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 Sociable Plover. Up to 3 Spotted Eagles have been seen there over this winter, including the well known Estonian bird 'Tonn'.
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 Iberian Green Woodpecker and saw
Yellow-legged Gull, Chiffchaff, Grey Heron & Wood Pigeon.
| Spotted Eagle |
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 Spotted Eagle,
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.
On the water were lots of wildfowl. Mallard, Teal,
Shoveler, Shelduck, Pintail, White Headed Duck, Common & Red Crested
Pochard. Someone also mentioned Wigeon, but none of us saw any. All
three resident grebes were seen, Great Crested, Black Necked &
Little Grebes. We saw our first on many Marsh Harriers seen during the
day. Also saw Common Buzzard, Greater Flamingo & Coot. On the wader
front we saw Black Winged Stilt, Ruff, Dunlin and Black Tailed Godwit.
Some of the latter were seen flying with flocks of Lapwing, which caused
my heart to flutter as a Sociable Plover was also known to be flying
with the Lapwings. Behind us was more reeds and water pools. I spotted
some Purple Swamphen. I also managed to spot the head & neck of a
Great White Egret over to our right.
I'm not good at bird calls, but
luckily Gordon & Graham were. We heard Moustached Warbler amongst
the Reed & Cetti's Warbler singing away in the reeds below us. They
also identified the Water Rail & Little Bittern calls for us. Some
of us were able to see a feeding Penduline Tit. The only hirundines we
saw were Crag Martins. 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.
| Southern Grey Shrike (photo: Helen) |
We
moved down to the larger elevated viewing platform at the bottom end.
We had good views of Booted Eagles and a pair of Glossy Ibis, but little
else. We returned to the much better first hide. I noted that the
Spotted Eagle 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 Robin to the list.
We
decided to have an early lunch before searching the southern end of the
reserve. We followed Helen round picking up smaller birds like Meadow
Pipit, Linnet, Serin, Iberian Southern Grey Shrike, Black Redstart and
Stonechat. Hoopoe and Kestrel 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 Black Necked Grebes & a White Headed Duck.
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!)
| Sociable Plover (photo : Helen) |
"Some pictures of this afternoon (3 lifers today, you brought me luck - mercy beaucoup)
The
Sociable Plover: 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 Southern
Shrikes came verrrrrrrry close, telling me: I keep an eye on you.
Almost
6 o'clock Lapwings came flying in, smaller groups bit by bit, and a
couple of Golden Plovers. The Lapwings were flying in and out of the
field.
The father and son that were
in El Fondo, parked their car behind mine at one point and there IT
was.( The Sociable Plover) Later on I learned that I could have gone
half the way closer because father and son did so and the Lapwings
stayed.
Besides my first ever Pintails I also found a couple of Garganey , another lifer.
What a day!"
Patience & commitment pays! What a cracking day. Can't wait to get back there!
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