05/10 : Río Almanzora/Vera

It seems that Dave and his happy band coincide with my outings at the moment, so, as he and Gilly are off for a few weeks to that cold, wind-swept island somewhere up there (points north) from which many of us have escaped, here is his commentary on the Arboleas Group trip yesterday andf after reading his final comment about tin hats on, I think I shall start to sing(?) the famous lead-in song to 'Dad's Army'. (This also gives me until tomorrow to do my blog on this week and my trip down to the Strait and La Janda!)

We met up with Brian and Mary in Arboleas and they followed us down to the rambla of the Rio Almanzora. We joined just passed the entrance to the Desert Springs Golf Complex. Gilly and I saw Southern Grey Shrike, Kestrel, Blackbirds and Blackcaps on our way down to the ford. Brian and Mary did a bit better, seeing Little Owl, a very late Woodchat Shrike and a Green Sandpiper.

At the "ford", where unfortunately there is no water now, we weren't expecting much, but our patience was rewarded with views of Sardinian and Cetti's Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas and overflying Cattle Egret. Gilly spotted a Bluethroat. A fleeting glimpse before it disappeared into the undergrowth. A "big bird" was seen but it annoyingly kept to the sunny side, so we only got a silhouette view. However later, nearer to the coast we got better views of it nd possibly its parents as 2 adults and a juvenile Booted Eagle were seen soaring above us.
At the beach, on the rocks, were some Audouin's Gulls, Little Egrets and Sandwich Terns. As we headed back to the vehicles 3 Cormorents flew over in formation.Near the vehicles was a track. Gilly spotted another possible Bluethroat. As we were trying to relocate it a small bird disappeared into a small shrub actually on the path. The shrub was only a few inches high and about 18" in diameter so we knew we'd see the bird again. Sure enough it appeared again. A pale and black striated warbler. Knew it wasn't a Zitting Cisticola by its appearence and its skulking jizz. In birding circles it isn't, for some reason, good form to carry a bird guide with you, so it wasn't till we got home that it was positively identified as an Aquatic Warbler. The Collins map shows that it is supposed to migrate through our area. A lifer for all of us!

After a reviving coffee in Villaricos we headed along the coast. We first stopped at the shallow ponds near to the Consum supermarket. Water levels were low, but we did manage to see a Ruff, Ringed Plover and a Redshank. At the pool near to the Aquaparc, Gilly and I disturbed a Kingfisher as we drove up. Little Grebes were on the water.

Next we went to the beachside pool at Vera, where Brian and Mary had had good views of a Purple Gallinule the previous week. No luck with that species, but we did add Common Pochard and White-headed Duck to our list. Another Kingfisher was also seen.

What a good days birding! 48 species in all. Gilly is responsible for the photos.....sorry they're not up to my usual standard! (grabbing tin hat as I type this!!)

Best regards,

Dave & Gilly