Spain Day 3 - More Lynx watching

Saturday 23rd.

An earlier start had us ready for breakfast as the restaurant opened at 7.30

Birds around the LP included aw magpie, blackcaps, hawfinch. A very friendly and persistent cat tried to join us. Even though we were much earlier, we were still about 15/20 minutes too late for a sighting. Lots of mist and low cloud to start with but soon cleared to give great light.

We had waves of griffon vult, blk vult, black kite. SIE, STE, kestrel, blue tit, crested tit, dart ford warbler, grn wdpker, hoopoe, mistle thrush, serin.

Through the morning herds of red deer and a few roe deer came running from the left (e?) down the slopes, stopping to look behind them, all in a high state of alert, plus some wild boor. Also reports of Mouflon had us driving the short distance down towards the dam but no luck. Photographing some angel tears and reprimanded by rangers for going off the road, "stay on the road" was the unmistakable message.

Returned to the watch point for lunch.

Sat around scanning until a car of Danes came up the road and told us their friend had a lynx further up, not sure where. Called the others on radio, collected scopes and drove up, collected others and drove on back till we saw a group of people scoping the hillside. The lynx had disappeared but hopeful as ever, we piled out, set up our scopes and scanned. It reappeared and was watched for ten minutes slowly walking east, stopping and spraying. it was calling constantly, a deep, growly meow, before it slipped into cover. As it was travelling in a steady direction we decided to move further down the road, in the hope that it would be relocated. After about 15 minutes it came into view and was watched for a further 15-20 minutes before it finally walked out of sight. Congratulations all round.

We decided to continue down to the river at La Encinajaro to see if could see any otters. No luck but we did have Hooped Petticoat narcissus, kingfisher, great spot, moorhen, cormorant, house Martin, black vulture. They were letting water through the dam and we watched as the water levels rose rapidly. We returned to LP as it was getting dark.