06 May : Rambla de Almanzora & Vera

Dave & Co. Unlimited have been out to one of their favourite spots. I´m fed up to the back teeth with Monk Parakeets (cotorra monje), we could sell 'em back to South America and make a firtune if they ever run short! I have had both Pied and Spotted Flycatcher (papamoscas cerrojillo y gris) in the garden here two days running, nice! Also, a pair of Mallards have taken up residence in the swimming pool and are often watched hungrily by two or three cats, none of which are from here.
Summer has eventually arrived here in south-east Spain. We headed for the Rambla de Almanzora, Villaricos.  Gilly and I met up with eight other members including returning holiday birders, Barrie and Beryl Puttock. Good to see them again. Prior to our arrival Les had seen, amongst others, Lesser Black-backed Gull  (gaviota sombría) and Black-winged Stilt (cigüeñuela). 

From our viewpoint we could only glimpse at the pools on the far side due to the ever increasing foliage. A pair of Yellow-legged Gulls (gaviota patiamarilla)sat upon a pylon. Disturbed Mallard (azulón) flew up and down. Above and below us we saw House Martins (avión común), Barn and Red-rumped Swallows  (golondrinas comunes y dauricas)and Common and Pallid Swifts (vencejos comunes y pálidos). In the vegetation and reeds we saw Sardinian Warbler (curruca cabecinegra), Zitting Cisticola (buitrón) and Serin (verdecillo) and heard Reed Warbler (carricero común).

Little Ringed Plover (chorlitejo chico)

At the sewage works we added a Common Sandpiper (andarríos chico) and a pair of Little Ringed Plover (chorlitejo chico). By the side of the large pool a flock of 12 Common Sandpipers (andarríos chicos) flew in. Another Little Ringed Plover (chorlitejo chico) showed well amongst the boulders in the rambla. Bee-eaters (abejarucos) were also seen. As we walked back I was first to see a Spotted Flycatcher (papamoscas gris) which also posed well. We walked down to the pool by the ford. There was a pair of Black-winged Stilts (cigüeñuelas) and yet another Common Sandpiper (andarrios chico).

Spotted Flycatcher (papamoscas gris)

After a reviving cup of coffee ( I won't mention Jacky's enormous frappé!) we made our way to the beach. There was no bird life on the harbour rocks, due presumably by the presence of swimmers and sunbathers. A Turnstone (vuelvepiedra) flew by low over the sea. We made our way to the estuary. No Cormorants (cormorán grande) now. Coot (focha común), Moorhen (gallineta común) and a solitary Audouin's Gull (gaviota de Audouin). A Grey Heron (garza real) was on one of the islands. 

Squacco Heron (garcilla cangrejera)

Les and I both identified a Squacco Heron (garcilla cangrejera) as it disappeared out of view further up. It eventually did a flypast as it headed to the beach. We made our way there ourselves adding Kentish and Ringed Plover (chorlitejos patinegro y grande) in the shallows. A group of Sanderling (correlimos tridáctila) were seen with difficulty as their heads popped up occasionally above a low ridge. Heading back towards the vehicles I spotted the Squacco (garcilla cangrejera) fishing successfully on the rocks together with a pair of Turnstone (vuelvepiedra) . I was surprised the the overwintering Whimbrel (zarapito trinador) was still here.

Monk Parakeet (cotorra monje)

We then convoyed to the dual carriageway overlooking the shallow pools near Vera beach. There was one Greater Flamingo (flamenco común) present. Apparently some others were put to flight by a low flying helicopter yesterday. We added Common Pochard (porrón europeo), White-headed Duck (malvasía cabeciblanca) and Shoveler (pato cuchara). Further down near the main road we could see Avocet (avoceta) and one or two Whiskered Tern (fumarel cariblanco). As Gilly and I were time constrained we didn't stop at the far end of the pool as Colin, Sandra and Les had done. We would have been rewarded with views of Ruff (combatiente), Spotted Redshank (archibebe oscuro), Dunlin (correlimos común) and Little Stint (correlimos menudo). 

We stopped opposite the Consum supermarket. One end of the pool added some Little Grebes. At the other end a bird was making an extraordinary noise. I managed to follow a very narrow, midge-filled track through the reeds and there, not 4 metres away was a Monk Parakeet (cotorra monje). It must've been blind and deaf as most of us managed to struggle through that jungle to get a view of it...and it just sat there!

We ended up with a respectable 50 species. With the arrival of beach fulls of sun and sea worshippers I suspect our birding may be limited in the next few months down there at Villaricos. No report next week as I'm heading back to the Fuente de Piedra and Extremadura with a couple of mates.

02 May: Fuente de Piedra

This will be a short blog about the trip to Fuente de Piedra yesterday, 02 May, in company of Chris Feare on a brief visit between his home in the UK and before going back to the Seychelles to contunue his 40 year research programme on the Sooty Terns there. With us was Federico Valles and we had a rewarding morning, even though there were not the numbers of birds present that I was fortunate enough to see exactly a week before.
Whilst we had coffee, Chris also gave some information on saving the Seychelles Magpie-Robin (Shama de Seychelles), of which the population was down to only 12 individuals but a removal programme of the introduced mynahs took their population down to zero, the population is now in the 300 range with no signs of endogamia.
As you may have noticed, there is also a slight addition to this blog in that following a suggestion from Federico, and knowing that some of the readers are Spanish, from now on I shall now insert the names in Spanish using a different colour. Thus, House Sparrow will have added behind it (gorrión común) in the colour shown here. If you are a Spanish reader of the blog, I would be grateful to hear if you like the idea or not.
There were much fewer waders and even though I did not do much accurate counting, largely because of talking a lot!, the approximate/guesstimated numbers are given after each species and for some there is not even that. Neither are there any photos as the only ones taken were of a disappearing Glossy Ibis (morito) which we later saw feeding and revealed itself to be a 1st summer bird as there was very little gloss! This was bird of the day for Chris and a new species as he has always managed to miss them previously! The other photo was of the rear end of a water vole (not rat as some name them, largely started by the naming of Ratty in 'Wind in the Willows').
In fact, we saw only 10 species of waders, including the omnipresent Avocets (avoceta) and Black-winged Stilts (cigüeñuela). There were some 30 Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo grandes), many which will undoubtedly finish their journey inside the Arctic Circle, as will some of the 10+ Little Stints (correlimos menudo) which were in gorgeous breeding plumage, Dunlin (correlimos común) and Curlew Sandpipers (correlimos zarapitin). After starting off seeing one handsome Wood Sandpiper (andarríos bastardo), life was suddenly enlivened by the arrival of a flock of 9, all in breeding plumage and there were a few Common Sandpipers (andarríos chico) teetering around. There were still 5+ Redshanks (archibebe común) and a few Little Ringed Plovers (chorlitejo chico). From the board walk we also saw a single Squacco Heron (garcilla cangrerjera) and also, apart from enjoying conversation with two Swedish birders, some raptors.
There were at least 4 Kestrels (cernicalos), we think Lessers (primillas) but shadow was deep and they were rather distant. More interestingly, a first very distant flock of ca.10 big raptors over the distant Sierra de Yeguas (the one with the windmills) was, with the exception of one slightly smaller bird which we did not manage to identify satisfactorily, composed of Honey Buzzards (abejero europeo) and we were to see more birds moving along there for a total of 41+ of this species.  Rather nearer were the two Black Kites (milano negro) which swung across more or less in front of the information centre, offeruing excellent views.
Out on the rapidly drying up lake there are still an awful lot of Greater Flamingos (flamenco rosa) and we located two Lessers (flamenco enano).  Theare, in fact, 3 pairs of Lesser Flamingos in the colony, plus another two which were probably the ones which we saw. A slow but upward growth line! There was also a pair of Shelduck (tarro blanco).
So to the end of the morning with the noise of a Great Reed Warbler (carricero tordal) still ringing inside the brain, its so-called song tempered by the rather sweeter song of a Nightingale (ruiseñor común) and the continual movement of Gull-billed Terns (pagaza piconegra) it was time to be off.

29 April : Sierra de María

From Dave E-B and the Arboleas group. Congratuations to them on the initiative of the posters.

It was brilliant sunshine when Gilly and I headed for the Sierra de Maria, but outside the car it was windy with a chilly bite to it. On the approach to Maria the only bird seen of note was a Linnet on a telegraph pole. We met up with nine other members including Jacky Reany, new to the group. We first headed up to the chapel where Colin managed to see Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. Les spotted a Great Tit and a Mistle Thrush was seen. I managed to find a distant Booted Eagle with more unidentifiable raptors even further away. As the others began to walk towards the Information Centre of the Botanical Gardens, I drove up there. We handed over two framed posters of forest birds and Spanish raptors to the rangers for them to put on display. 

handing over the posters

Red-billed Chough

The garden area had a couple of groups of reasonably behaved school children so the majority of us headed at speed to the lower walk. The walking wounded stayed behind. Birds were few and far between, but eventually we had good views of Bonelli's Warbler. I found a Short-toed Treecreeper.  A steady stream of Griffon Vultures flew over. As well as a few Subalpine Warblers, Alan and I were lucky enough to have a glimpse of a Western Orphean Warbler. I spotted a Red-billed Chough flying along the mountain ridge. Also seen were Robin and Cirl Bunting. As we headed back to the gardens we could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and we also heard a Raven. We mentioned it to the walking wounded who pointed skywards to show us the bird! They had also seen Bonelli's and Subalpine Warblers, Jay, Crossbill and Serin. Walking back to the cars, Les saw another Western Orphean Warbler and everybody saw the pair of Cirl Buntings.

The stop at the farm buildings only added a Corn Bunting to the list, so we motored to the water trough area. Alan and I saw our first Turtle Dove of the year. Numerous Rock Sparrows and Linnets were seen, as were a Rock Bunting and Goldfinches. Les spotted a Red-billed Chough on one of the buildings. We convoyed along the plain seeing the odd Crested Lark and a few Northern Wheatears. At the hamlet there were only a few Lesser Kestrels and we possibly saw Short-toed Larks.

Heading back to the La Piza forest cafe, we were delighted that Colin spotted a Hawfinch in the trees as we ate our lunch. Also seen were Crossbill, Chaffinch, Crested and Blue Tits.

A very enjoyable day which we hope Jacky enjoyed. She saw 4 or 5 lifers which can't be bad! 41 species in all.

25 April : Fuente de Piedra

After some 8 weeks without getting out (old age is not fun when one can't go birding, even though it allows politcal incorrrectness) I felt sufficiently human to go to Fuente de Piedra in search of waders and anything else which might care to show itself.

'... something to do with boiling oil'

The place was full of the great unwashed masses, at least three of which should have been subjected to a small, very fast moving object with a hollow point and who steadfastly insisted on walking the water's edge to photograph waders, in spite of being waved away by myself and other birders.
These were led by the ignorant and arrogant orange-haired female in the centre who totally ignored us and they only succeeded in flushing birds which were interested only in feeding. However, as a rifle was unavailable, as was any sight of a guard, one can only think of that immortal line from 'The Mikado' (Gilbert and Sullivan) regarding crime and punishment (not the book) about '... something to do with boiling oil'. However, leaving behind the selfish and ignorant, on to the birding.

Painted Lady

This Painted Lady butterfly was very cooperative.
On the passerine side, I must admit that I wasn't particularly attentive although I did see a very attractive Melodious Warbler and another birder told me that he had seen an Orphean Warbler. There was a Great Reed Warbler singing (?) and not far away a Reed Warbler was muttering happily to itself and a Nightingale really was singing.
The main attraction at Fuente is, of course, the Greater Flamingos and there are some 25.000-30.000 in the lake, with breeding started in the colony, although I find it difficult to see any success as  water levels are very low.

2 Greater Flamingos

2 Lesser Flamingos

An even greater attraction is the now annual presence of Lesser Flamingos, of which there 6, with one pair in the breeding colony and 2 are showing regularly in front of the information centre. One of these 6 birds has a red colour ring and very probably comes from some which left a Belgian collection some years since.
 In the wader line, I saw some 13 species, some in good numbers and in excellent plumage which made life very interesting. The Black-winged Stilts were remarkably quiet (are they on valium?), as were the very few Little Ringed Plovers, but compensation was provided by the Avocets.

Black-winged Stilt

 Numbers were pretty good in some cases, for instance the 40+ Ringed Plovers or the 14+ Redshanks although there was only 1 Greenshank and 5+ Common Sandpipers, as well as only 1 Green Sandpiper and 4 Wood Sandpipers, an always delightful species to see.

Common Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

There were fair numbers of Ruff, I counted some 16+ with some of the males coming into breeding plumage. At this date, Ruffs in Holland are breeding and I suspect that these, like the Ringed Plovers, are birds that have still a very long journey ahead of them, some to within the Arctic Circle where I have a memory of one on a fjell inland from Varangerfjord (Norway) walking on a frozen lake wondering where the devil the water had gone!

Little Stint

It was nice to see some 20+ Little Stints although numbers are often greater, many in full breeding plumage and they too with a long way still to go. After some searching the finding of a single Temminck's Stint was a distinct bonus. Many of the Dunlins present will accompany the stints on their journey north and many of the 25+ I counted were coming in to breeding plumage, their bellies black as though they had been sitting in soot.  

Dunlin

Curlew Sandpipers are not at all uncommon on migration and at this time of year many are coming in to breeding plumage, as is the bird shown in the photo below, while a few had not yet started to moult and a half dozen or so were in their full, immaculate dark chestnut, breeding plumage. These were the bird of the day, not because of the rarity because they are not, but because of the numbers, with a personal count of 180+, the biggest number that I have ever seen there.

Curlew Sandpiper

 I didn't make a full species list and I undoubtedly missed some but the waders were excellent watching. According to my notebook I saw some 43 species in total, which included some I have forgetten to mention above, easpecially the pair of Shelduck and the splendid Red-crested Pochards on the lake behind the information centre - the laguneto del Pueblo.
I did not see a single Yellow Wagtail nor a Woodchat Shrike, although there was one in my garden at home in the afternoon when I got back and  female Mallard was happily dabbling in the swimming pool!

23 April : Cabo de Gata & Rambla Morales

By the cringe, Dave is really giving the birding some stick (pure jealousy, Dave) and me still incapable of doing much, although things are improving and I hope to get to Fuente de Piedra tomorrow for an hour or so if the knees hold up. It's either that or hara-kiri! Just had a Garden Warbler in the most unusual place, the garden, the first record in 30+ years here I think.

  

Gilly had a sick note today (headache) so I left Arboleas, in the drizzle, at 7am giving me time to swing round the rear of the Cabo de Gata Bird Reserve before meeting up with other members of the Arboleas Birding Group. There were still a few rain spots as I took to the track. It was quite rutted and muddy in places so a 4x4 is advisable. The first two salinas were totally dry which might confirm the rumours that salt production has ceased. My first uncommon bird was what I believed to be an Iberian Chiffchaff on the chainlink fence. I also had a couple of Corn Buntings. Beyond the hide, there was water so I managed to see numerous Avocets and a Ringed Plover. At the ternery I was expecting to see Sandwich Tern, but no, I was pleased to see Gull-billed and Common Terns. I was then given great views of a male Whinchat fence-hopping in front of the truck.

 

Male Whinchat

​ The resident Little Owl on the ruined building was giving me the evil eye. Nearing the end I spotted two female Montague's Harriers flying east towards the Michelin test track. Two Stone Curlews and some Greenfinches were also seen.

I met up with 5 other members at the Pujaire cafe for coffee before heading to the first hide where the first bird was a Kestrel. Apart from Avocet we also saw Black-winged Stilt, Grey Plover, Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers. A flight of Dunlins landed and I spotted some distant Spoonbills which looked like six individuals. Shelduck were seen. A Red-rumped Swallow flew past as well as a small stream of Barn Swallows. Some Pallid Swifts were identified now that the sun was shining. A Hoopoe was calling from an electricity pylon. Sandra spotted a couple of Woodchat Shrikes and Alan pointed out an iberiae Yellow Wagtail.

Little Owl

We then motored round to the second hide. Alan spotted a shearwater out to sea. From size, jizz and colouring we believe it to be a Balearic. Bee-eaters were heard and screaming Common Swifts past by. From the hide we couldn't see the previously mentioned Spoonbills as they would have been below the bank in front of us, but I did spot three more in the pool to our right. Two Grey Herons were observed as well as a Little Egret. A Corn Bunting was also seen. In the distance towards the church we could see a mass of seabirds feeding so headed that way to find they had disappeared. We think they were the dozen or so Gull-billed Terns feeding over the savannah. Seems to be very good year for them. Only 78 Greater Flamingos seen.

At the public hide it was full of teenage girls. As I put my head in I heard one say, " God, this is boring!" so I decided we'd observe through the collapsed fencing. There were numerous Curlew Sandpipers, some turning breeding red. Alan spotted 3 Black-necked Grebes and some Little Stints. Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Sanderlings were also observed. Colin also saw a Thekla Lark and a Spotted Flycatcher beside the road.

After a coffee and snack at the Cabo beach cafe, we made our way to the Rambla de Morales. There were 4 Audouin's Gulls, 2 Slender-billed Gulls and some more Gull-billed Terns at the estuary before being disturbed by a cyclist. The best bird was a Garganey and there were also White-headed Ducks. Kevin spotted a male Red-crested Pochard. There was hardly any calling warblers. We eventually heard a Reed Warbler and heard/saw a Zitting Cisticola. Upon leaving Kevin and I took the rutted track back towards the campsite. A Green Sandpiper was seen. I also added White Wagtail and Jackdaw.

We totaled 59 species. Lucky with both the weather and the birds. A cracking day.

16-19 April : Extremadura

Having 'done' Fuente de Piedra, Dave, Gilly, Brian and Mary headed north in to Extremadura. Here is Dave's account of this area which has no coast at all but which will, I am sure, be of interest to many!

Having left Fuente de Piedra behind, Gilly and I in our truck and Brian and Mary following in their 4x4, we headed north towards Extremadura. Our bird list started at the "county line" but I thought I would mention a Collared Pratincole flying beside the Autovia before we took notes! Our first bird was a White Stork followed by the inevitable and numerous Black Kites. Lesser Kestrel was added before we had our first official birding stop ​at the Embalse de Guadiloba, due east of Cáceres. There were one or two Corn Buntings ....sorry, my mistake, one or two thousand Corn Buntings! 

Calandra Lark

Short-toed Lark

Also Calandra and Crested Lark. Nothing apart from Black-headed and Yellow-legged Gulls on the water. On the shore line were Cattle and Little Egret. We saw Cormorant, a posing Common Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilts. We also saw Black-eared Wheatear and a pair of Short-toed Larks. Moving further east we came across a Short-toed Eagle perched on a pylon.

Roller

Turning towards Santa Marta de Magasca we checked out the power lines and poles where new nest boxes for Rollers had been placed. We saw at least twelve Rollers and two pairs of Lesser Kestrels on or near the boxes. Scanning the field to the right we spotted at least two Great Bustards, one a displaying male. Moving on we glimpsed a Booted Eagle flying into a tree to perch. In a small valley with a bridge over a brown-watered river we added Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher. A male Spanish Sparrow sat in a nearby tree. We both heard and saw Common Cuckoo and Bee-eaters. Brian's dream was fulfilled when we saw numerous Azure-winged Magpies and a Red Kite finished our day's list.

After breakfast in our hostel in Trujillo, we headed towards Monfrague, stopping at the various bridges on the way. We added Crag Martin, Common Swift, Woodchat Shrike, Mistle Thrush and Wren. More Common Cuckoos were heard and seen. An Egyptian Vulture flew over. We then drove up and parked below the hermitage at Monfrague. Although the weather was not ideally suited for flying, it being cloudy, it didn't seem to bother the large numbers of vultures around the opposite cliff face. They were mostly Griffons, but there were one or two Black Vultures as well. Quite a few were passing below us beside the ridge. I then spotted a darker vulture, the size of a Griffon but obviously not one. It had mottled white across its back and wings and a later internet check proved it was a Ruppell's Vulture, a first for all of us! I saw a Nuthatch and a Short-toed Treecreeper whilst Mary had a Blue Rock Thrush and a Rock Bunting. As we left a calling Red-billed Chough flew over. In the car park, right at the bottom of the hill, we saw another Nuthatch which had a nest hole in a branch just above an information sign. 

Spanish Imperial Eagle

In the gorge, looking up the cliff face, we could see large numbers of Griffon Vultures on nests with chicks. Gilly spotted a flying Black Stork and Brian saw a Black Redstart. We travelled further on, next stopping at the ultimate viewing "station" where a few birders were homed in on something. It was the Spanish Imperial Eagles' nest. We'd only been there a few minutes when the female returned and landed there. The male then returned and perched on an exposed dead branch. It looked as though he'd just had a wash as he was preening and hanging his wings out to dry, cormorant-like. 

Bee-eater

On our return journey we tried to entice Azure-winged Magpies to the picnic area by the dam with pieces of bread but failed dismally. At the second picnic area a mangy dog fox with an obvious eye injury was eating human food remains. Nearby, House Martins and Red-rumped Swallows were using a muddy puddle to pick up nest material. We stopped next to a bridge, where House Martins and a few Alpine Swifts were nesting. Down a leafy lane to the side we saw and heard Robin and Nightingale. That evening we walked up to Trujillo's main square where White Storks were nesting on the tall buildings and Lesser Kestrels were flying over.

religious Barn Swallow

The next morning we headed to the Arroycampo bird reserve near the Almaraz Nuclear Power Station. Note to self....Saturday's not a good day to visit due to the anglers! They walk chest deep along the reed line...not good for birding! We headed to the information Centre in Saucedilla where we obtained a key for all the hides. We walked the short distance to the first one behind the centre. We saw Purple Swamphen and the first of many Purple Herons. We checked out the area where Black-shouldered Kites were supposed to be most frequent but only saw Marsh Harriers and Montague's Harrier. We returned to the anglers area hearing and then glimpsed a Savi's Warbler. Upon information received from a Surfbird's guide we went to the newly opened Orchid Centre in Almaraz village. Brian and Mary being botanists were very impressed. We then did some of the marked Orchid walk. We saw five different species, but the silence was marred by two local idiots on mini-motorbikes screaming around. From there we headed to the Belen plain to the east of Trujillo. We came across a recent cow death. There were about seventy Griffon Vultures on the body or streaming in to enjoy the feast. There were a few Black Vultures as well.

'Only' saw 76 soecies this trip but had a great time! How can you ever complain if you see a lifer? We shall be returning there in about four weeks.

14-16 April : Fuente de Piedra

Dave, Gilly and the Arboleas folks from Almería have ventured in to Comanche territory! Here is Dave's report, the second on their visit to Extremadura will follow in a day or so. All this takes time..... The photo of the Lesser Flamingos shows how different they are in size and colouration. Lapwings do breed in small numbers at Fuente, as do Shelduck. It was a jolly good list, Dave and Co..

Rod and Linda Prout very kindly organised at trip to Fuente de Piedra for 19 members of the Arboleas Birding Group. I usually do my reports the evening after the trip so my memory is not too blurred, but I'm writing this many days after so details will be vague! 

We arrived at the town late morning of Tuesday 14th April. After settling in to our hotels we met up at the Information Centre car park. Whilst waiting for others to arrive, some of us made our way to the viewing area. A large group of Greater Flamingos were relatively close, but there were thousands further away near the breeding platforms(?). An initial search for Lesser Flamingos proved fruitless.  Gull-billed Terns were frequently flying overhead. We made our way back to the car park. A Lesser Flamingo had been seen. We then convoyed round the western side of the lake to an elevated hide. From there we could easily pick out the single Lesser Flamingo. Lapwings were a good find. Heading further round we stopped at a mirador. From here we saw Raven, Purple Swamphen, Avocet, Spoonbill, Marsh Harriers, Whiskered and Black Tern.

Black Tern

Whiskered Tern

The next morning we had a better look round the Information Centre area. Waders seen included Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Redshank, Black-winged Stilt and Common Sandpiper. Also seen were Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck. Smaller birds seen or heard were Melodious Warbler, both Reed and Great Reed Warblers, Blackcap, Sardinian and Cetti's Warblers. A Great Spotted Cuckoo showed well as did Yellow Wagtails. 

male Yellow Wagtail, race flavissima

Today we saw 3 Lesser Flamingos. Later in the day we walked over the boardwalk and up the track to the road. Had good views of Whiskered Tern. Lesser Kestrels had been seen in the area earlier. A male Montague's Harrier showed well. Only a few of us were in the car park at the end of the days birding when a Griffon Vulture and 3 White Storks flew over.

The next day Gilly and I met up with Brian and Mary Taylor at the car park before we headed further north. The three White Storks were grazing a field near the entrance. The Lesser Flamingos were still there. Had good views of resting Black Terns. The only new birds seen was a Green Sandpiper and a pair of Stone Curlews in the vegetation in front of the seated hide.

3 Lesser Flamingos

In total we saw 81 species. Thank you again to Rod & Linda for organising the trip.