Autumn Migration

[Peter]

From my journeys of this week it is very clear autumn migration has started albeit slowly. Bee eaters are passing through in good numbers, as too are Common Swift and today I had 3 Honey Buzzard over Zahara Reservoir. Short-toed Eagle have been seen in small groups heading south and I had a juvenile Orphean Warbler through my garden. Overhead from the garden I had a group of 6 Booted Eagle today, so will have to give myself neckache over the coming weeks looking up!

Peter

[Derek]

They'd better not have all gone through before I get over in September!!

Derek

[mike in Jerez]

Saw scores of White Storks in thermals on Wednesday passing La Janda on our way to Bolonia beach. Only the odd one is left in the part of Extremadura I visit regularly and I pass about 30 nests on the road between Alburquerque and San Vicente de Alcántara. I expect to see/hear Bee Eaters passing Jerez in the second part of August, also Black Kites stop over what`s left of the wheat fields for a while on their way south.

By the way, I can log in to the forum but not to the main/new page. Does that matter?
cheers
mike

[Peter]

Literally 00's of Bee eaters over the Guadiaro valley and also northern side of Ronda today. Lucky Mike, I only had a singleton Black Kite, but did see a juvenile Peregrine make several attempts at catching pigeons around the entrance to the Cuevo del Gato this morning (whilst I was ringing Alpine Swifts).

By the way, I can log in to the forum but not to the main/new page. Does that matter?
cheers
mike

I am playing catch-up Mike on the membership issues and I should have it sorted by the end of next week, if not before. Hope you noticed the main web site is changing shape and I will be doing lots of additions over the next two months. So I guess it will matter to answer your question.

Peter

[harryabbott]

Hi Peter,
Interested that you saw 3 honey buzzard on their postnuptual migration in late July. We get them on prenuptual migration passing over our house near Mijas and the last ones I noted in my little green book were a group on 9th June so that is only about 7 weeks difference. I presume the late arrivals will not breed this year?
Harry

[Peter]

Hi Peter,
Interested that you saw 3 honey buzzard on their postnuptual migration in late July. We get them on prenuptual migration passing over our house near Mijas and the last ones I noted in my little green book were a group on 9th June so that is only about 7 weeks difference. I presume the late arrivals will not breed this year?
Harry

Hi Harry,

Actually I am sure my birds were heading back South as were Black Kites. Very early, but maybe from southern populations which tend to arrive earlier in the Spring than those headed to northern Europe.

We do have a few pairs breeding in Andalucia, so it is not inconceivable these Honey Buzzards are dispersing and slowly heading to Africa.

Peter

[rafiki]

Bee eaters gathering together in our area this week.

[Mosca]

Can anyone tell me which part of coast the bee eaters are most likely to cross and the best time of day to view them?

Thanks in advance

Mosca

[Peter]

Can anyone tell me which part of coast the bee eaters are most likely to cross and the best time of day to view them?
Thanks in advance
Mosca

Hi Peter,

Anywhere behind the main road near Tarifa is usually good. Also the approach road to Bolonia.

Peter

[Peter]

A House Bunting has been seen at Tarifa this past week.

Bonelli's Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Orphean Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher were noticable in mixed flocks today at Llanos de Libar. (I caught both Orphean and Bonelli's Warblers last Thursday with high fat and muscle scores, so definate migrants).

Also today several large flocks and small groups of Black Kites were kettling and following the high ridges over Llanos de Libar.*

Common Swift continue to pass through, but now in smaller numbers. Andy Paterson noted that it is a week since the watchers at Tarifa counted over 80.000 moving across the Strait in one day from just one point, and these are birds that migrate on a broad front!

*Note: Also see another post under 'Birds and Birding' thread- Some recent raptor news & sightings!

Peter

[Mosca]

Thanks for the info Peter,

I will hopefully pop over to Bolonia at the weekend.

[Mick]

Hi All.

Out in the garden yesterday (12th Aug), and picked up several (20+) Short-toed Eagles, 40+ Black Kites and over a hundred Honey Buzzards none of which are unusual in the area but late in the day 12 White Storks passed through low, which is unusual for this area. They were records 3-14, I have only seen two birds in the local area in four years. Lots of bee-eaters and two Imm/ female Pied Flys seen the day before on the 11th Aug.

All the best Mick.

www.lojawildlife.com

[TonyB]

Eve and I went to a spot just outside Montejaque at around midnight on the night 12/13 August to watch the Perseids shower.  As you do.  We heard a very large flock of Bee-eaters passing overhead.  Do they usually fly at night when they're migrating?  (I counted 157 but I could be wrong.  It was pitch black )

[Peter]

Eve and I went to a spot just outside Montejaque at around midnight on the night 12/13 August to watch the Perseids shower.  As you do.  We heard a very large flock of Bee-eaters passing overhead.  Do they usually fly at night when they're migrating?  (I counted 157 but I could be wrong.  It was pitch black )

Hi Tony, Yep these birds migrate at night and will spend many a daylight hour feeding and resting in the same, sometimes small, area.

I thought it was adventurous and somewhat romantic of you both to be out and around in a secluded spot around midnight!

Peter 

[TonyB]

I thought it was adventurous and somewhat romantic of you both to be out and around in a secluded spot around midnight!
...and we were lying on our backs on a blanket!  Thanks for that information, Peter.  That's my newly learned thing for today.