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Avian squatters at the end of Europe

10,000 Birds

The White-rumped Swift Apus caffer , a tropical African breeding species, was only discovered breeding in Europe in the 1960s. This was in southern Spain, near the town of Zahara de los Atunes in Cádiz Province, on the northern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar. Curiously, they also breed in Iberia today.

Europe 299
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The Changing Fortunes of Europe’s Vultures – Part 3 The Egyptian Vulture

10,000 Birds

I couldn’t describe it better than Willoughby Verner did in his book “ My Life Among the Wild Birds in Spain ” published in 1909: “ It is when the Egyptian Vulture or Neophron, as it is also styled, is seen close at hand that it is revealed in all its hideousness. The most recent estimates suggest that some 1,500 pairs breed in Spain.

2004 278
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Closing in on the Magic Double Century

10,000 Birds

That trip was fun, as it reminded me of the delights of watching birds like Golden Plover and even Meadow Pipit on their breeding grounds. I see lots of Golden Plovers in the winter, but (like so many waders) they are birds transformed when in their breeding finery. Crakes are difficult to see on their breeding grounds.

Cyprus 245
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Hoping for Spring Migrants in Costa Rica, 2020

10,000 Birds

The annual parade of birds is happening and the feathered participants are dressed in their best breeding suits. Now is when we can venture into the closest park and see birds of the deep woods, species that breed far from town. Now is the special time that birders look forward to all year long. Summer Tanagers also migrate.

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Birding from a Hide

10,000 Birds

For example, the White-headed Duck is nowadays a rarity in Europe (okay, excluding Spain, I know… that Spain …), but until some 50 years ago, it used to breed in Serbia. The hide overlooking the breeding colony of Red-footed Falcons.

Serbia 267
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When the sun beats down with anger

10,000 Birds

This is central Spain instead, and I am well into the worst time of year for birds. They time breeding so that the chicks are fledged before the height of the dry season. Adult Black Kites have just finished breeding and their plumage is abraded Many Black Kites are in moult while on migration.

Africa 285
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The Magic of Kerkini in May

10,000 Birds

True, most of our migrant breeding birds start to return in April, but in May even the late arrivals – Turtle Doves, Swifts, Spotted Flycatchers and Nightjars – finally appear. Perhaps most spectacular of all were two fine Grey Plovers in full breeding finery, living up to their American name of Black-bellied Plover.

Greece 246