What a wonderful place to arrive to for a weeks voluntary work. Once everyone had arrived to the volunteer house with its lovely enclosed gardens and swimming pool, Ruth gave us presentations on the project we had signed up for, and her PhD “The ecology of the Killer whales of Southern Spain”. Both highly interesting!
first bunch of vollies: Sarah, Emilie, Ursula, Elena, Pauline, Maria, Jose, Ruth (© CIRCE)
We were then spoiled with a traditional Spanish tortilla and a very tasty “topical” tuna salad! After a long day travelling for most, we headed to bed to be up bright and early in the morning for our first day on observation.
La Roca (The rock) of Zahara de los Atunes (Zahara of the Tuna) was our first destination. From this point there are wonderful views of Altanterras, Zahara and Barbate in the distance. It is also the perfect vantage point to see the Almadraba (Tuna trap net) fishery within the Straights in action. You can see for miles so you would be hard pushed not to spot a Killer whale on a good day. Here, Pauline showed us all how to set up the theodolite.
theo-Sarah, bino-Jose and Ruth at La Breña (© CIRCE)
The wind was pretty strong with the sea state reaching higher than a 6 so after a couple of hours observing we packed up and drove across to La Breña, the other vantage point of the Killer whale project. This is nestled right in the La Breña National park, and very beautiful it is too. Perfectly sheltered but also really wild with fantastic views. The wild flowers are in full swing, along with many very colourful and active butterflies.
Ursula, Maria and Emilie searching the killer whales at La Breña (© CIRCE)
One thing I did notice about today was the volume of seabirds. Although we are quite set back from the sea and it is difficult to observe diversity of seabird species, it is obvious by the volume of wildlife throughout the whole Barbate inlet, this is a very rich and busy area.
Unfortunately the sea was not abating so we finished the day early. The forecast is not good for the next few days, but even if we get out to observe for a few hours each day I will be happy. Both vantage points have fantastic views, and I would be happy to sit for hours on end watching the gannets in their element and waiting for what we are all here for!!
Below is a list of bird species we observed on our first day:
Gannet Morus bassanus Alcatraz Atlántico (LOTS of them diving!)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Garceta Comũn
Cormorant Phalocrocorax Carbo Cormorán Grande
Black Stork Ciconia nigra Cigűena Negra (X6 flew tight over our heads!)
Swallow Hirundo rustica Golondrina Comũn
Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni Cernicalo Primilla
Yellow legged gull Larus Cachinnans Gaviota Patiamarilla
Lesser black backed gull Larus fuscus Gaviota sombria
Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava Lavandera boyera This could not be determined as a definite sighting. If it was a positive was right at the beginning of their migration back from Africa.
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Avion Roquero or Pallid swift Apus pallidus Vencejo Palido
By Sarah Barry
Gannet Morus bassanus Alcatraz Atlántico (LOTS of them diving!)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Garceta Comũn
Cormorant Phalocrocorax Carbo Cormorán Grande
Black Stork Ciconia nigra Cigűena Negra (X6 flew tight over our heads!)
Swallow Hirundo rustica Golondrina Comũn
Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni Cernicalo Primilla
Yellow legged gull Larus Cachinnans Gaviota Patiamarilla
Lesser black backed gull Larus fuscus Gaviota sombria
Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava Lavandera boyera This could not be determined as a definite sighting. If it was a positive was right at the beginning of their migration back from Africa.
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Avion Roquero or Pallid swift Apus pallidus Vencejo Palido
By Sarah Barry
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