This index contains articles where the subject matter is anything related to a species of bird or birds in general.
Wheatears are an Old World family of chats in the genus Oenanthe, widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, though one species, Northern Wheatear O. oenanthe is a long distance migrant with breeding populations in NW and NE North America. In all there are (depending … Continue readingThe Wheatears of Andalucia
The Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura leucura – A personal tale by Peter Jones “Wheatear a folk etymology of white and arse, or more simply put ‘white arse’, never was this more appropriate than for this LBJ (Little Black Job) the Black Wheatear, where the white arse is … Continue readingThe Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura leucura
I have various species of warbler present here at the Finca. Some like the Cetti’s, fan tailed and Sardinian are resident, whilst the Bonelli’s and Melodious are summer breeders, still others like the Chiffchaff, Willow, Garden, Reed and Whitethroats are only seen during passage and … Continue readingCompetition amongst Winter Warblers.
Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata has its European stronghold in Andalucía. Rightly it is an iconic species of the region. A medium sized eagle, it is a much sought after and prized species by resident and visiting birders. Here we replicate our text from the summer … Continue readingBird of the Month – July 2020
The summer so far has seen a fairly mixed set of fortunes for my local birds. All the warblers seem to have enjoyed a good breeding season and so too our raptors (one local pair of Bonelli’s Eagle raised 2 chicks this year). However, the … Continue readingA Summer Birding so far..
Virtually every morning now, the sun rises and very quickly becomes the great inhibitor to forays on foot in search of birds. For me woodlands and riverside walks are bearable early mornings, but temperatures quickly rise to make this a little uncomfortable as early as … Continue readingCanned Heat Birding
European Bee Eater Merops apiaster Among the most looked forward to and colourful heralds of spring is our Bee Eater; they brighten the season with their bubbling calls as they announce their arrival to our shores, usually arriving in numbers by the end of March … Continue readingBird of the Month – June 2020
The ABS Facebook group is welcoming many people new to birdwatching; it is wonderful to see all the questions on identification coming in. On the one hand the identification of birds and their behaviour is richly rewarding, on the other hand, beginning this process can … Continue readingA Beginners Guide – 10 Tips for Better Birdwatching
One of our most enigmatic summer visitors and one of the most attractive is the Black-eared Wheatear. The variable plumage for these beauties can cause confusion among those not familiar with the species. They are widespread throughout our region and occupy a range of habitats … Continue readingShades of Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica hispanica)
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus is a resident bird for us in Andalucía. Our birds are joined in the autumn and for the winter by northern birds, numbers can vary from year to year, but most migrants tend to be confined to coastal areas and salt … Continue readingBird of the Month – December 2019
