Bonelli's and Spectacled Warblers, Chough,all 3 Spanish wheatears, Gtr short toed lark and more.(1 of 2).
