SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles - Saturday 18th - Wednesday 22nd January 2020 - Wise Birding Holidays
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SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles
Saturday 18th - Wednesday 22nd January 2020
5 Wise Birding Clients
Leader: Chris Townend
HIGHLIGHTS OF TRIP
Iberian Lynx: Another successful trip with sightings of at least 4 different
animals over four days.
Spanish Imperial Eagle: Excellent views of adult birds whilst searching for
Iberian Lynx and a striking 2nd calendar year juvenile.
Spanish Ibex: A female with two young seen well at La Lancha dam.
Common Crane: A flock of 400+ birds on our last morning at Laguna Fuente
de Piedra, plus smaller numbers at Laguna Dulce.
Ferruginous Duck: Three drakes at Laguna Dulce on our last day.
White-headed Duck: An impressive flock of 70+ birds at Laguna Dulce was a
great way to end the tour.
This female Iberian Lynx was seen on our last day and was photographed
by tour participant Roger Wasley as it walked right past him!
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020
SPAIN: Iberian Lynx and Eagles
This tour was primarily focused on trying to see Iberian Lynx well and to enjoy the
other great birds and mammals of the Sierra de Andujar region of Spain. This beautiful
area, just 3 hours drive from Malaga has now become the best place to see Iberian
Lynx in Spain. Aside from Lynx there is also plenty of other great wildlife to be found in
this area with Spanish Imperial Eagles regularly soaring overhead along with Golden
Eagles and both Cinereous and Griffon Vultures. Gangs of beautiful Iberian Azure-
winged Magpies, numerous Iberian Green Woodpeckers and small numbers of Iberian
Grey Shrikes too. Other mammals we usually find include Spanish Ibex, Mouflon and
Wild Boar and all just a short drive from our fantastic accommodation at Villa Matilde.
We saw a total of 82 species of bird and recorded 8 mammals on this tour
DAY DATE ITINERARY
Travel form Malaga to Sierra de Andujar. La Lancha evening
1 Sat 18th Jan
session for Lynx. Overnight Villa Matilde
2 Sun 19th Jan All day La Lancha. Overnight Villa Matilde
All day La Lancha. Evening drive Encinerejo.
3 Mon 20th Jan
Overnight Villa Matilde
Morning La Lancha. Jandula Dam and bull fields afternoon.
4 Tues 21st Jan
La Lancha evening session. Overnight Villa Matilde
5 Wed 22nd Jan Early departure to Laguna Fuente de Piedra and Laguna Dulce.
TOUR SUMMARY
Day 1: Malaga - Sierra de Andujar
After an overnight stay near Malaga airport we transferred to our minibus and headed
out of the city. Passing the outskirts of Malaga we saw our first Yellow-legged Gulls
before we headed north towards the Sierra de Andujar Natural Park. Species whilst
travelling included a lone Cattle Egret and five overwintering Black Kites before we
arrived at our base at Villa Matilde. Greeted by the ever smiling Roland we settled into
our rooms and then took a short drive to the cat hotspot of La Lancha.
Unfortunately, the weather was against us and poor visibility and rain seriously
hampered our chances of finding a Lynx, though we watched until dusk regardless.
However, whilst driving back to our accommodation a Lynx ran across the road in front
of our vehicle and remained on view for just a few seconds before vanishing into the
night! A frustrating encounter for those in the back of the minibus, but it was only our
first evening and everyone remained positive for the days ahead.
Days 2 - 4: Sierra de Andujar
We enjoyed three full days exploring the picturesque dehesa habitat so typical of this
beautiful region of Spain. A mix of Holm and Cork Oaks, Rosemary and Lavender
bushes and grassland interspersed with lichen covered rocks became a familiar sight as
we took daily drives along the dirt roads and searched for the beautiful Iberian Lynx.
The weather was a little challenging at times with light rain and strong wind, though it
did improve throughout the week and more importantly we still enjoyed great views of
Iberian Lynx every day!
We saw a minimum of three individual Iberian Lynx during these three days. The most
exciting encounter was on our final day when a male and female were seen briefly
together and the female did a close walk-by for some of the group!
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020
Of course there were plenty of other impressive wildlife highlights that we saw during
our time exploring this wildlife rich area whilst waiting for “Lynx O’Clock”! Raptors were
impressive as always with Eurasian Griffon Vulture and Cinereous Vulture as well as
Golden Eagle and the beautiful endemic Spanish Imperial Eagle. Rattling Sardinian
Warblers, Dartford Warblers and Hawfinch were a daily distraction along with noisy
gangs of Iberian Azure-winged Magpies. Other avian highlights included Blue Rock
Thrush, Woodlark, Eurasian Hoopoe and two near endemics; Iberian Green
Woodpecker and Iberian Grey Shrike. Mammal highlights were also impressive with
daily sightings of Red and Fallow Deer as well as good views of a female Spanish Ibex
with young, seven individual Wild Boar and up to five Mouflon.
Day 5: Laguna Fuente de Piedra and Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce.
Our final day gave us plenty of time to visit a couple of great wetland sites en route to
Malaga. The stand out highlight was the sight and sound of an impressive flock of 400+
Common Cranes at the regular wintering site of Laguna Fuente de Piedra. A group of at
least 60 Eurasian Stone Curlews together in an arable field was equally memorable, as
was a bonus flock of Calandra Larks whilst we explored the perimeter of the vast lake.
Our final site and lunch stop was Laguna Dulce, a small lake but packed full of quality
birds. We were treated to very close views of at least 70 White-headed Ducks as well
as three fine drake Ferruginous Ducks and at least 20 Red-crested Pochard. Smaller
numbers of Common Crane and Greater Flamingo were also present and a couple of
Black-necked Grebes also boosted the species list. The final surprise was a lovely
Black-winged Kite that we watched hunting over nearby fields before we returned to
Malaga airport where the tour concluded.
Iberian Lynx habitat and sunset over the Santuario Virgen de la Cabeza
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020
Cinereous Vultures (above) and Spanish Imperial Eagle (below) were a very welcome constant distraction whilst scanning for the elusive Iberian Lynx WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020
The beautiful Rock Bunting by tour participant Roger Wasley WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020
Iberian Lynx seen on 19th Jan (above) and possibly the same animal 20th Jan (below)
Photos by tour participant Yves Gisseleire
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020Female Iberian Lynx seen on 21st Jan
by tour participant Roger Wasley
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020Fallow Deer (above) and Mouflon (below) were seen most days WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020
Spanish Imperial Eagles by tour participants
Yves Gisseleire (above) and Paul Griffin (below)
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020Part of the Common Crane flock seen at Laguna Fuente de Piedra (above)
A mixed flock of finches including Rock Sparrows and Spanish Sparrows (below)
by tour participant Yves Gisseleire
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020White-headed Ducks showed very well at Laguna Dulce
along with 3 smart drake Ferruginous Ducks (above)
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020Red-crested Pochards and Eurasian Crag Martin at Laguna Dulce
Conservation Donation – Following the successful conclusion of this
tour, a £180 donation was transferred to the Wise Birding Holiday’s
central conservation fund.
Once a target amount has been reached this money will be used to support
one single project in the hope of achieving more for species conservation.
Currently this amounts to around £7,500. Some tours will continue to
donate money to help some of the smaller projects that we feel will still
benefit from smaller donations. Please visit our website to find out more
about the projects that we support: www.wisebirding.co.uk
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles, Jan 2020SPAIN CHECKLIST: Saturday 18th - Wednesday 22nd January 2020
Bird Taxonomy: IOC International Ornithological Congress
Mammal Taxonomy: IUCN International Union for Conservation of
Nature
Bird Total: 81 species seen, plus 1 heard.
Mammal Total: 8 species seen.
# Species Name Scientific Name Notes
1 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Recorded on four days.
2 Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata Small numbers at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
3 Gadwall Mareca strepera Small groups present at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
4 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Small groups present at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
5 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Small groups present at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
6 Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina A minimum of 25 birds at at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
7 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Three drakes at at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day were a nice surprise.
Impressive numbers with 70+ of these endangered ducks seen well at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce
8 White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
on our last day.
9 Rock Dove Columba livia Recorde
10 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Recorded on four days.
11 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Recorded on the first and last days only whilst travelling.
12 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Recorded at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
13 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra A large flock of 130+ birds at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
Excellent views at Laguna Fuente de Piedra with at least 430+ birds and around 20+ birds around Lagunas de
14 Common Crane Grus grus
Campillos - Laguna Dulce.
15 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Recorded at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
16 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Two birds at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
Very few birds at Laguna Fuente de Piedra due to such low water levels. Counts of 20+ birds at Laguna Fuente
17 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
de Piedra and Laguna Dulce.
Great views of two flocks at Laguna Fuente de Piedra with 60+ near the visitor centre and another 20+ birds
18 Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
whilst searching for Cranes.
19 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus A single bird at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
20 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus A count of 20 birds at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
21 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago A single bird at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
22 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus A single bird on the 20th in a small stream near the bull fields en route to La Lancha.
23 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Small numbers at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
24 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Recorded near Malaga on our first and final days whilst travelling.
Lesser Black-backed
25 Larus fuscus Small groups present at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
Gull
26 White Stork Ciconia ciconia A count of 30+ birds whilst travelling to Malaga on our last day.
127 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A single bird at the Jandula dam on the 21st.
28 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Single birds recorded on the first and last days.
This bonus bird for the trip was seen whilst travelling on our last day near Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna
29 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
Dulce.
30 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus Recorded on three days whilst searching for Lynx with daily counts of between 20-30 birds.
31 Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Recorded on three days whilst searching for Lynx with daily counts of 4-5 birds.
Excellent views of this Spanish endemic with birds recorded on three days whilst searching for Lynx. A
32 Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti
minimum of 3 adults and a 2nd Cal Year bird.
33 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos An immature, probably 2nd calendar year bird, was seen on two days and considered to be the same bird.
34 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A single male on the 19th was the only sighting.
35 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus A single male at Lagunas de Campillos - Laguna Dulce on our last day.
36 Black Kite Milvus migrans At least 5 birds whilst travelling on the first day and at least one bird on the final day.
37 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Recorded whilst travelling on the first and last days.
38 Little Owl Athene noctua Single birds on the 18th and the 19th in the Lynx area.
39 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Recorded on three days with a max. day count of 3 birds on our first day.
Iberian Green
40 Picus sharpei Good views of this near endemic with birds seen on four days whilst searching for Lynx.
Woodpecker
41 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Recorded on three days.
42 Iberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis Good views of this near endemic with birds seen on three days whilst searching for Lynx.
43 Iberian Magpie Cyanopica cooki Excellent views of this Spanish endemic with birds recorded on four days whilst searching for Lynx.
44 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Recorded on four days.
45 Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax A couple of birds seen on two days whilst searching for Lynx and heard only on another day.
46 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Recorded on our final day only whilst travelling.
47 Northern Raven Corvus corax A single bird on the 21st was the only sighting.
48 European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus Single birds seen very well on three days whilst searching for Lynx.
49 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Recorded on four days.
50 Great Tit Parus major Recorded on four days.
51 Woodlark Lullula arborea Seen well on two days with up to 3 birds on the 21st and a bird singing on the 19th.
52 Thekla's Lark Galerida theklae Two birds were seen well on the 20th.
53 Crested Lark Galerida cristata Birds recorded on at least two days.
54 Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra A flock of 20+ birds at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
55 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Counts of 1-3 birds recorded on three days.
56 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Small flocks of the distinctive dusky-headed irbii subsp. recorded on three days whilst searching for Lynx.
57 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Small numbers recorded on three days both in the Lynx area and at the wetland sites on our last day.
58 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Recorded daily.
59 Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Recorded on the first three days whilst searching for Lynx.
60 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Recorded daily.
61 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea Heard only on the 21st.
62 Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla A single bird seen and heard calling on the 21st near La Lancha dam.
63 Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor Recorded daily.
64 Common Blackbird Turdus merula Recorded on four days.
265 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Recorded on two days.
66 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Recorded on four days.
67 European Robin Erithacus rubecula Recorded on three days.
68 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Recorded daily including a number of males seen.
69 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Recorded on at least two days.
70 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Single birds recorded on three days.
71 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Recorded on the first and last days only.
72 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis A count of 4-5 birds in with a mixed flock of finches at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
73 Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia A count of 10-15 birds in with a mixed flock of finches at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
74 White Wagtail Motacilla alba Recorded at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
75 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Recorded on four days.
Coccothraustes
76 Hawfinch Good views of this often secretive finch on four days.
coccothraustes
77 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris Recorded on four days.
78 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina Part of a small mixed flock recorded at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
79 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Part of a small mixed flock recorded at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
80 European Serin Serinus serinus Part of a small mixed flock recorded at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
81 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Recorded on our first day near the bull fields and many more birds at Laguna Fuente de Piedra on our last day.
82 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia Excellent views whilst searching for Lynx over three days with a max. day count of 4 birds on the 20th.
# Mammals
1 European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Recorded on four days in the key Lynx area.
A total of four encounters involving four and possibly five different animals.
18th January 2020 at approx. 18.40hrs
A distinctly small animal, presumed young, ran in front of our vehicle whilst driving back to our accommodation
about 1km from Los Escoriales. It passed under a wire fence across a field and settled briefly on top of a stone
wall. It was dark and the encounter only lasted a few seconds.
19th January at approx. 12.15hrs
An animal was watched crossing a sand/stone fire break in the valley below us at La Lancha. After a few
2 Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus minutes the Lynx re-appeared and we watched it appear and disappear amongst the scrub.
20th January at approx. 17.55hrs
An animal was watched walking one of the main tracks in the valley below us for a couple of minutes.
21st January at approx. 16.30hrs
Alarm calling Eurasian Magpies drew our attention to one of the many valleys at La Lancha. Other lynx
watchers on the opposite side of the valley could see two animals. Both animals were seen very briefly and a
single animal for longer before it disappeared out of view. Around 30 minutes later a female Lynx appeared
much higher up the valley and crossed the main track and climbed up into the hills.
A group of 6 animals seen at night on the 20th at Encinerejo. A single animal was also seen during the day on
3 Wild Boar Sus scrofa
the 21st whilst approaching La Lancha though it appeared to be unwell by its odd behaviour.
34 Red Deer Cervus elaphus Recorded on four days including some impressive stags.
5 Fallow Deer Dama dama Recorded on three days.
6 Spanish Ibex Capra pyrenaica Two adult females with young at La Lancha dam on the 21st.
7 Mouflon Ovis orientalis Good scope views of this impressive sheep with a count of 4 on the 20th and 5 animals on the 21st.
8 Daubenton's Myotis Myotis daubentonii Two individuals seen roosting during the day seemed to suggest this species.
WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD - SPAIN: Iberian Lynx & Eagles Jan 2020
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