23/9/15
23 Sept. : Rambla de Almanzora and Villaricos (Almería)
It was back to our local
patch, the Rambla de Almanzora, today. Gilly and I had already noted
Yellow Wagtails (lavandera boyera)in a roadside meadow before we got to the "ford" meeting
place overlooking the rambla. Barrie and Beryl were already there.
Unluckily for the others, Gilly spotted a Glossy Ibis (morito) flying off up the
valley! We also saw about 10 Cattle Egrets (garcillas bueyeras) flying over the desalination
plant. After the other ten members arrived we commenced our walk beside
the dry river bed. A Southern Grey Shrike (alcaudón real) showed well. A few Barn Swallows (golondrinas comunes) flew past and a Common Swift (vencejo común) was seen. Barrie was the first to
spot the Common Redstart (colirrojo real) nicely perched on the power line. It was
joined briefly by a Chiffchaff (mosquitero común) of which there were quite a few in the shrubs
below. We heard Cetti's (ruiseñor bastardo), Sardinian (curruca cabecinegra) and Reed Warbler (carricero común). Also heard were
Bee-eaters (abejarucos) and Jackdaws (grajillas) and Hoopoe (abubilla) and Greenfinch (verderón) were seen. At the
sewage works there were a pair of Common Sandpipers (andarríos chicos).
In a pool in the
rambla were some young Moorhens (gallineta común) and in the larger pools there were numerous
Mallard (azulón), a number of Black-winged Stilts (cigüeñuelas) and a flight of 4 Common
Sandpipers (andarríos chicos) were seen. A Grey Heron (garza real) flew over. Retracing our steps, Gilly
spotted a Kingfisher (martín pescador) which flew up the rambla, did a U turn and
executed a wonderful fly past just below us. Gilly next saw a Pied
Flycatcher (papamoscas cerrojillo), which was skulking around the tobacco plants and a Spotted Flycatcher (papamoscas gris) perched obligingly on the
security fence by the sewage works. A Green
Sandpiper (andarríos grande) was seen and the only other wader seen was a
Ringed Plover (chorlitejo grande).
We had our usual coffee break in Villaricos before making our way to the beach, where there still a few "grockles".
A
solitary Audouin's Gull (gaviota de Audouin) was on the rocks by the harbour entrance and a
Black-headed Gull (gaviota reidora) was on the shore line. Seeing nowt more we made our
way to the estuary. Usually a mecca for hirundines, but not a single
one. A Grey Heron (garza real) on the water pipe had caught a very large
greyling(?) fish, easily as long as its neck. He kept picking it up
assessing the size of it and his mouth and putting it down away. Kevin
then spotted a Squacco Heron (garcilla cangrejera) on the spit, in fact there were two, together with some Audouin's (gaviota de Audouin),
Yellow-legged (gaviota patiamarilla) and Black-headed Gulls (gaviota reidora). Also seen was a Sandwich Tern (charrán patinegro) and a Turnstone (vuelvepiedras). We moved onto
the beach itself. Barrie spotted a Kingfisher (martín pescador) flying low over the sea.
Three Ringed Plovers (chorlitejos grandes) were also seen.
Convoying
to the dual carriageway above the "Consum" pools at Vera we were
pleased to see a wide variety of waders. First on the list were Dunlin (correlimos común),
followed by three Greenshanks (archibebes claros) and a Redshank (archibebe común), Kentish, Ringed and Little
Ringed Plovers (chorlitejos patinegro, grande y chico), Black-winged Stilt (cigüeñuela), two or three Ruff (combatiente) and a Wood
Sandpiper (andarríos bastardo). Hot shot Gilly spotted a Wigeon (anade silbón) and also seen were Teal (cerceta común),
Shoveler (pato cuchara) and Mallard (azulón). A couple of Little Grebes (zampullín chico) were spotted. There were
13 Greater Flamingos (flamencos) nearer the supermarket. Unfortunately our resident
reed cutter is in the UK so there were virtually no views into the
smaller pools. I did glimpse a couple of Grey Herons (garzas reales) and a Shoveler (pato cuchara).
In spite of that we saw an incredible 53 species today. A good days birding in good company!
Got
a note from my mother excusing me games next week, so the next report
from Las Norias will be in a fortnight's time. In the meantime, good
birding.
Suscribirse a:
Enviar comentarios (Atom)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario