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Seizing the sunshine between rainy days: birding at Chapin, Jerez de la Frontera

The green area near the football stadium Chapin in Jerez de la Frontera has been one of my favourite local patches for years. After the rather heavy storm we had only a few days earlier, today was a calm spell before another series of bad weather days will hit the south of Spain.



Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff


At the beginning I spent some time observing a group of European Serins, gathering to collect food on the floor between some pine trees. I counted at least ten of them. They were joined by Goldfinches, Blackbirds and a Great Tit.




European Serin looking for food on the floor
European Serin looking for food on the floor


Great Tit in a tree
Great Tit



Blackbird standing on the ground
One of the very confident Blackbirds

I was wondering if I would be able to spot the first Grey Wagtails after the summer, and much to my delight, I heard their 'tsvit tsvit' call in the air. A little later I also got the chance to photograph one. Not sure if it was the same bird I had heard. I guess there aren't many of them yet.




Grey Wagtail standing on the sand
First Grey Wagtail observation after this year's summer



Mallard
One of the Mallards on the local pond



Pied Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher


While I was changing my camera settings to photograph two attention-seeking Chiffchaffs, I saw something else flying by, which I firstly identified as a bird, but it turned out to be the biggest butterfly I have ever seen, a Two-tailed Pasha. It is indeed the largest butterfly of Europe, with a wingspan reaching over 8 cm.




A huge butterfly sitting on the floor
Two-tailed Pasha


A few shots of a Common Redstart later, it was time to focus on the stars of the afternoon: a willingly posing pair of Chiffchaffs. They were at less than five metres, not at all disturbed by my presence while they were jumping from stalk to stalk trying to find something edible.




Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff


Chiffchaff



Chiffchaff




Chiffchaff



Chiffchaff



Chiffchaff





Common Redstart
Common Redstart


Common Redstart watching a flying insect
Common Redstart on the point of catching an insect


A bird that I would almost consider as resident here is the Hoopoe. With some luck and patience you can usually find it on the football training pitch. Today I spotted two of them, looking for insects in the grass.




Hoopoe standing in the grass
One of the Hoopoes

While I was walking around the training ground, I thought I saw a Kestrel flying above the stadium, but I wasn't sure. Minutes later my first thought was confirmed! It landed on the training pitch a took to the air seconds later, allowing me to take its photo in flight. A species I regulary spot here, in the middle of the city.




Kestrel flying through the air
Kestrel flying by


I hadn't visited this place with my camera for a while, but today's stroll was certainly worth it: 18 different species on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

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