What kind of bird is this?

JIMENA Walking back from the supermarket the other day, we came across this bird who was pecking at the ground Beautiful red eyes, lovely grey plumage with white spots on the wings... It was not afraid of our approach, which might indicate that it was used to people and could be an escapee. As we're just about able to tell a pigeon from a sparrow, we though one of our knowledgeable readers could help.

Quick! There's a vulture on the roof!!

JIMENA We got a phone call: "Erm. Ahm. There's a vulture on our roof - can you help at all?" The roof was on a row of houses on Jimena's most picturesque street, San Sebastián. Well, we weren't in town, so we suggested they try the bar down the road (La Tasca) - no, not for a much needed brandy, but to ask if the Guardia, Seprona, or someone, could be called. When we enquired some time later, the poor injured bird had been chased off the rooftops (possible damage to tiles, it's a big bird) and they were awaiting the people from 'Nature Conservatory', or Seprona. (Photos by Fairlie Gibson, to whom thanks.)

Bateleur eagle sighted in Europe for the first time ever, say experts

Bateleur sighted at Punta Carnero
(Photo: Fundación Migres)

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) The Migres Foundation and the Ornitur company announced yesterday that they had sighted an African eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus), known in Spanish as an águila volatinera, and in English as a Bataleur eagle. This , they say, is the first time this species of eagle has been sighted in Europe. The sighting occurred on April 5th at Punta Carnero, within the municipality of Algeciras, where annual studies on bird migration are taking place these days. Migres said that this is a young bird that came in over the Strait of Gibraltar, in conjunction with numerous other birds of prey. The fact that it is a youngster - new plumage- and the fact that it carries no identification marks such as rings or other means, leads them to believe that this is a natural crossing. It is as yet unknown that any such bird has crossed one of the world's largest deserts, the Sahara, then acros the straits TO reach Europe on the Iberian peninsula. The Bataleur's natural habitat is PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION IN THE FUTURE but you can make a donation NOW, too! Please click here for more information on how to help us continue. (This item was translated and edited.)

Spain eliminates Straits of Gibraltar marine bird sanctuary

Cory's Shearwater

SPAIN (El País / Rafael Méndez) Spanish diplomacy has prevailed over environmental protection. On Tuesday, the Environment Ministry published its proposed list of the maritime areas that it wants the government to declare as national preserves. However, in an effort to head off any diplomatic spats, ministry officials have eliminated three areas located in international waters, including two that are in an area of jurisdiction that is disputed with Gibraltar and Morocco. Nevertheless, environmentalists are praising the government's move to declare 41 other areas as marine bird sanctuaries, saying that "it is a big step forward" in Spanish conservation efforts.>>>