For more than 10 years I regularly visit Boumort, a big area declared national hunting reserve because of the big amount of Red Deers (Cervus elaphus) living there. Some years I used to go there for 10 days in summer and a couple of weekends more, one in May and another in September-October in order to heard some Red Deer's belows.
The mountain range is situated in pre-pyrenees, and its highest peak is Cap de Boumort (2077 m). The area combines some lower areas (typical inland mediterranean) and some pyrenean habitats, usually separated only for a few metres. This high habitat diversity causes also a high species variety.
I'm in love with that place since I came there for first time and, throught the years, the place has become something like my second home. I also dare to say that, probably, my life would have been very different if I had never gone. When I'm there, I live in Refugi Cuberes. Gabi, Anna, Guillem, Jana and Nina; the family who take care of the refuge, are my family there.
This time I went there with Elena, Guillem, Santi and Vicki and three families more. I passed a great weekend with them and I'm pretty sure they enjoyed it too. You can follow some interesting reviews of their 'in family excursions' in Santi's blog (in Catalan). A post about Cap de Boumort, where we went also two years ago, is available too.
On Friday, I looked for a place outside the reserve where I could try to ring some interesting birds. Only 16 captures in two days, but was ok and I think all children (and also no-children) enjoyed it a lot!
For me, the most interesting bird was a Coal Tit (Periparus ater), because I had never trapped this species.
Later, It was also very good this Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) that was caught on the nets.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) was the commoner bird during ringing. I was accustomed to ring them in winter and I was quite surprised because of the bright colours on males plumage. What a beautiful birds, isn't it?
Despite the Coal Tit capture, the most surprising birds were probably 3 Serins (Serinus serinus). Some years ago I heard the fisrt male singing in that area and this time I ringed a female with broodpatch.
In Boumort, the star-species are not birds. They are mammals. Red Deers (Cervus elaphus) are extremely abundant (too common in my opinion...), so it's really easy to see some of them. Also Roe Deers (Caperolus capreolus) are easy to see, specially in June, when you can find some young deers walking through the forest. Wild Boars are also present, but not in spectacular densities so it's not as easy to see as another parts of Catalonia (i.e. Barcelona area). European Hares (Lepus europaeus), Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Beech Martens (Martes foina) are also common mammals there. But don't forget the Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), scarce but also present.
Boumort is the place where, every year, I can 'meet again' some pyrenean species. This weekend I was so lucky and I found some Ring Ouzels (Turdus torquatus), some Citril Finches (Serinus citrinella) (not so far from Serins singing!), an Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), some Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) and I also assisted a master class of Common Treecreper's (Certhia familiaris) field ID.
... and also this magic place. I hope I can come back home very soon.
For me, the most interesting bird was a Coal Tit (Periparus ater), because I had never trapped this species.
Later, It was also very good this Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) that was caught on the nets.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) was the commoner bird during ringing. I was accustomed to ring them in winter and I was quite surprised because of the bright colours on males plumage. What a beautiful birds, isn't it?
Despite the Coal Tit capture, the most surprising birds were probably 3 Serins (Serinus serinus). Some years ago I heard the fisrt male singing in that area and this time I ringed a female with broodpatch.
The last bird was this beautiful Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), a female with broodpatch too. I'm used to ring this species during migration, when they have a lot of fat accumulated in their body, but they don't need that for breeding.
In Boumort, the star-species are not birds. They are mammals. Red Deers (Cervus elaphus) are extremely abundant (too common in my opinion...), so it's really easy to see some of them. Also Roe Deers (Caperolus capreolus) are easy to see, specially in June, when you can find some young deers walking through the forest. Wild Boars are also present, but not in spectacular densities so it's not as easy to see as another parts of Catalonia (i.e. Barcelona area). European Hares (Lepus europaeus), Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Beech Martens (Martes foina) are also common mammals there. But don't forget the Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), scarce but also present.
Boumort is the place where, every year, I can 'meet again' some pyrenean species. This weekend I was so lucky and I found some Ring Ouzels (Turdus torquatus), some Citril Finches (Serinus citrinella) (not so far from Serins singing!), an Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), some Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) and I also assisted a master class of Common Treecreper's (Certhia familiaris) field ID.
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| I'll miss again this magic silhouette... |
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