November 21, 2006
Barcelona
... such a beautiful horizon!
I wasn't expecting to blog about my short weekend visit, as it was supposed to be cultural rather th an birding-based (I didn't even take my bins): However, as always, I ended up seeing a few interesting odds and ends right in the city centre, which may be of interest to the visiting birder. The above photos were taken from the Mointjuïc park, an extensive wooded area which on my visit was full of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Sardinian Warblers. On the castel itself, Black Redstarts were abundant and Crested Tits called from the surrounding conifers.
The amazing, organic Sagrada Familia is a must-see, and I even jammed a Peregrine flying about one of the highest turrets.
Every green space and palm tree-lined avenue was full of the introduced Monk Parakeets (lesser numbers of Ring-necked Parakeets were also seen). I watched this one swooping down pigeon-like a scrap of bread...
... and deftly devouring it with some nifty foot-beak action.
The harbour front at Barceloneta was teeming with fish, attracting attention from the Great Cormorants, Black-headed and Yellow-legged Gulls.
Here's a Spotless Starling sitting amongst some more fearsome looking birds on the Columbus monument.
The train from the city to the airport goes through some interesting-looking wetlands, which held several Cattle Egrets. From the plane itself I watched a falconer flying his Lanner-type falcon next to the runway, presumably to keep other birds at bay. Sunset from the plane.
