Hello everyone

Hello everyone this is Ian & Sarah. This is our first forray into the world of Blog so please bear with us as we try to get the hang of it.

The reason for this blog is to share our observations of the birdlife in and around the village of Casarabonela and the surrounding area.

We will also try to keep you updated with the activities taking place in this typical Spanish mountain village.

We hope you enjoy.

We have used the English name for these birds and put the Spanish names in brackets.

Monday 7th December 2009

“This week we have mostly seen” dozens of white wagtails ( Lavandera Blanca). They risk their lives by eating the insects from the roads and running very quickly away from the passing cars. They arrive in winter and are a major feature at this time of year. They seem to replace the Crested larks (Cogujada comun) which are normally there in the summer.

A Hoopoe this morning took off in front of our car as we drove along a dirt track to our friend’s house. We also saw flocks of Goldfinches (Jilguero) in the fields as well as Serins (Verdecillo). The Serins are also calling as well, their tinkling call a distinctive sound of springtime.

Closer to the village we have outside the house a Blue Rock Thrush (Roquero solitario). His chirpy morning call can be heard and he can easily be seen sitting in next door’s guttering as well as their chimney. We also have a couple of male Black Redstarts (Colirrojo tizon )in the morning and evening with their clicking sounds and their distintive bobbing movements.

Last week Sarah saw over the village about midday our resident Bonellis eagles (Aguila azor perdicera) gathering nesting material from the tops of trees. What an amazing sight.  She thought she also spotted a Golden eagle (Aguila real) but she didn’t have her binoculars with her at the time to get a really good view. We have seen one in the area before so she could have been right.

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