I too would like to add my commiserations and condolences to the 'avid reader' (didn't know I had any!) who dipped on the Tufted Puffin. That's birding life!
The second, separate, blog for this date is my own from the Guadalhorce this morning (Friday) and it wasn't too bad, but nowhere the number of spp. and damned hot at 30ºC in to the bargain.
Las Norias & Roquetas; Wednesday 30th Sept 2009
It was with some trepidation that Brian, Mary & I made the long trip to Las Norias. If you remember this time last year we had camera stuff stolen from the car, then blackmailed by the offenders which ended up me being caught up in a Guardia undercover op involving shots being fired!! So, Gilly decided not to come this year!
At the first causeway we could see lots of birds on the water. All three grebes, Great Crested, Black-necked and Little. On the duck front we spotted Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, White-headed and Shoveler. I had a fleeting view of a Kingfisher, while Brian spotted a distant Purple Gallinule. We then moved to the viewing area near the now empty heronry. Lots of Sand Martins here together with House Martins and Barn Swallows. Mary spotted a nice Marsh Harrier. Very surprised to see that 20+ Collared Pratincoles were still in residence. A single Black Tern was amongst the few Little Terns. Mallard and Red-crested Pochard were added to our duck list. At the far end causeway there was a vociferous response from Mary when Brian shut her fingers in the car door, but the birds didn't seem to be affected! Three Night Herons were very visible on the far side and a Squacco Heron was still around. A Pied Flycatcher was seen, then the heavens opened, so we thought it was a good time to make the move to Roquetas. Once there we travelled the 4x4 only track to the Salinas de Cerrillos, where a Red-necked Phalarope had recently been seen. 
On the way there, due to the recent rains there were lots of huge shallow pools. Waders were everywhere. Here is the list :- Dunlin, Knot, Ruff, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Kentish and Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Avocet, Greenshank, Little Stint, Curlew and Curlew Sandpiper. Alas no phalarope on the Salinas, but did see a flock of Audouin's Gull and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. A few Sandwich Terns were resting. On the way back we stopped to tick off Red-knobbed Coot to complete our 62 count day!! Looking forward to returning with my hopefully repaired scope in about a month.
Lastly I'd like to dedicate this report to an avid viewer of Andy's website, a friend of Brian and Mary's, Terry Wilson, who decided to pass up a visit to Oare Marshes reserve, Kent on the 16th September, the day the Tufted Puffin made it's all too short appearance. Our deepest sympathy!
Dave & Gilly
I hope that nobody will object to a few comments and comparison of records between Almería nd the Guadalhorce, apart from my envy at the wader species' count. Here, there have been few Northern Wheatears, I saw 3 last Monday, although I know that there have been plenty on Las Almoladeras, and also very few Whinchats, one was seen here yesterday but I've missed out totally this year.
Yesterday too there was a single Pratincole here and I suspect that it, like the birds in Almería, are on passage from points further north, possibly the Camargue-Bouche du Rhône area. There have been very few terns on passage here with few Sandwich, even fewer Little and I have yet to see a Common and my Black Tern total is precisely 1! As for small brown jobs, not a lot. and a previous blog has detailed what I saw in my garden.
Elsewhere, there has been a report of a flock Dotterel high up on Sierra Nevada. The Tarifa area is producing up to 3 Rüppell's Vultures in a day and there are still up to 4 Little Swifts around the Bolonia site, while Long-legged Buzzard has been seen on La Janda. They have bred in southern Spain this year, so it is hardly surprising.
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