Tarifa April 22 - Part 1: Raptors

Some highlights from a trip to Tarifa with my family earlier this spring:

Raptor migration was the main highlight, despite 3 out of 5 days being unsuitable weather due to strong W/NW winds. On the other 2 days, the winds were more moderate from the W/SW, allowing us to see a good selection of birds crossing the strait, viewing from Punta Carnero just SW of Algeciras - see https://birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/2---tarifa.html for a helpful explanation of the best sites for viewing raptor migration.

Totals for the 2 good days were as follows:

21/4/22 - 19 Short-toed Eagles, 33 Booted Eagles, 200+ Black Kites, 1 Montagu's Harrier, 4 Sparrowhawks, 92 Griffon Vultures, 6 Marsh Harriers, 1 Hobby, 3 Egyptian Vultures, 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Black Storks

23/4/22 - 1 Eleanora's Falcon, 6 Egyptian Vultures, 400+ Black Kites, 30 Booted Eagles, 7 Short-toed Eagles, 2 Honey Buzzards, 3 Sparrowhawks, 5 Marsh Harriers, 1 Common Buzzard, 15 Griffon Vultures, 100+ White Storks, 8 Black Storks, 3 Purple Herons, 70+ Bee Eaters, 1 Alpine Swift, several hundred Swifts and hirundines moving through also.

Black Kites battling the wind over the strait. 

Black Kite images above

Booted Eagle

Griffon Vulture

Short-toed Eagle

Short-toed Eagle

Common Buzzard -  This bird was seen crossing the strait from Morocco making landfall at Punta Carnero. Initially, it got me excited due to its rufous tail, which I thought made it worth checking out for 'Gibraltar Buzzard' at least (intergrade between cirtensis Atlas Long-legged Buzzard and buteo). However, I've since learned that buteos with this barred rufous tail can be found across the Iberian Peninsula. The bird's other features generally seem to be fairly classic for buteo in my opinion, with seemingly dark brown uppertail coverts (aot. orange/rufous) and lack of rufous fringing to upperwing coverts (more sandy brown in this bird, with less defined dark centres).

See links below for more info. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281101657_Identification_of_Atlas_Long-Legged_Buzzard_Buteo_rufinus_cirtensis_and_its_status_in_Europe

https://magornitho.org/2019/02/north-african-buzzard-taxonomy/

More pro-buteo features = broad black trailing edge, seemingly no/very limited blackish markings on carpals (although difficult to be certain of that since this is only photo I have of underparts).