Sierra Espuna area

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16dec-0209.00, Trevor who’s from Hartley, London, arrived at Bryan’s house and an hour later we were at Fuerrta Alamo. Looking over the fields, we immediately locked onto a female Hen Harrier hunting at very close range. Serin, Corn Bunting, Cattle Egret and Crested Lark, were all over the shop. We had been in the area for a good two hours and really had nothing. As we left the area to head to our next destination, the mountain ranges of Sierra Espuna, 20 Stone Curlew flew overhead. The 5000ft mountain of Espuna that we were climbing, using the car, took nearly an hour to get up with two brief stops on the way. When we reached the top, the view was breathtaking! The first bird that we spotted, all the way up here, was a male Dartford Warbler! A Golden Eagle was circling above on the next ridge and as we moved into the pines, 5 Ring Ouzel and 2 Redwing flew low overhead. There were two buntings we were after, Rock Bunting and Cirl Bunting. After searching a site, where both Bryan and Trevor have seen them on many occasions in the past, today, there was no sign of the two species. Another 2 Ring Ouzel showed well and a tit flock moving through included. Long tailed, Coal, Great Tit and lots of Crested Tits. Also with them were, 4 Short toed Treecreeper, 6 Firecrest, 3 Jay and Crossbills were heard and seen everywhere. Returning down the mountain, we had a look in the area where we flushed 8 Woodlark with the car when making our way to the top. No luck. However, we got a Wren! It’s the only one I’ve seen so far on this trip. The Coal Tits have buff flanks, greyer backs and sound completely different to the ones at home. Also, when hearing Crested Tits, which are very common, they call like the start of a Little Grebe. For the first few seconds I think there are Little Grebes in the woods!