Site info forthr following

[gerry oneill]

Hello,
I am an irish birder who will be staying near Mijas Alaurin Golf.I will birding in this area  from Aug 30  to Sep 13 plus a few day trips to the south  around Tafira for raptors etc.I would like some info on the following birds ,otherwise my wish list.I know some of the birds I will need my luck to be in to see them.
Alpine Accentor,Duponts lark,White rumped swift,Little swift,Bailons and Little crake,Woodlark,Orhean warbler,Imperial Eagle,Golden Eagle,Savi warbler,Lesser spotted woodpecker,Pin tailed sandgrouse,Rufous bush robin,Bluethroat ,Eagle owl and Ring ouzel.
Any scraps of info would be of help.
Gerry o neill

[Mick]

Hi Gerry.

Not sure that I am going to be of much use here, as most of the info I can give you is from well known guide books.

1. Alpine Accentor, at that time of year there as far as I known there are no sites in your visit area, its not and uncommon winter visitor in the Ronda area. The only summer site I know is above 3000m in the Sierra Nevada.

2. Duponts Lark.  Near Padul in Granada Province is again the only site I have but is very difficukt at this time of the year.

3 and 4. White-rumped and Little swifts are seen regularly in the area of  the cave in Sierra de la Plata. North of Tarifa near Bolonia. White-rumped is also regular in the area north of Ronda.

5 and 6. The Crakes, Donana, but rare and difficult.

7. Woodlark, this is not an uncommon bird and if you know the call it is certainly in the area.

8. Orphean Warbler. As above.

9. Imperial Eagle. Again Donana (Others may have more info) but slim chance of a wondering Imm bird in the area you are visiting.

10. Golden Eagle, is not uncommon in the mountains around the Ronda area.

11. Savis Warbler. I saw a couple at the visitors centers in Donana near El Rocio but the area your visiting I can only think that they may be at Laguna de Medina on the Jerez / Los Barrios road.

12. Lesser spotted Woodpecker, No Idea this is a bird that I would like a good site for! (Hint Hint).

13. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Donana. I have seen then along the Corredor Verde del Guadiamar and near the Jose Antonio Valverde Visitors center as described in Jorge Garzóns book Where to watch birds in Donana.

14. Rufous Bush Robin, Again thats one for some one else, the only sites I know are near Teba in Malaga Province or some down in Almeria.

15. Bluethroat. They are a winter visitor to the area.

16. Eagle Owl. I have no sites in the area your visiting but they are not uncommon in and around Ronda. I have several good sites nearer Granada.

17. Ringed Ouzel. Another winter visitor.

I am sorry that I can not be of more help but there are other birders that know the area well, that are on this forum who will hopefully get in touch.

All the best Mick.

[Hammond]

Hi Mick,

I was wondering about that spot near Teba that you recommend for rufous bush robin. Can you give some more specific directions? I am staying in El Chorro the last two weeks of september and I am looking for som good nearby birding spots.

Mark Hammond

[john]

Hi Gerry.

I'll pinch Mick's format and ammend it a little -

1 - Alpine Accentor -  late autumn/early spring/winter visitor to the mountains of the area. I suspect they might be a little more widespread in winter than records indicate (and possibly so in the summer) but basically 'no chance'.

2 - Duponts Lark - if anyone knows anything beyond 'near Padul' I'd love to hear from them as they're a tick for me too.  In reality 'no chance'.

3 - White-rumped Swift I saw several birds easily around the swish villas at Atlanterra (just over the ridge cave on the Bolonia side of the Sierra de la Plata). See my recently posted trip report on this forum.  A week later friends saw none!  Peter J. has various sites in the Grazalema area. 

4 - Little Swift.  I had one at the Bolonia site (see above) this June.  Friends also had one over Tarifa the following week and I get the impression that they are spreading.  According to 'Rare Birds in Spain the best site is the mouth of the  'Guadalquivir' at Chipiona

5 and 6. The Crakes, Donana, but rare and difficult even more so when not calling.

7. Woodlark, this is not an uncommon bird and if you know the call it is certainly in the area - usually quite easy up in the lightly wooded hi of the Alcornocales/Grazalema.

8. Orphean Warbler - I must admit to having good views of this species only at Llanos de Libar so I'm sure I'm missing them & Mick's right.

9. Imperial Eagle. Again Donana - I've seen them north of Sanlucar drifting over the Guadalquivir from the Coto, on La Janda and not so far away between Alcala & Benalup - not easy

10. Golden Eagle, is not uncommon in the mountains around the Ronda area.

11. Savis Warbler. I've heard them at  Laguna de Medina on the Jerez / Los Barrios road, but only in April.  I've had several (and seen them well) at Brazo d'Este in April/May BUT late summer will be very hard as they wont be so vocal (and probably not vocal at all!).

12. Lesser spotted Woodpecker - as far as I'm aware the nearest they get tohe area are the chestnut woodlands of Aracena (NW of Seville) where I've had them in July - could be harder in August

13. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - no good asking me as they remain my No1 bogey bird in the area (although I did have had a distant flock here once) !  The salt marshes north East of Sanlucar have them  - indeed I saw a distant flock there 2 years back BUT they are VERY hard in summer - early spring is better 

14. Rufous Bush Robin – I found this a very elusive bird, but have now ‘cracked it’ and have several sites – too much to write here – PM me for details

15. Bluethroat. They are a winter visitor to the area – sadly true – when do they arrive in the autumn?

16. Eagle Owl – elusive! A friend had the cheek to find one  sitting in the trees opposite my house all morning, but I’ve struggled!  I fluked into one this June near Alcala de los Gazules though.  The best bet is to hang round large municipal rubbish tips at dusk!   

17. Ringed Ouzel. Another winter visitor - agreed.

I have detailed notes I’m happy to share BUT will soon be without a computer so contact me asap so I can email them to you,

John