Having witness a snowfall
in Madrid the night before I flew to Barcelona I wondered if the weather would
be favourable in the Pyrenees for my short stay. I was meeting fellow Surrey
Birder Ed Stubbs in Barcelona prior to his birthday celebrations with his
girlfriend. My flight to Barcelona was trouble free which unfortunately for Ed
was not the case with a couple of hours delay. A supply run, bite to eat and
shop in Huesca en route to Jaca had us set for the days ahead.
We made good time to
our accommodation in Jaca and the lower slopes were clear of snow. However when
we woke this morning there had been about an inch of snow. Our first stop was
to be at the Astun Ski Centre with the prospect of Snowfich, Alpine Accentor
and Alpine Chough.
The slopes were
covered in snow and the snowploughs were busy clearing the roads for the
avalanche of skiers that were to later descend onto the slopes! Alpine Chough
was the only species of the targeted three to fall this morning but conditions
were hardly ideal.
The rest of the day
was used to check other sites some of which were inaccessible due to the
inclement weather ranging from full on blizzard like snow to rain in the Hecho
Valley. We did however see Cirl Bunting along a track to an aerodrome a few Black
Redstart, Stonechat, and a tree that contained several Black Kite and a lone
Red Kite.
An Egyptian Vulture
and a group of Griffon Vulture were seen at an old Eagle Owl site. But the
sighting of the day was not a bird but a Wild Cat that was making its way along
the road as we approached the aforementioned site.
The day was a tough
one but the snow appears to be melting at a rate of knots. We will be out again
tomorrow and hope to hit a few more targets!
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