31/08/2016

Sibling Rivalry






I have just returned from the sunny isle of Menorca.  The little, quieter and more thoughtful sister to the louder and more brash Majorca.  Of course Majorca is the birding capital of the islands, shouting loudly with Black Vultures and Eleonoras falcons.

Menorca looks on at its loud sibling and rolls her eyes and gives a quiet tut.  She is far more subtle.  The birds are residing on her furtile soil and in the heated air.  But you have to work for them.  The bounty is there!

A short transfer from Mahon airport brought us to the resort of Cal En Porter.  On the way I spied a distant dark bird spiraling in the sky.  A Booted eagle I assumed.  A first for me J
At the resort we unpacked and sorted ourselves out.  I immediately made good use of the All Inclusive facilities with a quick pint of Estrella.  The family jumped about in the pool whilst I kept my eye in the sky.

Collared doves, Sparrows and Rock Doves were everywhere providing some entertainment.  I decided it was time to take a dip as the heat was quite intense.  My british body, more accustomed to rain and wind was overheating.

Whilst in the middle of the pool a large brown shape circled low.  A Booted Eagle! He eyed me up, probably wondering what the white, hairy thing was looking up at him.  I splashed and gurgled my way out of the pool and unzipped my bag (a process in itself, the zips were jamming and I was generally fumbling about the place)

By the time I had sorted myself out the eagle was already thinking about departing

What is that funny human doing with that long tube?




The next day I woke up early and made a beeline for some marshy land behind the main beach.


 Exotic...
 Hmmm...
 Loads of these, some quite big (more on that in the next episode)



Then I made a bit of a discovery.  A trail that took me into a gorge.  Stunning scenery and not a soul in sight.  But plenty of little birds everywhere, and some slightly bigger ones as well!

Early morning (very early!)

Early morning eagle food

Sun slowly rising


Loads of these fellas
Sadly this photo doesnt really highlight this spiders size.  It was like our Garden spider but pumped up on steroids (perhaps he was All Inclusive ice creams that did it)



 
Spotted Flycatcher
Barn swallows (I think)


Happy to see this one! Blue Rock Thrush (young one)

Funny look cactus thing
Woodchat Shrike
No idea- if someone knows please tell me...


 Nightingale ;-)

Hoopoe :-)



As the sun rose across the countryside I decided it was time to return for some All Inclusive scoffing and drinking.

Part 2 to follow…

29/08/2016

Osprey and UFO




(CLICK ON A PIC AND IT WILL GO BIG)






James was still recovering from the giddy heights of Menorca so it was up to me to do the rounds. I took a wing-man Adrian for company. As usual for this time of year it was all a bit quiet down Hamwall and Shapwick way but the sun and still air made up for it on an August bank holiday.

We were off and out and thats what matters. First stop VP2 and little to report save for a couple of very distant Female Marsh Harriers doing their stuff. It was heads down for the creepy stuff while the sun was high and the bugs were bouncing.








There was a murmur amongst the other birders and I heard the word Hobby. Indeed there were two for a while. Last of the season?


On to VP1 and then quickly on to Shapwick and the scrape

Look at them all!!!

Again quiet so heads down once more.................


Never seen one of these before!

Lots of these around




Love bugs



I am well chuffed with this one!



We went on to Noahs to see the mighty Osprey that was making it's biannual stop over on it's trip between Scotland and Africa. It had been there for a couple of weeks already and could be gone at any moment......................... It was gone! We went for a cuppa at Eco-friendlybites and while there I had a heads down in the rather lovely garden and pond patch behind the cafe. Lots of stuff there. They know how to leave nature be there.




Awww isn't this one cute!!















Really like this on to


Enough of that and back to look for the Osprey. It was back...... phew! I thought I'd missed it by an hour but it was sitting quietly on it's regular perch.



Only after processing the pics did I see this strange anomaly. There appears to be a strange shaft of light and an object flying right passed the Osprey. Could it be a UFO? Who knows, YOU decide. Answers on a postcard please.


UFO and Osprey




This was the Ospreys reaction! Don't blame it


Back to the Scape and the pair of Glossy Ibis where amongst the Egrets





Behave

One for Robin Morrison


The obligatory Marsh Harrier

and a Buzzard on a stick



It went quiet again so guess what.


Can you see it?












???????????





So quite a good day all round considering it's pretty much all over before the ducks arrive.