Alas, can I keep my promises?

Well, I soon broke my new year resolutions didn't I? To keep this blog updated weekly.

Truth be told I have been slightly busy these past months.. but to be honest most of it was down to laziness  And we can't be having that. Not in 2012. Oh no, no, no. 

So lets condense what I have been up to birding wise quickly and then try... TRY.. to keep this going weekly. 

Birdin' the patch!

Being based in Sotogrande in the Costa del sol does have its pros ( As well as its cons ). Its slap bang in the middle of a major migration route too and from Africa, so I can expect some nice migrants - Honey Buzzard  vis mig can be spectacular! and has its own 2 reserves, both of which offer up a nice variety of bird life. 

The past month ( April ) I have been paying a lot more attention to them and have discovered some nice birds and even had a few lifers - which is always awesome! The main highlights being; Nightingale, Woodchat Shrike, Black Kite, Spotted Flycatcher, Subalpine Warbler, Glossy Ibis, Short Toed Eagle and Spanish Sparrow.

I'll definitely be trying to keep up the regular visits to the patches and will post the sightings on here, as well as patch list which will added to the blog very soon - Basically as soon as I count it up! 

                                                        Nightingale at local patch

Further afield!

The discovery of a fantastic new site for me to visit at the start of the year was fantastic. La Janda is situated slightly past Tarifa and quite a drive from Sotogrande but holds an absolutely brilliant number of birds. Since the first visit I have been several times and found myself always with something to look at! and In winter it holds Black Shouldered Kite - One of my favourite birds! 

                                               Black Shouldered Kite

During this Spring at La Janda I have seen in no particular order; Montagus Harrier, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Red Kite, Short Toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Common Crane, White Stork, Purple Gallinule, Bluethroat, Cattle Egret, Bee Eater, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Blue Rock Thrush, Griffon Vulture, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Zitting Cisticola, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Serin, Bluetit, Sardinian Warbler, Black Eared Wheatear, Mallard, Shelduck, Swallow, House Martin, Crag Martin, Swift, Little Egret, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting and most likely some more that I can't recall..

So that is basically it. I'll be travelling more in the future for tennis so that might tie in with some visits to some birding places. You never know what might turn up at the patch either! Happy Birding!