Last Friday I enjoyed a fabulous day in the mountains of Valencia with Wendy McNeill, hoping to spend some time closely watching Griffon Vultures as well as looking for Alpine Accentors which are winter visitors to the peaks of our region. The day dawned bright with clear blue skies and almost no wind, so just to be out in the field was a pleasure.
We began with a brief walk past some semi-ruined farm buildings where we found a male Black Redstart feeding on insects on the roof of an old barn. The crags behind the farm gave views of Black Wheatear and as we continued our walk through some woods, we saw Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler and Serin. As we moved on towards the higher crags, a Kestrel came to rest in a tree in front of us.
Kestrel
We drove further into the mountains, before choosing a viewing point from where to scan the cliffs where in the breeding season, there is a sizeable colony of Griffon Vultures. As we arrived, it was fairly quiet, but within just a few minutes, more and more vultures flew in, many taking up position on ledges. Through binoculars and the scope, we enjoyed spectacular views, both in flight and at rest. Then we focussed on a few specific pairs of Griffon Vultures which proved to be fascinating. Sometimes, just taking the time to stop and watch carefully reveals some amazing sights. Firstly, it became apparent that a few pairs seemed to be squabbling over spaces on the ledges, driving off other birds that landed there. Then as we watched through the scope, we actually saw a pair mating. We watched carefully, fascinated by the “live nature documentary” that was playing out right before us. Another pair of birds that we saw through the scope appeared to be engaged in nest building activity
Griffon Vultures
As we sat watching the vultures, a Crested Tit called from the trees below us, and then a Peregrine Falcon flew into view, circling above the crags before gliding off into the distance. We were considering moving off, but decided to stay a little longer as more and more vultures were flying in. Then an individual bird caught our attention, its size and shape appearing to differ considerably. The Peregrine had also returned and was mobbing the new arrival. Initially, it was far off, but steadily flew closer until we could see it clearly in the cloudless sky – a Golden Eagle! What a fabulous sight – Griffon Vultures preparing for their breeding season, a Peregrine patrolling the sky, and now a Golden Eagle! It was too high to be able to get any reasonable photos but we were treated to some excellent views. What a privilege! Eventually, having eaten our lunch and the cool of the shade becoming quite uncomfortable, we decided to move on and leave the gorge for more open ground with sunshine to warm us up.
We decided to move on to a nearby peak where we hoped to find Alpine Accentors, stopping along the way when we caught sight of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. As we approached the peak, a small bird flew past the front of the car and came to rest on a boulder – it was indeed an Alpine Accentor! A good start to our quest! Then immediately as we walked up to the summit, we came across a small flock of more of these beautiful yet robust little birds.
Alpine Accentor
Although we were sitting at over 1000 metres above sea level on a Novemeber afternoon, there was virtually no wind whatsoever. As we just took in the views across the surrounding hills and forests, more Griffon Vultures came into view. These magnificent animals really were the stars of the day, and this time we were fortunate enough to see them in flight, but thanks to our vantage point, we were viewing them from above.
Griffon Vultures in flight
The day had been wonderful, and it had been great to see Wendy again. At times, taking a little more time than one might normally do, time to sit and watch carefully, brings huge rewards. I´ve written before about how migration “overlaps” but to see Alpine Accentors, recently arrived winter visitors, on the same day and in the same habitat as Griffon Vultures which were obviously preparing for their breeding season really brings it home just how diverse the natural world is.
Written by Dave Warrington.