IngloriousBustards.bsky.social
@ingloriousbustards.bsky.social
#FlywayBirding tours and conservation in The #Straits of #Gibraltar and the East Atlantic Flyway - ingloriousbustards.com
Storm #Claudia brought record Leach's Petrels to The #Straits this week!
We ventured north with Spanish Imperial Eagle on the edge of the storm on the #Llanos and an awesome encounter with the largest Dendrocopos Woodpecker - White-backed Woodpecker in northern forests
#FlywayBirding
We ventured north with Spanish Imperial Eagle on the edge of the storm on the #Llanos and an awesome encounter with the largest Dendrocopos Woodpecker - White-backed Woodpecker in northern forests
#FlywayBirding
November 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Storm #Claudia brought record Leach's Petrels to The #Straits this week!
We ventured north with Spanish Imperial Eagle on the edge of the storm on the #Llanos and an awesome encounter with the largest Dendrocopos Woodpecker - White-backed Woodpecker in northern forests
#FlywayBirding
We ventured north with Spanish Imperial Eagle on the edge of the storm on the #Llanos and an awesome encounter with the largest Dendrocopos Woodpecker - White-backed Woodpecker in northern forests
#FlywayBirding
On our recent #BirdingTwoContinents tour this #Osprey flew over us on the fabled Merja Zerga lagoon in #Morocco
We now know that she was ringed by Roy Dennis at a nest near Loch Insh in #Scotland on 10/7/18 - this is the first time she has been recorded in over 7 years since her first migration!
We now know that she was ringed by Roy Dennis at a nest near Loch Insh in #Scotland on 10/7/18 - this is the first time she has been recorded in over 7 years since her first migration!
November 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
On our recent #BirdingTwoContinents tour this #Osprey flew over us on the fabled Merja Zerga lagoon in #Morocco
We now know that she was ringed by Roy Dennis at a nest near Loch Insh in #Scotland on 10/7/18 - this is the first time she has been recorded in over 7 years since her first migration!
We now know that she was ringed by Roy Dennis at a nest near Loch Insh in #Scotland on 10/7/18 - this is the first time she has been recorded in over 7 years since her first migration!
One of the delights of mountain #Birding here this time of the year is watching huge noisy #ChoughNados - Red-billed Choughs!
They can form huge groups leaving or coming to roost - a memorable and mesmerising encounter last week with a group of 143 of these fabulous corvids leaving a roost!
They can form huge groups leaving or coming to roost - a memorable and mesmerising encounter last week with a group of 143 of these fabulous corvids leaving a roost!
November 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
One of the delights of mountain #Birding here this time of the year is watching huge noisy #ChoughNados - Red-billed Choughs!
They can form huge groups leaving or coming to roost - a memorable and mesmerising encounter last week with a group of 143 of these fabulous corvids leaving a roost!
They can form huge groups leaving or coming to roost - a memorable and mesmerising encounter last week with a group of 143 of these fabulous corvids leaving a roost!
Griffon Vultures crossing The #Straits yesterday- pure migratory magic! ….or youth dispersal magic 😉 1,687 Griffon Vultures crossed over our heads!
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Griffon Vultures crossing The #Straits yesterday- pure migratory magic! ….or youth dispersal magic 😉 1,687 Griffon Vultures crossed over our heads!
We have taken to the mountains once again and among Rock Buntings, Black Wheatears and Blue Rock Thrushes whilst European Black Vulture among Griffon Vultures as a Chough-nado of 143 Red-billed Chough noisily circled over and 2 Ring Ouzel among the juniper scrub
November 5, 2025 at 7:27 AM
We have taken to the mountains once again and among Rock Buntings, Black Wheatears and Blue Rock Thrushes whilst European Black Vulture among Griffon Vultures as a Chough-nado of 143 Red-billed Chough noisily circled over and 2 Ring Ouzel among the juniper scrub
The local #Vulture colonies are jumping at the moment with young Griffon Vultures making their way to The #Straits to cross to Africa!
Among the masses we found two critically endangered vagrant immature Rüppell´s #Vultures ! #FlywayBirding
Among the masses we found two critically endangered vagrant immature Rüppell´s #Vultures ! #FlywayBirding
November 4, 2025 at 6:59 AM
The local #Vulture colonies are jumping at the moment with young Griffon Vultures making their way to The #Straits to cross to Africa!
Among the masses we found two critically endangered vagrant immature Rüppell´s #Vultures ! #FlywayBirding
Among the masses we found two critically endangered vagrant immature Rüppell´s #Vultures ! #FlywayBirding
#VultureMayhem as nearly 5 metric tonnes of Griffon Vultures stage to cross the divide between Europe and Africa here at The #Straits of Gibraltar!
November 3, 2025 at 7:01 AM
#VultureMayhem as nearly 5 metric tonnes of Griffon Vultures stage to cross the divide between Europe and Africa here at The #Straits of Gibraltar!
Our guests were under c.5 metric tonnes of Griffon Vultures gathering overhead to cross The #Straits yesterday!
556 Griffon Vultures crossed with Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagle, Osprey and a juvenile European Honey Buzzard.
#FlywayBirding
556 Griffon Vultures crossed with Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagle, Osprey and a juvenile European Honey Buzzard.
#FlywayBirding
November 1, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Our guests were under c.5 metric tonnes of Griffon Vultures gathering overhead to cross The #Straits yesterday!
556 Griffon Vultures crossed with Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagle, Osprey and a juvenile European Honey Buzzard.
#FlywayBirding
556 Griffon Vultures crossed with Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagles, Booted Eagle, Osprey and a juvenile European Honey Buzzard.
#FlywayBirding
This ringed Caspian #Tern we encountered recently on our #BirdingTwoContinents #Tour on the fabled Merga Zerja lagoon in #Morocco was ringed as a chick on the Kvädö peninsula in Sweden! 3,101km away, 7 years and 118 days before our observation!
#FlywayBirding
#FlywayBirding
October 29, 2025 at 6:28 AM
This ringed Caspian #Tern we encountered recently on our #BirdingTwoContinents #Tour on the fabled Merga Zerja lagoon in #Morocco was ringed as a chick on the Kvädö peninsula in Sweden! 3,101km away, 7 years and 118 days before our observation!
#FlywayBirding
#FlywayBirding
Arrival day for our guests yesterday and our first area to explore on our #Ronda and The #Straits tour is the #mountains!
Here we were greeted by masses of Black #Redstarts and White #Wagtails seeking lower altitudes.
#FlywayBirding
Here we were greeted by masses of Black #Redstarts and White #Wagtails seeking lower altitudes.
#FlywayBirding
October 28, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Arrival day for our guests yesterday and our first area to explore on our #Ronda and The #Straits tour is the #mountains!
Here we were greeted by masses of Black #Redstarts and White #Wagtails seeking lower altitudes.
#FlywayBirding
Here we were greeted by masses of Black #Redstarts and White #Wagtails seeking lower altitudes.
#FlywayBirding
Early winter vibes here in The #Straits with squadrons of young Griffon #Vultures making their way across the continental divide and into #Africa as a massive flow of passerine migration is also clearly underway!
Common Eider is back for a 2nd yr, Pipits, Wagtails and Finches are pouring over!
Common Eider is back for a 2nd yr, Pipits, Wagtails and Finches are pouring over!
October 26, 2025 at 10:44 AM
1st leg of our #Moroccan section of our #BirdingonTwoContinents tour has been magic!
Greeting us and arriving Short-toed Eagles into Africa were African Blue Tits, African Chaffinch and Common Bulbuls.
The fabled Merga Zerja lagoon gave us magical encounters with #Gulls, #Terns and #Shorebirds!
Greeting us and arriving Short-toed Eagles into Africa were African Blue Tits, African Chaffinch and Common Bulbuls.
The fabled Merga Zerja lagoon gave us magical encounters with #Gulls, #Terns and #Shorebirds!
October 15, 2025 at 9:28 PM
1st leg of our #Moroccan section of our #BirdingonTwoContinents tour has been magic!
Greeting us and arriving Short-toed Eagles into Africa were African Blue Tits, African Chaffinch and Common Bulbuls.
The fabled Merga Zerja lagoon gave us magical encounters with #Gulls, #Terns and #Shorebirds!
Greeting us and arriving Short-toed Eagles into Africa were African Blue Tits, African Chaffinch and Common Bulbuls.
The fabled Merga Zerja lagoon gave us magical encounters with #Gulls, #Terns and #Shorebirds!
We encountered with glee on our #BirdingTwoContinents tour this week the stunning 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐛 𝐎𝐰𝐥!
On mtDNA it has been shown to be sister to the fairly genetically homogeneous Tawny Owl of Europe. This species is darker and markedly larger than Tawny Owl with a 20% bigger wingspan.
#FlywayBirding
On mtDNA it has been shown to be sister to the fairly genetically homogeneous Tawny Owl of Europe. This species is darker and markedly larger than Tawny Owl with a 20% bigger wingspan.
#FlywayBirding
October 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
We encountered with glee on our #BirdingTwoContinents tour this week the stunning 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐛 𝐎𝐰𝐥!
On mtDNA it has been shown to be sister to the fairly genetically homogeneous Tawny Owl of Europe. This species is darker and markedly larger than Tawny Owl with a 20% bigger wingspan.
#FlywayBirding
On mtDNA it has been shown to be sister to the fairly genetically homogeneous Tawny Owl of Europe. This species is darker and markedly larger than Tawny Owl with a 20% bigger wingspan.
#FlywayBirding
El parque de Reina Sofía #LaLinea is jumping right now! Fab urban #flyway #Birding before farewells at #Gibraltar Airport
Encounters with Common #Redstarts and both European Pied and Spotted #Flycatchers - the park an ornithological gold mine and absolutely buzzing with migrant #Birds!
Encounters with Common #Redstarts and both European Pied and Spotted #Flycatchers - the park an ornithological gold mine and absolutely buzzing with migrant #Birds!
October 2, 2025 at 5:19 PM
El parque de Reina Sofía #LaLinea is jumping right now! Fab urban #flyway #Birding before farewells at #Gibraltar Airport
Encounters with Common #Redstarts and both European Pied and Spotted #Flycatchers - the park an ornithological gold mine and absolutely buzzing with migrant #Birds!
Encounters with Common #Redstarts and both European Pied and Spotted #Flycatchers - the park an ornithological gold mine and absolutely buzzing with migrant #Birds!
We moved from the campo with thousands of mesmerising Spanish Sparrows to #UrbanBirding in #Tarifa.
Here a Little Owl peered at us and the loneliest Common Bulbul in the world hung out with us! As the rain stopped it was time for hundreds of Booted and Short-toed #Eagles to pour out over #Tarifa
Here a Little Owl peered at us and the loneliest Common Bulbul in the world hung out with us! As the rain stopped it was time for hundreds of Booted and Short-toed #Eagles to pour out over #Tarifa
September 30, 2025 at 6:03 AM
We moved from the campo with thousands of mesmerising Spanish Sparrows to #UrbanBirding in #Tarifa.
Here a Little Owl peered at us and the loneliest Common Bulbul in the world hung out with us! As the rain stopped it was time for hundreds of Booted and Short-toed #Eagles to pour out over #Tarifa
Here a Little Owl peered at us and the loneliest Common Bulbul in the world hung out with us! As the rain stopped it was time for hundreds of Booted and Short-toed #Eagles to pour out over #Tarifa
Great day among the #Marismas of the western end of The Straits yesterday among a mass of migratory #Shorebirds
Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Ruff and masses of Little Stint among many highlights as Greater Flamingoes, Slender-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns also delighted our guests.
Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Ruff and masses of Little Stint among many highlights as Greater Flamingoes, Slender-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns also delighted our guests.
September 29, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Great day among the #Marismas of the western end of The Straits yesterday among a mass of migratory #Shorebirds
Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Ruff and masses of Little Stint among many highlights as Greater Flamingoes, Slender-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns also delighted our guests.
Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Ruff and masses of Little Stint among many highlights as Greater Flamingoes, Slender-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns also delighted our guests.
608 Booted Eagles & 339 Short-toed Eagles soared just overhead and at eye level and out over The #Straits onto #Africa beyond.
Alongside European Honey Buzzards, Black #Kites, Egyptian #Vultures, groups of both Black & White #Storks
A vagrant Atlas Long-legged (North African) Buzzard too!
Alongside European Honey Buzzards, Black #Kites, Egyptian #Vultures, groups of both Black & White #Storks
A vagrant Atlas Long-legged (North African) Buzzard too!
September 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Mega #StraitsBirding day among #Shorebirds here y´day - The first #Bird we got our optics on was a vagrant Lesser Yellowlegs alongside Ruff, Wood Sandpipers, Little Stints & Curlew Sandpipers.
Migrant passerines - European Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear
Migrant passerines - European Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear
September 23, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Mega #StraitsBirding day among #Shorebirds here y´day - The first #Bird we got our optics on was a vagrant Lesser Yellowlegs alongside Ruff, Wood Sandpipers, Little Stints & Curlew Sandpipers.
Migrant passerines - European Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear
Migrant passerines - European Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear
With the strong levante wind making the crossing of The #Straits even more challenging for soaring migratory #Birds many have been cruising the coast looking for a way to cross or lingering in the campo waiting for their moment.
This stunning rare dark morph Montagu´s Harrier was among them!
This stunning rare dark morph Montagu´s Harrier was among them!
September 21, 2025 at 5:56 AM
With a moderate to strong levante we positioned ourselves at the sweet spot where those attempting the crossing would come low over us.
European Honey Buzzards, Booted & Short-toed #Eagles, Egyptian #Vultures, Montagu´s #Harriers + more, a spectacular #FlywayBirding experience for our guests!
European Honey Buzzards, Booted & Short-toed #Eagles, Egyptian #Vultures, Montagu´s #Harriers + more, a spectacular #FlywayBirding experience for our guests!
September 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
With a moderate to strong levante we positioned ourselves at the sweet spot where those attempting the crossing would come low over us.
European Honey Buzzards, Booted & Short-toed #Eagles, Egyptian #Vultures, Montagu´s #Harriers + more, a spectacular #FlywayBirding experience for our guests!
European Honey Buzzards, Booted & Short-toed #Eagles, Egyptian #Vultures, Montagu´s #Harriers + more, a spectacular #FlywayBirding experience for our guests!
The levante kicked in and so we took ourselves to the Western side of The Straits among an ever increasing passage of #Shorebirds
In the campo Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Common Redstarts and Northern Wheatears arrive on their own journey! #FlywayBirding
In the campo Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Common Redstarts and Northern Wheatears arrive on their own journey! #FlywayBirding
September 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The levante kicked in and so we took ourselves to the Western side of The Straits among an ever increasing passage of #Shorebirds
In the campo Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Common Redstarts and Northern Wheatears arrive on their own journey! #FlywayBirding
In the campo Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Common Redstarts and Northern Wheatears arrive on their own journey! #FlywayBirding
Yesterday Short-toed and Booted #Eagles lingered before taking the leap into The #Straits right out from our watchpoint joined by Egyptian #Vultures and Black #Storks and then the #HoneyTrain began to flow! European Honey Buzzards storming out over The divide and our gathered optics!
September 15, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Yesterday Short-toed and Booted #Eagles lingered before taking the leap into The #Straits right out from our watchpoint joined by Egyptian #Vultures and Black #Storks and then the #HoneyTrain began to flow! European Honey Buzzards storming out over The divide and our gathered optics!
The campo was also hopping with small migratory passerines like this European Pied Flycatcher
September 13, 2025 at 6:39 AM
The campo was also hopping with small migratory passerines like this European Pied Flycatcher