Albunuelas, Lecrin Valley of Granada, Andalucia. Bird watching.

Here is a list of birds ( mostly ) seen near our home in Albuñuelas  Albunuelas situated at the head of the Lecrin Valley , Valle Lecrin , Granada , Andalucia , Andalusia , Southern Spain , España. As a general rule we have seen ( or heard ) the birds rear our village but the odd one has been reported to us by other birdwatchers, a few we have seen further afield in the Granada province.

Whilst we can't claim any endemic species, the stars of our show are the raptors which are mostly breading successfully. We list some 120 species in our recorded sightings so far. Also, in the Padul basin we are reliably informed there is a colony of rare DuPont's lark battling against extinction.

Please remember we are total armatures and rely heavily on the books listed below for identification purposes and these recorded sightings are a result of many hundreds of hours of observation spanning more than 12 years. We gained access to the most remote parts by parking on one of the forest tracks and walking to any likely habitats we could see. Recent legislation has made access to the more remote areas impossible as new measures brought into effect ban entry to the wild areas from May to October to help alleviate forest fires. This measure can only be good for the recuperation of the wildlife in the long term and so we welcome it.

Please visit our other pages on various topics including; walking flora & fauna,   wildflowers & animals and their habitats plus an anthropological and holiday guide to Albunuelas, a small village in the Lecrin Valley of Granada, Andalucia.  Free information on Albunuelas, head of the Lecrin Valley, Granada, Andalucia,  Albunuelas in the Lecrin valley of Granada is ideal for nature lovers interested in Bird watching Walking & the GR 7 Flora & Fauna & Ethnology. On our pages you will find nothing for sale but you will find out more about our village situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada including topics on : climate, earthquakes,history, food & drink, geology, harvests, earnings, bed & breakfast, ecological tourism, hotels, finding a traditional Spanish house for rent or sale, holidays, legends, parking, hire cars, population, public transport, statistics, where it is, how to get here, seismology, horse riding etc. We even offer free guided walks in exchange for donations to the village fiesta funds.

                                                      FREE ( well almost ! ) GUIDED WALKS

   We will give you a personal introduction to the village including its history in exchange for donations to the Fiesta funds.

                                  Tel. Ken or Cher 34+958-776-319 (e-mail subject - Albwalks) to lecringranada@yahoo.com  

In hope of raising money to preserve the village traditions we will escort small groups on short nature rambles in exchange for donations. Up to 4 people if you want a chance of seeing wild-life, larger parties for history - flowers- views etc. ranging from 3 to 10 Km. In which we impart as much history and nature information as we have gathered, identifying birds, watching sites, fauna and wildflower habitats. To date we have identified more than 500 flora & fauna species. There are over 2000 distinct species of wildflowers, of which, 176 are only found in Spain and of these 66 are endemic to this area. So far we have found & catalogued more than 350 of them near the village and familiarized ourselves with their habitats. A preview of one such walk can be seen on the WALKING page. We frequently walk these routes to update and improve these rambles as landmarks, terrain and paths are constantly changing and may disappear completely with new vegetation or earth movements. Our walks are on an entirely voluntary basis and therefore covered by your insurance, not by us, in the unlikely event of some mishap taking place.

Incidentally, check all guides operating in Spain as it is not unknown for them to loose people or even worse! You may discover too late they had no licence or insurance!

                                                     HORSE RIDING & WALKING

                                                                          CABALLOS PARA PASEAR Y GUIA LOCAL

Professional local Spanish guides will accompany you through some of the most beautiful and varied countryside in the country.

                                                      Tel. Palmali 34+958-776-081 or use our e-mail and we will pass it on

The good news is the short toed eagles have successfully reared two chicks, last years and this. We have watched this family almost daily and identified the nest site but don't whish it to be disturbed. At least 2 pairs of booted eagles are in the valleys and we have had sight of Griffon vultures on migration. The rare DuPont's lark has a small breeding colony nearby at Padul. On the down side we have had to re-classify Bonelli's Eagles down from frequent due to shooting over the last couple of years and the Little Bitterns called for only a very short period in spring this year. 

2004.

The beginning of March has seen the migrants returning and the valley is once again full of birdsong , starting at dawn most noticeable is the yaffle of the resident woodpeckers. First sighting of Eagle on 7-03. but could not make positive identification.

Back at home the resident crag-martins have been joined by the house-martins and the first swallows arrived on the 10-03.

 On 16-03. we made a positive sighting of  a young Short Toed Eagle.  

Trip to Doñana national park 23-03 to 27-03 :  Marsh Harrier, Purple Gallinule, Kentish Plover, Sanderling, many gulls including Audoin's, Sandwich Tern, Oyster Catcher, Black Kite, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveller, Pochard, Buzzard, Crested Grebe, Dabchick, White Stork, Azure winged Magpie, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Woodchat Shrike and Flamingo . 

Returning home we found the Bee Eater flocks and Cuckoos had returned and a pair of Booted Eagles gave impressive flight displays in the sunshine and clear skies till the rains returned . 

As the sun returned (20-28Cº) on the 2-04 to 7-04 we watched the mating ritual of a pair of adult Short Toed.

The first Nightingale sang down by the river on 8-04 as the temperature dropped once again and rains came.

Sunny warm day on 14-04 gave very close sighting of a juvenile Short Toed for more than 20 mins. at  the top of 2 trees and on a solitary rock. 

On 19-04 the first Golden Oriel is calling who has arrived to rain, sun & cloud (15-2Cº) 

On 20-04 the first Swifts have arrived. This year there is no signs of the Little Bitterns returning and we miss its call.

23-04 in the area around Jayena ( 12 / 15 miles away) by the river in a secluded valley we saw many Great Gray Shrike (Butcher birds) Nightingales, Bee-eaters & many of the  migratory warblers.

24-04 here in the valley we saw  Quail in flight. Later on the same walk a Merlin & a Sparrow Hawk within the space of 10 mins as we descended from La Loma.

26-05 seen peregrine falcon on 2 occasions once near to the village. 

06-06: we have resident families of both Short-toed & booted eagles breeding, On many occasions we see 4 short-toed in flight together but the booted are more often solitary 

14-06 This year we have three pairs of Short-toed Eagles (circaetus gallicus )in very close proximity to the house and we saw the first fledgling take its initial flying lesson within a few metres of our house at the beginning 14 July. The months of July, August & September often reach temperatures in the mid 40’s in the shade here at the foot of Nevada.

19-07 ) We get many visits from hummingbirds – the moths that is (Macroglossum stellatarum). Often overlooked, they share all the characteristics of the birds but for colouration,  the orange parts are difficult to see because of their rapid wing beats.  The black & white checked body is prominent & unmistakeable.

14-08 I have been told by a UK. Ex-pat the toxicity of chemicals for sale over the counter here is far greater than under agricultural license in the UK. So, all praise to the Junta de Andalucia for its recent efforts to educate the campesinos on the dangers of incorrect application of herbicides / pesticides. Perhaps they could also pay attention to aerial spraying. Having no warning bee keepers in our village had no time to close or move hives, causing the total extinction of their bees. As a result the bee-eaters (merops apiaster) have to spend longer in flight in a desperate search of food. If this scenario continues bee-eaters will go the way of the imperial and golden eagles, prevalent here 30 years ago, now gone because of crop changes brought about by climatic changes             Very occasional sightings of either type of eagles this month and always solitary birds.

1 & 2 09 Two days together flocks of more than 20 Grifon Vultures seen on migration over the village but we are still concerned about the continued sightings of single a solitary Short toed on many ocasions. By now we should be seeing families practicing for their migration flight. By the middle of last month all our swifts & swallows had migrated but higher on the slopes we saw many Alpine swifts and Bee- eaters about.

2005

I had a report from forestry workers of the discovery of a dead juvenile booted eagle in the sierra de Albunuelas last September. The results of a post mortem revealed it had died from starvation and was a female 4 / 5 months old. I feared we would have fewer eagles this year and was proved right. Although we are still seeing them on a regular basis where we normally saw adults accompanied with a last years juvenile this year we seem to have seen more solitary birds hunting, or is it my imagination?  The regular short toed pairs are in the valley again and with a bumper year for snakes are having a year of plenty. Having suffered a very cold and prolonged winter followed by severe drought many of the rodents have perished forcing the snakes hunt longer and in more exposed situations.

Possibly because of the climate change we have seen Little Egrets (egretta garzetta) in the village for the first time, a breeding pair using a small patch of ground where two mules are tethered 50 meters from our balcony. Although we are only 22Km. from the coast as the crow flies where there are large colonies, it is the first time anyone has seen them in this village.

Talking of this with two goatherds they said even stranger things were taking place this year in the sierras as they had begun to see Gaviotas (sea gulls) not once but on many occasions. Of course they couldn’t say what species as they are outside their experience but they know a sea gull when they see one. It will be interesting to see if the population explodes as it did in our village in England. The first pair made front page news in the local paper in 1958 thirty years later they become and uncontrollable pest in their thousands.

A couple of other changes we have seen. Six years ago we used to walk below some abandoned cave dwellings situated halfway down a sheer cliff face and the only inhabitants then were 4 or 5 ravens (corvus corax) which we watched for many hours. Then came the planting of different grape varieties in a valley a couple of Km. distant around which we began to see an increasing number of Jackdaws. The Jackdaws (corvus monedula) either killed or drove off the Ravens and have totally colonized the caves.

Another bird rapidly increasing is the Starling. We have the Spotless Starling (strnus unicolor) all year round whose call can be heard at any time and is also a brilliant mimic, I’ve heard a repertoire of 5 species calls from the same bird repeated over and over. However, in recent years larger and larger flocks of over-wintering Starlings (sturnus vulgaris) from the north have started to arrive. These more aggressive birds are penetrating the villages more and more as they have less fear of man and will willingly nest in chimneys and fly into houses in search of food. I can’t be sure but I think one of the causes of attracting them into the urban environment is the influx of foreigners who leave dog and cat food out for their animals, certainly we have noticed larger concentrations of birds in areas where we know this takes place.

It was mid October (05) when the main body of eagles departed and at least one second year juvanile Booted Eagle is going to overwinter here. Now in December the bushes outside my window are thick with blackcaps, misle & song thrush, tits, blackbirds, robin and I've seen sparrows taking food back to chicks.

2006

Good news for the Dupont's lark. In the Feb. edition of CazaDeportiva magazine of the Federation  Andaluza de Caza I came across this interesting article. " The Medio Ambiente de Andalucia is trying an experiment in conservation for the Dupont Lark. (Local name Ricotí) They have discovered a colony at 1500m. in the Serria de Gádor in Almeria. They are expanding its potential breeding area as much as possible by clearing the matorral back to bare rock & earth to recreate conditions equal to those at Hoya de Guadix where they have another successful project underway ". ( My rough translation)

Mid day Sat 4th March. First sighting of a pair of Short Toed Eagles trying to establish rights in an area currently used by a pair of Ravens. The eagles were a last years juvenile and one which had more pronounced markings underneath which I think was at least a year older. While they stayed together in a mating / bonding display the ravens were ineffectual in their attacks but once they were separated the ravens concentrated on mobbing each one in turn, a tactic which soon drove off the eagles. I stayed waiting for their return, as I know they will, but the temperature began to drop and cloud moved in. So for today at least, it is round one to the ravens.

First swallows arrive back in village 23^rd  March. Next day the skies cleared & rain stopped for a while. Heard the distinct call of Little Bitten on the same evening both events are usually signs of sunny dry days approaching. On a trip past the bodega noted the jackdaw flock again after an absence of some weeks. Views down the valley give large swathes of beautiful bright yellow green of flowering wild radish. In the peace of the evening we watch the setting sun reflect on the snow covered peak of Veleta transforming it to a blushing pink before darkness falls transforming the scene to one of twinkling lights of the earthbound villages competing with the stars.

Out on plant hunt 26^th March saw the first flocks of Bee Eaters feasting over the village but no more sightings of the eagles since their fight with the ravens.

March 30th have been scanning for signs of more eagles without sucess till today when we saw a mating pair of booted with their distinctive Kli- Kli - Kli call soaring and diving over the village for about 15 mins.

Sept 20th spènt some time watching an adult Bonelli's eagle above our heads over the terrace & later driving to the motorway spotted a group of 3 eagles hunting but couldn't make posotive identification.

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                                          The main books we use for identification are as follows:

                Los libros principales que nosotros usamos para la identificación son los siguientes: 

                                         Flora y Fauna de España y del Mediterráneo by P.Sterry       

                                        Guia de Pajaros Ibericos by J.L.Rodriguez

                                       Collins bird guide by L.Svensson & P.J.Grant                      

                                       Colllins Bird Photoguide by J.Flegg

                                       Birds of Iberia by C.Finlayson & D.Tomlinson

 If you can help with this bird watching project please contact us e-mail lecringranada@yahoo.com    always make the subject: Albwalks   --  as an anti spam device.                                                    

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                                                                                                 LIST ONE  

                              S = Summer            W = Winter         M = Migration                 T = Throughout                  * = Frequent

                                             LATIN                                  ENGLISH                                                  SPANISH

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                                                       LIST TWO

                              S = Summer            W = Winter         M = Migration                 T = Throughout                  * = Frequent

                                              ENGLISH                                  LATIN                                            SPANISH

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                                                             All rights reserved by the BERN COPYRIGHT CONVENTION.

The contents of this website are the property of K. & C.D. Sumner  © 2000/6   As with all those who have freely shared web information with us permission is granted for the use of materials presented here for academic research or teaching purposes (including reproduction in hard copy for non-commercial purposes), provided due credit is given to the authors and to this site. All commercial use, alteration and electronic re-posting of this material (including advertising, newsgroup and webpage republication) is forbidden unless the prior consent of the authors has been obtained from lecringranada@yahoo.com  Please don't pass the information off as your own as we spend countless hours researching and verifying the data. Yes it has happened, yes, we have means of checking and yes, we pursue removal of offending sites from the web.   

                  Where we use information taken from another source it is clearly acknowledged by use of orange italics and the address.

Los pájaros que hemos mirado cerca de nuestra casa en Albuñuelas, que  esta situado a la cabeza del Valle Lecrin, Granada, Andalucia, España, Normalmente nosotros hemos visto los pájaros cerca de nuestro pueblo pero uno o dos han estado dentro de un 16 Km. 

 Las buenas noticias  son que las águilas  culebreras han criado dos polluelos con éxito este año. Nosotros hemos mirado a esta familia casi diariamente y hemos identificado el sitio del nido pero no queremos que lo este  molestado.  Tambien, 2 pares de águilas calzadas  están en los valles y nosotros hemos visto algunas buitres de Griffon en la migración. El raro alondra del DuPont  tiene una pequeña colonia  cerca en el Tubera de Padul.  Las malas noticias son que nosotros hemos tenido que re-clasificar el águila perdicera menos frecuente por acciones de cazadores reciente, y el avetorillo común cantó por sólo un período muy corto en primavera este año.

Si usted puede ayudar con este  proyectose ruega que nos avise por el corro electrónico  lecringranada@yahoo.com   siempre hacen al asunto: Albwalks --como un anti-spam device.

                              LISTA TRES    Que amos visto hasta 16 Km de Albuñuelas

                                        S = Verano      M= Emigración  W = invierno   T = Todo Año   *Con Frecuencia

                                                    ESPAÑOL                        LATINO                                           INGLÉS

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                                                      Para abrir nuestra página de información principal clic  HERE   

The Lecrin Valley now comprises the following towns &  villages: Acequias,  Albunuelas,  Beznar,  Chite,  Conchar,  Cozvijar,  Durcal,  Melegis,  Mondujar,  Murchas,  Niguelas,  Padul,  Pinos of the Valley,  Restabal,  Saleres,  Tablate & Talara  ( which is also confusingly known as Lecrin)  and sometimes the villages of:   Guajar Alto,  Guajar Faraguit,  Guajar Fondon,  Velez Benaudalla  & Lanjaron 

La comarca incluye :   Acequias,  Albuñuelas, Béznar, Chite, Cónchar, Cozvíjar,  Dúrcal,  Melegís, Mondújar, Murchas, Nigüelas, Padul, Pinos del Valle,  Restábal, Saleres Tablate & Talará  y de vez en cuando Gúajar Alto , Gúajar Faragüit , Gúajar Fondón ,  Velez Benaudalla y Lanjarón                                                               

                                            All rights reserved by the BERN COPYRIGHT CONVENTION.

The contents of this website are the property of C.D. & K Sumner  © 2000/6   As with all those who have freely shared web information with us permission is granted for the use of materials presented here for academic research or teaching purposes (including reproduction in hard copy for non-commercial purposes), provided due credit is given to the authors and to this site. All commercial use, alteration and electronic re-posting of this material (including advertising, newsgroup and webpage republication) is forbidden unless the prior consent of the authors has been obtained from lecringranada@yahoo.com  Please don't pass the information off as your own as we spend countless hours researching and verifying the data. Yes it has happened, yes, we have means of checking and yes, we pursue removal of offending sites from the web.   

Where we use information taken from another source it is clearly acknowledged by use of orange italics and the address.

http://www.geocities.com/lecringranada/birdlist.htm