This week we revisited the Bosque del Peloño in Ponga for what could be the last time before the leaves completely fall. An Oak leaf, halfway to autumn A view of los Picos de Europa, further along the path from Les Bedules Ruins of a cabaña at Collada Granceno Belinda searching (in vain) for the black woodpecker, along the path from Les Bedules. Share...
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Autumn in Asturias, Wow! The ending of the summer isn’t too glum for us. We can still find some warm weather in October. And then towards November the onset of autumn bringing cooler times but also some magic, especially if you like making pictures. We left the car at Les Bedules, 10 minutes from San Juan de Beleño in Ponga. It’s a starting point for many walks including a favourite, to the Pico Zorro. However, to see the autumn colours, long routes and climbing peaks isn’t a strict requirement. We wandered along the forest track to Collada Granceno and then a little further to Roblón de Bustiello (a big old oak tree). The gaps in the treeline allow for excellent views of the Bosque de Peloño. The forest is primarily beech and oak, though we also noticed a fair amount a holly and hazel. I’m hoping for another autumnal excursion this week. Beech leaf catch the melting snow A forest of lichen Bosque de Peloño Bosque de Peloño Share...
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September in Asturias is our favorite month. The tourists are few and far between. The temperature is pleasant but you won’t overheat in the high mountains. Fernando and Belinda It also see’s the beginning of the deer rutting season. When a friend invited us so stay at his cabaña for the weekend, we were excited to say the least. The cabaña is located near the abandoned village of Valle Moru in Ponga, a perfect location for us to witness the deer rut (‘berrea’ in spanish). Surrounded by dense beech and oak forest, the rut can be heard several kilometres away, particularly at dawn and dusk. A very early start is needed to get a good chance of seeing some action. So armed with cameras, scope and binoculars we headed to good viewpoint each day walking in the dark by torchlight. The stags roaring and belching creates a unforgettable atmosphere. We were lucky to witness the stags locking antlers although they are incredibly difficult to spot against the mountain side....
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We ventured a little outside the limits of Asturias for a week camping. Cantabria shares the Picos de Europa National Park with Asturias (and León) as well as the same stretch of coastline, and we know both quite well. I’ve often wondered what lesser known area of Parque Natural del Saja-Besaya has to offer. Its only a 90 minute drive for us but a little too far for a long day-trip. We started on the coast near San Vicente de la Barquera at the Parque Natural de Oyambre (an estuary with fantastic beaches) and then headed inland through the Saja Valley towards Reinosa. It contains fantastic beech and oak forests, with plenty of bird life though we had no luck with the Black or Middle-Spotted Woodpeckers. There is a good visitors centre on the only road through the valley – Centro de Interpretación del Parque Natural Saja Besaya We plan soon to visit the adjacent Nansa Valley with its river inhabited by otters! Sunset at Oyambre Sunset at Oyambre, the...
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Over the past few years I have enjoyed listening to photography podcasts. I recently discovered 2 interviews with Trey Ratcliff from stuckincustoms.com about HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. I like the concept of HDR and I’m enjoying experimenting using Photomatix. Below are some scenes from Asturias taken over the past month. There is much to learn and I think the technique will lend itself well to the Asturian lansdcape. My favourite photography podcasts are; The Digital Photo Experience Depth of Field with Matt Brandon (The Digital Trekker) Martin Bailey Photography Podcast Share...
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We recently made two trips to Castilla y León and Galicia. The first stop was to the Sanabria Lake Natural Park and La Sierra de la Culebra (wolf watching) then on to the Cíes Islands within the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. A few photos from the trip. Share...
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