Gallocanta “The Rooster sings”

Early Sunday morning, and it was trying hard to snow, the "Rooster has sung", and the rising sun flooded light across the Laguna de Gallocanta and the Ermita del Buen Acuerdo.
We were in Aragon, south of Zaragoza and North of Teruel.

 Gallocanta is sighted one thousand meters above Calamocha and Daroca. The mountains soar even higher. This is a continental plain where ice-cold winds blow needles through your skin. It's also a spiritual place.

As an essential stopover site within Spain for migrating Cranes (Grus Grus) from late Autumn to  February, the skies here can be filled with these beautiful birds and their calls that endear people to them.
 The Laguna can sustain twenty thousand Cranes and more at the peak migration times.

It was early February, the water level was nearly nonexistent, and there were few Cranes. For us, this is fine as we have seen them there on many occasions. The water level was the lowest we had ever witnessed. Deer tracks could be seen from one side to the other through the mud.

The small road leading into Gallocanta village, Gallocanta, stands for "Rooster Sings."

Only a few Common Cranes were seen; we counted approximately sixty out on the fields feeding.

As the dusk starts to settle, onlookers brave the cold to watch the spectacle of the Cranes arriving for the night's roost. Sadly, many migrating birds are still a little early in the month. They come back here from Africa, Portugal and other Wintering sites across Spain, congregating in their thousands before pushing North to the breeding grounds of Northern Europe.

Small groups of Cranes arrived from the local fields where they had been feeding.

For more Photos and information on the Cranes, see here.

https://roadrunnersmikelinda.blogspot.fr/2014/03/the-road-to-gallocanta.html

We were just passing through on our way home after our night stop at Gallocanta. Our journey continued the following morning. As we snaked down the mountain towards Daroca, snow showers could be seen obscuring the distant view.

The sky had become brighter as we travelled north towards our next stop at Olite, south of Pamplona.

Our journey took us across part of the Bárdenas Reales, and we knew of a small laguna that would make a good place for lunch.

 Reed Buntings are found in their hundreds there. Following the construction of the Canal de las Bárdenas and a massive irrigation project, some areas of the dry badlands have been changed into agricultural land and rice fields. Steppe birds have suffered considerable declines in this new landscape. However, seed-eating birds are now found in huge flocks.

A Zitting Cisticola makes a brief appearance.

As the sun sets on our journey again, a Goldfinch flies off the thistles to its night-time roost.

We had moved on to our night's roost at Olite.

The Palacio Real de Olite was once the home of the Kings of Navarra.
In its time, this was one of the most luxurious castles in Europe.

The last of the Sunday visitors heading home through the medieval streets.

Olite is also the wine capital of Navarra.

Good health!

The Sierra Cazorla and the Iberian Fox "Zorro"

The early morning air in Sierra Cazorla is cold and freezing, and the clouds sweep over the mountain tops, filling the valleys and ravines below. It felt wild as Griffon Vultures swirled in the thermals alongside us.

We had climbed, only to descend again through the murk before a long climb to a birth.

Yes, a Nacimiento de un Rio, the birth of a river, the Guadalquivir, high up in the mountains of Cazorla.
We were also hoping to see the Foxes of Cazorla! 

Griffon Vultures spiralling upwards through the clouds.

The cold cloud poured down the mountaintops and filled the valleys.

Griffon Vultures waited for warmer air before unfolding their nearly 8-foot wingspan.

From the opposite side of the valley, we could watch as cold air flattened the clouds along the mountain crests.

Following a gravel track, we had now entered the restricted area of the mountain, open to the public from 09.00 to 21.00; we stopped to take in the view. It's cold minus two degrees.

The clear blue meltwater of the Guadalquivir River formed rock pools as we got closer to the source.

Then, a chance sighting as we walked alongside the river, a fox sits and watches. It seemed utterly undisturbed by us.

On a forest track, we get to see another of these beautiful animals.

The Fox is Spain's most common carnivore; its density is lower than Northern Europe's.
This is caused by several contributing factors, but mainly by the Mediterranean drought
and competition for food from birds of prey, such as eagles and vultures.

Over the last century, the decline in super predators, like the Wolf and Lynx, is thought to be why the Fox is doing well here in Spain.
They are adept hunters of rabbits, which is a problem, as rabbits are also the preferred food of superpredators.
A Lynx will kill a Fox found in its territory, so you are likely to see more Rabbits in a Lynx's territory.
This has implications for the Rabbit reintroduction programmes. The Fox is considered an invasive species and threat, and there is no natural check on its numbers.

Iberian Fox (Vulpes vulpes Silacea)

With Spanish name Zorro.

This is a specialist in its environment, capable of shedding its coat in warm weather and retaining it in the cold. Primary a nocturnal predator, its sleep patterns can change even if it becomes overcast. They have very acute senses, with those eyes to help see in the dark and ears sensitive to the slightest rustlings on the forest floor.

So here it is, the Nacimiento of the river Guadalquivir, just a cave hidden beyond the trees, but that is the birth of one of Spain's great rivers and, for us, as birdwatchers, the life of the Donana National Park. Before that, it passes through the beautiful Moorish cities of Cordoba and Sevilla.

The trees, living and dead, are full of Nuthatches, Short-toed Treecreepers, and Crested Tits.
This Crested Tit perched on a tree that we thought looked like some sort of prehistoric Dinosaur.

Travelling back down the mountain, we stopped in the sunshine and found a male Siskin feasting on a Strawberry tree.

It started to rain on our last evening in Cazorla; it was snowing heavily by the morning. 

We beat our early morning retreat through Cazorla town, heading for Quesada, after which the views were again fantastic.

A little glimpse of sunshine as we look back at the olive trees, with happiness from our visit to the Sierra Cazorla and sadness at leaving.

We will return!

Discovering the Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y los Villas.

We are still in Spain and on our way to see a giant, the alluring Sierra de Cazorla, Spain's largest protected area.
Having spent the weekend in Sta Elena High in the Desfiladero de Despeñaperros, enjoying the food, wine and brandy at El Mesón and, of course, catching up on the laundry (one of those necessities)
Monday morning, we were back on the road early and enjoying the views towards the mountains of Mágina, which peaked at 2167 meters.

Like most Jaén, it is covered in Olive trees; it's a welcome relief to see the spectacular mountains pushing upward ruthlessly out of the regimental green lines.

As we climbed higher, we could see towns like Santisteban del Puerto sitting high above the crop of endless Olive trees.

By lunchtime, we are on a tiny road on the North face of the Sierra de Cazorla and stop for our Lunch at the Embalse de Aguascebas. The peace is complete, just vultures soaring overhead.

During the afternoon, the road had deteriorated considerably, and we were encountering patches of snow and ice covering the surface, not melting away due to the long mountain shadows. It was still a long journey to Tranco, and I wanted to visit the Garganta on the way.

Luck was not with us, and after crossing a lengthy patch of ice and snow followed by a blind right bend, we could see the road impassable; we could see sunshine across the valley, but there in the shadow of the steep mountain, snow, and thick ice blocking the road, not helped by the steep gradient of the road.
We had no alternative other than to turn around, a precarious experience on the narrow mountain road. Our problems were not over, though, as we could not get the grip upwards through the ice and snow we had crossed coming down. The only chance of getting out before the temperatures dropped again was to dig through the ice and snow. Taking turns with our emergency shovel, we cleared snow and chipped through the ice, followed by three attempts to drive out. We eventually made it some hours after arriving.

The following morning, still licking our wounds but feeling upbeat, we set off on a new route around the Sierra,
Our upbeat feeling was bolstered further when Linda spotted a herd of Female Ibex and their young on the mountainside.

Ibex are herd animals dictated by gender. Males are in one herd, and females and their young are in another. Sometimes, a male will roam alone; they come together mainly in the breeding season.
This is a female herd, it seems; otherwise, it is pretty challenging to tell them apart as they both, male and female, have large curved horns, which are used at the breeding time for sexual selection and, of course, for defending their territories.

By lunchtime, we were close to the Sierra Cazorla Visitors Center
 (Torre del Vinagre) and a good time to stop for Lunch. The river Guadalquivir passes below the centre, so it is an excellent place to park; it is probably too early in the year to see a Dipper or countless dragonflies and butterflies found here.
 The setting was serene, and it appeared impossible that this small waterway would soon become that mighty river that we have seen causing destructive flooding through Cordoba and its environs in past years, eventually giving life to the Donana National Park, Europe's most important wetlands.
   

A fawn departs on the opposite river bank, following Mum and sibling, who have already disappeared.

Refreshed, we spend the afternoon climbing, passing towns like Hornos constructed around the cliff face.

As we near Pontones high in the mountains, we observe a pair of soaring Golden Eagles.

Sadly, we are looking directly into the strong sunshine, "I know you cannot have everything, and we are just so happy to have seen them." 

 It had been snowing heavily up there, and our recent experiences were now causing a minor concern. It would have been great to have photographed the town of Pontones, with its interestingly constructed houses and so isolated. Still, we pressed on, wanting to reach our destination before nightfall.

At last! With the sun starting to set, we had made it across the mountain. Opening out in front of us the beginnings of Andalucia's badlands and our night stop at Puebla de Don Fadrique.

The following day's view was magnificent; we could see the Sierra Nevada in the far distance.

On the roadside above Castril, we find an Olive Oil co-operative and can't resist buying some fresh-pressed oil.
  

Above Castril, the Embalse del Portillo.

Our journey has again turned us North, leaving the Sierra Nevada behind us. 

From the narrow mountain road, we looked down on the heavily eroded and semi-barren mesa.

The road crosses deep gorges with no winter sun as it snakes higher.

A fine view towards the Puerto de Tiscar and the watchtower Alalaya del Infante Don Enrique. Also, the Church of Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Tiscar is the historical patron of Cazorla and the most religious figure in these mountains.
Both are dwarfed by the towering Picón del Rayal, rising to 1835 meters and the highest mountain in this Southern park section. The name "Rayal" means "frontier" during the Middle Ages. Along with the watchtower is a reminder that this was the border between the Morrish Kingdom of Granada and Christian Spain for almost three centuries
Today is a good place for observing large numbers of Vultures, Eagles, and these beautiful Spanish Ibex.

Ibex are herbivores and have to spend most of their day eating the mountain shrubs, bushes, and grass, which are of low nutritional worth, so it is pretty surprising to see a few of them lying in the warm sunshine.

They have a lifespan of approximately 17 years.
This is quite surprising when you see their precarious positions while looking for food.
They centimetres) Craig is 1.8 metres out, having to move forward!

This kid and its Mother are using their interestingly formed hoofs to stand on the mountain's sheer face. The hoofs have sharp edges and concave undersides, acting like rock suction caps.
  

With another day nearing its end, we must find somewhere to stop for the night.

What a great day!