On this beautiful spring day, almost looking like early summer, I set off before sunrise to a El Gastor, a little town in the province of Cadiz with only around 2,000 inhabitants. I had read that the area is known for being home to the amazing Bonelli's Eagle so I decided to go and have a look, armed with my binoculars and telephoto zoom lens.
The starting point of the trail was relatively easy to find and there was plenty of space to leave the car between some pine trees near a picnic area. After spotting a lot of Blue Tits I took some time to enjoy the impressive views over the valley before I began the actual trail.
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| The view from first watchpoint is amazing, but nothing compared to the ones that will follow |
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| One of the many Blue Tits singing a welcome song |
As I climbed to the entrance gate I heard some distant Cuckoo calls. Much closer were the songs and calls of the many songbirds living at the foot of this pine forest.  |
| Male Common Chaffinch |
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| Great Tit |
I realised that I would not run into Bonelli's Eagle in the middle of this pine forest. I had no idea where the well indicated path would lead to, but it was less than three kilometres long and I didn´t have much time to think about what I would come across because I heard so many bird songs. One of them was the Blackcap, a very skilled singer.  |
| Male Eurasian Blackcap |
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| Robin has caught an insect |
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| Even in the shade of the pine trees there is plenty of colour |
Still no sign of my main target, the Bonelli's Eagle, but I could see a lot of Griffon Vultures soaring high up in the air and also spotted some other birds of prey. |
| Booted Eagle |
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Female Kestrel
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| Booted Eagle together with a Sparrowhawk |
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| Friendly sheep showing me the way |
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| Aren't they cute? |
Slowly but surely I was reaching the end of the trail. I had been climbing a lot for the last fifteen minutes and realised that the endpoint might well be on the very top of the mountain.
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| View just before the final climb to the highest peak |
Before I commenced the final climb to the very top, I saw a few people walking a bit further ahead, the first ones I had seen during the whole walk to that point. Their presence may have been the reason why I didn't think too much whether it was a good idea to continue the steep climb all the way up. Carrying heavy and expensive gear surely didn't make it easy to keep my balance. With dry sand and some loose rocks all over the path, I had to be careful with every step I took. I had come so far now so I decided to make it to the top and ignored the first attacks of vertigo that tried to take control. Not only was the path tricky, but if you fell you would end up hundreds of metres below. I tried not to think about it too much.
Once I arrived at the top, the views were breath-taking, in whatever direction I looked. From the information sign there I learnt that I was 1,060 metres above sea level and that El Gastor is called the 'balcony of the White Villages'.
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| Enjoying the views |
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| Zahara de la Sierra water reservoir |
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| A huge mountain looking small seen from this height |
The video below gives a good impression of the sensation I had on top of the mountain:
Fortunately there were also birds to spot from the mountain top: the Griffon Vultures that were barely visible from ground level were now very close and I could even take photos of them from above.
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| Griffon Vulture with the Zahara water reservoir beneath |
Enjoy the photos I took of the Vultures to make myself forget about the dazzling height I was at:
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| Griffon Vulture close-up |
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| Landing gear out! |
Fortunately the way down was easier than I expected. Some Sardinian Warblers were willing to pose.
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| Have I really stood up there? |
Nice hiking route, but you need to be in good condition as the climb is quite tiring and the final part is definitely not for the faint of heart! Celia would have freaked out if she had come along. Poor thing was busy at the facilities safely cleaning our aviaries, fortunately.
Happy birding, and remember to keep it safe at all times!
Henry
