Bateleur female (Terathopius ecaudatus) I can’t believe it. I have just seen the news yesterday that a juvenile Bateleur Eagle has been sighted in Algeciras, Spain. This is the first ever sighting of one here and even in Europe! I remember my first and only time seeing one, in Botswana, […]
BIRDS
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An Osprey in Cuba After a great weekend at a homebrewer friends house for the weekend, myself and Mrs. HibernoManchego decided to do some birding on the way home. We came back via one of our favourite roads in Extremadura between Campanario and the La Serena reservoir to look for […]
Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) I went to the Laguna Navaseca having received word of a Bittern there. The Bittern didn’t show after much searching, not that I expected it to be all that obvious, however the day was not without its surprises. At the Navaseca, I managed to count 36 […]
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) This past weekend myself and Mrs. HibernoManchego took the Brown Cow and went to FIO in Monfragüe National Park. FIO is the Feria Internacional de Ornitología, or the International Birdwatching Fair Extremadura, that they have in the village of Villareal de San Carlos inside the Park […]
Bluethroat female (Luscinia svecica cyanecula) The Bluethroat has been a species that for some reason this year has been more visible than other years. It was rare I saw them before and then this winter…it’s a regular parade of them. Now there really shouldn’t be any reason to discuss the […]
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) They think that the etymology, or origin, of the kingfishers name comes from the old Norse Kungsfiskare and then put onto modern use by the Normans. An interesting observation on the origin of their name also comes from some tombs in Fontevraud, France where Henry II […]
Garganey (Anas querquedula) A visit to the Tablas of Daimiel is a must for those interested in wetlands. It is one of the most unique and important wetlands of Europe and holds a special place for us here in La Mancha. Even though our wetlands are continuously under threat from […]
European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) Today was the International Day of the Wetlands which here in La Mancha we have some of the best in the world. Continuously under threat by man, agriculture, habitat loss and climate change they play a vital role not only for flora and fauna, but […]
Red Kite (Milvus migrans) It has been a distressing start to the year for our Spanish Imperial Eagles and something similar is also happening in Ireland. A ninth Red Kite has been poisoned since a re-introduction programme started in Ireland in 2007. If you are caught poisoning birds of prey […]
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) I had a great day out in my hide near the water in Peralvillo the other day. The sun was shining, the hide was warm (until the sun dipped), my coffee was sweet and black and the activity active. It wasn´t a great day for variety […]