Story of my life, wrong lens 🤣 This Kestrel put on a great show for us yesterday but alas I needed my longer lens, so these are heavily cropped and look better in b/w then they do in colour 🙄
#photography #Photomonday #birds #kestrel #birdphotography #wildlife #birding #andalucia #granada #lanjaron #alpujarras #blackandwhitephotography

The Golden eagle is an almost daily sight for me here in Lanjaron in the Granada province. Our work predominantly in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain and Alpujarra (the foothills of the Sierra Nevada) bring me into regular contact with the flora and fauna of our area.
#goldeneagle #birds #birdphotography #andalucia #Spain #aguilareal #sierranevada #photography #eagles #alpujarras #lanjaron

The Gannets were entertaining me while at the coast the other day. #birds #birdphotography #photography #nature #mediterraneansea #gannets #andalucia #Spain

My nemesis bird, OK so I have a few but today we are talking about the Iberian Magpie. This bird is super friendly in some parts of Spain, I just have never met one of those 🤔 This shot is probably the best shot of one I've taken in 17 years of living here 🤦‍♀️🤣
Do you have a nemesis bird?
#photography #birds #birdphotography #nature #birdsofmastodon #spain #andalucia

This Common Kestrel was rather pleased with itself having caught a grasshopper for lunch 🍽️
#photography #birds #birdphotography #nature #birding #birdsofmastodon #lanjaron #andalucia #Spain #wildlife

The male Mallards are looking particularly handsome at the moment 😍
#photography #birds #wildlife #birdsofmastodon #duck #nature #naturephotography #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography

Introducing Mr and Mrs Woodchat Shrike ❤️ I have seen 4 on the dog walk today, that's the most I've seen on the dog walk for a number of years.
#photography #nature #birds #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlife #birdsofmastodon #spain

Came across an Alpine Swift colony while out on a walk recently. Boy these guys move fast. What a great sight it was to be around such impressive birds. Almost as impressive was the fact I actually photographed one in focus 😂
#birds #photography #birdsofmastodon #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #birdphotography #Spain

We call this guy Scruffy. I think he might be an Elvis fan 🤔

#photography #birds #birdphotography #nature

Came across these two cuties and a third sibling recently. Had to help them away from stupid person with a dog. Hopefully the parents located them 🤞

#birds #photography #nature #birdphotography #wildlife #birdsofmastodon #cute

This pale form Booted Eagle flew over the house yesterday as I was fetching the washing in. I had to run back into the house, grab the camera, change settings, run back outside, the eagle was way above by then. Happens everytime, you'd think I'd have learnt by now!
#bootedeagle #eagle #birds #birdsofprey #photography #birdsofmastodon #birdphotography #keepontrying #nature #wildlife

A sweet little Long-tailed Tit family were searching for food in the trees this morning ❤ They never stay still for long, always on the move. Regular visitors to the garden.
#birds #birdphotography #nature #photography #family #wildlife #andalucia #spain

We were going to be walking and spending the night in a reliable place for seeing the Griffon Vulture. I hoped that adding the extra weight to my pack, ie the enormous lens and camera, that I wouldn't just be taking it for a walk for 2 days but would actually use it. The Griffon Vultures didn't let me down ❤️ 17 yrs walking in these mountains I am learning where the wildlife hangs out #birds #birdsofmastodon #birdphotography #Spain #andalucia #wildlife #nature #vulture #Mountains #photography

What else did we see 🤔#Lammergeier that's what we saw, not 1 but 2 of these beauties ❤ We watched them away in the distance as they 'played' in the sky mirroring eachother flying. I only have record shots because they were too far away, when one did come reasonably close it took us by surprise and I wasn't ready 🤣 But for me it was the highlight of our trip, It's an amazing privilege to have seen this pair.
Bit of info in the comments about these #birds #birdsofmastodon #spain #sierranevada

The European Bee Eaters have been passing through en-mass over the past few weeks heading off to their wintering grounds in Africa. Our local populations left a long time ago, these passing through now are from further north. I was enjoying watching them feed up for their journey until one hit the alarm button, they all gathered together and shot off. Wise birds as a Peregrine Falcon had decided to join them!

#birds #birdphotography #photography #migration #andalucia #spain

It's thanks to these people that we are lucky to have the Bearded vulture gracing our mountains in the Sierra Nevada. You have to be lucky to see them here, but it's such a buzz when you do ❤ Enjoy the lovely short video and article about the work being done.
https://4vultures.org/blog/the-story-of-the-bearded-vulture-by-lizzie-daly/ #birds #vultures #conservation #spain #andalucia #mountains

You can always rely on the Stonechat when everything else is being shy. From this morning on the dog walk.

#nature #birds #spain #wildlife #photography #naturephotography #birdphotography #birdsofmastodon #mr&mrs #andalucia

My nemesis bird the Iberian Magpie
(Cyanopica cooki). These are the best shots I've gotten of them in 17 years 😂 One of these days I will nail a shot of them! Do you have a nemesis bird? I actually have a few!

#photography #birds #nature #spain #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #birdsofmastodon #andalucia

A Grey Heron off for a walk in the Embalse de Cubillas, Granada.
#nature #birds #spain #wildlife #photography #naturephotography #birdphotography #birdsofmastodon #andalucia

In Patagonia the birdlife seems to have little fear of humans. Here a White-throated Caracara came to visit me and clearly wanted it's photo taken 🙂
#Nature #Birds #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Patagonia #Argentina

Another Patagonian beauty and the original Woody Woodpecker, introducing Mr and Mrs Magellanic Woodpecker. It is the largest South American Woodpecker and one of the largest in the world.
#Nature #Birds #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Patagonia #Argentina

When I visit Patagonia, one of the many joys about being there is getting to see these birds up close. The Andean Condor, wow what a bird it is. Weighing in at 15kg and a wingspan up to over 3m it is one of the largest flying birds in the world.
#Nature #Birds #Patagonia #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Argentina #birdsofprey

This is such a striking little bird. Not one I see very often as it's mainly down at the coast and well we don't go there very often. However we were at the coast yesterday and came across a small group of Common Waxbill, I managed to get lots of out of focus shots of the group 😂 but managed get this one on it's own in focus.
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia

#SilentSunday #Andalucia #Spain #Photography #Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon

While out and about the other day we bumped into this beautiful female Kestrel. She was sat on top of a tree watching for potential food, which she spotted and flew off to try to catch, I lost sight of her.
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia

At 2500m in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain yesterday I came across these hooligans (Coal Tits) rolling around on the floor. It was like scene from a film 😂 They were trying to kill eachother, I had to split them up in the end, remind them they had to eat plenty, rather than fight, to make it through the night! No idea what the argument could be about, do you?
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia #WinterPictures

The friendly and charismatic Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). I found out recently that they pair for life ❤️
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #WinterPictures #JoinThread #Winter

Before coming to the UK I got to spend a few hours birdwatching with friends. The most numerous raptor during that time were the returning Short-toed Eagles. #Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia

Perhaps the most exciting bird we saw that day was the Little Bustard. We saw 3 different male birds. This bird is quite difficult to see, besides it's camoflauge, it's habitat is being destroyed so there are not many of them left in our province. Sadly the thing that is destroying the habitat the most are solar farms, thousands and thousands. It's horrific to see. #Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #rarebirds #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia

I can hear you thinking "Why is she posting this awful shot?" It is rather exciting. In this picture there are 3 species of vulture. Taken at 2200m in Sierra Nevada mountains, in the Granada province. Among the more common Griffon vultures there is 1 Black & 1 Bearded vulture. The Black is a very occasional visitor to our province. The Bearded is part of a successful reintroduction programme in #Andalucia. Not many have seen this in our province #Birds #Spain #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon

While back in the UK in May I watched a pair of Blue tits who had nested in a bird house in my Dad's garden going backwards and forwards with food. I didn't get to see the babies fledge, but my Dad reports that they did. Does anyone know if they will have two broods in a season or just the one?
#Nature #Birds #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon

I always get a thrill when I am able to spend time with these wonderful birds, natures clean up crew. This bird was seen at first light after we had climbed a peak. Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), also known as the Eurasian Griffon, is a large short tailed vulture with excellent eyesight and in flight can spot an animal carcass from a distance in excess of five km (info from Bird Fact).
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia

Around here Golden Oriole are shy birds making them really difficult to photograph well. Another season has passed without a good opportunity. The closest I had was with this family group just before they left for Africa. They were still out of range of the camera and were messing around before the sun came up so light was poor. Anyway regardless of that, how many can you spot in this picture?
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon

The first Saturday of September every year marks International Vulture Awareness Day #IVAD, uniting thousands globally to raise awareness about vultures' importance and the urgent need for their conservation.
This is a picture of Griffon Vulture that I took close to home. Vultures: vital guardians of the natural world, not just mere scavengers. Find out more about vultures https://vultureday.org/vultures/
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon

This sweat Northern Wheatear won't be around in the mountains much longer as the seasons start to change and it heads off somewhere warmer for the winter.
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #Birdsofmastodon #Andalucia #MountainLife

#SilentSunday #Andalucia #Spain #Photography #Nature #Birds #Wildlife #Birdphotography #BirdsofMastodon

Spotted near the Alhambra palace in Granada. The colours of these birds never fail to amaze me in their vividness.

#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #BirdsofMastodon #Andalucia

We had an amazing encounter with a Bearded vulture (Lammergeier) yesterday in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Of course I had the small point & press camera rather than my usual birding lens and camera. The sky was awful for bird photography. But what mattered was the encounter. It's always so special when an unexpected wildlife encounter happens.
#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #BirdsofMastodon #Andalucia #RareBird

The wonderful and very vocal Southern Lapwing, possibly the Patagonian subspeices (chilensis/fretensis)? I need someone who knows more than I do to confirm or disagree with that. I like how this shot shows the spur on the wing just pointing through the back chest feathers. These can be used defending it's young or territory. Quite the feisty bird 💪

#Nature #Birds #Patagonia #Wildlife #Photography #Naturephotography #Birdphotography #BirdsofMastodon #Argentina

These guys always remind me of bandits 🙃

#Nature #Birds #Spain #Wildlife #Photography #Birdphotography #BirdsofMastodon #Andalucia