I all the time get pleasure from visiting the mountain peaks of the Iberian Peninsula within the spring and summer time. Other than offering a reprieve from the warmth of the lowlands, these mountains provide some great gems for the birder. From the two,000 to the plus 3,000-metre peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the Pyrenees through the excessive mountains within the centre, comparable to Gredos, the birds up right here reside on habitat islands. These islands have been as soon as extra in depth, throughout glacial intervals. With subsequent warming, these habitats went north and up the mountains, and the birds adopted them.
A few of these birds can be thought of typical open habitat birds additional north however right here they solely breed on the excessive floor. Amongst these, Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) and Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) dominate. With the decline of those species throughout many components of Europe, because of farming practices resulting in lack of meals and habitat, we might discover sooner or later that these mountains change into strongholds for these species.
Sierra de Gredos, in Central Spain, is a favorite website. I like visiting in late spring. By then the trans-Saharan migrants have arrived. These embrace the attractive Ortolan Buntings (Emberiza hortulana). Right here, one can find Iberian Bluethroats (Luscinia svecica azuricollis), notable by the absence of a white or purple spot on the blue throat. Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) are current all over the place in a panorama of open floor, rocks and low shrubs, which would seem odd to a birder from northern Europe.
Its shut relative – the Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) – lives greater up and discovering it requires a search alongside the peaks. These birds are additionally widespread within the Pyrenees and alongside the Cantabrian Mountains. Right here, within the north of the peninsula, the peaks are dwelling for Alpine Choughs (Pyrrhocorax graculus) and one other particular chook – the White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis). Add to those, the Water Pipits (Anthus spinoletta) which can be then dressed with pink-suffused breeding plumage, feeding round snow-melt swimming pools and it’s exhausting to imagine you might be within the south of the continent.
Another particular chook inhabits these mountains, proper all the way down to Gredos: the Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella). Dwelling decrease down than the birds of the open, Alpine world, Citril Finches hold round conifer woodland and plantations however in addition they go to gardens across the mountain villages. One among my favorite areas to search out these is the backyard of the Parador de Gredos, the place you possibly can watch them in consolation whereas having fun with a pre-dinner drink! Such is life within the Iberian mountains!
