BONELLI'S EAGLE Breeding on the Costa del Sol, Andalucia

On a day spent exploring new areas & scoping out unpublicised but potential birding spots closer to the coast, I had some amazing luck... Just 10 minutes or so from our hotel I found a small fairly secluded river valley, rich with vegetation, alive with birdsong, buzzing with insects, & full of reptiles & amphibians. Higher up the adjacent slopes the thick vegetation gave way to steeper rugged mountainside, where crooked trees gripped the crevices precariously, the terrain gradually becoming more craggy nearing the main peak, which held inaccessible cliff faces & edges. Over the peak & away the landscape was more rolling, but still unpassable to those without poise on their feet. This beautiful oasis & dramatic scenery a stark contrast to the neat & ordered little town we'd just driven through, & the holiday apartments & hotels just down the road.

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a pair (or third bird - see foot note). 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair together on territory. 15/05/22

Anyway, I'll cut to the chase - in a moment where birdsong fell silent & alarm calls took over, I looked to the air - now a reflex in anticipation of a raptor coming into view - & there they were, not one, but a pair of BONELLI'S EAGLES thermalling up from the crags behind us! They quickly gained height where they then drifted about, never too far from one another, at times interacting strongly - the views were incredible despite the heavy heat haze & we were privileged with views for a good 15 minutes in total before they were lost to view over the high horizon. After the first five minutes the birds could not be seen as they glided in tandem behind a small patch of woodland, only to emerge a little while after (with ourselves also now in a better viewing position), one carrying a prey item in its talons (most likely a Partridge or Rabbit). This bird soared low over the valley, carrying it's kill for a good ten minutes, calling, & seemingly showing-off to it's mate in tow, before picking up speed & descending into a gap in the crags with the carcass, calling on its way in. It's mate, more calmly, quartered the skies above their territory before drifting off in the same direction... I was spellbound!

Bonelli's Eagle pair on territory,
Costa del Sol. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair carrying prey. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair carrying prey. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair carrying prey. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair on territory. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - showing whiteish mantle patch. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair, carrying prey on territory. 15/05/22

Adult Bonelli's Eagle, Costa del Sol - one of a breeding pair, carrying prey on territory. 15/05/22

The area is on the Costa del Sol between Estepona & Malaga but I cannot publish the exact location due to the species vulnerability. These are the only Bonelli's Eagles I've seen outside of known breeding locations (& a pair at that!), seemingly breeding very close to popular holiday resorts, but thankfully in an area where the inaccessible landscape will protect them from human disturbance - a fantastic record, & great to see a pair of these rare & highly threatened raptors on their way to boosting the measly European population (fingers crossed).

UPDATE: Since writing this post I have studied the knicks in the primary & secondary wing feathers, & their tips, & it seems possible that there may have been THREE adult individuals involved in these sightings! So where I mention the two birds interacting strongly, it could be that one of the resident pair was seeing off another adult that wandered into their territory.

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