Hummingbird Hawk-Moth

In all our ornithological walks, we always try to pay close attention to all the wonders that surround us. 

In one of our last walks to find raptors in Picos de Europa National Park, furthermore than this marvellous Golden Eagle....

Golden Eagle in Picos de Europa National Park

... we could enjoy this amazing Hummingbird Hauk-Moth, and other nice butterflies.

Hummingbird Hauk-Moth

Picos de Europa National Park is one of the best destinations in Spain to enjoy butterflies. ¿Would you like to try it  next spring and summer?. From our accommodation, you will have easy access to the best ecosystemns for birds and butterflies.

Get in touch with us and we will arrange everything for you.

Birding Picos de Europa

www.birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

0034 620239210

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Twitter: @birdingspain

Red-Backed Shrike

Red-Backed Shrike is probably one of the most amazing passerines in our birdwatching summer walks trough the cantabrian campaign.

Summer visitor and extremely territorial, is not difficult to find them in open fields and also in low altitude mountains, most of the times perched on branches trying to catch big insects and even small mouses. To spear some of their preys on bush thorns is a typical behaviour of this beautiful bird.

Young Golden Eagles

These amazing young golden eagles were interacting last week in the boundary of Picos de Europa National Park.

In my opinion they were a male and a female (bigger than the male) a bit older.

After 20 min. interacting they flew and disappeared  together. What were they doing?. I don`t really know. Maybe they only found and each one tried to protect a small territory.

Meanwhile a crow didn´t stop swooping down and disturbing all the time.

OUR THREE SCAVENGER RAPTORS

A historic photo made on September 2014

The three scavenger raptors in Picos de Europa National Park

This is probably the first time that our three scavenger raptors could be pictured all together in Picos de Europa National Park, thanks to the return of the Bearded Bulture to these mountains.

The Bearded Vulture, that is in the centre, is named Biziele and belongs to the Reintroduction Project lead by the Lammergeier Foundation.

Biziele

If you want to enjoy these fantastic birds in Picos de Europa National Park, keep in touch with us. We can provide you all you need: Accommodation, guide services, National Park permisions...etc

Birding Picos de Europa

www.birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

www.facebook.com/birdingpicosdeeuropa

Twitter: @birdingspain

Young Bearded Vultures and Golden Eagles

One of the greatest threats to young Bearded Vultures are the territorial attacks of  Golden Eagles. Last year, in Picos de Europa National Park, an extremely aggressive young Golden Eagle swooped and killed a young male Bearded Vulture called Güeña, belonged to the reintroduction project leaded by the Bearded Vulture Foundation.

Güeña, a young male Bearded Vulture in August last year.

This year, in Picos de Europa National Park, two new females are suffering also the attacks of an adult female, maybe because they are flying near of one of her nests.

Quebrantina, one of the new young females of Bearded Vulture (marked with red and yellow flags) 

and the Golden Eagle in early November.

 Fortunately, at the moment they are only common territorial displays and not direct attacks.

It is time to go for young Golden Eagles

These days, in Picos de Europa National Park, the young Golden Eagles begin to leave the territories when they was born. It is a hard moment for them and frequently their parents must convince them aggressively.

A male adult Golden Eagle tries to kick out  the young one from his territory, while 

adult female observes from above

But sometimes, the young eagles come back again, often looking for easy food, and parents patiently  wait to go back again

The young Golden Eagle came back few days after

This time, the adult female only waited

All these displays and behaviours can be observed in Picos de Europa National Park.  ¿Would you like to enjoy it? Keep in touch with us and, from our cottages, we will arrange everything for you.

www.birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

www.facebook.com/birdingpicosdeeuropa

Twitter: @birdingspain

00 34 620239210

The Law of Nature

In our birdwatching walks, in addition to the birds, we also spend time enjoying the other wanders of nature. 

This time, in a route through the Cantabrian campaign, we could be amazed with this stunning Praying Mantis.

Praying Mantis / Mantis Religiosa

Furthermore, when we were observing this beautiful moth Agapeta zoegana, suddenly the law of nature, appeared in front of our eyes:

Agapeta zoegana

The law of nature

 Nature is sometimes cruel, but always wonderful.

Butterflies in Picos de Europa National Park

In our birdwatching routes we always try to enjoy other amazing aspects of the Picos de Europa nature. This is the case of butterflies.

Polyommatus dorylas (Turquoise Blue / Niña Turquesa)

Pieris napi (Green-Veined White / Blanca Verdinerviada)

Lasiommata megera (Wall Browm / Saltacercas)

Iphiclides feisthamelii (Scarce Swallowtail / Chupa Leche)

Erebria triaria (Prunner´s Ringlet / Montañesa Vacilante)

At least 124 species of diurnal butterflies can be found in the National Park (54% of the total number of Iberian Peninsula and Baleares Islands). A fantastic reason to visit this marvellous mountains.

Golden Eagle

Raptors in Picos de Europa National Park are already busy with the breeding season. In this case, this magnificent Golden Eagle is landing in its nest.

Inside it, a chick probably is waiting to be fed.

Lammergeier in Picos de Europa National Park

Last year I could combine my birdwatching activities in Birding Picos de Europa with some works in the Lammergeier Project. These are the Lammergeiers that we could enjoy in 2014 in Picos de Europa National Park, most of them belonged to the Project.

Biziele. Young male.

Cassanova. Wild adult male 

Cassanova and Atilano. Adult male and 3 years old male.

Deva. Young Female

Güieña. Young Male

Unfortunately, Deva and Güeña were killed by a extremely aggressive Golden Eagle. The Lammergeier Foundation is already working to incorporate this summer, some more young birds in Picos de Europa National Park

Biziele

Este es Biziele, uno de los nuevos quebrantahuesos que, desde este año, vuelan en Picos de Europa .

Biziele

Un animal impresionante, que esperemos tenga muchos años de vida en estas montañas. Para ello tendrá que aprender a defenderse, buscar comida por sí sólo....y además, "se acerca el invierno"....

This is Biziele, one of the new Lammergeiers that flying in the Picos de Europa National Park.

Zarapitos Trinadores

Ayer sábado por la mañana cuando paseaba por la zona de campiña entre Llanes y Poo, este par de guaperas se me posaron a solamente unos pocos metros. Dos preciosos Zarapitos Trinadores. 

Se trata de dos individuos en su viaje de migración prenupcial hacia sus tierras de nidificación, probablemente en la costa oeste de Noruega e incluso en la tundra rusa o Islandia y que han decidido hacer una breve parada aquí para comer y reponer fuerzas. (Así de importante es nuestra costa y nuestra campiña)

Se distingue de su primo mayor, el Zarapito Real, por ser algo más pequeño, por tener el pico un poco más corto, pero fundamentalmente por poseer en la zona de la cabeza unas franjas laterales oscuras, que acentúan una "ceja" más destacada. (si pincháis en las imágenes para ampliarlas lo veréis mejor).

El invierno suelen pasarlo en las costas del sur de la Península o en la costa oeste de áfrica. Así que solamente tenéis que coger alguna herramienta de internet y tratar de medir lo que vuelan cada año estas criaturas. Yo,  cuanto más lo pienso, más increíble me parece...

Abstract. Two Whimbrels in Llanes (Spanish Cantabrian Coast) in prenuptial migration.

Halcón Peregrino

Un Halcón Peregrino es, probablemente, uno de los espectáculos más intensos que un amante de las aves puede disfrutar y más si el entorno es tan bonito como los acantilados marinos de la costa asturiana.

Estas maravillosas aves, están incluidas en el catálogo Regional de Especies Amenazadas de la fauna Vertebrada del Principado de Asturias, como "Especie de Interés Especial" y cuentan con su correspondiente Plan de Manejo.

En la costa de Llanes, se pueden encontrar algunas de estas parejas. Para disfrutar de ellas, sólo hay que poner en práctica las dos cualidades más importantes para la observación de aves: buen ojo y paciencia.