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Quintas das Arcas: Bicudo Vinho Verde (2017)

10,000 Birds

In many cases, our waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds are the same as those overseas – or only slightly different – and there are many other corresponding species in nearly all the shared families. According to the winemakers there, hoopoes (a summertime breeder in Spain) are commonly encountered along the paths through the vineyard.

2017 117
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Andalucia’s City-Slicker Falcons

10,000 Birds

If you see a flock of kestrels in southern Europe, then the chances are that they will be Lessers, for the Common Kestrel never flocks, though occasionally in summer you will see a family hunting together. However, in Southern Spain a small number of birds are resident. Last month in Andalucia I saw only males.

Falcons 194
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Our Best Birds of 2020

10,000 Birds

Chamois is an agile goat-antelope with short hooked horns, found in mountainous areas of Europe from Spain to the Caucasus. Common Cuckoo is a fascinating bird, an obligate parasitic breeder that employs numerous strategies, including fraud and murder, to survive. Yes, yes, I know, not countable – it’s not a bird. Preposterous!

2020 230