What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[Richard Tarleton]

Hope they have better luck with their offspring next year than this (six, mysteriously vanished one day: a fox?).

Been puzzling about this. What stage were the cygnets at when they vanished (still on the nest, or had they taken to the water, and if so how big)? I don't see a single fox taking six cygnets in one go - snatching one, maybe, but you'd expect the adults to have intervened. Usually you'd expect the cygnets to disappear over a period of days. How about a catastrophic attack by dogs?

From the Swan Sanctuary website:

New born cygnets are mainly lost to crows, herons, magpies, turtles, pike and large perch. Both cygnets and full-grown swans are also the prey of foxes and mink. Both cygnets and full-grown swans are also the prey of foxes and mink.

I hope ardcarp's swans were being fed on grain, not bread

[gradus]

Been puzzling about this. What stage were the cygnets at when they vanished (still on the nest, or had they taken to the water, and if so how big)? I don't see a single fox taking six cygnets in one go - snatching one, maybe, but you'd expect the adults to have intervened. Usually you'd expect the cygnets to disappear over a period of days. How about a catastrophic attack by dogs?

From the Swan Sanctuary website:

I hope ardcarp's swans were being fed on grain, not bread

Crikey that'd be one big perch!

[Pulcinella]

Been puzzling about this. What stage were the cygnets at when they vanished (still on the nest, or had they taken to the water, and if so how big)? I don't see a single fox taking six cygnets in one go - snatching one, maybe, but you'd expect the adults to have intervened. Usually you'd expect the cygnets to disappear over a period of days. How about a catastrophic attack by dogs?

I fear we'll never know.
They were about 6–8 weeks, if memory serves.
There were several different supposed last sightings: the general estate visitor car park, and a procession along a different access route to the estate.
Perhaps they got run over, but no-one saw any remains.

[un barbu]

The sound of geese flying overhead in the dark, the first this autumn, always evocative and magical.

[Richard Tarleton]

The sound of geese flying overhead in the dark, the first this autumn, always evocative and magical.

Here too

[ardcarp]

I hope ardcarp's swans were being fed on grain, not bread

Oops
It was wholemeal bread.

[Dave2002]

A quick phone call to the Windsor Swan rescue team advised that I was wasting my time. The adult bird would be a parent driving its progeny to independence. It might just have to learn the hard way that metalled roads are dangerous.

Do dead birds learn a lot?!

[Bryn]

Do dead birds learn a lot?!

Well, it was a 30 mph zone with humps and good sight-lines. My guess is that it survived the experience.

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, it was a 30 mph zone with humps and good sight-lines. My guess is that it survived the experience.

Traffic calming, but not for the birds....

[Vox Humana]

Mrs Humana and I are just back from a brief spell in the Cantabrian mountains - in the Picos de Europa, to be precise. Personally I prefer the arid parts of Spain, but Mrs H doesn't, so we went to the damp part instead. The scenery is, of course, fantastic when not hidden under the clouds.

Birdwise it was mainly 'White' Wagtails (the continental race of our Pied Wagtail), which were everywhere and seemed by far the most common bird in these parts, Black Redstarts, which came a close second, and hirundines (mainly House Martins, but there were Swallows too which were occasionally joined by Crag Martins and, just once, a Swift). There is also a very healthy population of raptors in the area: from our apartment in Ojeda we saw Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles and regular flocks of Griffon Vultures over the hills - at one point we counted 40 birds simultaneously in three groups. The predominant crow in the area was the (Red-billed) Chough. We regularly saw Iberian Chiffchaffs - at least, I assume they were this recently 'split' species as I haven't a clue how you distinguish them on sight from Common Chiffchaff and I'm not sure you can do it 100% of the time anyway. A neighbouring field had a couple of young Tawny Pipits and a Cirl Bunting. Other birds were the same species as ours.

My price for agreeing to get wet was an insistence that we take the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy the views from the mountain tops, but, as any birder will know, I had an ulterior motive. It's probably the easiest site in Europe to see Wallcreeper and, after a 1.5 mile walk to the prescribed cliff and a half-hour wait, one duly appeared. Extremely flighty, it promptly disappeared again, but after another half-hour or so it reappeared and settled down to preen. A wonderful bird which I will probably never see again. Birds up here were not especially plentiful, but we did see several Alpine Accentors, Water Pipits, both Red-billed and Alpine Choughs (several of the latter very confiding at the cable car station), a small flock of Chaffinches and another of Linnets, Wheatears, a Booted Eagle, a young Golden Eagle and of course the obligatory Black Redstarts and Griffon Vultures - oh and a Lammergeier too, which was a fabulous bonus bird.

Try as I might, I simply could not find any Bonelli's Warblers. They're supposed to be common in the Picos. Do they all migrate in August or what? I didn't have any luck with Middle Spotted Woodpeckers either, but I never do have any joy with foreign 'peckers.

[Richard Tarleton]

Mrs Humana and I are just back from a brief spell in the Cantabrian mountains - in the Picos de Europa, to be precise. Personally I prefer the arid parts of Spain, but Mrs H doesn't, so we went to the damp part instead. The scenery is, of course, fantastic when not hidden under the clouds.

Birdwise it was mainly 'White' Wagtails (the continental race of our Pied Wagtail), which were everywhere and seemed by far the most common bird in these parts, Black Redstarts, which came a close second, and hirundines (mainly House Martins, but there were Swallows too which were occasionally joined by Crag Martins and, just once, a Swift). There is also a very healthy population of raptors in the area: from our apartment in Ojeda we saw Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles and regular flocks of Griffon Vultures over the hills - at one point we counted 40 birds simultaneously in three groups. The predominant crow in the area was the (Red-billed) Chough. We regularly saw Iberian Chiffchaffs - at least, I assume they were this recently 'split' species as I haven't a clue how you distinguish them on sight from Common Chiffchaff and I'm not sure you can do it 100% of the time anyway. A neighbouring field had a couple of young Tawny Pipits and a Cirl Bunting. Other birds were the same species as ours.

My price for agreeing to get wet was an insistence that we take the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy the views from the mountain tops, but, as any birder will know, I had an ulterior motive. It's probably the easiest site in Europe to see Wallcreeper and, after a 1.5 mile walk to the prescribed cliff and a half-hour wait, one duly appeared. Extremely flighty, it promptly disappeared again, but after another half-hour or so it reappeared and settled down to preen. A wonderful bird which I will probably never see again. Birds up here were not especially plentiful, but we did see several Alpine Accentors, Water Pipits, both Red-billed and Alpine Choughs (several of the latter very confiding at the cable car station), a small flock of Chaffinches and another of Linnets, Wheatears, a Booted Eagle, a young Golden Eagle and of course the obligatory Black Redstarts and Griffon Vultures - oh and a Lammergeier too, which was a fabulous bonus bird.

Try as I might, I simply could not find any Bonelli's Warblers. They're supposed to be common in the Picos. Do they all migrate in August or what? I didn't have any luck with Middle Spotted Woodpeckers either, but I never do have any joy with foreign 'peckers.

Vox, your post a joy to read, ringing lots of bells here.

We went to the Picos in the late 90's (I've spent significant time in every Spanish region except Valencia and Murcia, and share your enthusiasm for the dry bits - you should definitely steer clear of Galicia ). I fully intended to go up the cable car, but Mrs T chickened out, so that didn't happen . I think the key to Iberian chiffchaffs is the song - how you'd tell one from a common chiffchaff in autumn I have no idea - but I noticed the distinctive song of Iberian chiffchaffs in spring long before they were "split". I've failed to see wallcreepers in several "prescribed" spots in the Pyrenees (e.g. the Boca de Infierno in the Hecho Valley, Gavarnie - where a friend who never strays far from his car saw one no problem ) - and Alps, finally seeing one quite randomly in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, in the course of a long-distance trail in the Triglav National Park. Long-distance Alpine trails proved the key to seeing many of the key species - Alpine accentors, water pipits, citril finches, snow finches...you have to suffer for your art.... Lammergeiers - a great many in the course of numerous trips to the Pyrenees. Bonelli's warblers - again, mine have been in spring, in the Pyrenees (Ansó Valley), Mallorca.... I saw my first black woodpecker in the Picos - or rather just nearby, on the "Somaniezo" circular walk described in Teresa Fariño's book. Middles I have managed to see a few times, and have glimpsed a white-backed, in Croatia.....

Griffon vultures - I remember following a flock of sheep up the Ansó Valley, on the way to their summer pastures - the shepherd singled out a sickly one and dispatched it, leaving it out for the vultures - ravens come for the eyes within 15 minutes, by the 30 minute mark there were 40+ vultures, later a great many more. The Lammergeier leaves it for a day or two before coming for the bones.

Anyway a pleasure to read your adventures. I doubt I'll be back that way again.

[Vox Humana]

Thanks, Richard. Appreciated. Funnily enough we did go to Somaniezo quite on a random whim and found quite a lot of birds at the end of the road, notably a huge flock of tits (including a Marsh Tit). It definitely looked like the sort of area that would have those woodpeckers. We didn't do the walk, however. We didn't really have the time and since I only have 70% lung capacity, I'm not keen on climbing unless I can take my time to do it in a leisurely way. The thinner oxygen 1.25 miles above sea level at Fuente Dé was very noticeable too, but I was prepared to die for that Wallcreeper! I kept an eye open for Citril Finch (especially at the Puerto San Glorio picnic site), but had no joy, alas.

I agree with you about Iberian Chiffchaff's song. I was lucky enough to see one in Devon and that particular individual sounded nothing like our regular Chiffs. It had a strikingly long bill too, which I've occasionally noted on photos of some other Iberian Chiffs, but I'm sure it's not at all a reliable feature. SOme people seem to be able to detect some subtle differences in the head patterns of the two species, but I've never got around to investigating this and doubt I'd ever feel confident about an ID, even if I knew the theory.

[Richard Tarleton]

Thanks, Richard. Appreciated. Funnily enough we did go to Somaniezo quite on a random whim and found quite a lot of birds at the end of the road, notably a huge flock of tits (including a Marsh Tit). It definitely looked like the sort of area that would have those woodpeckers. We didn't do the walk, however. We didn't really have the time and since I only have 70% lung capacity, I'm not keen on climbing unless I can take my time to do it in a leisurely way. The thinner oxygen 1.25 miles above sea level at Fuente Dé was very noticeable too, but I was prepared to die for that Wallcreeper! I kept an eye open for Citril Finch (especially at the Puerto San Glorio picnic site), but had no joy, alas.

About three-quarters round the Somaniezo walk, we came upon a tiny inn, and called in. Music was playing - bizarrely, a disc of operatic arias including Pavarotti's "High C's" aria from La Fille du Regiment . The only food on offer was - equally bizarrely - an exquisite home-made rice pudding. That got us to the end of the walk. I love these random moments. We went to Puerto de San Glorio on our last full day there - certainly spectacular views of the Picos.

[Dave2002]

Mrs Humana and I are just back from a brief spell in the Cantabrian mountains - in the Picos de Europa, to be precise. Personally I prefer the arid parts of Spain, but Mrs H doesn't, so we went to the damp part instead. The scenery is, of course, fantastic when not hidden under the clouds.

Birdwise it was mainly 'White' Wagtails (the continental race of our Pied Wagtail), which were everywhere and seemed by far the most common bird in these parts, Black Redstarts, which came a close second, and hirundines (mainly House Martins, but there were Swallows too which were occasionally joined by Crag Martins and, just once, a Swift). There is also a very healthy population of raptors in the area: from our apartment in Ojeda we saw Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagles and regular flocks of Griffon Vultures over the hills - at one point we counted 40 birds simultaneously in three groups. The predominant crow in the area was the (Red-billed) Chough. We regularly saw Iberian Chiffchaffs - at least, I assume they were this recently 'split' species as I haven't a clue how you distinguish them on sight from Common Chiffchaff and I'm not sure you can do it 100% of the time anyway. A neighbouring field had a couple of young Tawny Pipits and a Cirl Bunting. Other birds were the same species as ours.

My price for agreeing to get wet was an insistence that we take the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy the views from the mountain tops, but, as any birder will know, I had an ulterior motive. It's probably the easiest site in Europe to see Wallcreeper and, after a 1.5 mile walk to the prescribed cliff and a half-hour wait, one duly appeared. Extremely flighty, it promptly disappeared again, but after another half-hour or so it reappeared and settled down to preen. A wonderful bird which I will probably never see again. Birds up here were not especially plentiful, but we did see several Alpine Accentors, Water Pipits, both Red-billed and Alpine Choughs (several of the latter very confiding at the cable car station), a small flock of Chaffinches and another of Linnets, Wheatears, a Booted Eagle, a young Golden Eagle and of course the obligatory Black Redstarts and Griffon Vultures - oh and a Lammergeier too, which was a fabulous bonus bird.

Try as I might, I simply could not find any Bonelli's Warblers. They're supposed to be common in the Picos. Do they all migrate in August or what? I didn't have any luck with Middle Spotted Woodpeckers either, but I never do have any joy with foreign 'peckers.

A really interesting post, and might tip me to wanting to go back to Spain. We went to the Picos around 40 years ago, though we have been to other parts of Spain since. Our most recent trip was to Ukraine, and apart from a seeing large flocks of white birds bobbing up and down on the river Dnieper, we didn’t see many birds at all. We actually wondered if there was a general shortage. Re the birds in/on the river, we didn’t get close enough to identify any.

[vinteuil]

.

About three-quarters round the Somaniezo walk, we came upon a tiny inn, and called in. Music was playing ...

.

... do you remember an Inn,
Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?
And the tedding and the spreading
Of the straw for a bedding,
And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees,
And the wine that tasted of tar?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
(Under the vine of the dark verandah)?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda,
Do you remember an Inn?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteeers
Who hadn't got a penny,
And who weren't paying any,
And the hammer at the doors and the Din?
And the Hip! Hop! Hap!
Of the clap
Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl
Of the girl gone chancing,
Glancing,
Dancing,
Backing and advancing,
Snapping of a clapper to the spin
Out and in --
And the Ting, Tong, Tang, of the Guitar.
Do you remember an Inn,
Miranda?
Do you remember an Inn?

.