Peter Jones
@peterrebel.bsky.social
Editor 'Birds of Andalucia'. President of the Andalucía Bird Society. Working for Conservation, Climate and Wildlife.
Siskin have arrived in large numbers. Here one perches on a pre-glacial tree species the Abies pinsapo (Spanish fir) it is a species of fir native to southern Spain (limited to my mountains) and northern Morocco. And yes, it does look like a Christmas tree before it reaches maturity!
November 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Siskin have arrived in large numbers. Here one perches on a pre-glacial tree species the Abies pinsapo (Spanish fir) it is a species of fir native to southern Spain (limited to my mountains) and northern Morocco. And yes, it does look like a Christmas tree before it reaches maturity!
Trying my best to work on the book. Progress has been good the last couple of weeks, so hopefully I might get there by the end of the year for proofreading and editing. I hope the end result will have been worth the effort.
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Trying my best to work on the book. Progress has been good the last couple of weeks, so hopefully I might get there by the end of the year for proofreading and editing. I hope the end result will have been worth the effort.
My article for the November edition of the Costa Connection magazine. Bad news with some hope. A short read and a different focus from my normal articles for CC.
October 31, 2025 at 7:50 AM
My article for the November edition of the Costa Connection magazine. Bad news with some hope. A short read and a different focus from my normal articles for CC.
Beginning to think I've lost my mind writing a book about La Serranía de Ronda as a paradise for wildlife. It is not some vanity project, more a promotion of the area and a reference for future studies and comparisons. Photo by friend Stephen Powles - Ancient Pinsapo forest Sierra de las Nieves.
October 26, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Beginning to think I've lost my mind writing a book about La Serranía de Ronda as a paradise for wildlife. It is not some vanity project, more a promotion of the area and a reference for future studies and comparisons. Photo by friend Stephen Powles - Ancient Pinsapo forest Sierra de las Nieves.
Many of our wintering birds are now returning to the Serranía de Ronda, what a spectacle they provide.
October 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Many of our wintering birds are now returning to the Serranía de Ronda, what a spectacle they provide.
Fewer Short-toed Snake Eagles passing through my patch, which might suggest peak autumn migration has passed.
October 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Fewer Short-toed Snake Eagles passing through my patch, which might suggest peak autumn migration has passed.
Common Redstart are joining the rush to Africa alongside Pied and Spotted Flycatcher.
September 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Common Redstart are joining the rush to Africa alongside Pied and Spotted Flycatcher.
Our local resident Blue Rock Thrush are almost complete with their autumn moult. They are handsome birds at all times of the year.
September 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Our local resident Blue Rock Thrush are almost complete with their autumn moult. They are handsome birds at all times of the year.
Post breeding White Stork in search of a baby to carry...
September 20, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Post breeding White Stork in search of a baby to carry...
Referring to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Christopher Hitchens said “If you gave him an enema, he could be buried in a matchbox”.
September 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Referring to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Christopher Hitchens said “If you gave him an enema, he could be buried in a matchbox”.
Pied Flycatcher are passing through in large numbers and over a wide front, soon most will have passed through the region and have made the crossing to Africa to continue their journey across the Sahara Desert towards their wintering grounds. Here a male takes a break from it's long journey.
September 16, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Pied Flycatcher are passing through in large numbers and over a wide front, soon most will have passed through the region and have made the crossing to Africa to continue their journey across the Sahara Desert towards their wintering grounds. Here a male takes a break from it's long journey.
I had been making headway with writing a book on a paradise for wildlife, but all the news and my timeline is filled with such hatred I fear nobody would be interested in such a thing as nature.
September 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I had been making headway with writing a book on a paradise for wildlife, but all the news and my timeline is filled with such hatred I fear nobody would be interested in such a thing as nature.
Temminck's Lark female approaches her brood as they beg for food. Just one of so many wonderful lark species to be found in Morocco.
September 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Temminck's Lark female approaches her brood as they beg for food. Just one of so many wonderful lark species to be found in Morocco.
Nice Wryneck in the garden this morning.
September 9, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Nice Wryneck in the garden this morning.
Willow Warblers make their return journey to Africa now and numbers will be peaking this month. Such delegate warblers and incredible they make such amazing long migrations.
September 4, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Willow Warblers make their return journey to Africa now and numbers will be peaking this month. Such delegate warblers and incredible they make such amazing long migrations.
My favourite autumn migrant is Northern Wheatear and they are now starting to pass through, a migration here that will last into October. It can be fun to separate the nominate race from the Greenland race as they will also follow the western flyway.
August 27, 2025 at 10:46 AM
My favourite autumn migrant is Northern Wheatear and they are now starting to pass through, a migration here that will last into October. It can be fun to separate the nominate race from the Greenland race as they will also follow the western flyway.
My latest article is published by Costa Connection Magazine in their August edition circulated today. An article that confirms that, yes, I am still crazy after all these years.
July 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM
My latest article is published by Costa Connection Magazine in their August edition circulated today. An article that confirms that, yes, I am still crazy after all these years.
The Egyptian mongoose, which is native to north Africa, is also found in Spain and Portugal. Evidence points to it having been carried here in Spain by human agency. The question is, by whom? Here a curious pose in the blistering heat currently cooking my area.
July 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The Egyptian mongoose, which is native to north Africa, is also found in Spain and Portugal. Evidence points to it having been carried here in Spain by human agency. The question is, by whom? Here a curious pose in the blistering heat currently cooking my area.
An attractive member of the region's raptors is the handsome Black-winged Kite and I would think most of us get a thrill at seeing them. I always remember the first one I ever saw and how surprised I was at their small size and just how strikingly beautiful they are.
July 17, 2025 at 7:59 AM
An attractive member of the region's raptors is the handsome Black-winged Kite and I would think most of us get a thrill at seeing them. I always remember the first one I ever saw and how surprised I was at their small size and just how strikingly beautiful they are.
I don't think there is a more loathsome politician in the UK than Farage, although Tice et al run him a close second. Espouses just everything from the Trump playbook.
July 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
I don't think there is a more loathsome politician in the UK than Farage, although Tice et al run him a close second. Espouses just everything from the Trump playbook.
And should be at the top of the list to be made public!
July 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
And should be at the top of the list to be made public!
Mistle Thrush (Europe's largest thrush) is notoriously shy and so when this opportunity arose at close quarters it was be quick and take advantage. It seemed more interested in what might be overhead than me, the moment was fleeting but frozen in time by this timely snapshot.
July 9, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Mistle Thrush (Europe's largest thrush) is notoriously shy and so when this opportunity arose at close quarters it was be quick and take advantage. It seemed more interested in what might be overhead than me, the moment was fleeting but frozen in time by this timely snapshot.
Red Fox are common throughout my region and many can appear almost grey. I always enjoy the encounters I have each year and thrilling to watch their antics as they quarter areas in search of food.
July 7, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Red Fox are common throughout my region and many can appear almost grey. I always enjoy the encounters I have each year and thrilling to watch their antics as they quarter areas in search of food.
We have a wonderful number of butterflies here in our region and as summer progresses so too does our enjoyment of these beautiful insects. Here Wall Brown (Lassiomata megera) enjoy the sweet tastes of the many local plants that flower in the summer heat.
July 6, 2025 at 6:34 AM
We have a wonderful number of butterflies here in our region and as summer progresses so too does our enjoyment of these beautiful insects. Here Wall Brown (Lassiomata megera) enjoy the sweet tastes of the many local plants that flower in the summer heat.
During the hottest of days it can still be worthwhile to catch up with a favourite bird before they start to disperse for their long journey south to Africa. One bird that makes these forays bearable is the stunning Black-eared Wheatear. The most attractive of wheatears.
July 4, 2025 at 6:41 AM
During the hottest of days it can still be worthwhile to catch up with a favourite bird before they start to disperse for their long journey south to Africa. One bird that makes these forays bearable is the stunning Black-eared Wheatear. The most attractive of wheatears.