tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37996215018620005362024-03-06T04:19:00.762+01:00birding the costaAndy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.comBlogger636125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-70220703328892218532016-06-22T19:02:00.000+02:002016-06-22T19:02:18.956+02:0022 June : Caba de Gata and Rambla MoralesAs Dave so rightly comments, summer is not only a-coming in, it's arrived! Mind you, so has a <b>Slatey Junco</b> at Algeciras, a probable hitchhiker on some vessel from the States. This, therefore, will probably be the last post for a while although there may well be two or three to cover my summer trip up to Spitsbergen and which will appear before the middle of August.<br />
So, dear and faithful readers, have a good summer under 50 factor sunburn cream and if you're going to Britain, take your woollies. As the max. temp. in Spitsbergen a couple of days since was -5ºC (yes, minus 5), I am taking some <i><b>very</b></i> warm gear!<br />
Many thanks, Dave, for all your efforts and reports over the year and I'm so pleased to see that you've taken Gilly out! And don't force yourself in to going out too much, I'd hate to think of you tiring yourself before the autumn! <br />
<br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15578a73caec8b9a&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipr0ej9m0_15578a2a7ad2ee2b&attbid=ANGjdJ-9l4DlE8SvOGKwIOH4tEGamFYPCEzFd6f57QQVP3blpf8Oh0bPXDuag-vsdGHJtRHLHoioZZgtbY6KvmGQ74XjGXc90Yv262TzjK6nlqtWVBjp_y41VInoYcQ&sz=w1008-h1124&ats=1466613876713&rm=15578a73caec8b9a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="358" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">For our ultimate day out,
prior to the summer heat, we decided to make our way to Cabo de Gata. I
managed to get Gilly out of bed at the crack of dawn so we got to the
far end of the reserve by 8am. We'd already logged <b>Jackdaw</b> and
<b>Southern Grey Shrike</b> by the time we started along the sometimes bumpy
track going round the rear of the salinas. We spotted <b>Blackbird</b>, <b>Crested
Lark</b> and <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b> before we came to some water. Through a
break in an earth bank I could see a small number of <b>Audouin's Gulls</b> at
rest. In the salina after the hide we found <b>Greater Flamingo</b> and <b>
Avocet</b>. At the ternery I counted at least 15 sitting <b>Gull-billed Terns</b>
and a lesser number of <b>Little Terns</b>. The <b>Gull-billed Terns</b> seem to be
having a good year in our area. Gilly spotted a pair of flying <b>Stone
Curlews</b>. We also had <b>Shelduck</b> and <b>Black-winged Stilts</b> and Gilly found a
very bedraggled looking <b>Raven</b>. We saw at least 3-4 more <b>Southern Grey
Shrikes</b>. Further along perched on a <i>siempre verde</i> hedge, Gilly spotted a
<b>Woodchat Shrike </b>which posed superbly. We completed our early morning
list with <b>Hoopoe</b> and a family of <b>Sardinian Warblers</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15578a73caec8b9a&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipr0fsde1_15578a38ac537dc7&attbid=ANGjdJ_39t_nPE_c8nFAEFg7jUnBDtjg_Us58YIktlCHn3s3zHltPsVQXxr-xHniSU4WjclVsvPBHKVxXp9-iKBIgb19ffqCWx_ghg-Bc7Xs6NDHqeij8n8_G-KmUHY&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1466613876713&rm=15578a73caec8b9a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
met up with John and Richard at the Pujaire cafe. After a couple of
cups of coffee we headed to the first hide. Here we saw <b>Greater
Flamingo</b>, <b>Avocet</b> and <b>Mallard</b>. There were no little waders round the rear
of the reserve, but here we saw a small number of <b>Kentish Plovers</b>. <b>Gull-billed</b> and <b>Little Terns</b> were out feeding. <b>House Martins</b>, <b>Barn </b>and
<b>Red-rumped Swallows </b>passed by.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
was nothing seen out to sea. Small white horses were appearing as the
wind from the east increased in strength. We walked to the second hide from which
Gilly counted <b>686</b> <b>Greater Flamingos</b>. She also spotted a pair of <b>Little
Egrets</b> and some sheltering <b>Redshank</b> and I found a <b>Shelduck</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Moving
to the public hide, Gilly was the first to see now two bedraggled
looking <b>Ravens</b> on the steppes! We added <b>Slender-billed Gulls</b> from the
hide. Gilly found 4 <b>Black-necked Grebes</b> and John spotted a <b>White Wagtail</b>.
We had a <b>Common Swift</b> on the way to Cabo de Gata village for a
refreshment break.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
beach was full of children enjoying themselves. The holiday season had
also brought out the Guardia Civil in good numbers. The sign of the
times unfortunately.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15578a73caec8b9a&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipr0gkkm2_15578a4183654cce&attbid=ANGjdJ9_bLXmfZEm6YUrJwUhowaHUW-2TASNVAU2_f3yVxOxCQfaJo69Gn6Or6utgNAiWG7yoGIWVXQ_xDHIQsnM25lvs2n5rpldZcEfcEp8OLbWZVCdJ9GiCEzpoqY&sz=w992-h1124&ats=1466613876713&rm=15578a73caec8b9a&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15578a73caec8b9a&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipr0gkkm2_15578a4183654cce&attbid=ANGjdJ9_bLXmfZEm6YUrJwUhowaHUW-2TASNVAU2_f3yVxOxCQfaJo69Gn6Or6utgNAiWG7yoGIWVXQ_xDHIQsnM25lvs2n5rpldZcEfcEp8OLbWZVCdJ9GiCEzpoqY&sz=w992-h1124&ats=1466613876713&rm=15578a73caec8b9a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="496" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way to the Rambla Morales. The wind was very strong. We found
some <b>Kentish Plover</b> and chicks plus a <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> by the
"estuary". The water in the brackish lake was choppy. A male <b>White-headed Duck</b> showed well despite the waves. The black on his white head
reminded us of the pure black headed one John found a few years ago.
Yes, a black headed <b>White-headed Duck</b>. Strange but true! There were 20
<b>Greater Flamingos</b> here plus a few <b>Coots</b>. Gilly and I left John and
Richard to it as we made our way out via the campsite. We added <b>Moorhen</b>,
<b>Bee-eater</b> and <b>Greenfinch</b> to complete the days list. 37 species in
all. A good day's birding despite the hot & windy weather. No group
birding trips are planned till September, but no doubt I might be forced
to go somewhere before then!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Gilly and I dropped in to see Val and Rob on the way back home. He's lost
a bit of weight as has Val. He'd like to eat much more but
his dietary restrictions don't allow it. Things are looking good. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Regards, Dave</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-77135962030882720782016-06-16T16:34:00.004+02:002016-06-16T16:34:38.395+02:0015 June : Sierra de María<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155545a659a3654b&attid=0.5&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipgxy5y74_155545958b6ebd9f&attbid=ANGjdJ9XMk5TSU0HjCzBHxQL4d9qGzbL8__ZkFGRENiuRyvGZkzKi8Aunarbv2zKRsZWsNze-aXJhfD-YpeXUofpGeiYgIzZKJ3aUJB0xVEQbIPOAgy7stiLIBblcGI&sz=w852-h1124&ats=1466086671755&rm=155545a659a3654b&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="242" /></span>This last Monday and Tuesday was definitely one that Mr. Coward could have used in his little ditty about 'Mad dogs and Englishmen going out in the midday sun' as temperatures were in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Not nice and my little teckel spent most of the day doing his impression of a hedgehog flattened on the road. However, Wednesday was positively cool, with only 29ºC in Torremolinos. I would caution against taking the street thermometers as being reliable, as if they are in full sunlight they can quite easily give 5º-7ºC more than the actual air temp..</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I remember Gilly. How nice of you to take the lass out with you! Very decent.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">46ºC in Arboleas on Monday, so
Gilly....remember her?, Steve and myself headed up into the
mountainous area of the Sierra de Maria. As we had a coffee at the
Repsol garage cafe in Maria town we watched the <b>House Martins</b> nesting
under the forecourt canopy. Adrian arrived as I spotted a distant
<b>Griffon Vulture</b> gliding towards Vélez Blanco....yes, we were sitting
outside!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155545a659a3654b&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipgxsy4v0_1555455a37ffdbf0&attbid=ANGjdJ-zSngd8OqZVnZyp7ImWQXk2VnOZZn22VY8c9bNntQxDBz1pg0KOZ8Ve4bRyq8n7TfAubRiSiouWPpmKai34HP-G1LGQQTTvlDKiBwcPxQ_6LWI2PPFZLor7zs&sz=w1124-h770&ats=1466086671754&rm=155545a659a3654b&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="274" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155545a659a3654b&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipgxsy4v0_1555455a37ffdbf0&attbid=ANGjdJ-zSngd8OqZVnZyp7ImWQXk2VnOZZn22VY8c9bNntQxDBz1pg0KOZ8Ve4bRyq8n7TfAubRiSiouWPpmKai34HP-G1LGQQTTvlDKiBwcPxQ_6LWI2PPFZLor7zs&sz=w1124-h770&ats=1466086671754&rm=155545a659a3654b&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">We made our way towards the chapel, seeing a Corn Bunting on a chainlink fence. Very reminiscent of Extremadura!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Upon
parking we immediately heard a <b>European Cuckoo</b>. I spotted a <b>Linnet</b>
flying by and when we walked round to the water trough we had good but
distant views of <b>Linnet</b>, <b>Chaffinch</b>, <b>Rock Bunting</b>, <b>Subalpine</b> and
<b>Bonelli's Warblers</b> making use of the facilities. I then spotted an eagle
flying low directly towards us and a <b>Short-toed Eagle</b> soared above us.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155545a659a3654b&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipgxxafo3_1555458b964de035&attbid=ANGjdJ9VQzpOPy8i4bzGWkSM0X7qNGt8GFd5GFJA8WF5W-Ivyuj7ZLZFB94Y9K5yA94-mIWzlzSVcT6tDucfk_Dl4_Ff9HrCzXB8T2tmkMdTZU-DpNtZQLxOJA758Iw&sz=w1124-h1092&ats=1466086671755&rm=155545a659a3654b&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="310" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155545a659a3654b&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipgxxafo3_1555458b964de035&attbid=ANGjdJ9VQzpOPy8i4bzGWkSM0X7qNGt8GFd5GFJA8WF5W-Ivyuj7ZLZFB94Y9K5yA94-mIWzlzSVcT6tDucfk_Dl4_Ff9HrCzXB8T2tmkMdTZU-DpNtZQLxOJA758Iw&sz=w1124-h1092&ats=1466086671755&rm=155545a659a3654b&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way towards the Information Centre. A <b>Raven</b> showed well just
as Jacky joined us. In the lower gardens we observed<b> Coal</b> and <b>Great
Tit</b>, the latter using one of the nest boxes. A family group of <b>Subalpine
Warblers</b> were seen. Adrian and Gilly hung around there as Jacky,
Steve and I did the lower walk. We added <b>Mistle Thrush</b> and <b>Blackbird</b>
plus fleeting glimpses of a <b>Western Orphean Warbler</b>. More <b>Bonelli's
Warblers</b> were seen. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Returning to Adrian and Gilly, they also had seen
<b>Crossbill</b> and <b>Robin</b> and heard a distant <b>Golden Oriole</b>. We walked back
down towards the chapel, leaving the energetic Jacky to do the middle
walk. We spent some time trying to see the <b>Golden Oriole</b> in the trees
near the chapel, but to no avail. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">At
the farm buildings we added <b>Carrion Crow</b> and <b>Barn Swallow</b>. As we made
our way to the sheep trough we spotted a <b>Woodchat Shrike</b>. The drive
along the plain only produced <b>Crested Lark</b>. At the hamlet we saw <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b> and a pair of <b>Lesser Kestrels</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155545a659a3654b&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ipgxz3e75_155545a0303e7cfe&attbid=ANGjdJ_eQulb7SR-r2cjqsaGZmO77q9f4CW3xDW5hiVLvF6v28R511DrWQy-Z9DEs2VRdi-l5vkbtKcEQzBlcCjG98S5UWCiwfFlqw4NNZNXISad1MK6jvDvVY8p2Ic&sz=w1056-h1124&ats=1466086671755&rm=155545a659a3654b&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="300" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
returned to the La Piza forest café for lunch where we were entertained
by <b>Crossbill</b>, <b>Chaffinch</b> and <b>Great Tit</b> using the birdbath. An Iberian
race squirrel also was thirsty. Jacky caught up with us. She'd added <b>
Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> and <b>Jay</b> to the list. As we were eating all
the birds took flight as a fast low <b>flying Turtle Dove</b> whizzed passed.
I'm sure they thought it was a <b>Sparrowhawk</b>! Gilly spotted a <b>Booted
Eagle</b>. We went our separate ways. We saw a group of ten <b>Griffon Vultures</b>
soaring above the mountains before we got to Maria town.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> "Only"
35 species today, but great to be out of the heat! </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">An update on Val's
Rob. Operation went well and he is now back home. </span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-53238411097095210352016-06-13T11:25:00.003+02:002016-06-13T11:25:29.785+02:008 June : Cabio de Gata & Rambla Morales<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155304261da3c3b4&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ip6xapyw1_155303e423223a8e&attbid=ANGjdJ8ck80ge9XzCJsxhMewejQlj84BBFJp_GMFBBO2TmAa9Jtx0KRvkz8cClIAUjbeVBT9ukWmH7K3PhvkB02vMQPp5I87cCKLfoWz2sa45PsTWD95wNzJ8Z5z03Q&sz=w756-h1124&ats=1465809162974&rm=155304261da3c3b4&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="378" /></span><div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">No photo opportunities from today. Here are some <b>Black-winged Stilt </b>reflection photos I took near Villaricos whilst waiting for Gilly to finish work.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">As John had never seen a
<b>Spectacled Warble</b>r before, we started out early to do the rear
of Cabo de Gata reserve before meeting up with the rest of the gang. We
arrived at the far end of the beach, just by Fabriquilla village at
07.45hrs. Little had changed since my last visit. Still no water in the
first two salinas, but they were working in the Salt depot so there's
hope seawater may be pumped into them. We saw nothing of interest, even
venturing up to the ruined farm buildings for a gander (look, not a
female goose!). </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually I spotted a <b>Little Owl</b> on topb</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> of the
abandoned enclosure wall prior to the only hide. From there we saw
<b>Kentish Plover</b>, <b>Avocet</b> and <b>Greater Flamingo</b>. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On the water were <b>Slender-billed Gulls</b> and a good num</span><span style="font-size: medium;">er of <b>Shelduck</b>. We heard a <b>Red-legged
Partridge,</b> then later saw one perched on a shrub. Also seen were <b>Zitting
Cisticola</b>, <b>Iberian Grey Shrike</b>, <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b> and <b>Sardinian
Warbler</b>. We stopped where I'd seen the pair of <b>Spectacled Warblers </b>
previously, but of a sign there was none. Three <b>Gull-billed Terns</b>
patrolled up and down. We heard then saw 2-3 <b>Stone Curlews </b>and concluded our tour with <b>Goldfinch</b> and <b>Greenfinch</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We met up with Barrie and Beryl, Colin and Sandra and Trevor and Ann at the Pujaire cafe for a coffee.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=155304261da3c3b4&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ip6xciuh3_155303f8cd5a300a&attbid=ANGjdJ-Qo-XaFSIh6du8toNDZKRCZCjk974g5Ap7F_NQ4VrfeL2C9toIKmKEtt5HbZ2Jy_RcXniWnPS7Ruq4Ttd_aQLmEfaju2g1Gq6ipAyBd-n6qdnSGI6sgEmZL14&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1465809162974&rm=155304261da3c3b4&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Having
made our way to the first hide, we observed the usual suspects. <b>Greater
Flamingo</b>,<b>Shelduck </b>and <b>Slender-billed Gull</b>. Waders were in very short
supply. Only singles numbers of <b>Avoce</b>t, <b>Ringed</b> and <b>Kentish Plover</b>.
Colin found an <b>Iberian Grey Shrike,</b> Barrie, a <b>Little Egret </b>and Sandra, a
<b>Hoopoe</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Our
seawatch from opposite the second hide was a complete waste of time. Not
even any gull species! From the hide we had <b>Gull-billed Tern</b>, <b>Little
Terns</b> plunge fishing and I spotted a distant <b>Whiskered Tern</b>, whilst
Barrie found a <b>Common Tern</b>. <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> and <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b>
were added to the day list.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> John
spotted the <b>Kestrel</b> on the pylon as we parked up by the public hide.
From inside there I found a half dozen or so <b>Black-necked Grebe</b>. There
were numerous <b>Kentish Plovers</b> and a well found <b>Sanderling</b> by John. I
spotted a <b>Yellow Wagtail</b>. Two <b>Common Terns</b> were on the causeway.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way to the Cabo beach cafe, seeing <b>White Wagtail</b> and <b>Common
Swift </b>on the way. After a reviving drink...it was getting very
hot....we, apart from Trevor and Ann, drove along to the Rambla de
Morales. There were a few Coots at the beach end. We heard <b>Reed Warbler</b>
and also saw <b>Zitting Cisticola</b>. No sign of the Paddyfield Warbler.
Barrie had been lucky enough to see one at Pagham Harbour, near
Chichester, W. Sussex a few years ago. John found a pair of <b>Pallid
Swifts</b> as well as some <b>Bee-eaters</b>. Colin had a premonition we'd see a
<b>White-headed Duck</b> and he found a female. Also seen was <b>Moorhen</b> and
<b>Little Ringed Plover</b>. John and I added <b>Jackdaw </b>on our way back to the
motorway.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In total we had 48 species. Things are definitely slowing down in the hotter weather. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">No photo opportunities from today. Here are some Black-winged Stilt reflection photos I took near Villaricos whilst waiting for Gilly to finish work.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-47522767297212028362016-06-03T11:18:00.001+02:002016-06-06T09:31:14.563+02:001 June : Las Norias & Roquetas<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">First some good news and bad news from the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.rarebirdspain.net&source=gmail&ust=1465030650584000&usg=AFQjCNGkz22CNK9JOD7WEjo0Uma53j-ixQ" href="http://www.rarebirdspain.net/" target="_blank">www.rarebirdspain.net</a>
website. The "bad"news was that a <b>Hooded Crow </b>was seen at Cabo de Gata
on the 27th May and a <b>Paddyfield Warbler</b> was claimed seen at Rambla de Morales
on the 16th May. The "good" news was that we weren't there on both days
so didn't miss them! There's some logic in there somewhere!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="404" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1550c952d793ba61&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iox0v7oh1_1550c8f52f572da9&attbid=ANGjdJ-Iw1jIlk2WQvwEYoGVTWzto54nYRXeSIOJSNFFGYfy54-8KDJSpl7kc5mXWzPJGoUX9lvPZDvCUliKP_szXJaqXAnbfsTFtBNRjIe02LK85Z4kb_GF2X-Y4dE&sz=w1124-h714&ats=1464944250583&rm=1550c952d793ba61&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="640" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Right,
back to today's trip....... I met up with John, Barrie, Colin and Les
at the Repsol Garage cafe, Jct 420, off the E15/A7 motorway for a cuppa
before heading to Las Norias. As we were parking up on the first
causeway, Les spotted a <b>Little Bittern</b>. On the water on the better left
hand side there were <b>Red-crested Pochard</b>, <b>Black-necked</b>, <b>Great Crested</b> and <b>Little Grebes</b>. We heard then saw a <b>Turtle Dove</b>. Later saw another
three. We heard and then I spotted one of the <b>Great Reed Warblers</b>. A
good number of <b>Zitting Cisticolas</b> were seen. John found some <b>Gadwall</b>. and also seen were <b>Common Pochard</b>, <b>Little Egret</b>, <b>Coot</b>, <b>Moorhen</b>, <b>Grey Heron</b>
and a flying <b>Night Heron</b>. Barrie found a distant <b>Cormorant</b>. I wandered
round to the dry reed area behind the pump house where I saw a female
<b>Blackcap</b> on the power line. John joined me on a raised bank and we
were lucky enough to see a <b>Reed Warbler</b>. Above us we had <b>Common Swift</b>, <b>
Crag </b>and <b>House Martins</b> and <b>Barn Swallow</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1550c952d793ba61&attid=0.4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iox0y6l33_1550c916ef886e83&attbid=ANGjdJ_Pf6kA9LZtWAs5NmiW6Ug1P5w28G_b9cl6zBOD7InRxXx9YktkcXRsuq2qKic323Ys51atFYC9jF1i1dFHm6HOVs-0EHgeusTX-ic5lOoFIRiKaC7WO-qYmfU&sz=w1096-h1124&ats=1464944250583&rm=1550c952d793ba61&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1550c952d793ba61&attid=0.4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iox0y6l33_1550c916ef886e83&attbid=ANGjdJ_Pf6kA9LZtWAs5NmiW6Ug1P5w28G_b9cl6zBOD7InRxXx9YktkcXRsuq2qKic323Ys51atFYC9jF1i1dFHm6HOVs-0EHgeusTX-ic5lOoFIRiKaC7WO-qYmfU&sz=w1096-h1124&ats=1464944250583&rm=1550c952d793ba61&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="312" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">We
moved round to the far side of the lake. A <b>Crested Lark </b>was seen as we
parked up and we added <b>Greenfinch,</b> but the best birds were <b>Little</b> and
<b>Gull-billed Terns</b>. More <b>Night Herons</b> and <b>Zitting Cisticolas</b> were seen and also <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Moving
to the second causeway, our views were hampered by vegetation again. <b>
Hoopoe</b>, <b>Blackbird</b>,<b> Kestrel </b>and <b>Magpie</b> were added to the list. We
walked up towards the little bridge. Barrie scanned back towards the
island near where we parked. He found a <b>Marbled Duck</b> (that'll please
Richard Gunn!). A <b>Pallid Swift </b>was found. I spotted a flying <b>Squacco
Heron</b> which did a number of flypasts! We made on way towards Roquetas,
seeing <b>Carrion Crow</b> and <b>Woodpigeon</b> on the way.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">After
a coffee/tostada break we made our way to the lake by the hotels. John
spotted a flying <b>Glossy Ibis</b> and Barrie first had a <b>Slender-billed
Gull</b> followed by a couple of <b>Night Herons</b>. He then found a <b>Purple
Swamphen</b>. We then got into Barrie's and my 4x4s for the trip to the far
end of the salinas. There were many <b>Collared Pratincoles</b> on the track.
They were unfazed by us passing by. From our vehicle, John and I saw
<b>Common Terns</b>, <b>Greater Flamingos</b> and some obliging <b>Greenshanks</b> which were in
a track side pool with<b> Kentish </b>and <b>Ringed Plover</b>. We found a pair of
<b>Kestrels</b> and some <b>Red-rumped Swallows</b> around an abandoned hut. Barrie,
Colin and Les also had <b>Avocet</b>, <b>Shelduck</b> and <b>Whiskered Tern</b>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1550c952d793ba61&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iox0x9ox2_1550c90c937759c6&attbid=ANGjdJ9j9UF0Jt0TRgwnjCp0tjr2pgki0ujPvDFQWi11zWcRAwhssbmse_spgX4f2SKrb-f_F31lLiCnqJUiAKUYy6PfE5TwtXzGgMrLoCOpd9UKyZpSYRsfBC6h86A&sz=w1124-h668&ats=1464944250583&rm=1550c952d793ba61&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="377" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1550c952d793ba61&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iox0x9ox2_1550c90c937759c6&attbid=ANGjdJ9j9UF0Jt0TRgwnjCp0tjr2pgki0ujPvDFQWi11zWcRAwhssbmse_spgX4f2SKrb-f_F31lLiCnqJUiAKUYy6PfE5TwtXzGgMrLoCOpd9UKyZpSYRsfBC6h86A&sz=w1124-h668&ats=1464944250583&rm=1550c952d793ba61&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
stopped off at the Salina de Cerrillos where we had good views of <b>Slender-billed Gull</b>, <b>Sandwich</b> and <b>Little Terns </b>and Les found an <b>Audouin's Gull</b>.
Our return journey added <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> whilst the others also had
some more <b>Glossy Ibises</b>, <b>Yellow Wagtail </b>and <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>. At the
"Red Knobbed Coot" pool we had <b>White-headed Duck</b> and we observed a male
doing a courtship display. He puffed himself up, raising his body in the
water at least an inch (<i>or 2.5 cms if you're metric</i>). His head went down, then he swished his tail
from side to side making a clapping sound and forming ripples all around
him. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">That performance was a fitting finale for the day. 62 species so well pleased.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On
a serious note, I'm sure you'll join Gilly and I in wishing Rob Hicks
all the best for his operation tomorrow and, of course, to his lovely
wife, Val, as well. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-66430727007939513462016-05-30T11:47:00.001+02:002016-05-30T17:30:28.528+02:0028 May : El Fondo/Hondo (Alicante)Cat's away, miouse continues to play. The photo of the <b>Common Tern</b> is of a 1st summer bird, a relatively uncommon plumage to see even down here and well night impossible in more northerly climes. Rather early for a juv. Gull-billed Tern. We call 'foreign' areas Comanche territory here!<br />
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<tr><td class="Bu"><br /></td><td class="hU hM" style="background-color: #dddddd; color: #666666;"></td><td class="hV hM" style="background-color: #dddddd; color: #666666;"></td><td class="gF gK"></td><td class="gH"></td><td class="gH"></td><td class="gH acX" rowspan="2"></td><td colspan="3"><br /></td><td class="Bu"><div class="nH if">
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154f84433b3e75b4&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iordxktd0_154f83e4a075dba3&attbid=ANGjdJ-90ENe7l3crZRh2IwRaB_F2c8UzqeM24-sqPyiWnqLXQ7UO5RoJJWOm5K1a4OiWJktBkAbDm3-g2VL5R8vtPMjPy1NffaxicrUgO1zEqDdClsmUUyGQCsFkVc&sz=w786-h1124&ats=1464600244546&rm=154f84433b3e75b4&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="393" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Surprise,
surprise, Gilly's away for the weekend so Dave's arranged a visit to El
Fondo, near Elche or as someone said "Indian country"! I met up with
Les & Barrie at the Albox turn-off at 05.30 hrs. We headed north,
kindly being chauffeured by Barrie. Having stopped off for a refreshment
break at Cox, and being early for the north gate to be opened, we
headed for the Information Centre first. On the way we saw our only bird
of prey for the day, a <b>Kestrel</b>. Having parked up we were met by the
sound of the vociferous <b>Great Reed Warblers</b>, many shouting from reed
tops. We made straight for the viewing area were we saw <b>Red-knobbed
Coot</b>, <b>Squacco Heron</b>, <b>Marbled Duck </b>and<b> Common Pochard</b>. <b>Whiskered Terns</b>
were feeding over the shallow lake. Also seen were <b>Common Sandpiper</b> and <b>Little Ringed Plover</b>. Barrie spotted a <b>Stonechat </b>as we headed back
to the North gate for opening time.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
soon as we arrived we heard <b>Nightingale</b> singing nearby. We saw <b>Bee-eaters </b>perched on power lines further along the track. We met up with
Helen. Once the gate was opened (08.10hrs) we made our way down to the
far elevated viewing platform. We heard and then saw two <b>European Cuckoos
</b> as they flew past. On the water in front of us we saw <b>White-headed
Duck</b>, <b>Greater Flamingo </b>and <b>Little Grebe</b>. <b>Little Terns</b> were seen with
more <b>Whiskered Terns</b>. Barrie found a single <b>Cormorant</b>. The first of a
number of <b>Glossy Ibises</b> was spotted. Then we saw the first of many, many
<b>Little Bitterns</b> flying between the reeds. Barrie spotted some <b>Red-rumped
Swallows</b>, whilst Les found a <b>Great Crested Grebe</b>. Also seen were <b>Slender-billed Gull</b>, <b>Purple </b>and <b>Night Herons</b>. Helen did exceedingly well to
find an <b>Alpine Swift</b> and almost immediately Barrie found 5 <b>Black-ta</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>iled
Godwits</b> flying over. </span></div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154f84433b3e75b4&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iore173g4_154f840de81fac29&attbid=ANGjdJ-aKQ8LycmGcaIz_pk9xXcfUAIFXixnlqDU-_oZ7D76CwoRkjB6pqq8waiaaD5VXH6jYO5A3iO-nxG1NN9UpCX_KfcTv2iMXhOF6ThVYGHMvCxCTjdJ9MBJPcY&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1464600244546&rm=154f84433b3e75b4&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154f84433b3e75b4&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iore173g4_154f840de81fac29&attbid=ANGjdJ-aKQ8LycmGcaIz_pk9xXcfUAIFXixnlqDU-_oZ7D76CwoRkjB6pqq8waiaaD5VXH6jYO5A3iO-nxG1NN9UpCX_KfcTv2iMXhOF6ThVYGHMvCxCTjdJ9MBJPcY&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1464600244546&rm=154f84433b3e75b4&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On the trees to the left, one devoid of leaves
provided a perch for an <b>Iberian Grey Shrike</b> and then a female <b>Golden
Oriole</b> and a <b>Woodchat Shrike</b>. Helen had previously seen <b>Moustached
Warblers</b> from here but after about an hours waiting we first moved to a
hide a bit further along, which proved disappointing, so we trudged in
the increasing heat to other hides back towards the north gate. We added
<b>Reed Warbler</b> on the way and <b>Avocet</b>, <b>Red-crested Pochard</b> and <b>Shelduck </b>at
the second elevated viewing platform.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way back to the original platform where Helen informed us a
<b>Moustached Warbler</b> had showed well in our absence! We'd only been back a
few minutes when Graham, a local birder, found one, singing and
showing well atop a reed. A lifer for Les! Well chuffed we headed back
in the vehicle to the north gate to be counted out at 11.30hrs. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way back to the Information Centre where we virtually repeated
the birds we'd seen earlier with the exception of <b>Collared Pratincoles </b>
seen from the raised wooden walkway. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="294" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154f84433b3e75b4&attid=0.6&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iore44wr7_154f842f663fe0b5&attbid=ANGjdJ_E__mo5BKj6-Ju-hTYbUrUsoj6yEBcENHWtvO9hO4tmIKirSlX4wguAu2TN2BKlKaVnfS4pD6XSHM06nA1z9u5JoeJB-b8Uq0nZnEJ8kCVM46tYwzkQKAAI54&sz=w1124-h1038&ats=1464600244546&rm=154f84433b3e75b4&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Moving round to the other hides,
Les spotted the <b>Stone Curlews</b> in the scrubland opposite the rear of the
first hide. At the second hide Les and Barrie found a pair of <b>Common
Terns</b>. Helen photoed another tern which we decided was a juvenile <b>Gull-billed Tern</b>. Then another juvenile was seen on a post and was found to
be a faded <b>Common Tern</b>. We saw an <b>Avocet</b> with cute, fluffy chicks. Les
found a <b>Kentish Plover</b> before we headed hot and dehydrated towards the
car park, seeing a <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> on the way. Here we said our
goodbyes and thanks to Helen for booking us in. We made our way to a
cafe for </span><span style="font-size: medium;">water and</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> drinks!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A brilliant days birding. 62 species in total, the star being the <b>Moustached Warbler.</b></span></div>
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Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-55840137554644026772016-05-26T11:07:00.001+02:002016-05-26T11:07:06.730+02:0025 May : Caho de Gata & Rambla Morales<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dave, if you can't sleep, try counting your life list instead. You fall asleep after losing count fifteen times.</span> Bit late for a Meadow Pipit, isn't it?</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">For some reason I awoke at 3am
this morning and even though I counted sheep I couldn't get back to
sleep. It was nice to hear <b>Red-necked Nightjars</b> coming from the
overgrown & abandoned orange groves behind our house. So at 6.15am I
departed en route to Cabo de Gata to check out the rear of the reserve
before meeting up with the others at 9.30. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
was there by 7.30, but the weather was a bit cloudy. I came in by the
southern end (where there's a new roundabout!). There was no water in
the first two salinas, so it was a salt earth desert. No birds, no
vegetation. Not a good start! </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I stopped to scan some old farm buildings
and spotted a <b>Little Owl</b>. I then saw a bird of prey coming towards me. A
<b>Black Kite</b>. And there, further along by the hide, was another one
perched atop a pylon. Us here in the east of Andalusia don't often see
these in our neck of the woods, so that was quite a find! I checked out
the hide, which overlooked the first bit of water. There were <b>Ringed</b> and Kentish Plover. Further along I saw <b>Greater Flamingo</b>, <b>Slender-billed Gull</b>, <b>Avocet</b>, <b>Shelduck</b> and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="340" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154e8bd03f2d2d55&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ion2vlrb0_154e8b876586a4cf&attbid=ANGjdJ_X4B3tI5bLg5C_nwqWPcNAhsBxZoXpXHLtCQEl-QJ3DQj3zJ9bVAk4bbOylx4O6uNm_8nYCA-xjiC_H5ET4137Yp594Ze4K8MVCf3mDWll0pC8Q9DY3ZcG5-M&sz=w1124-h956&ats=1464252718076&rm=154e8bd03f2d2d55&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">A <b>Sanderling</b>
confused me a bit by being in breeding plumage. Having been recently to
Extremadura I easily identified the flying <b>Corn Bunting</b>. I spotted a
<b>Sardinian Warbler</b>, but a short distance further along the track I found a
pair of <b>Spectacled Warblers</b>. A <b>Gull-billed Tern </b>flew by as did a pair of
<b> Stone Curlews</b>. The only other bird of note was a <b>Meadow Pipit</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
headed to the Pujaire for a second breakfast to await the rest of the
gang. I was joined by Barrie and Beryl, Les, Colin and Sandra,
Richard and John, who's recently had a successful cataract op and I was
to be his eye drop nurse for the day in Gilly's absence! John had
already seen <b>Kestrel</b> and a <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> on the way into the village.
We headed for the first hide. We saw <b>Mallard</b>, <b>Shelduck</b>, <b>Yellow-legged </b>and <b>Slender-billed Gull </b>and, of course, <b>Greater Flamingo</b> (a total of 350-ish for the day) Waders were few and far between: <b>Little Ringed</b> and
<b>Kentish Plover</b> and John spotted a <b>Green Sandpiper</b>. Les found a <b>Stone
Curlew</b> on the scrubland. A further search provided one or two more.
Sandra found a <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> and then a <b>Southern Grey Shrike</b>. Also seen
were <b>Little Egret</b>, <b>Jackdaw</b> and <b>Little Tern</b>. As we were leaving for the
second hide a <b>Gull-billed Tern</b> flew by.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
many negative sea watches from opposite the second hide, today I
spotted 5 <b>Cory's Shearwaters</b> heading down the bay towards the
lighthouse! We were joined by Jacky. We didn't add any new birds at the
hide. Barrie, I think, spotted another <b>Stone Curlew</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
moved to the public hide. There were loads of <b>Avocets </b>and the odd
<b>Kentish Plover</b>. I found a group of three <b>Black-necked Grebe</b>. We also had
<b>Sandwich Tern</b> and <b>Thekla Lark</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We
adjourned to the beach side cafe in Cabo village for refreshments and spent most of the time spotting further <b>Cory's Shearwaters</b> passing by. I
suppose we must have seen about a dozen in total. A pair of <b>Audouin's
Gull</b> was also seen.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
then convoyed along the track towards the brackish lake in the Rambla
de Morales. We struggled here to start with....a <b>Coot</b>! We heard <b>Reed
Warbler</b>, but managed to see <b>Zitting Cisticola</b>. We saw our first &
only Black Headed Gull and some Common Swift. Barrie suckered us to walk
down to the dead wood area saying he'd seen a Glossy Ibis there
recently, but alas nothing. He redeemed himself by spotting a pair of
<b>Grey Plovers</b> in full breeding attire down by the beach and a <b>Common
Pochard</b>. Unfortunately by the time we'd walked back a 4x4, followed by a
walker had flushed them away. We did see <b>Sanderling</b> in breeding plumage
plus some <b>Kentish Plovers </b>and chicks.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A good days birding. 46 species in total. </span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-63619899155043117052016-05-19T15:17:00.002+02:002016-05-19T15:17:23.507+02:0018 May : Sierra de MaríaBefore starting, I would simply like to say that finding and subsequent identification of <b>Dupont's Lark</b> is a needle in haystack job, even where there is a small, almost relict, population as in the huge area of Las Almoladeras (Almería). Away from there, I know of no certain records off-hand.The best time is around dawn when they are singing, although I have heard of occasional birds being seen/heard around dusk. Further, at this time of year birds are letting rip with their hormones and finding one away from the known area would be extremely unlikely, although nothing is impossible in the birding world - they don't read the guides! Add to that the difficulty of the effects of fading of plumage and the notorious difficulty presented by some pipits and larks showing individual variations, and one is presented with real headaches.<br />
That said, on to Dave's report.<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154c49866d46938f&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iod1wq060_154c495361af6098&attbid=ANGjdJ9LGALswMVLbnNy0SRK15sCY10_waIc3knsqTpmmu7pPMzujbJrjBLlm24NSYVzWc9kW0cnOi9ERLKwngzKUPngZtHdSy0fFb5ATo3wslzq4i7hTtMsOshfbeA&sz=w1036-h1124&ats=1463662832650&rm=154c49866d46938f&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="368" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">After a successful trip to
Extremadura, I have now dried out and am now keen to visit the Sierra de
Maria with other group members. I made my own way there, seeing some
birds in the "zone" before reaching Maria town, the best being a <b>
Woodchat Shrike</b>. I met up with Alan, Colin, Sandra, Barrie, Beryl, Les
and Mary. After a catch-up chat and coffee we made our way to the
chapel. Amazingly the first bird I spotted was a <b>Melodious Warbler</b>,
closely followed by a <b>Jay</b>. Barrie and Alan identified the song of a
<b>Woodlark</b> which was eventually found. Alan then spotted a <b>Subalpine
Warbler</b>. We also saw <b>Chaffinch</b> and a female <b>Black Redstart</b>. Another
<b>Melodious Warbler</b> showed very well before we headed to the water trough.
Here <b>Serin</b> and more <b>Subalpine Warblers</b> were seen before we added a
<b>Bonelli's Warbler</b> as well. Just beyond the trough a <b>Western Orphean
Warbler</b> gave us good, but distant views. Moving further towards the
Botanical Gardens, Mary spotted a <b>Raven</b> near the mountain ridge. Also
seen were a <b>Magpie</b> and the occasional <b>Griffon Vulture</b> gliding along
the ridge. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As we got closer to the information Centre we saw both <b>Coal </b>and <b>Blue Tit</b>. Les decided to stay in the gardens whilst the rest of us
hot-footed it onto the lower path as a coach load of school kids
arrived. We heard <b>European Cuckoo</b> and Colin was first to hear a <b>Great
Spotted Woodpecker</b> which later showed itself. We saw further <b>Subalpine</b>,
<b>Bonelli's</b> and <b>Melodious Warblers</b>. Mary thought she'd heard <b>Long-tailed
Tits</b>, but Les, as we discovered upon our return to the gardens, had
seen some as well as <b>Crested Tit</b>, <b>Short-toed Treecreeper</b> and
<b>Crossbill</b>. The walk down to the chapel added <b>Wood Pigeon</b> and a <b>Cirl
Bunting</b> found by Alan.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154c49866d46938f&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iod1xg3f1_154c495ba6444eaf&attbid=ANGjdJ8lO65hs1oy3721kay6wHdNpzSEvQx4zwrypWWqns0nEmR2iBBLB8_fdOI71YjM68-FdN5RTzRGT0A3Ns-bOiYmGlAzwFEn48Vq-eKPrano8f7Mda58tBn0BEk&sz=w1008-h1124&ats=1463662832650&rm=154c49866d46938f&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="358" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way to the farm buildings where we added <b>Crested Lark </b>and
<b>Rock Bunting</b>. It was next to the farm trough and water deposit. The
trough was empty but we still saw a pair of <b>Hoopoes</b>. Alan saw a pair of
<b>Turtle Doves</b> as we arrived. There was a <b>Black-eared Wheatear </b>on the farm
building and I spotted a distant <b>Northern Wheatear</b> on another building.
Some <b>Linnets</b>, <b>Goldfinches</b> and a <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b> were also seen.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
then convoyed along the plains straight, me leading with Les at the
rear. I spotted a <b>Northern Wheatear</b> by the ruined building and the
<b>Little Owl </b>on its usual pile of rocks. There were also <b>Crested Lark</b> and Les saw a <b>Red Billed Chough</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">At
the hamlet we checked out the <b>Lesser Kestrel</b> situation for Helen
Commandeur's survey. There were a pair of adults and what appeared to be
an immature female. We headed back to the La Piza forest cafe, Les
bringing up the rear. We didn't add anything new on the journey, but Les
saw <b>Short-toed Larks</b> and what he thought was a <b>Calandra
Lark</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">At
La Piza, after asking the staff to fill their little pool with water,
we were given a show by <b>Chaffinches</b> and numerous <b>Crossbills</b>. <b>Great Tit</b> was
also seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">A lovely days birding in good weather and company! 47 species in total. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-43679827282485502282016-05-05T17:35:00.004+02:002016-05-05T17:38:59.281+02:0004 May : El Fondo / HondoDave's been back into Comanche<b> t</b>erritory in Alicante to el Fondo/Hondo. Herewith his account along with a bundle of nice photos at the end.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3vkb00_1547cb2d19b63c4f&attbid=ANGjdJ85BvfPFmPj9PVb6jkBdU5Q3hXgUS810Hv0j5XjSKdL5imMpCCu9U_lB0RB4wn2P-Nv_pZIUbAaNJiA7qa9KX20YEQyasmzUUr9H5ss5vT6ElsBoTM308JaSKA&sz=w1124-h998&ats=1462461367827&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="355" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3vkb00_1547cb2d19b63c4f&attbid=ANGjdJ85BvfPFmPj9PVb6jkBdU5Q3hXgUS810Hv0j5XjSKdL5imMpCCu9U_lB0RB4wn2P-Nv_pZIUbAaNJiA7qa9KX20YEQyasmzUUr9H5ss5vT6ElsBoTM308JaSKA&sz=w1124-h998&ats=1462461367827&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></a> <span style="font-size: medium;">A relatively early start,
meeting up with Les and John at the Overa Hotel, Jct 547, at 07.00hrs
for our trip to El Fondo. Kindly John agreed to drive, his car being far
more comfortable than my 4x4. After an uplifting coffee at Cox we made
our way to the Reserve's Information Centre, sighting 10 commoner
birds before arriving. Unfortunately Helen couldn't make as she'd been
out the previous evening counting <b>Little Bustards</b>, so we were on our
own. Yet again we were met by a cacophony of vociferous <b>Great Reed
Warblers</b> which seemed to occupy almost every reed bed. On or next to the
shallow water near the car park were <b>Black-winged Stilts</b>, <b>Little Egrets</b>
and Les found some <b>Common Pochard</b> and <b>Mallard</b> down the far end. A
<b>Redshank</b> flew over as did the first of many <b>Glossy Ibises</b>. I spotted a
<b>Whinchat</b> and Les added a <b>Stonechat</b>. Quartering over the water were
numerous <b>Whiskered Terns</b>. Also seen were <b>Zitting Cisticola</b>, <b>Common
Sandpiper</b>, <b>Little Ringed Plover</b>, <b>Little Grebe</b> and <b>Southern Grey
Shrike</b>.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="327" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3x2542_1547cb3e16fe1157&attbid=ANGjdJ-GdUhC1tHod4PuIpPX4Cfws67UfKULbu7gUgcBwMPsJlsjqZvf1g5GpX73PIeNsRUaOG_OF_jLX9MIeHDePHicxf2d1FTtrbtEoi4HC1WZ4Sa-RMH0LAyDmsc&sz=w1124-h920&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Moving to
the viewing area by the Centre building, we were delighted to find <b>
Marbled Duck</b>, <b>Red-crested Pochard</b>, a <b>Red-knobbed Coot</b> with chicks and a
<b>Purple Swamphen </b>also with chicks. Les found a pair of <b>Skylarks</b> as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Walking
around on the elevated path we added <b>Avocet</b> and <b>Kentish Plover</b>. About
6 <b>Collared Pratincoles</b> were seen resting and flying. About 3 <b>Squacco
Herons </b>also were seen. Jon found the first <b>Purple Heron</b> which later flew off
being harassed by a <b>Grey Heron</b>.We didn't add to the list in the next
hide but as we left there Les spotted one of a pair of <b>Stone Curlews</b> in
the scrubland opposite. He also found another <b>Whinchat</b>. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">As we walked to
the following hide we heard <b>Cetti's</b> and <b>Reed Warbler</b>. There were
numerous <b>Avocets</b>, <b>Shelducks</b> and <b>Black-winged Stilts</b> here as well as
hundreds of <b>Greater Flamingos</b>. Les found a distant <b>Curlew Sandpiper </b>
before one obligingly settled right next to the hide. </span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.9&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3warp1_1547cb357a68b07b&attbid=ANGjdJ9tFxdv0siIlZYi4up0A_45XMLVIHTf1rU2cPcWwH0lzaSHr-IhzXq8ZHIPzDufmZrLUdH7ruRNoP4uqLzy85cbKKUlNxBeJNYW4bde5JfRn_ltQCj79-eLnTU&sz=w912-h1124&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="259" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We also had
<b>Mediterranean</b> and <b>Slender-billed Gulls</b>, <b>Great Crested Grebe</b> and
<b>Little Tern</b>. Les spotted a far off hovering <b>Kestrel</b>, but missed the
<b>Marsh Harrier </b>John had spotted. As we headed back to the car park,
avoiding the coach load of school kids, we stopped to check out the
pool. And what should walk out of the reeds and walk as bold as brass
along the edge, but a <b>Water Rail</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a hearty lunch (actually not good for the heart!) we made our way to
the southern hide, where we discovered to John's joy the track had dried
out and his car mats were safe! On the way we saw a flock of 17 <b>Glossy
Ibises</b> in a field. Whilst parking another four were feeding with a flock
of <b>Wood Pigeons</b>.We found numerous <b>Black-necked Grebes</b> in full breeding
plumage. I missed the <b>Little Bittern</b> as I was attempting to photograph a
<b>Great Reed Warbler</b>! A <b>Squacco Heron</b> was advancing along the track
before us. At the hide from which we had to expel hundreds of mozzies, we
saw <b>White-headed Duck </b>as well as <b>Whiskered Tern</b>, <b>Greater Flamingo</b>,
<b>Little Egrets</b> and another <b>Little Bittern</b> which I managed to see. John and Les saw another <b>Marsh Harrier</b>. Getting back to the car, we heard
<b>Goldfinch</b> and <b>Greenfinch</b>. We ended our list by seeing a <b>Roller</b> and
two <b>Bee-eaters</b> on power lines near the closed North Gate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">A fantastic days birding. 64 species in total. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="553" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.8&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3xudr3_1547cb47074cc2d9&attbid=ANGjdJ_hq58bQSLBa4dnxUuORlMRZRnX-DXwRSstb3PlpeYzGJvTsKN_EaNrHxl4pKHjUH--2BJVevkbvqXIn9tgP1ZJlpA5D60bE2ARFefu4IDMUoNCj1c0Z4D_PgQ&sz=w1124-h1106&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="562" /><br />Collared Pratincole</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.7&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3ypzp4_1547cb51077af996&attbid=ANGjdJ-CiV7c9ceQPKMyangQR-D4V87L0OH3FH9e0A5jBwcR-o2qAiYaINArmNgSri9WNZTfM1YXBPEOTB6Ml-rS4_GApA--5nCXLg1EFOo-uNckF1eM_lb0hnJmhcU&sz=w882-h1124&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="441" /><br />Purple Heron</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="549" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int3zo495_1547cb5bd9c5a315&attbid=ANGjdJ9mmv4LLvBUTjv-fmY3Munpk_ib6o65yGDVrDn1QV2uQiP4kqmOhu1wmu_6wC0HFf3g64Wr5z0feZOLgeDuVCz35ynq88AHNWTq3q6g_R4OeiwcT0BJ2kwW5zo&sz=w1124-h1098&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="562" /><br />Purple Swamphen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.5&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int40j836_1547cb65aaf6ab80&attbid=ANGjdJ_Gune0wk4tglRENS8Ej8a2SF76xBimqlnhGo1Gpp-hS53oRnYyLpV6HhTDdWPRV8dBGGjryUGTgzf-55kDnZLsqEW54QWFURIAooIx6s0DuCQGe9-hwvu0a48&sz=w1048-h1124&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="524" /><br />Squacco Heron</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="474" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int41i5j7_1547cb70bc8e84fc&attbid=ANGjdJ_kXZOQtv3L3Piwbp5So6Irobx1bfNHjID-2F6T9YZrq4tfBJRx5TWMuuHqOz7-h7iNCZ2ZU7m0dm3_zZ7633SRjjwnXVzRqxLonujdA6c90mPToOWt5_QOa70&sz=w1124-h948&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="562" /><br />Curlew Sandpiper </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&attid=0.6&disp=emb&realattid=ii_int42iat8_1547cb7c3f2f08ab&attbid=ANGjdJ89gYHJO0CYdreZJq8pecTHhNDee0UQ2YsB4J9nTJ5_OJlQe6OO38gu344V5neAjQEB7GQo2u1YGziuuw7YLe5_881CXYmCWYBfbCqe1OE6dzgnm4pumFNMZaY&sz=w884-h1124&ats=1462461367828&rm=1547cb8e3cdfdbee&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="442" /><br />Squacco Heron</span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-10979698340166712592016-04-28T16:21:00.003+02:002016-04-28T16:29:26.293+02:0027 April : Las Norias and RoquetasSlightly out of phase on date, but at least I have caught up! Collared Pratincoles doing 'the deed'. What deed, Dave? Would you be more explicit? If, on the other hand I think that it may be, I have a pair of Collared Doves which insist on trying 'the deed' on the curved top of a street lamp. As they regularly fall off, I can't imagine them producing much this year. Here is Dave's latest report:<br />
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154584bac4ce11d6&attid=0.5&disp=emb&realattid=ii_inj044sv0_1545848019f55656&attbid=ANGjdJ8tgtNhDxEaZI9IuABXhvV4Oe4AVSCFEedXzyTFeCJD9J1J2Ao9fzrRpiWiC5-DAnag0XVzbpkrrFd6wipxUkvjFY9j_LCECuPIdU7j3Zif7sWwGbLeeMI9c4k&sz=w1074-h1124&ats=1461852167442&rm=154584bac4ce11d6&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154584bac4ce11d6&attid=0.5&disp=emb&realattid=ii_inj044sv0_1545848019f55656&attbid=ANGjdJ8tgtNhDxEaZI9IuABXhvV4Oe4AVSCFEedXzyTFeCJD9J1J2Ao9fzrRpiWiC5-DAnag0XVzbpkrrFd6wipxUkvjFY9j_LCECuPIdU7j3Zif7sWwGbLeeMI9c4k&sz=w1074-h1124&ats=1461852167442&rm=154584bac4ce11d6&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="382" /></a></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Only three of us this week,
myself, Richard and a new member, Dave, who Les met at RSPB Titchwell
and passed on my details. I picked them up in the 4x4 and headed towards
Las Norias, stopping for a coffee at our usual service station at the
meeting time, just in case I'd forgotten anybody! No one else turned up
so we made our way to the first causeway, flushing a <b>Common Sandpiper</b>
from the road as we arrived. Weather was intermittent sun and clouds
with little wind. Mosquitoes were about, but I think we got away without
any bites. The increasing height of the vegetation was going to be
problematic. </span></div>
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">On the water on the left hand side we saw <b>Red-crested
Pochard</b>, <b>Coot</b> and <b>Gadwall</b>. Dave spotted a small raft of <b>Black-necked
Grebes</b>. A small number of <b>Whiskered Terns</b> was seen. During our visit here
at least four <b>Night Herons</b> flew over. I spotted three <b>Turtle Doves</b> over
by the plastic greenhouses. I ventured round beside the pump house and heard, but didn't see, numerous <b>Reed Warblers</b>. Upon my return a very
obliging <b>Zitting Cisticola</b> sat calling from the power line. Also seen
were <b>Grey Heron</b>, <b>Moorhen</b> and <b>Blackbird</b>. Moving over to the right hand
lake we added <b>Great Crested Grebe</b>, <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>, <b>Yellow-legged
Gull</b> and <b>Little Egret</b>.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154584bac4ce11d6&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_inj067062_154584978eb28358&attbid=ANGjdJ8TpXErCo1i0zWScSfSt5-e6BWWnDFX1RNGmzc6fIFDyFA-U3-y2mZ-0OMZu-NfCxArkKSLTMyq9BzyzYbKYBqzhUeMAdqhBN7Tu7yuqlh99ZsuJVDHGaWOgW0&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1461852167442&rm=154584bac4ce11d6&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>'THE DEED'</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
drove round to the next viewing point which also was beginning to
vegetate up. There was a <b>Ringed Plover</b> and <b>Common Sandpiper </b>on the
rocks. Richard found a <b>Greenfinch</b> on the bamboo cane & also said
there were some terns further round the rocks out of our view. Moving
round I identified a <b>Gull-billed Tern</b> and two <b>Little Terns</b>. I also found
a distant <b>Common Pochard</b> amongst its numerous <b>Red Crested </b>cousins.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
second causeway, usually the better birding point, proved
disappointing. We walked up to the bridge. Dave found a <b>Crested Lark</b>,
and <b>Mallard</b> and <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> were added to the day list.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">The
drive to Roquetas added <b>Kestrel</b> and <b>Collared Dove</b>. After a short
break for an early lunch snack we made our way to the Reserve beyond the
hotels, not stopping at the lake. We first stopped at a shallow pool to
our left. An <b>Avocet</b> was close at hand with a <b>Kentish Plover</b> and a
<b>Black-winged Stilt</b> on a gravelly island. A bit further on I found a pair
of <b>Collared Pratincoles</b>. We voyeured them doing 'the deed'! We'd only gone
a few yards when a <b>Glossy Ibis</b> flew out of the scrub immediately to our
right. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154584bac4ce11d6&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_inj07i5r3_154584a674748cb4&attbid=ANGjdJ-Z_B2pcBsaf31rsM_T4XccHEYmxars3vRYyJMTzOGDCIfPyzZvOEe3Icmv96MFwnzWIlT1pZysuiQoflWYN5IMzAVb4O732KIJE5BjWQm_155x9jMmWMw1sN8&sz=w1124-h566&ats=1461852167442&rm=154584bac4ce11d6&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="321" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=154584bac4ce11d6&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_inj07i5r3_154584a674748cb4&attbid=ANGjdJ-Z_B2pcBsaf31rsM_T4XccHEYmxars3vRYyJMTzOGDCIfPyzZvOEe3Icmv96MFwnzWIlT1pZysuiQoflWYN5IMzAVb4O732KIJE5BjWQm_155x9jMmWMw1sN8&sz=w1124-h566&ats=1461852167442&rm=154584bac4ce11d6&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Further up we saw <b>Slender-billed Gulls</b> on roadside pools. We
finally reached our destination, the salinas near the ruined pump house.
There were many <b>Greater Flamingos</b>. On a sandy island there were more <b>
Slender-billed Gulls</b>, an immature <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b> as well as
<b>Sanderling</b>, <b>Turnstone</b> and a <b>Redshank</b>. Heading back, we flushed a
<b>Shelduck</b> before stopping at the belated Red Knob Coot pool. Still none
seen, but did have a pair of <b>White-headed Ducks</b>. All in all we saw 47
species. Dave seemed to enjoy himself seeing several new species.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red;">Would '<b>anonymous</b>' write to me at <b>andy.birds (at) gmail.com</b> and I shall be happy to pass on Dave's address for full details of the site.</span></span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-14374750558472763822016-04-28T12:03:00.002+02:002016-04-28T12:03:14.429+02:0028 April : Diclofenac and vultures<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DICLOFENAC AND
VULTURES</b></div>
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Diciclofenac is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug
used in the treatment of cattle and pigs. Inevitably some of these animals die
and the trend is ti leave the carcasses at set feeding sites for vultures. However,
when vultures ingest meat treated with this drug, the toxic effect on birds
beciomes rapidly visible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within hours
of consumption, death has taken place as a result of kidney failure.</div>
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The permitted use of diclofenac in veterinary medicine is
permitted in Spain in two medications, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–
Diclovet and Dolofenac – could jeopardise the viability of Europe’s most
important breeding population of Griffon Vultures. A new study published in the
Journal of Applied Ecology and authored by scientists and ornithologists from
Cambridge University, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB;
BirdLife International Partner in the UK), Doñana Biological Station (CSIC),
Miguel Hernández University and University of Lleida show that vulture deaths
in Spain are estimated to fall in the range 715-6.389 per year, a decline of
0.9-7.7% per annum.. Obviously a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>situation
such as these numbers indicate will at worst wipe out the Spanish population or
cerainly reduce it to dangerously low levels in terms of viability.</div>
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Spain is home to more than 95% of the European breeding
population of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Griffon Vulture</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gyps fulvus</i> (about 26,000 pairs), but
also because other threatened scavenging birds such as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red Kite</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Milvus milvus</i>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spanish Imperial Eagle</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquila adalberti</i>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Egyptian Vulture</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neophron
percnopterus</i>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cinereous
Vulture/Black Vulture</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aegypius
monachus</i> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bearded Vulture </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gypaetus barbatus</i> also breed here. All
of them are susceptible to the effects of veterinary diclofenac.</div>
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There is a non toxic drug - meloxicam, a vulture-safe
alternative drug - which has the same beneficial effects of on livestock. The
report reciommends the withdrawal of the use diclofenac and all drugs must be ‘target
safe’ for other species.</div>
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Co-author of the study Professor Antoni Margalida said that
apart from a precautionary ban, "animal carcasses favoured by vultures and
carrion-scavenging birds found dead or dying at recovery centers need to be
monitored for NSAID contamination".</div>
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The threat is not overexaggerated: Diclofenac provoked near
extinction (~99%) of three vulture species on the Indian subcontinent in the
'90s. "The Spanish government has a big responsibility to ban the use of
diclofenac on farm animals, as well as responsibility for the conservation of
the biggest populations of scavenging birds in the EU and one of the most
important in the world. We just cannot afford to allow an environmental
disaster to occur like it did in Asia," said Asunción Ruiz, SEO's
(BirdLife in Spain) CEO. </div>
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The decline of vulture populations is bad news for people
and the environment: vultures provide important ecosystem services by removing
carcasses from the environment. This even contributes to a reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise result from the physical removal
and incineration of carcasses. </div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-87388378887275425642016-04-28T11:36:00.004+02:002016-04-28T11:38:07.223+02:0021 April : La Janda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqn0bbw72blJy7VhxPOgbHV0onanCzGC-M4JUyKMRfwupN78yjlkoyCIvG8JHuuoqGTEyfTAmFwCNoOEhfVCnBkopMUUCakglr_YfXqKBn7DRhmOwRp6BqaUaaex2alCaBHr0SYuBQpHz/s1600/P1010260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqn0bbw72blJy7VhxPOgbHV0onanCzGC-M4JUyKMRfwupN78yjlkoyCIvG8JHuuoqGTEyfTAmFwCNoOEhfVCnBkopMUUCakglr_YfXqKBn7DRhmOwRp6BqaUaaex2alCaBHr0SYuBQpHz/s400/P1010260.JPG" width="288" /></a></div>
Keeping this blog going is becoming more and more difficult and more and more behind. This is brief entry of the trip Ron and myself - his last before returning to Blighty - is only a a week late. In the week since then I have had a <b>Bonelli's Warbler </b>in the garden, but that has been all. So here goes.<br />
We did the normal tour, along by the drainage canal, across the top and part of the distance down the Benalup-Facinas track, although noit so much as before as the rain (remember, that wet stuff?) and the track has been broken up rather by heavy agricultural vehicles and trucks.<br />
The longest stretch is alongside the canal with many stops to look and scan. It was useful in that we picked up <b>Cetti's</b>, <b>Reed </b>and <b>Great Reed Warbler</b> plus some superb views of a little <b>Whitethroat</b>, an archtypal bird of mature hedgerows and may blossom when I was young and starting my birding career. We had decent views of a <b>Common Buzzard</b> which waited to be photographed instead of giving a nice rump view, plus a female <b>Montagu's Harrier</b>, the first of the two we saw during the day.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuKrqHI-cWG8idex1XBcbwWX5wDaRu-MMK0NDKMmre8z_8FDYJhyRhRh0aED0K3Ux4_lHUyfgwKlcRgOItStYzbWAdWkssGwlvuYfuOwClSkmNNoZtmMUq7FeII-h3KnN8oXNXm1VNY8h/s1600/P1010277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuKrqHI-cWG8idex1XBcbwWX5wDaRu-MMK0NDKMmre8z_8FDYJhyRhRh0aED0K3Ux4_lHUyfgwKlcRgOItStYzbWAdWkssGwlvuYfuOwClSkmNNoZtmMUq7FeII-h3KnN8oXNXm1VNY8h/s320/P1010277.JPG" width="320" /></a>There were still 13 <b>Spooonbills</b> on the floodwater some halfway down, two of them wearing colour rings but too distant to see clearly. Surprisingly, there were no waders in what looked to be good habitat, only a bundle of <b>Black-winged Stilts</b>, along with a few <b>Shovelers</b> and some few <b>Grey Herons</b> and 2 <b>Purple Herons</b>, one of which gave superb views. There were plenty of <b>Cattle Egrets</b> and suprising numbers of <b>Glossy Ibises</b>, the cause of which became apparent when we had crossed the bridge.<br />
In the trees which run alongside the stretch of road to the sluice gates there were large numbers of <b>Cattle Egrets</b> (Ron reckoned at least 400 putative pairs) in a series of focal points where they were building nests, with one or two apparently already sitting and one pair doing what normal pairs do in spring. In adddition there were several pairs of <b>Glossy Ibises</b>, no guesstimates available, but one or two gave excellent views as they engaged in nest construction.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDJiDf8YC6jZa8Ik0v2IWjdpBVH7syXF0nZHvcG3XirzcuJ7qB7L5WrkORI7Vot_dP8giPVhgjIvZ_WRkHR077VvDZPODsfh4UKctH_s0hDV9EHpBsuK-oc5smTtiZmqH_qfGkiJXHgH7/s1600/P1010299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDJiDf8YC6jZa8Ik0v2IWjdpBVH7syXF0nZHvcG3XirzcuJ7qB7L5WrkORI7Vot_dP8giPVhgjIvZ_WRkHR077VvDZPODsfh4UKctH_s0hDV9EHpBsuK-oc5smTtiZmqH_qfGkiJXHgH7/s400/P1010299.JPG" width="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwd5G99CT093V6IVro2tRghiKM7enwLfQ-ZyZ4OlEjWLHEnJtBUd2PmT9-rn1am9tODiyJOG2t-SmrebeVDj9c_jFOpe7HSlpuU6DmEKgUB3MC3zfk-Nv4lwvGM47pRxK5Ff2iL-NpAUlL/s1600/P1010302.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwd5G99CT093V6IVro2tRghiKM7enwLfQ-ZyZ4OlEjWLHEnJtBUd2PmT9-rn1am9tODiyJOG2t-SmrebeVDj9c_jFOpe7HSlpuU6DmEKgUB3MC3zfk-Nv4lwvGM47pRxK5Ff2iL-NpAUlL/s400/P1010302.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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There was little to be seen going across the top, although we did see some 20 <b>Black Kites</b>, I suspect these being late arriving immatures. There and going down the Facinas track turned up 2 immature female-type <b>Marsh Harriers,</b> a single<b> Booted Eagle</b>, 40+<b> Griffon Vultures</b> and a single Hobby (of which there have been records than normal this past week in the Strait area).<br />
As the track was rather muddy and uneven in parts, I decided that we make for Bolonia and go up to the Cueva del Moro. the cave where the Little and White.rumped Swifts were once regular but which now appear to be there no more, possibly due to disturbance. There was little joy apart from a young <b>Griffon Vulture</b> at the usual nest site and we had good views of a male <b>Blue Rock Thrush</b>, always a nice bird to see. I heard a distant <b>Green Woodpecker</b> and we saw another <b>Hobby</b>. On the way back down I was telling Ron that once, years ago but never since, we (I was with Federico) had seen a male <b>Cirl Bunting </b>when something small flew down and sat in the road in front of the car. I stopped. Binocs focussed and there it was. A male <b>Cirl Bunting</b>!<br />
A good day and Ron very satisfied.Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-66183305248000323432016-04-25T19:27:00.002+02:002016-04-25T19:27:38.787+02:0021 April : Sierra de MaríaThis is the second day of Dave's week.<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Two days in a row! Yes, I'm
out again to the Sierra de María with Steve. Gilly had to work. As we
made our way to the town we passed the "starting point" on the Vélez
Blanco bypass and began logging the birds. Our best bird was a <b>Hoopoe</b>.
We were joined at the Repsol Garage cafe by John, Les, his son Tom with
girlfriend Holly. The sun was out but there was a chilly wind coming
from the Sierra Nevada. We made our way to the chapel. John spotted some
distant "corvids" which, with the help of Les's scope proved to be <b>
Ravens</b>. Steve spotted a <b>Little Owl</b>, but it disappeared before being seen
by anyone else. We were joined by Jacky. We also saw <b>Goldfinch</b>,
<b>Blackbird</b>, <b>Magpie</b>, <b>Serin</b>, <b>Cirl Bunting</b> and both <b>Blue</b> and <b>Crested Tit</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="373" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1543976d50037ffd&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_inag83ox0_154397520e499842&attbid=ANGjdJ-qNAYAbsViCedGDarolD-dejzkzUvDiDVzUdy4eXVOVvAQBXcg2v0xOHyCQfhtnnMMe82c-Cdl5r6qXuStFT1jGyQJe_-9zYjTxWzBQX5LcFgkhy6akjsGXfk&sz=w1124-h1050&ats=1461604593934&rm=1543976d50037ffd&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Moving
towards the Botanical Garden, "hawkeye" Tom spotted a</span><span style="font-size: medium;">n adult <b>Booted Eagle</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> way
up by the mountain ridge. I found a <b>Bonelli's
Warbler</b> and in the garden itself we had good views of a pair of <b>Subalpine
Warblers</b>. Also seen were <b>Coal Tit</b> and <b>Black Redstart</b>. Leaving Les
there, the rest of us "did" the medium walk. We heard but didn't see
more <b>Bonelli's Warblers</b>, <b>Short-toed Treecreeper</b> and an <b>European Cuckoo</b>.
Jacky thought she heard a <b>Jay</b>. We heard then saw a <b>Great Spotted
Woodpecker</b>. More <b>Subalpine Warblers</b> were seen. and Tom spotted a <b>Kestrel </b>
high up. We managed to see at least three <b>Griffon Vultures</b> and some <b>Crag
Martins</b>. Jacky spotted a <b>Robin</b>. Getting back to Les at the garden, he'd
seen more of the same including a <b>Great Tit</b> and a pair of<b> Short-toed
Treecreepers</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Fitness
fanatic Jacky decided she now wanted to do the high walk, so we left
her there to meet up at La Piza forest cafe later. We made our way to
the ruined farm buildings. Les immediately saw a <b>Rock Sparrow</b>and John and I heard a <b>Turtle Dove</b>. We knew which tree the sound was coming
from but could we see it? No! Luckily it flew off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We
then carried on to the farm trough. We saw a displaying <b>Northern
Wheatear</b> and a pair of <b>Hoopoes</b>. Les got his scope focused on a pair of
<b>Red-billed Choughs</b>. I spotted a distant <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> and we also saw
<b>Linnet </b>and more <b>Rock Sparrows</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Driving
slowly along the plain we managed to see <b>Short-toed </b>and <b>Calandra Lark</b>
plus another couple of <b>Northern Wheatears</b>. Les saw a <b>Carrion Crow</b>. At
the hamlet called Pozo de la Rueda which is just in Granada province we
saw 8 <b>Lesser Kestrels</b> (info for Helen Commandeur for the Lesser Kestrel
survey). They breed under the roof tiles on one of the farm barns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Heading
back to the La Piza forest cafe, who should be sitting there upon our
arrival but Jacky. She said " I think there are a pair of <b>Hawfinches</b> in
that tree". She was dead right. A first for her, John and Steve. A
number of <b>Crossbills</b> were also seen coming down to the small pool. Also
seen were <b>Chaffinches</b>, <b>Blue Tits</b> and a <b>Crested Tit</b>, nesting in a box only
metres from us but which defied any attempt by me to photograph it!. Jacky
had seen <b>Jay </b>up the high walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We ended with 43 species. Star bird was obviously the <b>Hawfinch</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-80350784370623220172016-04-25T18:12:00.000+02:002016-04-25T18:12:02.750+02:0020 April : El Hondo (Elche, Alicante)This was the first of Dave's days out. For those who are unaware, the white collars sported by many <b>Red-knobbed Coots</b> identify birds from the reintroduction project.<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15434a24480e46b8&attid=0.5&disp=emb&realattid=ii_in93wtxj3_154349eefa02073d&attbid=ANGjdJ-c4UYN-dmZQyXT2p0qUhHIQvXe_xmqNmQaS9r_NMvUE0EMnFlUXjuxoeRx2xAmCl14qvHUsOn4Ny4coX5wvmhTHaciIgmH7VGVNE2yhyF4ANVRsGW5_wrgaGU&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1461599341513&rm=15434a24480e46b8&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">I was delighted to be asked by
Paul and Kath Groves if, during their holiday, I could take them to
El Fondo Bird Reserve, just south of Alicante. I'd arranged to meet up
with local birder, Helen Commandeur. As we skirted the reserve, heading
for the Information Centre we logged a <b>Roller </b>on a power line as well as
some more commoner species. We arrived a tad early so we were able to
have a scan round the car park which overlooks one of the shallow pools.
We saw <b>Whiskered Terns</b>, <b>Red-crested Pochard</b>, <b>Grey Heron</b> and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>. On the adjacent staff car park there was a <b>Little Ringed
Plover</b>. I spotted some <b>Cattle Egrets</b> and Paul got a <b>Stonechat</b>. Helen
arrived, early as well, so we were soon into the reserve proper. A
<b>Glossy Ibis</b> flew over as did the first of many <b>Collared Pratincoles</b>. All
we could hear were the vociferous song of <b>Great Reed Warblers</b> and it
wasn't difficult to spot the culprits on top of the reeds. Above us
there were hundreds of <b>Common Swifts</b>. We made our way to the viewing area
next to the Centre which overlooks a pool. </span></div>
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="330" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15434a24480e46b8&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_in93t6ai0_154349c546c95176&attbid=ANGjdJ8Gk_Jfrlef9oqbst3698HOCd35vJxxGGLHqDq9ylJRIBMXvYtxjls10uIMUvTcRA0ndP0y-CgDnbs36GZJSCH86g_c0WaaiGEWa7zajqTXlX1us-Gr6wos5PI&sz=w1124-h928&ats=1461599341512&rm=15434a24480e46b8&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately we saw a <b>Purple
Swamphen</b> and a <b>Squacco Heron</b>. The <b>Squacco</b> flew over the fence and the <b>
Swamphen</b> disappeared behind some reeds only to re-appear on the opposite
bank with its partner and four chicks. Also close to the bank was a <b>
Marbled Duck</b>, which later swam in open water giving great views. It
wasn't long before we spotted at least four <b>Red-knobbed Coots</b>, easily
identified by their white numbered collars. We headed towards the raised
walkway, seeing <b>Little Stint,</b> <b>Kentish Plover</b> and <b>Gull-billed Tern</b>. <b>A
Southern Grey Shrike</b> flew past. On a sandy ridge opposite, there were
twenty odd <b>Collared Pratincoles </b>as well as a resting <b>Whiskered Tern</b>. On
the viewing platform was local birder, Graham, who said he'd just seen a
flock of feeding terns pass through comprising <b>Whiskered</b>, <b>Common</b>, <b>Black</b> and
<b>White-winged</b> (Black) <b>Terns</b>. He said a <b>Spoonbill</b> was close to the next right
hand hide. </span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="326" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15434a24480e46b8&attid=0.4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_in93umjc1_154349d5ce040bcc&attbid=ANGjdJ-U-zda4CKnXn66gEMVg9wWzY64n3islOHA_hyhl_8iy6ngHIOJBUFDzVht_E8LaJZCzHO9v4-AUah9lCgHyrJuK2BvcGsHehGV0vNdeDr-KLzgA56klwUnLx4&sz=w1124-h918&ats=1461599341512&rm=15434a24480e46b8&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We made our way there hearing <b>Cetti's Warblers </b>and <b>Zitting
Cisticolas </b>on the way. No sign of the <b>Spoonbill</b>, but we did add <b>Greater
Flamingo</b>, <b>Shelduck</b> and <b>Avocet</b>. There was a flock of 19 <b>Curlew Sandpipers</b>.
The cacophony of sound was being generated from the <b>Black-headed</b> and
<b>Mediterranean Gull</b> colony. Kath first spotted a </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Glossy Ibis</b>, then a
<b>Squacco Heron</b>, (as well as being my secretary for the day in Gilly's absence!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Paul also found a <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> and </span><span style="font-size: medium;">a
<b>Greenshank</b>. We then back-tracked to the other hide. There was a small
raft of <b>Marbled Duck</b>. According to aforementioned Graham, fifty <b>Marbled
Ducks</b> had recently be released there. We added <b>Great Crested Grebe</b> to the
list. A dark phase <b>Booted Eagle</b> flew over. We heard <b>Reed Warbler</b> song
even though they were being nearly drowned out by their more vocal
cousins! We headed back to the vehicles via Graham, who'd now seen a
pair of<b> Little Terns</b>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a short lunch break we followed Helen up and down a track. The
irrigation gully was dry which might explain the lack of bird life. At
the one place where there was some water and reeds a <b>Purple Heron</b> flew
out as we passed. We also added <b>Hoopoe</b>, <b>Red-legged Partridge</b>, <b>Blackbird</b>
and <b>Woodpigeon</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=15434a24480e46b8&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_in93vqxp2_154349e29c5ae6ca&attbid=ANGjdJ_a_pxuybQKodFx-6Bs2zfjyWMjP-InOmGze3XUT1yJbAB5fQQuEiJHjjsdWq3HuLU8b1jrn1U4sfY7o5s_9GHv3rR5wgx-lZN2bp3FahvXsXLe_qQk8H0hFJM&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1461599341513&rm=15434a24480e46b8&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way to the South Hide. If you recall my last report from here
it was found the route to that hide was waterlogged and muddy.
Slightly better news this time. It was passable with care. (Better with
wellies!) Checking out the ever present <b>Common Swifts </b>above us, I manage
to find a <b>Sand Martin</b>. As we gingerly made our way to the hide we found
<b> Black-necked Grebes</b> and <b>White-headed Ducks</b> in the pools next to the
footpath. The hide itself was slightly full of mosquitoes, but I have to
admit I received no bites possibly thanks to Helen supplying everyone
with anti mozzy spray! There were loads of <b>Whiskered Tern</b> and, yay, a
few <b>Black Terns</b> as well. Remember that albino <b>Black-necked Grebe</b> from a
previous visit....it's still here! A flight of 13 <b>Glossy Ibis</b> was seen
before Paul, Kath and myself said our goodbyes and many thanks to
Helen as we had a long journey home. She was staying on. The last time
that happened she got the Sociable Plover! We had a wonderful day. Am
going to arrange a Group outing in the next couple of weeks!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ended with 59 species. Cracking day!</span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-48310795643606714022016-04-19T12:51:00.005+02:002016-04-19T12:51:50.683+02:0014 April : Almanzora and VeraMy birding has been rather restricted but since the last input from Dave,I have had a few migrants in the garden, the best day being the 10 April with a female <b>Subalpine Warbler</b>, a <b>Willow Warbler </b>(the only one so far this spring) and a <b>Nightingale</b> singing down across the road to celebrate having reached Europe. The garden's attraction for birds has been reduced somewhat as the gardener's attitude to gardening would have made him an ideal proponent of Stalin's scorched earth policy after the Nazi invasion. Nevertheless, a <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> and <b>Phylloscopus</b> sp. turned up on the following day, with the same or another <b>Woodchat </b>on 12 April stayed around most of the day and there was also a notable overhead movement of <b>Bee-eaters</b>. A delightful pair of <b>Red-rumped Swallows</b> hung around the garden over three days, 14-16 April. Further afield, there was a dead female <b>European Nightjar</b> on the road in an urbanization near Chilches on 16 April, while on the shore there there were 12 <b>Sanderlings</b>, all in breeding plumage on 17 April, along with a single <b>Ringed Plover.</b><br />
<span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><b></b></span> </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: medium;">AND NOW FOR DAVE'S REPORT:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Was on an airport run
yesterday, hence this week we're a day late! Summer appears to have
arrived. The weather was hot and sunny. Gilly was working, so I picked
Steve up in Arboleas & headed for the Rambla de Almanzora. We drove
up the Palomares side, but saw not alot. John was ahead of us. Once
we'd stopped behind him, he walked back and asked if we'd heard the
<b>Nightingale</b>. Note to self.....turn off the CD even if it was Pink Floyd!
By the ford we had the usual <b>Moorhen</b> and <b>Black -winged Stilt</b>. As we
waited for the others to arrive we saw a pair of <b>Stone Curlews</b>, some <b>Bee-eaters </b>and <b>Red-rumped Swallows</b>. Another nine members arrived before we
made our way to the new good spot further up the valley. On the way I
spotted another <b>Bee-eater </b>on the power lines and a sitting <b>Roller</b>.</span><br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1541572a1c22c20d&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_in0gc4810_154156d970c14373&attbid=ANGjdJ81RwFjzNgC3A8VaBRojJ8QXinOcASXr9vwh7aK4RbLA03dIrBNXbPMCFm_OdSCx19BdzCKU45OGVcFsfpvNc2Ja0qP3xsOy2CGMFx_Ww7UucGRB8Ky3QR4-FE&sz=w1056-h1124&ats=1461060779602&rm=1541572a1c22c20d&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="375" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Les
had got to the crossover first and had seen <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b>, <b>Dunlin</b> and <b>Little Stint</b>. Our arrival flushed them further along the pools. We
added <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Little Ringed</b> and <b>Kentish Plover.</b> Moving up onto the
bank Les spotted a <b>Common Sandpiper</b> and I a <b>Sand Martin</b>. A pair of <b>Wood
Sandpipers</b> showed well. We moved further along and found the seven <b>Curlew
Sandpipers</b>, some in breeding plumage. A <b>Greenshank</b> flew in and we had
good views of <b>Iberian Yellow Wagtails</b>. Ann spotted another perched <b>Bee-eater</b>. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">I
then spotted a single flying <b>Red-billed Chough</b>. As I tried to get a
photo I was twisting, focusing and slipping. Am amazed by the result!
Another <b>Roller</b> was seen. Before we moved on Les saw a distant <b>Shoveler.</b> A
<b>Woodchat Shrike </b>was also spotted. On the way to Villaricos village we
added a <b>Black Wheatear</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="290" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1541572a1c22c20d&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_in0ggzj81_15415710ec364a11&attbid=ANGjdJ8I9TPvsea_0ADDsEFzdjunbVUQf6o4-Y6RmyGdDBsIB5zS23-3Ry4Bl3FQiPyML3laJANSGiDkA5UOJP1owKm0SyPDAM9QC68f7Xk3plMSEubiyg3fSu98yPI&sz=w1124-h1022&ats=1461060779602&rm=1541572a1c22c20d&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">After
a refreshing cuppa we headed for the beach. Another <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> was
on the wires. On the harbour rocks were two <b>Audouin's Gulls</b>. Colin saw a
<b>Cormorant</b> and John spotted some <b>Sanderlings </b>while Sandra saw a <b>Little Egret</b>.
Also seen was a <b>Turnstone</b>. The hoards of holidaymakers had not yet
arrived.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Walking
over to the estuary we disturbed some <b>Kentish Plovers</b> on the flat area.
It was good to see two pairs of <b>White-headed Ducks </b>there together with
some half dozen <b>Common Pochards</b>. We heard <b>Reed Warblers</b> and <b>Zitting
Cisticolas</b>, seeing some of the latter later. There were 7 <b>Greater
Flamingos</b> by the beach. They were disturbed by some dog walkers and
appeared to swim away. It was noted how much they looked like Mute Swans
from a distance! Also seen were <b>Barn Swallow</b>, <b>House Martin</b>, <b>Common
Swift</b>, <b>Little Grebe</b>, <b>Goldfinch</b> and <b>Serin</b>. A <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> was
heard. Jacky and her group saw a <b>Squacco Heron</b> which kindly showed
itself to the rest of the group later on. More <b>Cormorants</b> and a <b>Grey
Heron</b> was seen. By the shallows we had <b>Ringed </b>and <b>Kentish Plovers</b>,
<b>Dunlin</b>, <b>Sanderling</b> and <b>Little Stint</b>. On the way back to the vehicles
along the beach the "resident" <b>Whimbrel</b> was circling near its rocky
feeding area as a local was searching for whelks or crabs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Saying
our goodbyes to Val, Trevor and Ann the rest of us made our way to
the Consum dual carriageway at Vera Beach. On the way Les saw a
<b>Blackbird</b>. A female <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b> flew across in front of my
truck which was nice. Loads of <b>Black-winged Stilts </b>here, but better was
the half dozen or so <b>Whiskered Terns</b>. I then spotted a distant <b>Shelduck</b>
resting on the far side. I then noticed a <b>Gull-billed Tern</b> with some
<b>Black-headed Gulls</b>. As we left I saw a <b>Southern Grey Shrike</b> perched atop
a shrub high on the hill side. Jacky, Steve, John and I visited the
pool by the Millionaires Bar, hoping for a <b>Med Gull</b>, but only saw
immature <b>Black-headed Gulls </b>and an <b>Audouin's</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It was a brilliant mornings birding with 59 species notched up. Thanks all. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-59624361909698518052016-04-08T10:50:00.000+02:002016-04-08T10:50:09.043+02:0006 April : Cabo de Gata & Rambla Morales<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A quick intro. The <b>Solitary Sandpiper </b>is still believed to be at Almanzora (Almería) whilst in the west the presence of a <b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b> at Odiel (Huelva) is also attracting a number of twitchers. Lots of 'firsts' for the year have been reported with reports indicating fair numbers of <b>Cuckoos</b>. <b>Lesser Flamingos</b> and a <b>White-winged Black Tern </b>(or <b>White-winged Tern</b> if you prefer a recent name trend) have been seen this week at Fuente de Piedra (Málaga).</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Gilly had a note excusing her
from games today, so Val and I headed south along the E15 towards Cabo
de Gata alone. The weather forecast said more sun than clouds, but it
lied. We hardly saw the sun at all, making photography difficult, but at
least there was hardly any wind. We'd already seen <b>Hoopoe </b>and <b>Common
Swift </b>by the time we'd reached the cafe at Pujaire. There we met up with
Trevor, Ann and Jen. John and Richard added <b>Kestrel</b> to the list
when they arrived. After coffee we headed to the first hide. There were
<b>Black-winged Stilt</b> on the nearest pool. As Gilly would have said, there
were more <b>Greater Flamingos</b> than you could throw a stick at. (No sign of
the previously reported Lesser Flamingos) Four <b>Gull-billed Terns</b> were
on the causeway. Pink <b>Slender-billed Gulls</b> were feeding. I spotted the
only two large waders, a <b>Black-tailed Godwit </b>and a <b>Grey Plover</b>. Also
seen were <b>Ringed</b> and <b>Kentish Plover,</b> <b>Avocet</b> and a <b>Greenshank </b>which
kindly flew into one of the nearer pools. Val spotted a <b>Southern Grey
Shrike</b> on the scrubland, where John had a fleeting glimpse of a <b>Stone
Curlew</b>. There were one or two <b>Yellow Wagtails</b>. I spotted a distant
<b>Shelduck</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="314" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153ec55f9d3e9da3&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imp1t4m70_153ec54398c25b4f&attbid=ANGjdJ_SDAqXtYttIaHdxp4j1IRD9jfJihug4alVzjuNTXdMs9_3IfGF8LDqTI3hAGZ1CF0IGtqa2mN1yCdLc3moCXLYu6M925pBw3q70ukKlS_yp1T2Jyxvd3Wa4BM&sz=w1124-h1106&ats=1460104244399&rm=153ec55f9d3e9da3&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a
brief sea-watch over calm waters before trudging to the second hide. We
only added <b>Yellow-legged</b> and <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls</b>. As we
approached the open sided shed, sorry, the hide, we were lucky enough to
see a <b>Subalpine Warbler</b> and a female <b>Blackcap</b>. A noisy <b>Stone Curlew</b>
exited left. Richard added a <b>Thekla Lark</b>, but the handsome star came in
the form of a male <b>Woodchat Shrike</b>. I spotted a <b>Robin</b> and a far off
<b>Shoveler</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Moving
to the public hide, we came upon Jesus Contreras, a local birder and
guide with two clients. Thought he'd seen a <b>Roseate Tern </b>on the
causeway. The photo he had looked convincing. As we arrived, not our
fault, all the terns took off for some reason and had re-landed. A
thorough check only revealed <b>Sandwich Terns </b>and a couple of <b>Common
Terns</b>. We added <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Cormorant </b>and <b>Blackbird</b>. John saw an <b>Audouin's
Gull</b> as we were leaving.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="182" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153ec55f9d3e9da3&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imp1uq642_153ec555a2c081c5&attbid=ANGjdJ_1arCwtQ4l61Wkeqts0GcxHQQx7xZCORMFhWBw2f66O61YXjuS_N8eWohicQl9azLrqq0rlvDX2cqstOZI9d6KvIvMzSuz7hPnyse7KP_HINSXozvVP5WYxDI&sz=w1124-h642&ats=1460104244399&rm=153ec55f9d3e9da3&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">After
a coffee and early tostada lunch and saying goodbye to Trevor, Ann and Jen, us remaining four drove along the beachside track to the
Rambla de Morales. We normally see a few <b>Greater Flamingos</b> here, but
today there were about 70 present. We had the usual <b>Coot</b> and <b>Moorhen</b>.
It was good to see a few <b>White-headed Ducks</b> and a <b>Gull-billed Tern</b> was also
observed. Val and I said our goodbyes to John and Richard. With my
4x4 we made our way along the slightly sticky track towards the
campsite. We added <b>Sardinian Warbler </b>and a <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b>. Before
we reached the E15 we also had some <b>Jackdaws</b> which completed our list of
49 species for the day. A really good days birding. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-47464850861919353462016-03-30T21:11:00.000+02:002016-03-30T21:11:15.245+02:0030 March : Sierra de María<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Gawd, where does the time go? 'When you're retired you'll have lots of free time,' someone said. Wrong! There seems to be less and less and being domesticated, shopping and walking my canine monster and other distractions into which I shall not enter take their toll of time. I haven't even got the photos and report of Dave and Gilly's trip to Morocco done as I had vainly hoped. And now another from Dave!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Before putting that in, here in Torremolinos we had a big entry of <b>Common Swifts </b>on 26 March and on 27, in my own garden here, 2 <b>Redstarts</b>, one a smashing male, plus a female <b>Black Redstart </b>but she's been around all winter, and also a <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b>. On 28 March, at the third attempt, I managed to see the 1W <b>Franklin's Gull</b> that has been hanging around La Caleta de Vélez (in the east of the province,one earlier fruitless trip giving a <b>Great White Egret</b> flying along the shore line! I'm not sure if it was a twitch or not as it's only ten minutes from my girlfriend's, more or less on the doorstep. On 29 March, going in towards Málaga, a <b>Honey Buzzard</b> flew in front of the car between Plaza Mayor and Decathlon. Tomorrow, I am down at Tarifa and beyond to La Janda with Ron, as although he has been studying the North Yorkshire <b>Honey Buzzards</b> for over 30 years, he's never seen one in Spain, so we live in hope, especially as a <b>Rüppell's Vulture</b> was seen to fly in today. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And a last bit before I forget. There were 'plenty' of <b>Citril Finches</b> at the Puerto de la Ragua (Almería/Granada border) earlier this week, an elusive <b>Dupont's Lark</b> was heard at Las Almoladeras (Almería). Which is why I am now on with Dave's report if the visit.</span></span><br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153c8bab094e4791&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imf5sx2w3_153c8b0280f8b905&attbid=ANGjdJ92TpS3w9ux06_1I7WX-XOBVbK5P6Clbsj3CFAm5qee4iDmBdvsZYewb8GCeLhkjsN0zXe00IMNM1FWFHW4970oV9rTYU64e3GSMOiBT7JbWXx5cRQpGxPxmzA&sz=w942-h1124&ats=1459363455626&rm=153c8bab094e4791&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="268" /></span><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Spring has sprung. The sun was
shining and there was a slight breeze as Gilly and I headed to the
Sierra de Maria. As we approached the town we saw a male <b>Blue Rock
Thrush</b> atop a telegraph pole and a <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> on a power line.
Gilly thought she might have seen a <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b> as well. We met
up with 11 other members at the Repsol Garage cafe, including Ann,
Trevor, Jen and Phil who'd spotted a <b>Booted Eagle </b>on their way in. <b>
House Martins</b> were making nests under the garage canopy. After a coffee
we made our way to the chapel where Kevin had spent the night in his
camper van being "serenaded" by a nearby <b>Scops Owl</b>. Les immediately saw a
<b>Corn Bunting</b>. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153c8bab094e4791&attid=0.6&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imf5pyuq0_153c8ae0f746274e&attbid=ANGjdJ_rpS4X6HbUlqd0RMs4gAjRx62vr9L6EmpqCtO3q3LPiU3kkL1XI582b8UTamlhvq-1NuEU-adGLZUbo3LevMNOKNEdC8iJAdKjEQtzM43zFwPjVrT03KJpCNM&sz=w1118-h1124&ats=1459363455626&rm=153c8bab094e4791&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153c8bab094e4791&attid=0.6&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imf5pyuq0_153c8ae0f746274e&attbid=ANGjdJ_rpS4X6HbUlqd0RMs4gAjRx62vr9L6EmpqCtO3q3LPiU3kkL1XI582b8UTamlhvq-1NuEU-adGLZUbo3LevMNOKNEdC8iJAdKjEQtzM43zFwPjVrT03KJpCNM&sz=w1118-h1124&ats=1459363455626&rm=153c8bab094e4791&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="318" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">Over
by the trough in the tall poplar tree there were some feeding <b>Serins</b> and
a male <b>Blackcap</b>. <b>Blue Tits</b> were also observed. Heading up to the
Botanical Gardens, nothing was seen until we arrived there. There we had
<b>Coal Tit</b>, <b>Great Tit</b> and a <b>Jay</b>. Gilly, Adrian and Les hung around
there hearing <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> and <b>Carrion Crow</b>. They also had a
<b> Crested Tit</b>. The rest of us carried onto the low walk. We added <b>Long-tailed Tit</b>, <b>Cirl </b>and <b>Rock Buntings</b> before we split from the intrepid
John, Charlie Roger and his grandson, Theo who did the medium walk. They
added <b>Robin</b> and <b>Short-toed Treecreeper </b>to the list. We all met up at
the information centre before returning to the vehicles. John spotted a
<b>Red-rumped Swallow </b>as we left.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153c8bab094e4791&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imf5qn1j1_153c8ae886f2c404&attbid=ANGjdJ8hZ5xyU6k3zdCexbtcHc89RhLiFyxqEjD8GXtG0TDoPOlqwFvbFN--3Vs5STtMrrEa3QNIOrb7F1zCgwLUtZNhUilY2ynbhpcoFGIjejKNXDqSQnBcszkBz0c&sz=w1124-h1026&ats=1459363455626&rm=153c8bab094e4791&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="292" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153c8bab094e4791&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_imf5qn1j1_153c8ae886f2c404&attbid=ANGjdJ8hZ5xyU6k3zdCexbtcHc89RhLiFyxqEjD8GXtG0TDoPOlqwFvbFN--3Vs5STtMrrEa3QNIOrb7F1zCgwLUtZNhUilY2ynbhpcoFGIjejKNXDqSQnBcszkBz0c&sz=w1124-h1026&ats=1459363455626&rm=153c8bab094e4791&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="320" /></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way to the farm buildings where Les first spotted a <b>Rock
Sparrow</b> and then some <b>Mistle Thrushes</b>. I happened to look up and saw our
first <b>Griffon Vulture </b>of the day. Another 5 arrived soon after. Kev had
a <b>Hoopoe</b> and Trevor spotted a <b>Raven</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Moving
to the farm yard trough further down the road, I found a male <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b>, first of the year, on a distant chimney stack. Another
male and a female were seen. Another <b>Raven</b> started to circle above us and
I also spotted a pair of distant <b>Red-billed Choughs</b> identified by their
wide wings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We
then convoyed slowly along the plain straight. We added <b>Short-toed Lark</b>
and a pair of <b>Little Owls</b>. At the hamlet there were at least 4 <b>Lesser
Kestrels</b>. John was first to spot the <b>Northern Wheatear</b> atop a barn's
roof. John and Les combined to track down a <b>Linnet</b>. On the way back to
the La Piza forest cafe I had a probable <b>Calandra Lark</b> perched on a
speed limit sign. We ate our lunch observing <b>Crossbill</b>, </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Cha</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>ffinch</b> and
various titmice drinking from the small pool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We
had hoped to have seen a few migrant warblers but alas no. We ended up
with 45 species. Lovely location, birding and company. </span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-10779122402086436542016-03-24T11:37:00.002+01:002016-03-24T11:41:06.246+01:0023 March : Almanzora and Vera<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Dave and Gilly are back after their fruitful trip to Morocco and I shall publish Dave's long (3 part with photos) in a day or three. The <b>Solitary Sandpiper</b> remains in residence and has been amply twitched and there is also a <b>Franklin's Gull</b> at La Caleta de Vélez (MA) which I may try and see today. A lot of the action is further west but Quirri is seeing a lot along the río Vélez area. <b>Swifts</b> of both spp. are arriving in small numbers and I have seen the first few screaming parties in Torremolinos on Tuesday pm. but none since, and heard one or two overflying flocks of <b>Bee-eaters</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>MESSAGE FOR ROGER MORRIS:</b> </span>Apologies for not replying, but I forget to check comments. Please write to me at andy.birds(at) gmail.com and I shall forward your request to Dave.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="303" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153a43f668fb6e2b&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_im51ljro2_153a43a02275cbb5&attbid=ANGjdJ9quC9NHPDyu_atHYzgI2xhLD51SpbPvkjzApzIYj9R1W_fIJSOhR8PP6UEU8R0tcJN6GEwZUDpn_MpIobx-BnFrAmLUBWqL4uqKTodqmsiTY03Tcbfe4RDi9A&sz=w1124-h854&ats=1458814583026&rm=153a43f668fb6e2b&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Water Pipit</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span>After an amazing trip to
Morocco, it was back to our local patch for Gilly and I, the Rambla de
Almanzora. Having picked up Steve, we made our way to the ford . There
we had good views of <b>Snipe</b>, <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Moorhen</b> and a <b>Common Sandpiper</b>
before parking up awaiting the rest of the gang. Just as the first
arrived, Barrie, a <b>Marsh Harrier</b> flew by. Once Kevin, Val, Richard,
Trevor, Ann and new members, Roger and daughter, Louise had arrived we
convoyed further up the rambla to where the <b>Solitary Sandpiper </b>had been
seen. It must have been a bit of a shock to the two birders there as
numerous cars parked up and deposited the crowd of us. I apologise. The
<b>Solitary Sandpiper </b>was nearby in the first pool, showing well but a rear
view. When it turned its head, the white eye ring was clearly seen. It
then flew further to the left out of view. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153a43f668fb6e2b&attid=0.4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_im51kblh0_153a43924cbc78d5&attbid=ANGjdJ90UYsDYMsZRVYaBJWqvknClE6ldZPZqR3o6E4ChGukRm71qFt8eKBGi3ZfGhVcgcBMqVLZ4gOn6ZDSWC3bgYMuOvOf8HMBzaqhQyOcjkVtLGS_lwyo9ZbUCps&sz=w1060-h1124&ats=1458814583026&rm=153a43f668fb6e2b&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="377" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snipe</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Having been joined by Jacky,
Gilly spotted another wader. It was one of two <b>Temminck's Stints</b>, their
yellow legs showing well. A flight of seven <b>Ruff</b> then flew in. Also seen
were <b>Wood Sandpiper</b> and <b>Water Pipit</b>. Despite the wind we walked along
the top of the Rambla seeing <b>Green Sandpiper</b>, <b>Snipe</b>, <b>Little Ringed
Plover</b>, a <b>Kestrel </b>and both <b>Grey</b> and <b>Yellow Wagtails</b>. <b>Barn Swallows</b>, <b>Sand</b> and <b>House Martins </b>were added to the list.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a refreshing cuppa in Villaricos village we made our way to the beach.
There was only a <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b> and a couple of <b>Cormorants</b> on the
harbour entrance rocks. We walked over to the estuary where the water
level was, or appeared to be, higher than sea level. A gravel bank
separated the two. I spotted a pair of <b>Common Pochard</b> and Barrie had a
<b>Little Grebe</b>. There was only a few <b>Cormorants </b>and a small raft of <b>Black-headed Gulls</b>. I found a flying <b>Mediterranean Gull</b> and a distant<b> Sandwich
Tern</b> fishing over the sea. A <b>Grey Heron</b> was found lurking in the reeds.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="318" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153a43f668fb6e2b&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_im51kyg01_153a43996f7b5793&attbid=ANGjdJ_pbU_nOMs-sn8mWXrqxwHamL19SwYNcd0P5jc6zmMM_UWWugGoVGctDNp3nI2LA3MrEoV-ui8Wzepl50he3YbfrVF_alpVNwF8FwbWCcRi_0RMIJQd0WTuWAo&sz=w1124-h1118&ats=1458814583026&rm=153a43f668fb6e2b&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Redshank</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">A
<b>Black Redstart </b>flew by. Closer to the beach we found a number of <b>Black-winged Stilts</b> and a small array of little waders: <b>Little Stint</b>, <b>Dunlin</b>,
<b>Sanderling</b> and <b>Kentish Plover</b>. There was no sign of the long staying <b>
Whimbrel</b>, but we did see a Little Egret on the rocks.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Some
of us then moved to the dual carriageway overlooking the large pools
opposite the Consum supermarket at Vera. There were loads of <b>Black-winged Stilts</b> and about four <b>Greater Flamingos</b>. I spotted some <b>Teal</b>,
whilst Gilly found a female <b>Red-crested Pochard</b> and we also added an
<b>Avocet</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We all
split up then. Barrie, after lunch, checked out the pool by the
Millionaire's bar. Had good views of gulls: <b>Yellow-legged</b>, <b>Audouin's</b>, <b>
Black-headed</b>, <b>Lesser Black-Backed </b>and <b>Mediterranean</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">All
together we ended up with 53 species for the day. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-17652686268961600432016-02-29T10:17:00.004+01:002016-03-02T11:39:06.887+01:0024 February : Las Norias and Roquetas<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Winter hath come at last and heaven knows what damage the low temperatures and strong, cold winds coming down off the sierras will do to the early migrants (I know what they did to me), especially the hirundines and the few early swifts reported, not to mention the thousands of <b>Chiffs</b> which are moving now. The <b>Solitary Sandpiper</b> remains at the same site in Almería where it has been twitched by many, along with up to 12 other spp. of waders reported this week, including <b>Temminck's Stint</b>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That said, now for Dave's account of the Arboleas Group's trip to Las Norias and Roquetas.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">The motley crew consisted of
Steve, John, Richard and myself today. We met up at the service
station at Jct 420 E15/A7 motorway just beyond the Roquetas tunnel.
After a coffee we made our way to the Balso del Sapo at Las
Norias....yes it pays to read the signs! The water was as flat as a tack
on both sides of the first causeway. The predominant birds were
<b>Shoveler</b> on the left hand lake. Amongst the large rafts were a few <b>White-headed Ducks</b>. Down the far end perched on the posts were <b>Cormorants</b> and
some <b>Grey Herons</b>. John spotted some distant <b>Red Crested Pochards</b> and a
number of <b>Great Crested Grebes</b>. I added a <b>Common Sandpiper </b>on the rocky
edge.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">Moving
across the road we found both <b>Black-necked </b>and <b>Little Grebe</b>. I spotted
a lone male <b>Gadwall</b> and Richard added a <b>Little Stint</b>. A flock of 20 odd
<b>Avocets</b> flew over. Little birds in this area included <b>Cetti's</b> and
<b>Sardinian Warblers</b>, <b>Zitting Cisticola</b>, <b>White Wagtails</b>, many <b>Chiffchaffs</b> and
some <b>Meadow Pipits</b>. Richard then spotted a juvenile <b>Night Heron </b>on the
reed edge. Steve found some <b>Crag Martins</b>. They were obviously enticed by
the thousands of mosquitoes!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">We
then drove round to the halfway stop. On the rocky outcrop were
numerous <b>Cormorants</b>. We saw <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>, <b>Dunlin</b>, a <b>Wood
Sandpiper</b> and at least 20 <b>Little Stints</b>. Richard spotted an <b>Iberian
Yellow Wagtail</b>. I added a <b>Barn Swallow</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">We
found more <b>Yellow Wagtails</b> on the corner meadow and John found another
juvenile <b>Night Heron</b> and I spotted our first <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b> of the
year whilst walking along the second causeway.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1531407ea913814a&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_il116lj21_1531405ba78f25a1&attbid=ANGjdJ88bJwP5-baQATeevWUay7G4pn7a6QG8QUwNqXAQbNjVQ2IG0xdr5tYItncNOF9Q2COjG2G1spIw76vDvbuR6sv9DS6KAvPqOVqeh2YEj1S2U4dW9xNuzMCdkw&sz=w1124-h830&ats=1456736607535&rm=1531407ea913814a&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="295" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=1531407ea913814a&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_il116lj21_1531405ba78f25a1&attbid=ANGjdJ88bJwP5-baQATeevWUay7G4pn7a6QG8QUwNqXAQbNjVQ2IG0xdr5tYItncNOF9Q2COjG2G1spIw76vDvbuR6sv9DS6KAvPqOVqeh2YEj1S2U4dW9xNuzMCdkw&sz=w1124-h830&ats=1456736607535&rm=1531407ea913814a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></a>We
convoyed towards Roquetas adding a couple of <b>Kestrels</b>. After a coffee we
made our way to John and Alan's spot, which, when I read the sign, is
called Punta Entinas Sabinar! From the causeway between the salinas we
observed hundreds of <b>Greater Flamingos </b>and <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls</b>. On
the wader front we had <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Dunlin</b>, <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> and <b>Black-tailed Godwits</b>. <b>Loads of Shovelers</b> here as well plus a few <b>Shelducks</b>. A
<b>Marsh Harrier</b> made an appearance, but the best sight of the day was a
flypast of about 30 <b>Spoonbills</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">We ended up with 47 species. Weather was sunny, but the wind increased from calm to stiff breeze during the morning.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm off with Gilly to Morocco for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll have some good photos to show you upon our return.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;">Regards, Dave</span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-62281284722496614612016-02-22T09:45:00.003+01:002016-02-22T09:52:25.980+01:0020 February : El Fondo (Elche, Alicante)<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sorry, dear readers, but I've not got the time to edit or to put in Spanish names this morning. Apart from the usual thanks to Dave, thanks also to Helen for the photos and congratulations for hitting gold on the <b>Sociable Plover</b>. Up to 3 <b>Spotted Eagles</b> have been seen there over this winter, including the well known Estonian bird 'Tonn'. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
</div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Whilst the cat, Gilly, is away
in the UK on a caring job, the mice, John, Val and myself arranged a
personal visit to El Fondo, near Elche, just south of Alicante. Entry to
this reserve via the north gate, which gives the best views, is only
allowed, by prior arrangement, on Saturday mornings between 08.15 &
11.30 hours. Hence it was a very early start yesterday morning. I met up
with John & Val at the Overa Hotel. Jct 547 at 05.45hrs, giving us
time for a second breakfast at Cox before meeting up with Helen, who'd
kindly made the arrangements, at just after 08.00hrs at the north gate.
Whilst waiting for access, we heard<b> Iberian Green Woodpecker </b>and saw
<b>Yellow-legged Gull</b>, <b>Chiffchaff</b>, <b>Grey Heron</b> & <b>Wood Pigeon</b>. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="381" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153033b91c831b0d&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ikwd4nr90_1530332c18da44ed&attbid=ANGjdJ_AH4vNTY1bcTjw0vwN0NnDe7AwegyWwhNBVx7OvsA-wrFLBIQ8JlxXQvZ8eWKqMlrapj80bQ4Fm_TBQsXn-InBMKlA5gbzW4lQHXk7DwUH68ROrUWPx9ar9mA&sz=w1124-h1072&ats=1456129565446&rm=153033b91c831b0d&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spotted Eagle</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">The ranger
duly arrived (early, bless him!) and let the assembled birders in. I
suppose there were about a dozen of us, mostly Brits, but a couple of
Swiss and Spanish. We drove down to the first hide on the right. With
about 6 of us up there (it was elevated) it was a bit cosy. Local
birders, Graham & Gordon, had already found a <b>Spotted Eagle</b>,
perched on a palm tree way over to the right. In front of us was a reed
bed, then a large expanse of open water stretching out towards the
information centre. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">On the water were lots of wildfowl. <b>Mallard</b>, <b>Teal</b>,
<b>Shoveler</b>, <b>Shelduck</b>, <b>Pintail</b>, <b>White Headed Duck</b>, <b>Common</b> & <b>Red Crested
Pochard</b>. Someone also mentioned <b>Wigeon</b>, but none of us saw any. All
three resident grebes were seen, <b>Great Crested</b>, <b>Black Necked</b> & <b>
Little Grebes</b>. We saw our first on many <b>Marsh Harriers</b> seen during the
day. Also saw<b> Common Buzzard</b>, <b>Greater Flamingo</b> & <b>Coot</b>. On the wader
front we saw <b>Black Winged Stilt</b>, <b>Ruff</b>, <b>Dunlin</b> and <b>Black Tailed Godwit</b>.
Some of the latter were seen flying with flocks of <b>Lapwing</b>, which caused
my heart to flutter as a <b>Sociable Plover </b>was also known to be flying
with the <b>Lapwings</b>. Behind us was more reeds and water pools. I spotted
some <b>Purple Swamphen</b>. I also managed to spot the head & neck of a
<b>Great White Egret </b>over to our right. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not good at bird calls, but
luckily Gordon & Graham were. We heard <b>Moustached Warbler</b> amongst
the <b>Reed </b>& <b>Cetti's Warbler</b> singing away in the reeds below us. They
also identified the <b>Water Rail</b> & <b>Little Bittern</b> calls for us. Some
of us were able to see a feeding <b>Penduline Tit</b>. The only hirundines we
saw were <b>Crag Martins</b>. A pair of illegally low flying hot air balloons
caused major panic amongst the birds. Apparently they are not allowed to
fly over at less then 1,200 metres altitude, but these appeared much
lower than that.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="299" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153033b91c831b0d&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ikwd5gbg1_1530333510db745f&attbid=ANGjdJ8nQ-sTVmRaxWEipVmD2adlf7oGvQ1QZGJsQw3H5cYXGQIPEYsM9sRvfQEAQwu-UM6oMKM6YCg8j2yWU1dNwuS7aVkWEnwYmDsmuPble-PirDCwY7X3MNypPuM&sz=w1124-h842&ats=1456129565446&rm=153033b91c831b0d&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Southern Grey Shrike (photo: Helen)</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
moved down to the larger elevated viewing platform at the bottom end.
We had good views of <b>Booted Eagles</b> and a pair of <b>Glossy Ibis</b>, but little
else. We returned to the much better first hide. I noted that the
<b>Spotted Eagle</b> had flown. Sure enough it appeared above us. As it was
nearly chucking out time, we made our way back to the north gate. Whilst
waiting for the ranger we added a <b>Robin</b> to the list.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
decided to have an early lunch before searching the southern end of the
reserve. We followed Helen round picking up smaller birds like <b>Meadow
Pipit</b>, <b>Linnet</b>, <b>Serin</b>, <b>Iberian Southern Grey Shrike</b>, <b>Black Redstart</b> and
<b>Stonechat</b>. <b>Hoopoe</b> and <b>Kestrel</b> were also seen. We spent a bit of time
overlooking empty meadows, by a abandoned hut where Helen said the
Sociable Plover had been seen. No luck so we ended our tour at the
southern hide. Couldn't actually get to it as the path was under water.
We did see about a dozen <b>Black Necked Grebes</b> & a <b>White Headed Duck</b>.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Many
thanks to Helen for making the arrangements and guiding us round. We
headed off home. Helen hung around for another 4 hours.....this is what
she e-mailed me later! (Some editing done!)</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
</div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153033b91c831b0d&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ikwd901m2_1530335d8f2a35f2&attbid=ANGjdJ-2QjVRFpemSwJF9FzlfsqzTisipMGw0Q4X5EmfNj_x67cTpmWdccLtVnBLDY_ED4rGwZKwI5dA6fMmFSamQboYwB1edlNfqXYFcTdrXrrBwHgy3ZMtoY9wNtY&sz=w1124-h804&ats=1456129565446&rm=153033b91c831b0d&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="285" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=153033b91c831b0d&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ikwd901m2_1530335d8f2a35f2&attbid=ANGjdJ-2QjVRFpemSwJF9FzlfsqzTisipMGw0Q4X5EmfNj_x67cTpmWdccLtVnBLDY_ED4rGwZKwI5dA6fMmFSamQboYwB1edlNfqXYFcTdrXrrBwHgy3ZMtoY9wNtY&sz=w1124-h804&ats=1456129565446&rm=153033b91c831b0d&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sociable Plover (photo : Helen)</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Some pictures of this afternoon (3 lifers today, you brought me luck - mercy beaucoup)</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
<b>Sociable Plover</b>: I have been waiting on that new path, with the ready
to move in house, a couple of hours and was so lucky with 3 or 4 Iberian
Wagtails, 101 Cattle Egret so close by. Then 1 of the 2 S<b>outhern
Shrikes</b> came verrrrrrrry close, telling me: I keep an eye on you.</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Almost
6 o'clock <b>Lapwings </b>came flying in, smaller groups bit by bit, and a
couple of <b>Golden Plovers.</b> The <b>Lapwings</b> were flying in and out of the
field.</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The father and son that were
in El Fondo, parked their car behind mine at one point and there IT
was.( The <b>Sociable Plover</b>) Later on I learned that I could have gone
half the way closer because father and son did so and the<b> Lapwings</b>
stayed.</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Besides my first ever <b>Pintails</b> I also found a couple of <b>Garganey </b>, another lifer.</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What a day!"</span></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Patience & commitment pays! What a cracking day. Can't wait to get back there!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-29496392414602620572016-02-22T09:16:00.002+01:002016-02-22T09:54:48.462+01:0022 February : THE END OF EL ALGORROBICOFor those who don't know, after eleven years of battling by groups, local and international such as Greenpeace, the Spanish supreme court has ruled that the monstrosity of the El Algorrobico hotel on the eastern Almería coast must be demolished. <img alt="Este correo es seguro. Puedes activar la visualización de imágenes de tu correo electrónico." class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgx5PEYyzegWxU3w82Vt0N1A4GaLAdO2yctMjQ2p8eaReoNYK6wb_0d7DByOX2nqJd1jW1dxt7WuuUOd1lNw_JS-RH3TNuBpPHKHwHJ-86gCHDCeh6wKWWufPOoRuzdfa12pMdcdPb73UdP-RvSVfLqxpm-zVZGWfSTyHcAprVGqnhtQLE0O_bmPWW6QuY3hbYdNVPWp1HVv0B3ga921EowFSbVUiCyuth6tuxcEHTqpSwsy2EcSJd5ZiFi6AntZPgdz3Vi=s0-d-e1-ft" tabindex="0" width="100%" /><br />
This architectural abortion was constructed nearly 20 years ago within the virgin coastal area of the eastern Almería park area to the north of Cabo de Gataafter being given legally doubtful planning permission. Even the Junta de Andalucía, which should have known a hell of a lot better, was against its demolition, although I and many others could never understand their support for its maintenance. Given the recent and continuing corruption scandals within Spain, and which have gravely touched some members of the Popular Party at a national level, some regional administrations, notably Madrid and Valencia, and with Andalucía not untouched, one must be left wondering.<br />
The site can never be returned to exactly the same as before but is at least a blow for the environment and common sense. A small plus is that according to Greenpeace some 98% of the materials are reciclable and its demolition will provide some 400 jobs locally.Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-12893463880858037622016-02-18T14:52:00.002+01:002016-02-18T14:52:47.282+01:0017 February : Villaricos & Vera<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I know it's only a fortnight
since our last visit here, but that <b>Solitary Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos solitario</span>) is still hanging
around, so it was an obvious choice to return there to try and find it.
Val and I had been there last Friday and had success. Steve and I
met up with Val, Rod, Les, Richard, Colin and John at the usual spot
overlooking the ford. We clocked <b>Redshank</b> (<span style="color: blue;">archibebe común</span>), <b>Ringed Plover</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitejo grande</span>), <b>Green
Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos grande</span>), <b>Dunlin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos común</span>), <b>Little Stint </b>(<span style="color: blue;">correlimos menudo</span>) and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeñuela</span>) before we drove
further towards Cuevas De Almanzora to the next tarmacked crossover.
There are numerous shallow pools, in which there were numerous waders
feeding. Most prolific were <b>Dunlin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos común</span>), but there were also <b>Ruff</b> (<span style="color: blue;">combatiente</span>), <b>Little
Stint</b> and <b>Wood Sandpiper</b>. There were <b>Water Pipits</b> (<span style="color: blue;">bisbita alpina</span>) and a few <b>Snipe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">agachadiza</span>) and a <b>Sanderling</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos tridáctila</span>) were
also seen. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=152f3d2b02149961&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_iks3e3uz0_152f3ce893eef2e8&attbid=ANGjdJ9y56kDO62STUl2409pEjU2qbrKk9XzFeheph_1MbhvH0xOm6QlEgWOORJZApZcQlWt92AbqzAGFVZIeJ9hXDdSZTCyM8j6F9rgdNfUIfg2PY-fysp0dvrD5mE&sz=w1124-h1124&ats=1455801635913&rm=152f3d2b02149961&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wood Sandpiper</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We moved up from the crossover onto the
elevated rambla side. <b>Crag Martins</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avión roquero</span>) were flying overhead. A single <b>Stone
Curlew</b> <span style="color: blue;">(alcaraván</span>) flew off the rambla into the opposite fields. Les then spotted
the <b>Solitary Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos solitario</span>) although not everyone saw it before it was flushed by a
passing tractor! </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Little birds seen included <b>Linnet</b> (<span style="color: blue;">pardillo común</span>), <b>Serin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">verdecillo</span>), <b>Chiffchaff</b> (<span style="color: blue;">mosquitero común</span>), <b>
Stonechat </b>(<span style="color: blue;">tarabilla común</span>), <b>Black Redstart</b> (<span style="color: blue;">colirrojo tizón</span>) and <b>Greenfinch</b> (<span style="color: blue;">verderón</span>). We carried on further up the
rambla seeing more of the same. Returning to the cars I spotted a
<b>Hoopoe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">abubilla</span>). John and Richard, who were the last to arrive, also
picked up <b>Grey Wagtail </b>(<span style="color: blue;">lavandera cascadeña</span>) and our first <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> (<span style="color: blue;">lavandera boyera</span>)of the year, plus a <b>House Martin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avión común</span>). </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a refreshment break in Villaricos village, we made our way to the
beach. There were fewer <b>Cormorants</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cormorán grande</span>) on the harbour rocks than before and
the <b>Grey Heron</b> (<span style="color: blue;">garza real</span>) still sat there. Moving to the estuary, we added the usual waterbirds. A huge flock of gulls was present, mostly <b>Black-headed</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota reidora</span>), but a large number of
<b>Mediterranean Gulls</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota cabecinegra</span>) as well, with some coming into breeding plumage. Amongst
the <b>Crag Martins</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avión común</span>) were some <b>Barn Swallows</b> (<span style="color: blue;">golondrina común</span>) and a single <b>Sand Martin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avión zapador</span>). A
<b>Kentish Plover</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitejo patinegro</span>) was seen and Les saw a <b>Great Crested Grebe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">somormujo lavanco</span>) out to
sea.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
we walked back along the beach I spotted a larger wader a</span><span style="font-size: medium;">sleep </span><span style="font-size: medium;">on
the rocky isthmus which turned out to be the long staying <b>Whimbrel </b>(<span style="color: blue;">zarapito trinador</span>). Also
seen were more <b>Kentish Plovers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitejo patinegro</span>) and Colin was the first to see
the <b>Kingfisher </b>(<span style="color: blue;">martín pescador</span>) catching fish off the rocks. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We drove
to the dual carriageway at Vera. Here there were numerous <b>Coot</b> (<span style="color: blue;">focha común</span>) and
<b>Shoveler </b>(<span style="color: blue;">pato cuchara</span>) and small pockets of <b>Teal </b>(<span style="color: blue;">cerceta común</span>) as well as a pair of <b>Shelduck</b> (<span style="color: blue;">tarro blanco</span>). More <b>Mediterranean Gulls</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota cabecinegra</span>) were seen - it's been a
good year for them in this area. An <b>Iberian Southern Grey Shrike</b> (<span style="color: blue;">alcaudón real</span>) was
spotted. Some of the group stopped at the far end by the Consum
supermarket. where they saw more ducks and added a <b>
Zitting Cisticola </b>(<span style="color: blue;">buitrón</span>). </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
met up again at the beach-side pool near the Millionaires Bar with four species of gulls and <b>Sanderlings</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos tridáctilo</span>). </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A
brilliant day's birding. Weather was eventually kind once the chilling
breeze had warmed up. The pools further up the rambla will be on our
visiting list, although, Rod, who lives nearby says that area is usually
dry. 63 species for the day....numbers are getting bigger! </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-11664969065968338902016-02-15T09:36:00.003+01:002016-02-15T09:39:02.377+01:0010 February: Rambla Morales and Cabo de GataBefore starting off with a delayed report from Dave (my fault, or rather this machine's which refused to copy it), the <b>Solitary Sand</b>. is still in the same place. I should also pint out that whilst some are proposing that it's the same bird seen down here at Málaga last October, I can think of several reasons why not. Also, for those of you in the frozen north, it's colder than charity down here this morning (Monday) with a lazy wind, the sort that goes through rather than round you.<br />
<br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Before I get on with today's report, I'd like to direct you to the Rare Birds in Spain site (<a href="http://www.rarebirdspain.net/" target="_blank">www.rarebirdspain.net</a>)
where Andrew Allport has posted fantastic photos of a <b>Solitary
Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos solitario</span>) he found in the Rambla de Almanzora on the 4th February. Just
shows you what can turn up....anywhere! Having been feeling particularly
low for some time, I decided to have a twitch down there yesterday as
the bird had been seen still there on Monday. Saw lots of <b>Wood</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos bastardo</span>) and
<b>Green Sandpipers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos grande</span>) but alas not the Solitary one!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I
digress....The winds in Arboleas overnight were horrendous, but being
the boss I knew I still had to make my way with Val to Cabo de Gata. To
be honest, the winds subsided </span><span style="font-size: medium;">substantially </span><span style="font-size: medium;">as we headed south. We met up
with a plethora of other group members at the Pujaire plus a friend of
Richard's who was on holiday, Martin from near Minsmere. The water level
was reasonably high, so little chance for smaller waders to find
suitable feeding areas. Of course there were hundreds of <b>Greater
Flamingo</b> (<span style="color: blue;">flamenco</span>) plus a few <b>Shelduck</b> (<span style="color: blue;">tarro blanco</span>) and <b>Mallard</b> (<span style="color: blue;">azulón</span>). There were small groups of
<b>Black-tailed Godwits </b>(<span style="color: blue;">aguja colinegra</span>), a <b>Redshank</b> (<span style="color: blue;">archibebe común</span>) and some <b>Dunlin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos común</span>). A pink <b>Slender-billed
Gull</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota picofina</span>) was easy to identify at a distance. Richard then found what he
thought was a dead <b>Stone Curlew</b> (<span style="color: blue;">alcaraván</span>) on the edge of the car park. It was
still alive but obviously in an extremely poor way so it was put out of
its misery. Also seen were <b>Little Egret </b>(<span style="color: blue;">garceta común</span>), <b>Southern Grey Shrike</b> (<span style="color: blue;">alcaudón real</span>) and
<b>Sardinian Warbler</b> (<span style="color: blue;">curruca cabecinegra</span>). </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
moved on to the beach. Rollers (waves not birds) were crashing onto the
sand. <b>Audouin's </b>(<span style="color: blue;">gaviota de Audouin</span>) and <b>Yellow-legged Gulls</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota patiamarilla</span>) were seen. At the second hide
we added <b>Grey Plover</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlito gris</span>), <b>Avocet</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avoceta</span>) and a raft of 20-30 <b>Black-necked Grebes</b> (<span style="color: blue;">zampullín cuellinegro</span>). I
then spotted movement on the savannah and we were pleased to see about
10 <b>Stone Curlews</b> (<span style="color: blue;">alcaraván</span>). A <b>Common Sandpiper </b>(<span style="color: blue;">andarríos chico</span>) was seen in the gully. I then
spotted a <b>Wigeon</b> (<span style="color: blue;">anade silbón</span>) with some <b>Mallard</b> (<span style="color: blue;">azulón</span>). The same one from the 13th January? A
steady stream of <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota sombría</span>) was now passing along the
beach. Also seen were <b>White Wagtail</b> (<span style="color: blue;">lavandera blanca</span>) and <b>Stonechat </b>(<span style="color: blue;">tarabilla común</span>).</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Heading
to the public hide we saw 17 <b>Spoonbills</b> (<span style="color: blue;">espátulas</span>), two of which were ringed. John
had <b>Greenshank</b> (<span style="color: blue;">archibebe claro</span>), <b>Redshank</b> (<span style="color: blue;">archibebe común</span>) and <b>Dunlin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos común</span>) on the right hand salina. On the
left hand side we added <b>Cormorant </b>(<span style="color: blue;">cormorán grande</span>). Les found 4 <b>Sandwich Terns</b> (<span style="color: blue;">charranes patinegros</span>) on the
rocky causeway.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
a coffee and tostada break in Cabo village we convoyed along the
beach-side track to Rambla de Morales. The wind had got up. On the water
were more <b>Greater Flamingos </b>together with a mall number of <b>Shovelers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">pato cuchara</span>),
<b>Coot</b> (<span style="color: blue;">focha común</span>)and <b>Moorhen</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gallineta de agua</span>). A single <b>Cattle Egret</b> (<span style="color: blue;">garcilla bueyera</span>) was seen as was a flight of
three <b>Golden Plovers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitos dorados</span>). A small flock of <b>pipits</b>, presumably of the
<b>Meadow</b> (<span style="color: blue;">bisbita pratense</span>) variety, were feeding on the scrubland. I managed to spot the
first and only <b>Chiffchaff</b> (<span style="color: blue;">mosquito común</span>) of the day. A <b>Cetti's Warbler</b> (<span style="color: blue;">ruiseñor bastardo</span>) was heard. A
small group of </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sanderling</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos tridáctilos</span>) and a pair
of <b>Turnstone</b> (<span style="color: blue;">vuelvepiedras</span>) </span><span style="font-size: medium;">was near the estuary.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
saying our goodbyes, Val and I headed along the "campsite" track where we
had a <b>Kestrel</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cernicalo vulgar</span>) and a <b>Hoopoe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">abubilla</span>). Rod, Sandra and Colin who hung around
the beach for their picnic also had a <b>Kestrel </b>(<span style="color: blue;">cernicalo vulgar</span>) and some <b>Gannets </b>(<span style="color: blue;">alcatraces</span>).</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We ended up with 43 species. Not bad considering the weather! But alas no photos.</span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-46816680245135653472016-02-09T21:57:00.002+01:002016-02-09T22:14:46.377+01:0002-04 February : Doñana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">When Ron, who is once more over-wintering
down here, wondered if a trip to Doñana might be possible, I had no hesitation
in taking up his idea. Admittedly the dates I chose were not of the best, but
as they say back home in Yorkshire, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">owt
is better than nowt’</i>. I planned the route with some care as Ron is
suffering from tendonitis of an Achille’s tendon, which is very painful.</span><br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The first day we would go
from Fuengirola to El Acebuche (Hueva) with a look at the sea at Matalascañas,
then to El Rocio where we would roost the two nights away in the Hotel Toruña.
The second day would be taken up with venturing all the way around to get as
far as the Centro José Antonio Valverde and then go as far as posible along La
Escupidera, then back via Dehesa de Abajo, all of which was to prove a rather
long day. The final day, the Thursday, we would have a look at La Rocina and
then, if Ron was sufficiently mobile, we would go as far as El Acebrón,
something we didn’t manage.</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">DAY
1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> On the way we saw our
first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black Kites</b> (<span style="color: blue;">milanos negros</span>)
of the year with 5 birds near Chuchena (Huelva), but not before I realised that
I had managed to forget to put the big Olympus and telephoto in the car,
leaving me with only the bridge Olympus 820. However, such were the distances
at we were to be functioning, with much telescope work, the bridge was actually
slightly more useful with its greater magnification.</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8BNFU7UNe4C_Lm5ycRc6O7NApSOCi3PcP2gvPwWEWMAPl8Alsal3dvSrwyHJv4IfjVZK6MUelI6WIzWnsDdHTqL6yvIlv01iWXq1oN0dASw0jwIh3spi1WmNOj2bGN6kOTWvRbFlJsVX/s1600/P2030069.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8BNFU7UNe4C_Lm5ycRc6O7NApSOCi3PcP2gvPwWEWMAPl8Alsal3dvSrwyHJv4IfjVZK6MUelI6WIzWnsDdHTqL6yvIlv01iWXq1oN0dASw0jwIh3spi1WmNOj2bGN6kOTWvRbFlJsVX/s640/P2030069.JPG" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">El Acebuche is dry and
frankly it was a waste of time. Instead of a sheet of water, or at least pools,
in front of the hides, there was just a dustbowl. As for birds, even less apart
from the traditional pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White
Storks</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeña blanca</span>) on top of the information centre, and a diffuse flock
of lovely <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Azure-winged Magpies</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">rabilargos</span>) moving around with the remnants of food left by a party of school
children in their bills, but never sufficiently still to get even a halfway
decent photograph. Here too there were the common <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Magpies</b> (<span style="color: blue;">urracas</span>) ad we saw the first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Barn Swallow</b> (<span style="color: blue;">golondrina común</span>) of the trip, plus a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Common Buzzard</b> (<span style="color: blue;">busardo común</span>).</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">From there it was on to
Matalascañans where the sea gave a good imitation of a mirror, but apart from a
single <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sandwich Tern</b> (<span style="color: blue;">charrán
patinegro</span>) we did see some 5 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Razorbills</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">alca común</span>), an increasingly uncommon wintering species in the Málaga Bay
area. By then we had seen something like 15 species in total, which was hardly
brilliant.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDQCGMThyphenhyphen28q_ToA1IkoQ1zrLjvk9THg0u9GKUj3JO9o4WdoFO6pSSqzihiMi-zgYancPj41Mz3gXc6nuwaWPhq8VoxSk8tOjzTJ1Jhceg1yOu0yotLyWb5LHMMDoy3gFH1Mlgpe4qXrb/s1600/P2020050.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDQCGMThyphenhyphen28q_ToA1IkoQ1zrLjvk9THg0u9GKUj3JO9o4WdoFO6pSSqzihiMi-zgYancPj41Mz3gXc6nuwaWPhq8VoxSk8tOjzTJ1Jhceg1yOu0yotLyWb5LHMMDoy3gFH1Mlgpe4qXrb/s400/P2020050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>sunset El Rocio</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">So, off to El Rocio where
we booked in and then walked slowly along to the SEO centre along what I
suppose one should call a paseo lagunero, rather than a paseo maritímo. Here at
last there were birds all over the marisma. A flock of displaying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Flamingos</b> (<span style="color: blue;">flamencos</span>) with more
scattered all over the place. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spoonbills
</b>(<span style="color: blue;">espátulas</span>) were, as usual, asleep in daylight hours but stirred as the sun
sank towards the horizon, while the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Glossy
Ibises</b> (<span style="color: blue;">moritos</span>) were busy feeding. There was a quite decent selection of
ducks, all of them pretty normal although there were lots of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shovelers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">pato cuchara</span>) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pintails</b> (<span style="color: blue;">anade rabudo</span>), the males
being paticularly elegant, while a scattering of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greylag geese</b> (<span style="color: blue;">ansar común</span>) did their own line astern swim-by. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snipe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">agachadiza común</span>) were notably
abundant on the nearest island and there were at least 54, far outnumbering the
4 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">-</span>tailed Godwits</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguja
colinegra</span>) which took off at dusk. At last things were happening and we saw,
according to my field notes, some 31 species there with a total of 39 for the
day. Hardly brilliant but tomorrow would be another day.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">DAY
2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> To get to the Jose
Antonio Valverde Information Centre, one has to go rather a long way round, at
times through some rather nice pines but where we saw/heard next to nothing in
the few stops we made. However, once out on the track to the Centre from the
paved road, a distance of some 22 kms, the birds started to appear in a
landscaoe which is as flat as a billiard table<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and I swear you could just make out the earth’s curvature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvgfFgY_VDgfhjtnN7T0vGAP0NR7yo0dYI5tcmiITNZbu9Erf2qorVY-n6EME-ezPYbXcbw74V_lOfYuxHVIQrDjdh3_Jb1QrtLlBSrPzViGt0wjEmSyVSWz49q3mBd2Hc0-UXbTdz1tQ/s320/P2030055.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Black and White Storks</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">There were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White Storks</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeña blanca</span>)
everywhere and we saw some with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black
Storks</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeña negra</span>) in attendance. In the canal which runs along side the
track, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Sand</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos
grande</span>) proved to be photogenic and for once, rather ike the buzzard later, the
photo was not of white rump vanishing to the far horizon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">There were plenty of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marsh Harriers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguilucho lagunero</span>)
seen, mostly females and immatures, but with at lerast two superb males seen
during the day. I had hoped to see more <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hen
Harriers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguilucho pálido</span>) but surprisingly we only saw one, a nice
male.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nice <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Common Buzzard</b> (<span style="color: blue;">busardo común</span>), one of several,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>allowed at decent photograph instead of a
shot of a rear end disappearing rapidly at low level. Particularly pleasing to
the eye was the sight of several <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red
Kites</b> (<span style="color: blue;">milano real</span>) with a few of the rather more dowdy <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black Kites</b> (<span style="color: blue;">milano negro</span>). There were
outnumbered considerably by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ravens</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">cuervos</span>) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Magpies</b> (<span style="color: blue;">urracas</span>),
particularly in the large área where the sun-dried bones of dead livestock are
mute testimony to the fragility of life, although I must admit that ending up
as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Griffon Vulture</b> (<span style="color: blue;">buitre leonado</span>)
food hardly appeals, ecological though it be.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwKLMYnd9gNf-M5ZjhE1TqRdFLTyi3OFvpFfQAj24lIEabShftXtdpqpFqg95CxunH0ZyWM-3pACndb9vJJUp6vBDZC3awqaiijglpncA80JZL8deHmuo1PDWAuziwlTPwI8pJrRvfauB/s1600/P2030060-001.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwKLMYnd9gNf-M5ZjhE1TqRdFLTyi3OFvpFfQAj24lIEabShftXtdpqpFqg95CxunH0ZyWM-3pACndb9vJJUp6vBDZC3awqaiijglpncA80JZL8deHmuo1PDWAuziwlTPwI8pJrRvfauB/s400/P2030060-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cranes</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">There is plenty of water
(as well as a much needed coffee) at the Inforrnation Centre and excellent
views from the windows, with a nice supply of ducks and waders, whilst <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Purple Boghens</b> (<span style="color: blue;">calamón</span>) are certainly
not in short supply. Notably abundant were the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-tailed Godwits</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguja colinegra</span>) with a guesstimate of 150+
birds present. Going onward along La Escupidera we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>found the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greylags</b> (<span style="color: blue;">ansar común</span>) – some flocks of which have been reported
flying northwards this morning (09 February). We searched for the Whitefronts
which have been reported but with no success. Here too we found plenty of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cranes</b> (<span style="color: blue;">grullas</span>). In this section we
notched up a total of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>41 species.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoirwqCWuqDssUYNjRnbqicrV4PRQoA1T-h4etMcH3LdROFdfckImlSCiRa6DnEo90V25pSlYV-SZehlcrLWhAy3QNrlnBN0yEg0n5vsySHVc9vL8o2wb94QfstVYM-wSRLpQawKkMsnL/s1600/P2030063.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoirwqCWuqDssUYNjRnbqicrV4PRQoA1T-h4etMcH3LdROFdfckImlSCiRa6DnEo90V25pSlYV-SZehlcrLWhAy3QNrlnBN0yEg0n5vsySHVc9vL8o2wb94QfstVYM-wSRLpQawKkMsnL/s400/P2030063.JPG" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Green Sandpiper</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The second stop of the day
was to be at Dehesa de Abajo. The first stop was by a single semi flooded rice
paddy, on the face the same as the thousands of hectares if the ithers, but
this one had waders. A flock of some 200 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden
Plovers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitos dorados</span>) flashed back and forth over the many <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lapwings</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avefrías</span>), some 500+,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and once the scpes were uo ad we started
looking there were at least 140+ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ruff</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">combatientes</span>), a suprising 100+ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sanderling</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">correlimos tridáctilos</span>) and 10+ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little
Sint</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos menudo</span>). Why only in this paddy, we know not, and when we
called by again on the Thursday morning, there were only a few <b>Lapwings</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">There was a fair wind
blowing and this had concentrated a lot of the ducks and coots at the south
side of the Dehesa lake where the road runs by. The place was solid with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-crested Pochards</b> (<span style="color: blue;">pato colorado</span>)
and after scanning with the scopes we guesstimated some 1.500 in the lakes with
flock after flock scattered over the water, along with a vast number of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coots </b>(<span style="color: blue;">focha común</span>), which did not bode
well for Ron who had never seen a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crested
Coot</b> (<span style="color: blue;">focha moruna</span>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and which made
the task of finding look like the proverbial needle in a haystack job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">We went up to the centre to
see what was and on the ‘recent sightings’ board someone had put <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-necked Grebe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">somormujo
cuellirrojo</span>), a very unlikely record and one that I would be most unlikely to
count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here some walking was involved in
order to get down to the hides, a trail advertsied as being some 500m but the
longest 500m that I have ever seen! This was not good news for Ron and on the
slow wending way down we saw 4 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thekla
Larks</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cogujada montesina</span>) very well and a bit further on, with the advantage of height, we
stopped to scan and lo and behold, I found a collared (release programme) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crested Coot</b> (<span style="color: blue;">focha moruna</span>) with 4
other uncollared birds with it. A new species for Ron, which made his day! The
other good bird of the afternoon was a small male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peregrine </b>(<span style="color: blue;">halcón peregrino</span>) which flew over unfazed by anything and
then there was a Southern Grey Shrike (<span style="color: blue;">alcaudón real</span>) – or whatever they are
being called now with all the proposed splits!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But all was not yet finished, and the last bird of the day was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Short-eared Owl</b> (<span style="color: blue;">lechuza campestre</span>)
which flew in front of the car on the way back to El Rocio.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxess0rhyphenhyphenb9BiqrleQrYRGl7NEBqShEKJ7o2uMo-nF4eRfzAf2eX2D7o4rX5ooi3fePbaqU3TCvidYWS-9_9AjSJ4pr4PQI10iSewr33vOVSG-l39_DKiUtYMfU6T6xebuVT5cCZ1ebnc/s1600/P2040081.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxess0rhyphenhyphenb9BiqrleQrYRGl7NEBqShEKJ7o2uMo-nF4eRfzAf2eX2D7o4rX5ooi3fePbaqU3TCvidYWS-9_9AjSJ4pr4PQI10iSewr33vOVSG-l39_DKiUtYMfU6T6xebuVT5cCZ1ebnc/s400/P2040081.JPG" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>desirable dwellings for White Storks</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">DAY 3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> After breakfast and settling the very reasonable bill we
set track for La Rocina, with the option of El Acebron if Ron's Achillle's
tendon would cooperate, which it didn't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, we visited the first two hides at La Rocina and were inundated
by <b>Glossy Ibises</b> (<span style="color: blue;">moritos</span>), enjoyed a singke male <b>Marsh Harrier</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">aguilucho lagunero</span>) and admired the thoughtfulness of man who erected an
electricity pylon with enough space for three <b>White Stork</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeña
blanca</span>) nests. That said, there was little else to attract with a solitary <b>Robin</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">petirrojo</span>), <b>Cetti's Warblers </b>(<span style="color: blue;">ruiseñor bastardo</span>) shouting their
presence and a very bonny little male <b>Serin</b> (verdecillo). I should at
this point note the presence of <span style="color: red;"><b>processionary caterpillars</b></span> (<i><span style="color: blue;">procesionarios</span></i>)
whose presence and touch bodes ill for humans and dogs with sores and
ulceration and, if the fine hairs are inhaled, kill dogs by asphyxiation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Going
further and with El Acebron obviously out of the question, we set tracks for
Dehesa de Abajo with the aim of seeing, if possible, more<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>waders and, hopefully, Marbled Duck/Teal. The
flooded paddy which had yielded so much the previous afternoon only gave a few <b>Lapwings</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">avefrías</span>, a single <b>Green Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos grande</span>) and <b>4 Wood
Sandpipers </b>(<span style="color: blue;">andarríos bastardos</span>). There were stil massive quantities of <b>Red-crested
Pochards</b> (<span style="color: blue;">patos colorados</span>) and included a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>rather odd-looking leucistic one which was also seen on Saturday by a
friend from Sevilla. The rest of the birding was rather run of the mill and we
set course for home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
net result? I calculate some 79 species with one significant miss (or dip as
they are known) in the form of Imperial Eagle. At least Ron was very satisfied, I
was reasonably so, and he had at last seen Doñana after around 70 years birding.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-74651560192578964652016-02-06T20:00:00.000+01:002016-02-06T20:08:51.009+01:0003 February: Rambla de Amanzora and Vera <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been away in Doñana and haven't yet downloaded the few photos that I took, hence Dave's report comes first. Also this afternoon news of a <b>Solitary Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos solitario</span>) seen at <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Almanzora on 04 February, along with a bundle of waders</span>. It may hang around but one can never be sure. The photos of it are stunning. Looks like you really copped out there, Dave!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ose whi wonder what G<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">illy's <i><b>reiki</b></i> course <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is, do as I did and look it up. As for me finding myself, I have enough diff<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">i</span>culty finding </span></span></span>birds and going birding <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s</span>ets me free. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A</span>nd as for freedom, I thought that the answer was divorce. Sorry, Gilly, couldn't resist it. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Gilly was again involved doing her reiki master's course, so I picked up Steve and headed to the Rambla de Almanzora.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
we came down from Palomares towards the beach, in full sunshine, we
could see a rolling mass of sea mist coming towards us. We made it to
the rambla's ford seeing <b>Moorhen</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gallineta de agua</span>), <b>Green Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos grande</span>), <b>Teal </b><span style="color: blue;">(cerceta común)</span>, <b>Meadow Pipit</b> (<span style="color: blue;">bisbita pratense</span>) and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeñuela</span>) before the mist overcame us reducing visibility to less than 20 m. Barrie and Jan had already arrived and we were joined by Rod,
Colin, Sandra, Richard and John. It was a welcome return for Charlie,
Val and Les, all of whom had been AWOL for months! Obviously
birdwatching there was out of the question so we reversed our normal
route and headed to the dual carriageway opposite the Consum
supermarket. About a kilometre down the road it was clear skies.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There
were numerous <b>Shoveler</b> (<span style="color: blue;">pato cuchara</span>), a few <b>Teal </b>(<span style="color: blue;">cerceta común</span>) and the occasional <b>Mallard</b> (<span style="color: blue;">azulón</span>) with a <b>Marsh Harrier</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguilucho lagunero</span>) over the far reeds. Above us the were a few <b>Crag
Martins</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avión roquero</span>) and a single <b>Barn Swallow</b> (<span style="color: blue;">golondrina común</span>). Numerous
<b>Chiffchaffs</b> (<span style="color: blue;">mosquitero común</span>) were feeding amongst the shrubs and <b>Blackcaps</b> (<span style="color: blue;">curruca capirotada</span>)were also seen. A pair of <b>Little Grebes</b> (<span style="color: blue;">zampullín chico</span>) were present and also a <b>Common Pochard </b>(<span style="color: blue;">porrón común</span>) and a
<b>Redshank</b> (<span style="color: blue;">archibebe común</span>) down the far end.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="249" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0675323ff2&view=fimg&th=152a8681633b4856&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ik7671tj0_152a866fede7902a&attbid=ANGjdJ-l-epFat8cxgJGgoqF0WVs07j6VxjgJUOfCG_AiVv2X8dBx-anvPj-vvLNzV6MRjDp4N7eec2xpWkdsnX_1Zh-ZQDw_608iRJzF-4R3YYWOWyZteryeOpDQ0w&sz=w1124-h702&ats=1454782674209&rm=152a8681633b4856&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" tabindex="0" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2nd year Mediterranean Gull</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">We
then headed to the beach-side pool by the Millionaires Bar in Vera
Playa. There were many <b>Black-headed Gulls</b>(</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue;">gaviota reidora</span>), a few <b>Mediterranean Gulls</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota cabecinegra</span>) and
a single immature <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota patiamarilla</span>). Moving up onto the pathway to get
a better view of the reed-bed borders, John was saying about seeing
some <b>Little Bitterns</b> (<span style="color: blue;">avetorillo</span>) there previously when, blow me down, I spotted one
in the reeds and <b>Common Pochard</b> (<span style="color: blue;">porrón común</span>), <b>Crested Lark</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cogujada común</span>), <b>Hoopoe</b> (<span style="color: blue;">abubilla</span>) and
<b>Cormorant</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cormorán grande</span>) were seen while a <b>Cetti's Warbler</b> (<span style="color: blue;">ruiseñor bastardo</span>) was heard.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We
made our way back to Villaricos village where we took refreshments.
John spotted a <b>Gannet</b> (<span style="color: blue;">alcatraz</span>) out to sea. The mists had been burnt away by the
sun so we made our way back to the rambla. Birds were few and far
between. There was a <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cigüeñuela</span>) just before the sewage works,
which I must say were ripe today. A <b>Common Sandpiper</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos chico</span>) was on one of the
pools while on the main lake edges were three <b>Ringed Plover</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitejo chico</span>) and
a <b>Dunlin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos común</span>). Les also saw a <b>Short-toed Lark</b> (<span style="color: blue;">terrera común</span>). Returning to the ford, where
there was actually water across the road for a change but we saw
only common species, while Les observed a <b>Thekla Lark</b> (<span style="color: blue;">cogujada montesina</span>). As we were
pulling out of the parking area a <b>Grey Heron</b> (<span style="color: blue;">garza real</span>) flew by and we
saw another one on the rocks by the harbour amongst numerous <b>Cormorants</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">cormoranes grandes</span>) and a pair of <b>Turnstones</b> (<span style="color: blue;">vuelvepiedras</span>). At the estuary there were hundreds of <b>Black-headed Gulls</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota reidora</span>) and a
single <b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota sombría</span>). There was a single <b>Shoveler</b> (<span style="color: blue;">pato cuchara</span>) and a <b>Snipe </b>(<span style="color: blue;">agachadiza común</span>). There were few
waders, only <b>Sanderling</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos tridáctilo</span>), <b>Dunlin</b> (<span style="color: blue;">correlimos común</span>) and a <b>Kentish Plover</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlitejo patinegro</span>). Walking
back along the beach there was a resting flock of 17 <b>Sandwich Terns </b>(<span style="color: blue;">charrán común</span>)<b> </b>on
the rocks and I spotted a <b>Grey Plover</b> (<span style="color: blue;">chorlito gris</span>) which was joined by the resident
<b>Whimbrel</b> (<span style="color: blue;">zarapito trinador</span>). Les discovered the <b>Audouin's Gull</b> (<span style="color: blue;">gaviota de Audouin</span>) to end our bird list for the
day. A respectable 55 species, considering the poor start, a good day's
birding. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span>Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-83703315404571541342016-01-28T18:40:00.004+01:002016-01-28T18:49:30.478+01:0027 January : La Janda<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was held back in order that I could put Dave’s
contribution in first. Once more my old friend Ron is wintering down here and
after waiting for the stars to come in to the correct alignment (try reading
Caesar’s Gallic Wars in latin and you will come across the phrase ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">et siderae in su cursu erant</i>’ or
something similar). Anyway, they were so off we hied for la Janda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After first trying to go north along the
track from Facinas and grounding out, common sense set in and we turned back
and to go in by the normal route, going in the canal by which time the early
morning fog had burnt off. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At this point I should warn that there are no pretty photos
as (a) the birds were too distant or (b) I was too slow or (c) a combination of
both. Mind you, we did have plenty to look at with some stunning views of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snipe </b>(<span style="color: blue;">agachadiza común</span>) on the still
sodden rice paddies and we put up a couple of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Sandpipers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">andarríos grandes</span>). In the same paddies there
were egrets and included 2 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Whites </b>(garceta
grande) and quite a lot of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey Herons</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">garza real</span>). </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were decent numbers of passerines although nothing
strikingly out of the way. I had the the feeling that whilst we were were
seeing plenty of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crested Larks </b>(<span style="color: blue;">cogujada
común</span>), there were relatively few <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calandra
Larks</b> (<span style="color: blue;">calandría</span>). There were some good sized flocks of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Woodpigeons</b> (<span style="color: blue;">paloma torcaz</span>) but a light
aircraft spraying and buzzing around didn’t help the presence of them or of
many raptors, although in that respect we were to do very well in two brief
bursts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were suprisingly few <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cranes</b> (<span style="color: blue;">grullas</span>) which makes one think that the very mild weather
might have made them pull out very early. This overly fine weather might also
have something to do with the relative lack of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marsh Harriers</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguilucho lagunero</span>) and we saw only one superb male
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hen Harrier</b> (<span style="color: blue;">aguilucho pálido</span>). On
the other hand there were plenty of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Commmon
Buzzards</b> (<span style="color: blue;">busardo común</span>) and I rather lost count after reaching a dozen but
some of the later ones were almost certainly resightings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Going along by the drainage canal we ran into a group of four
young Spanish birders (anything under 50 is young to Ron and I but these were
around the 20 year mark). It was when we caught up with them for the second
time that they were watching two 1st winter <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Imperial Eagles</b> (<span style="color: blue;">águila imperial</span>) on the deck and which I failed to
pick up as a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Common Buzzards</b>
(<span style="color: blue;">busardo común</span>) got up in the same area. However, ample compensation in the
form of a fly-by <b>Imperial</b> at some 250m range which Ron and I reckoned was a third year bird. Later
the major surprise was a group of four (4) <b>Bonelli’s Eagles</b> (<span style="color: blue;">águila perdicera</span>) circling in a weak
thermal, these being three 1st winter birds and the fourth a subadult. This
last and a 1st winter we were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to see
again later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did not see the large eagle which most are identifying as
a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Spotted</b> (<span style="color: blue;">águila moteada</span>)
and which some Brit birders with whom we spoke later had seen. However, the
current wisdom is that it is in fact a first generation hybrid <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Spotted</b> x <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spotted </b>(<span style="color: blue;">águila pomerana</span>) as it shows characteristics of both spp.
and the two are sufficiently close genetically to interbreed in Eastern Europe
and are, unlike most hybrids, fertile. This means that when adult they may
breed with pure <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spotted</b> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Spotted </b>(breeding back), or with
another hybrid. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Confusing, ain’t it? So’s the identification. Thank god there's no problem with the 3 <b>Barn Swallows</b> (<span style="color: blue;">golondrina común</span>) that we saw! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At which point I think it’s best to go birding, so I’m off
to Doñana with Ron next week for three days solid birding. You may even hear
about in the fullness of time and there might even be some prettty pics to enliven
the text! </span></div>
Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com0