Today was grey and drizzly, but we took another drive up the Belagua valley, perhaps not the best idea as we drove up into the clouds where it was decidedly damp. Needless to say there were no raptors in the air. On our way to the valley we saw White and Grey Wagtail, Jay, Blackbird, Black Redstart, Swallow, Griffon Vulture and Red-backed Shrike. We stopped at the Refugio for a coffee and a single Wheatear was seen on a rock. Some Chough were on the grass, and a Raven flew over the area.
We headed to the bridge where another Grey Wagtail and a Chaffinch were by the snow puddle, now almost completely melted.
We drove back to the big car park where we stopped to see what was about. Not a lot really but a Serin and a Water Pipit came to a puddle next to the car which was handy as I wasn’t getting out! When we could open the window without getting wet we could hear a Cuckoo calling periodically, and a Stonechat perched on a nearby bush. We had our picnic in the car here before giving up and heading back down the valley.
As we drove down the mountain the weather improved a bit and when we arrived at Zuriza it was a lot brighter. At the end of the road three birds flew into the trees on our left, one of them was a Great Spotted Woodpecker which we saw a couple of times amongst the trees. The other two were Mistle Thrush and one was later seen on the ground under the trees. Finally we called it a day and headed back to Anso.
