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Exploring La Toleta: Capturing the avian wildlife through my lens

The Toleta trail can be found between the towns of Coripe and Puerto Serrano, in the north of the province of Cadiz, Spain. I had visited this place before and seen some Griffon Vultures up close. Unfortunately that day I didn't have my camera with me so I went back home with only a few low quality shots on my mobile phone. One morning in March, I decided to go back and see if those birds were there again.



Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight
A magnificent Short-toed Snake Eagle

The trail is circular and although announced as easy I recommend you take a GPS device in order not to get lost, because their are no signs. There is more than enough parking space at the beginning.


After only ten minutes walking I noticed some Griffon Vultures, flying up high in circles. Another few of them were resting on the shady side of a cliff.



Griffon Vulture
Griffon Vulture

I continued my walk to the other side of the mountain where I had spotted some low-flying Vultures during a previous visit. At first I didn't see any, but after a quarter of an hour I saw what I had come for, although they didn't fly as low as before.



Two Griffon Vultures soaring through the sky
Two Griffon Vultures

A Griffon Vulture displaying its impressive wingspan
A Griffon Vulture displaying its impressive wingspan

After another two kilometres walking I had a memorable encounter with a low-flying Short-toed Snake Eagle. He kept an eye on me for quite a while.



Short-toed Snake Eagle
Short-toed Snake Eagle

While I was taking some photos of the beautiful landscape, I heard a screaming bird which turned out to be a Green Woodpecker. Very close to that spot I also saw a Hoopoe.


Next to the track there is an conservation area with a pond where amphibians are given the opportunity to breed. You can get right next to the pond by climbing over the fence using the wooden steps that were put there for that purpose.



Frog near a puddle
One of the amphibians living around the pond

The whole trail is about 9 kilometres long, the highest point 399 and the lowest 177 metres. Even if you are not an avid birdwatcher you will enjoy this walk because of the beautiful landscape.



A Goldfinch drinking from a puddle
A Goldfinch drinking from a puddle

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