The Spanish Countryside

The first full day in Spain was spent exploring the nearby countryside.

Many great things to enjoy, including a Hoopoe which flew back to the nest hole in a wild olive tree right in front of us.

Glossy Ibis

A lot of time was spent scanning the resting rice fields.   Over 40,000 hectares are given over to rice production in the Huelva province of Spain.   Aloe Vera plantations are also providing a great income for locals too.

With Zitting Cisticola displaying, Bee-eaters showing off as they caught insects, over thirty White Storks flying in formation overhead enjoying the thermals, it was hard to know where to look first.

Star Clover

Short-toed & Booted Eagle, Nightingale, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Great Reed Warbler and Woodchat Shrike were our next sightings.   All this in beautiful surroundings with fields and roadsides literally brimming with wild flowers and insects.

House Martin were gathering nesting material at a muddy pool, whilst overhead Barn Swallow, Common Swift and Pallid Swift swooped and soared.

Montagu's Harrier Country

We moved to a local town for coffee where our cafe was opposite a colony of nesting Lesser Kestrel. Pressure on their population has mainly been due to pesticides and fertilisers on the surrounding farmland but a census two years ago showed there were probably around 35,000 pairs in Spain, so hopefully they are recovering.

The best sighting of the day was on the way back to base when two Montagu's Harrier were spotted flying low over the fields in their distinctive fashion.   Such a thrill to see them, especially when the male turned into the light showing his wonderful plumage.

The most interesting sighting of the day was an oil beetle - as yet unidentified.

Oil Beetle sp.