Birding in Baza

Today I went on a professional birding tour. The company could only manage to slot me in for a morning, and it wasn't what I was expecting. There was no walking - the whole thing was done from the car. Nevertheless, my guide Juan Antonio knew his birds and knew where to find them. As we drove slowly on dirt roads, he'd tell me what we might find in each particular spot. Unfortunately, despite the impeccable English on their website, Juan Antonio's English was only slightly better than my Spanish, but we managed surprisingly well. Thankfully, he had a Spanish field guide with common names in English. We also used scientific names, which is pretty definitive.

Juan Antonio said these caves were inhabited back in prehistoric times (at least, I think that's what he said)

returning to Baza

Most of the habitats were very dry, including some desert areas. There were also some very bare, recently ploughed paddocks that turned out to be quite productive. It also helps when you have someone with you who knows the calls. I ended up with a list of 45 birds over the five hours, and 21 of these were ticks. Look at these pics!

Red-legged Partridge

Corn Bunting - shame it wouldn't turn its head

What an amazing tree!

European Roller

European Bee-eater

Little Owl

My list of new birds in Spain follows:

Hawfinch (in Granada - the rest are from Baza)
Woodchat Shrike
Nightingale
Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Cirl Bunting
Spotless Starling
Stonechat
Crested Lark
Red-rumped Swallow
Common Crossbill
Firecrest
Hoopoe

...and from today's outing:

Little Grebe
Griffon Vulture
Marsh Harrier
Red-legged Partridge
Stock Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Little Owl
Bee-eater
Roller
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Short-toed Lark
Calandra Lark
Thekla Lark
Wheatear
Black Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
Winchat
Spectacled Warbler
Pied Flycatcher
Rock Sparrow
Corn Bunting