Saturday, December 11, 2010

Washer Service Templates

Looking for the Iberian lynx

Last bridge went down, the usual gaffs on expeditions to Sierra Morena, in order to observe one of the most characteristic mammalian predators of our wildlife, cat nail or serval is officially called: the Iberian lynx. We had 2 full days to find and capture the ghost cat a few moments of your life in our retina. Sierra Morena
is one of the leading exponents in terms of Mediterranean forest is concerned. Encinas, thickets and bushes born on its slopes and granite boulders covered with moss adorn their fields. Most of the land belongs to or to land used for hunting or to the breeding of bulls and one can not move with the freedom with which we can move in the Cantabrian But whether he can soak up its beauty, its sounds and smells. Monterías
When performing on these farms, are often killed animal waste which are used effectively by the Iberian scavengers. In these mountains live the black vulture, the largest flying bird in Europe and second in the world. Animals that appear genuine monks as they approach the carcass and that far exceed the size of a griffon vulture when you closer. Never seen this kind and really impress your short flight.

black vulture ( Aegypius monachus)

black vulture ( Aegypius monachus)

The first day we came late to the south of the peninsula and had little time to observe. The owls, little elves of the night, we were told that the light was leaving and that tomorrow was another day.

Owl (Athene noctua )

Deer are very abundant in the Sierra and still roaring rains altered these days in Andalucia. Juveniles are treated normally lengthening both the rut in these lands. The truth is that it is quite strange to hear one howling so intense at the time of which we speak, as in the Cantabrian if I've ever heard some fleeting squall of snow in winter but appeases everyone.

Deer in the Mediterranean mountain

The next day we were on the mountain when daybreak on the snowy peaks of Sierra Nevada. Another objective of the trip apart from the black vulture was seen mouflon. It is a game species typical of Corsica, which was introduced in many regions of Spain for hunting. It is the most elusive of creatures from the land and the fact that those days monterías see charged that these animals were made away from traffic areas and near the top. However, if we could see and photograph some birds before the sun beating the brown slopes of the Sierra.

Sunrise in Sierra Morena

mouflon (Ovis musimon )

As always click on the photos if you want to expand. Continuing to point out when lynx deer and fallow deer farms out of the property adjacent to the one we were on. Both males and females with small groups of pups this spring.



series of images of deer (Cervus elaphus ) of this mountain jienense

We had been able to appreciate the main reason that this mountain is one of the last refuges of the Iberian lynx, rabbits, essential support in the feline diet and is abundant in Sierra Morena. Finally we reached a large room where between 4 would cover the entire surface and watching the cat. Upon arrival a group of naturalists and were located hiding behind a copy of granitic rocks. The distance was great, but the animal was seen after a while through a telescope. The mountain is full of Mediterranean shrubs of all kinds including the lynx seems invisible and the topography of the mountains with hills and valleys makes the animal appear and disappear in a blink of. Here's a sample of the land on which develops the cat Andalusia.




The animal had disappeared behind a hill when suddenly a Briton who was there to see lynx became nervous and pointed his finger down. A male lynx moved like a shadow among the thickets with rapid movements in the act of hunting as it moved with the body low to the ground, alternating motion with stops shooting. The other copy if I could photograph it.

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina ) click to enlarge

Animals like magpies magpies or very helpful in locating the lynx the bends of the mountain. Alarming alert once they have located the predator and swirl on or around. They even chopped on the animal to reveal their presence and cause them to move to another area. The truth is that we located several copies listening and watching the magpies. After a while the lynx appeared that he had come close a few feet below, was scratched from sitting sharpened claws into the trunk of an oak tree and continued his way to a frightening number of rabbits mastic in its path. The truth is that it is an amazing animal and demonstrates the strength and magic that surrounds it in their comments.





series of images of some of the behavior described above of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina )

The journey south had already paid off handsomely. We walked after comments by the Sierra to see the water level in the reservoir Jándula and greens of the jackets. We were told we were lucky because they rarely see the saw with those colors at this time.


Robin (Erithacus rubecuola )

Jándula Reservoir

the afternoon we went to another of the areas where the lynx is usually seen next to the river Jándula. Another usual prey of the lynx is the red partridge, another icon of the Iberian birds. Her singing was present in all we expect the cat and the lynx itself up a camp in transit.

red partridge (Alectoris rufa )

We could see another copy of lynx and even heard it meowing to move again betrayed by a group of magpies. However it did in the margin of the river overgrown and despite having seen very well could not make any decent decision. But the stars of the evening were undoubtedly a family of otters. A female with 2 young river swimming year while whistling and fiddling down continuously. Is an animal that had seen only once here at the coast and whose observation in Sierra Morena especially enjoyed. A joy to see them develop in their environment which they shared with a kingfisher, various herons and cormorants. By immersing you could follow the trail of bubbles to anticipate your next trip to the surface. Curious animals and accelerated like most mustelids. Here let a few pictures of the encounter with the otters in the 2 days we went to the river area. Some photos are mine and some are of my cousin Dani, fellow sufferer in this matter of bicheo, here I leave and pass his gallery in Fotonatura

Otters (Lutra lutra ) diving

otters on the shore





Otters (Lutra lutra) in the river Jándula

In another of the dams of the river also could see a distant rock thrush, another species that had not had the pleasure of watching so far. It seemed that we were going to Andalusia without seeing another Iberian treasures: the imperial eagle but the last day in another of the lynx appeared wait a couple cicleó a while over our heads. The second day we saw another 2 comments lynx: You only saw me as quickly hid behind a hill and a cousin tracked him and found him more time but as always appeared and disappeared intermittently.

Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti )

say that the second day it rained profusely and intermittently but intense. In the Cantabrian if it rains it rains you all day, but rain in the south to Andalusia. But tell that to one of many we saw Hoopoe stoically enduring good wetting.

Hoopoe (Upupa epops )

Finally, a memorable trip where we saw more of the treasures hidden in the bushes and the rocks of our country. Hope they do for many years and we can enjoy hunting their sets. Meanwhile, the cat will Andalusian countryside under the dark oaks and the green plants of the Sierra de Andujar Jaen. I hope you have enjoyed chronicling the trip, a greeting and thanks for visiting the blog.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Frontal Lobe Aneurysm

Field days

If anything they have field days is that neither is same as above. There are days that are very good that Most people reflect on blogs but among them there are many days that attract less attention, but can be very special if we value them. Not everything will be to see how large carnivores feed on large prey or as a run a game set. These days you do not usually arise when you have a conversation with a colleague from the scene because at the time do not seem peculiar but remember last time reviewing photographs and make it a day not got your attention, do a couple of weeks later.

Fox (Vulpes vulpes )

Something happened late October when giving one of the routine trips looking for something interesting I came across a fox champion. Summer has been a pretty weak in terms of observations of this dog and wanted to return to photograph it as it deserved. You see, one of the most abundant mammals in our country and yet his comments sparked a motivation comparable to that of any species with more popularity. The fox in question already has a winter coat and a beautiful white club crowned his bushy tail. The fox is one of those animals is always there and often is not given the attention it deserves.





This animal stands out from all over the world for his cunning, starring in numerous fables and stories. And the truth is that watching carefully you realize that your reputation is deserved. Considered vermin by many, due to attacks on poultry among other things, this animal has been attacked by the man continually and in fact continues sufirendo. In many small game farms in the southern half of the Iberian peninsula was still peppering the fox so that "we are not quite" game. Things like that are rather funny since that takes the fox hunt the hunter. The need to survive first and the second not. Anyway, back to business as usual, money and other stories. As you can see, the observation of an animal in its environment a reflection bounces to another and you really question it because mowing down a bug like this.

Cantabrian Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva )

Another animal abundance in the highlands of the Andes is the chamois. An animal whose zeal is a sight to admire and say that is about to begin. They are the wild cattle of the range, fully adapted to life among the rocks and limestone vertical cut. Pure fiber prepared to cushion the falls among the rocks at breakneck speeds. One can see many chamois over your life as an animal is quite abundant, but when you really stop to think about what these animals are able to observe them in much greater detail and assesses the "machine" that is in front. A simple observation of chamois can be special when you try to see why this animal is like and what makes it special.

are times when many birds visiting from northern Europe to spend the winter in a warmer environment and greater availability of food that the land they came from, that at this time appears to be covered with snow. That makes a field trip worth watching only one of these animals and the fact that a year to check the nature continues as usual despite the obstacles and that these birds return to travel hundreds of miles. This is the case of Fieldfare and Redwing, thrushes that come from lands like Finland and Norway to feed in our fields. Often form mixed flocks of Fieldfare, Redwing, Common, some chat from time to time and also some blackbird capiblanco at the peak of the migration of this species. This year already saw a few copies of Fieldfare and Redwing feeding on the fruits of hawthorn and include leave capiblanco see a blackbird always a joy.

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris )

Redwing (Turdus iliacus ) photographed on a vineyard in 2007 with my previous camera, Lumix migrates

Another winter I met this year was the real finch. Finch did not see a real since the winter of 2007-2008 and the truth is it is a most handsome bird we see in this time of comings and goings. Usually they appear in flocks of finches and chaffinches, goldfinches and greenfinches. Ls males have a dark blue tint to the head that is the remains of their breeding plumage while the females tend to be more discreet. It was a very good season for overwintering in general and I saw the biggest bands of Lugano in the Cantabrian mountain birch and eating in the "Humeiros" (Alder) of the banks.

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) photographed in 2007 along with chaffinches

Brambling photographed this year

The truth is that to meet a good flock of finches and other birds is very entertaining as where you least expect may appear one of these species you want to see every winter. This past weekend saw a total of 10 bramblings approximately in 2 large flocks. One of these sides had finches, real, finches and sparrows (often these species feed on lawns and people in their break) and the second side had chaffinches, real, greenfinches, yellowhammer and sparrows.
The migration is one of the reasons why it is worthwhile to take the field in these days of storms and cold. However, some field days or you have no chance to see the residents, or migrants, or anything ... Sure you've all experienced one day where it seems that the mountain is silent and does not move any animal. There are days when you have to find something that proves that all you do is really worthwhile. This is when the day gives you a beautiful sunset, or a color in the leaves of the beech reflects the rainfall.

has Sheets ( Fagus sylvatica) in autumn

Autumn Sunset

are small details, is that in this hobby, as in life, small details that really make people happy and that if learn to appreciate you always have one and make it worthwhile. Those who engage in too much, never was satisfied and not get made. Okay to be ambitious but in perspective, and is very easy to jump the line. I hope you have enjoyed and identified themselves with ye these days of field that they are still a few notes in a notebook for someone normal but as I reread them over time become special memories. A greeting

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Metal Parents Are The Best

shorebirds in Asturias

Hello everyone. This input was in the room since September, when it David Alvarez, excellent biologist and a better person, decided to join in the corners of affection for the species of shorebirds that rely on the Asturian coast in the autumn passage. He does not like to be thanked for teaching the fact bugs, so I appreciate the company and the sharing of experiences throughout the day.
Spaniard started visiting a sandy looking for a confident sandpipers foraging on algae left by the tide, however first thing we did not have much luck. Some ringed plover, turnstone and a little more running around among the coastal rocks and pebbles. We were then taken to
Llastres, village famous for the series "Dr. Matthew" since it contains some of the scenarios, but also has a great interest in bird watching in your port as we can find some marine lies behind the intense vaje the north. Was the case of 4 auk who let go with the flow while we watched with binoculars. One line had a peak looming. Moved away from the beach and then turn around and 3 of them enter the port town where we portray.

Youth alkaline ( Alca torda ) in Llastres

It was just 2 months he has been in the breeding colonies of these animals in Scotland and meet them in these latitudes makes clear the ability to move and survival of some animals and a year after years are able to travel hundreds of miles to give rise to a new generation that somehow keep their genes when they are no longer here.
A young common tern also was busy fishing in the shallow end of the beach as a young cormorant to dive well we could see and appreciate how it moves under water thanks to the shallow layer became water in a glass virtually transparent.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo )

is amazing how some species are more or less confident as to where we find them. For example, the needles were generally confident all day, but where were was more confident on the beach of Gijón. It's funny how people look at us still enjoy the sun at this time of year, as we approached with our objectives and outerwear to the waders. Several people told us that if we photographed the gull chicks, and it seems that many people have this belief that small waders are gull chicks. They say that the pot is best and give a unique flavor. You know, traditions. Celebrities are
turnstone and egrets of San Lorenzo in Gijón, for your confidence and variety of poses and capture the moments that allow to operate with complete ease and confidence with the people they are accustomed.

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres )

Egret (Egretta garzetta )

ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula )



colipinta Needle ( Limosa lapponica )

month of September with the migratory movements of many species is a month used by many ornithologists to search for rarities. I personally am of the opinion that we must first know our wildlife, that really has an ecological importance of weight and there will be time for rarities, but the truth is always struck by the observation of animals that may not and never come back to see rarely displayed by our latitudes, hence the weirdness. At that time one side of 8 write Lapps fed in the area of \u200b\u200bCabu penises, one of the windiest points on the Iberian Peninsula and devoid in some practical points of vegetation and that does not support the intense sweep of the wind. We struggled to find them but finally found the 8 animals feeding on the body completely glued to the ground and with movements that resemble those of rodents. To admire the animals a few feet is something not easily forgotten and once again demonstrates the confidence of certain animals as they come from.



Write Lapps ( Calcarius lapponicus ) on the central coast Asturiana

I commented to David that it seems incredible that a little more than a century guillemots and other criasen marinas in the area cut off from the Peñas and today is not any of that practically the entire coast of Cantabria.
The cliffs are monitored, as all settings for a predator and in this case a peregrine falcon delighted us with some last a good distance to show their presence.

peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei )

decided to finish the day at the beach Bañugues, famous for the abundance of shorebirds in the steps and the ease of portraying them if you do it the right way and patience. There were many species that we saw on this beach.
begin with the sandpiper. The most abundant and restless of the waders that were there. They feed in the area where he still gets a bit of tide water. Advantage algae tides leave to seek food and are quite large groups that may include several species. We could see dunlin, sandpipers toed, often sandpiper, sandpiper fat (this is fed in a group of needles instead of the other correlations) and finally another rarity, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. A name that comes to hair and its plumage is this color. They also highlight its yellow legs and one eye slightly torn in the American species of shorebirds.

Sandpiper often (Calidris minuta )


toed Sandpiper (Calidris alba )


Dunlin (Calidris alpina )

Sandpiper fat ( Calidris canutus )



Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Buff-breasted Sandpiper )

This species of sandpipers does not like water and when it appears it is usually in meadows and areas of the rasa but it is rare to see it directly on the beach when it reaches latitudes are not very normal for you. The truth is that animal is a very striking and grateful to see. We are also
redshanks, needles and plovers on the beach. The needles appear in the area where the sand is softened by the arrival of the waves and bury their beaks designed to catch invertebrates hypogea.

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus )

colipinta Needle (Limosa lapponica )

The surprise of the day we gave it a kingfisher which landed on the rocks on the beach for Bañugues make a haul of fish in the tidal pools before our eyes. You can read more about it here

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis )

In short, a day which costs the same and mostly forgotten. With a variety of species, environments, times, and above all a company scrotumtightening. I hope you liked the entry. A greeting