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In search of Bee-eaters around Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

My only mission for today was to take some decent photos of the magnificent Bee-eaters, one of the most beautiful species I have ever seen in the wild in Europe. I walked along the Bee-eater route near Vejer de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz. On a route with such a name I thought I couldn't go wrong.


I started the route at around 10 AM and immediately heard a lot of birds: House Sparrow, Melodious Warbler, Greenfinch and Nightingale, to name only a few.



Barn Swallow on a power line
Barn Swallow

The route is fairly easy but has a few steep climbs. The track is easy to follow and there are signs to guide you. However I would not recommend walking here in a wet month as it will get very muddy.


Green landscape with splitting path
Start of the route. Take the track on the right!

Melodious Warbler
Melodious Warbler

Barn Swallow with mud in its bill
Barn Swallow with mud in its bill

Poisonous Red-striped Oil Beetle
A poisonous Red-striped Oil Beetle

Green landscape with a blue sky
As you can see, it was a very sunny day

Green vegetation in the countryside
The vegetation was greener than green

In general, the path was very comfortable

After an hour walking there was still no sign of the Bee-eaters. Fortunately there was enough to enjoy: the beautiful green landscape and other bird species. I stood still near a huge reed bed to listen to a singing Nightingale, hoping it would allow me to take its photo. But my efforts were in vain, even after fifteen minutes I didn't catch a glimpse.


However, near the turning point of the route, I was very lucky and saw a Nightingale perching on a branch. It gave me time to focus and take a shot! My best photo of a Nightingale ever.



Nightingale in the bushes
Finally I managed to take a decent photo of a Nightingale

It can be very frustrating when you know that they are hiding barely ten metres away while they are singing their lungs out, but the feeling of taking a clear photo is hard to describe!



Corn bunting singing in a field
Corn bunting

Corn bunting on a piece of wood
Corn bunting

Kestrel in flight
Kestrel

I had almost given up hope of seeing a Bee-eater until suddenly I spotted something sitting high up on a powerline. I was sure it was another Corn Bunting. I checked the photo that I had taken and the LCD screen on my camera confirmed what I thought.



Corn Bunting sitting on a power line
Corn Bunting sitting on a power line

I also spotted another bird, but that one was an adventurous House Sparrow. And then, miraculously, I saw the most amazing pair of... Bee-eaters! They were sitting about twenty metres away from the Corn Bunting. Unfortunately they were too far away to take great pictures.


Two Bee-eaters on a power line
Pair of Bee-eaters more than fifty metres away from where I stood

There was a fence which made it impossible to go any closer to the birds, so I decided to walk a bit further to see if there was another way to approach them. The only way to get closer was by opening a gate to a private land but as there was nobody around I went for it. After all, you don't run into a pair of posing Bee-eaters every day!


As I got closer, one of the birds flew off. I was at a reasonable distance, close enough to take some decent shots.



Bee-eaters
One of the Bee-eaters flying off

Bee-eater in flight


Bee-eater hovering
Bee-eater hovering

After a few minutes both birds disappeared out of sight. I decided to go and find them. Not sure if it was pure luck or instinct, but barely five minutes later I found both of them sitting in a tree. It gave me the opportunity to the some photos that were close to what I had always had in mind.



Bee-eater sitting in a tree
Bee-eater sitting in a tree

As I carefully went closer, the birds flew off again, from one tree or power line to the next. I was able to follow them and got quite close. They are certainly one of the most intriguing species I have photographed.



Close-up of a Bee-eater
Close-up of one of the Bee-eaters


Bee-eater in flight

I had just said goodbye to these incredible creatures when I saw another impressive species flying high in the sky. Three Honey Buzzards were soaring in circles against the clear blue sky.



Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard


Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard

Two Honey Buzzards flying very close together
Two Honey Buzzards flying very close together

This was definitely a trip to remember for a long time. As I walked back to the car I paused a few times to enjoy the fabulous views and the sounds of nature.




Green landscape



Green landscape



Green landscape


Spanish Festoon butterfly
Spanish Festoon butterfly

Preening female Stonechat on a branch
Preening female Stonechat on a branch


A huge Migratory Locust
A huge Migratory Locust

Even after so much beauty, my birding appetite was still not satisfied so I decided to pay a quick visit to the Northern Bald Ibis colony in La Barca de Vejer. I counted fourteen birds, among which two chicks.



Adult Bald Ibis landing on the cliffs
Adult Bald Ibis landing on the cliffs


Two young Bald Ibises
Two young Bald Ibises

Pair of adult Bald Ibises
Pair of adult Bald Ibises

A beautiful ending to a remarkable birding expedition during which I spotted over 30 different species, among which the target of the day: the European Bee-eater. Mission accomplished!






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