It's been a while!

 Goodness! Last post April 11th and nothing since. Very poor of me so a quick catch up and then a promise to keep up the blog. So what's happened since April 11th.

A visit to Cavenham Heath on the 16th April produced three Stone Curlew and a couple of Woodlark. The walk ended at The Guiness Arms for a very pleasant lunch before a stroll back.

The first Whitethroat on the local patch of Soham Lode was recorded on the 17th April.

On the 21st April we arrived in Greece for a 16 day tour of Athens and then the Peloponnese. This was the first time we had undertaken a driving tour rather than a central base with plenty of walking. Athens was interesting but not a place that I would like to return to. It did provide me with a Monk Parakeet which was a new tick. 

Monk Parakeet

Golden Oriole were vocal but hard to spot, unlike Hoopee which were also present in the parks.

Our stay at the Mazarakis Guesthouse Environs, Lakonia produced the first couple of Red-rumped Swallow. A visit to Mystras produced a fine Blue Rock Thrush with a lizard and beetle in its beak.

Blue Rock Thrush

Arriving at Monemvasia produced another lifer with a Western Rock Nuthatch calling from behind the apartment. They were present throughout the time we were there, calling and darting around the cliff face.

Western Rock Nuthatch

This location also produced an Eleonora's Falcon, another first, hunting along the cliff face. Sadly I was unable to get a photo!

While travelling to Cape Tainaro, Greece's most southernly point, came across a flock of 23 Bee-eater, a good number of Alpine Swift and at least two Short-toed Eagle. Lunch by a charming harbour produced a single Audouin's Gull.

Cape Tainaro produced at least three Black-eared Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat and Yellow Wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail

The stay at Kardamyli, produced a good number of Spotted Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler,  Yellow-legged Gull and Turtle Dove.

Spotted Flycatcher

Sardinian Warbler

Turtle Dove

The 'outflow' at Nafpliou was very productive if somewhat smelly. Large number of Little Stint and Kentish Plover with Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Ruff mixed in. Also present were Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Gull-billed and White-winged Black Tern. A passing Osprey caused moments of chaos!

Greater Flamingo

Osprey

Kentish Plover and Curlew Sandpiper

White-winged Black Tern

I was able to record a Blue Rock Thrush singing from the cross of a nearby church.  

Another new species and one that I have been after for a while with no luck was Penduline Tit found at Lake Moustous. 

Penduline Tit

A return to the outflow at Nafpliou produced some nice shots of Kentish Plover and Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage.

Kentish Plover with Little Stint

Curlew Sandpiper

Back home I recorded my first Sedge Warbler on the 5th May at Soham Lode and six Swift over the house on the 6th.

On the 9th May, while working at Welney WWT had three Bittern during the day with two passing the Main Hide together.

Bittern

May 17th was the start of my long delayed trip to Spain for a week of solo birding. Originally planned for November 2022 but delayed due to a bout of Long Covid I was reorganised for February and had to delay due to a Val's passing. So it was good to get out again and I had planned a split trip to Extramedura and then up to the Sierra de Gredos for a few days in the mountains.

Covered much of the same locations around Monfrague and Caceres as in previous years and wondered at the vast expansion of solar parks! There seemed to be a drop in Roller numbers in certain areas where lines had been removed! 

Roller on the line!

The evening walks at Torrejon el Rubio proved useful with a number of Red-necked Nightjar calling. Also had a possible Wryneck calling brieflybut unable to locate. On the last night however I was somewhat disturbed to find a group out using high powered lamps to see the birds. I can only think that for a nocturnal bird this must have bee distressing.

I did a nice walk from Villarreal de San Carlos to a spectacular view point. During the walk spotted the big three vulture species of Griffon, Egyptian and Black. Plenty of Golden Oriole singing from different locations but only the briefest glimpse of a male as it flitted through the trees. 

A fly over of five Pin-tailed Sandgrouse at The Stone Cross was great but sadly the photo was just a blur! Thankfully the Short-toed Eagle shot was at least a bit better!

Short-toed Eagle

While in the area a male and female Montagu's Harrier were quartering the area along with a distant Golden Eagle.

On Sunday 21st I moved the the Seirra de Gredos and a few nights spoiling myself at the first ever Parrador. My room gave wonderful views over the mountains and I was spoilt with food food in a great location. 

A rather strenuous from the Platforma de Gredos produced Booted and Short-toed Eagle as well as Black Kite and Raven. 

Ortolan Bunting were present throughout, singing from the rocks along with Rock Bunting, Northern Wheatear, Black Redstart and surprisingly for such a mountainous area, Woodlark! But the highlight were two or three very tame and obliging Bluethroat another lifer.

Ortolan Bunting

Northern Wheatear

Bluethroat

Black Redstart

While in this area I added another new tick to my list with a singing Western Bonelli's Warbler.

 A trip to a recommended Wetland area at Laguna de El Oso proved to be a bit of a disappointment as the area was dry! However it did give me a passing Golden Eagle, Melodoius Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear.

Returning to Soham at the end of May to catch up with summer visitors and work at Welney WWT monitoring birdboxes.