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.
Sunrise in Sierra Morena 
has 
