It's been ages since Gilly and I have been
birdwatching. We had a disastrous journey to England. Our truck's engine
blew a piston out 50km north of Madrid. It's still there having a new
engine fitted. My Sigma 150-500mm lens's auto-focus gave up the ghost
for the third time. It's now been sent to Japan for repairs at HQ. So it
was really good to meet up with the group after an absence of nine
weeks.
We met above the ford
overlooking the Rambla de Almanzora on a cool, grey day. On the water
near the ford we saw a pair of Teal, Black-winged Stilts, Mallard and
Black-headed Gulls. A Dartford Warbler showed well on a nearby bush as
did a Black Redstart on the wooden fencing. We wandered further along,
seeing Ringed Plover, Green and Common Sandpiper and a Snipe. Above us
were a few Crag Martins. Also seen were Magpie, Hoopoe, Stonechat and
House Sparrow. Further along towards the desalination plant I spotted a
Grey Wagtail. Meadow Pipits were observed. Les saw a Water Pipit. A
Redshank and some Shovelers completed the Rambla list.
After a pick-me-up cup of
coffee in Villaricos we made our way to the beach to the south of the
harbour. There were 49 Cormorants with some white fronted juveniles on the
rocks. A Black-necked Grebe was feeding nearby. Out to sea a 19 long
string of presumed Balearic Shearwaters flew past just below the
horizon. 3 Gannets were also seen. A Sanderling was seen before we
walked over to the estuary. Loads more Cormorants were there together
with Little Egrets, a couple of Grey Herons and a flock of Black-headed
Gulls. Alan spotted a pair of Little Grebes. A Knot was a good find. A
distant Kingfisher showed well. Sandwich Terns were resting on a pebble
spit as was an Audouin's Gull. 
A Great Crested Grebe together
with another Black-necked Grebe was swimming just beyond the breakers. A
pair of Whimbrel was seen as well as a sleeping Grey Plover.
We then convoyed to the road overlooking the pools
at Vera. A juvenile Greater Flamingo was present. Les spotted a smart
male Pintail. We also added Shelduck and Blackbird to our day list.
At the pool opposite the
Consum supermarket we saw a number of White-headed Ducks. There were
numerous Chiffchaffs flitting around, some being Iberian. Our list was
completed by Lynn, Les's wife who saw a Marsh Harrier as she walked
round whilst the rest of us drove!
We ended up with an impressive 54 species for the day even though the weather could've been better.
PS: Dave forgot to say that Alan had seen a Temminck's Stint at the Rambla some days opreviously and that these shots are with Dave's new Canon Powershot SX50 whilst his Sigma lens is in intensive care in Japan.
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