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| Pochard Porron Europeo Aythya ferina |
Tuesday
Needed to be at the airport for 3 pm to collect brother-in-law so left early so that I could spend a few hours at the
Guadalhorce in Malaga. Greeted by
Collared Doves when I arrived at 10.30 and then a trio of
Mallards flew over the western arm followed by the first of a number of
Cormorants that are still at the site. Naturally, there were
Spotless Starlings to be seen and a sole
Woodchat Shrike as I made my way to the
Laguna Escondida to check out the small water. On the whole very quiet with just a handful of
White-headed Ducks, a couple of
Shovelers hiding at the far end and a few
Barn Swallows feeding over the water. But a
Hoopoe did fly past to give a little variety.
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| Booted Eagle Aguila Calzada Hieraaetus pennalus |
Leaving the hide and making my way to the main hide at the
Laguna Grande I could see a
Booted Eagle resting on the "feeding post" which, very conveniently, remained on post until I arrived at the main hide and could take some distant photographs. The main water itself held a good number of
White-headed Ducks, they are certainly pouring in now, along with both
Little and displaying
Black-necked Grebes. Lots of
Black-winged Stilts and about a score of Cormorants whilst on the island at the far right back a trio of
Grey Herons, a
Little Egret and a
Spoonbill were either resting or feeding. To my left and in front more
Shovelers, a
Pochard, a small number of
Coots and the occasional
Moorhen. In the nearby bushes I had a number of both
Serins and
Goldfinches and then Andy Paterson and his sister Gay arrived, having already checked out the eastern arm of the river and walked the beach. With them they brought news of a first
Northern Wheatear so I immediately took my leave and walked down to the beach path to check for myself. Yes, found the bird within a couple of metres where Andy had seen the
Wheatear and then a quick look at the beach produced a pair of
Black-headed Gulls resting on the sand before heading back to the hide. The
Wheatear was now exactly where Andy had described but, much to his chagrin, had been joined by two others. Meanwhile, a pair of
Greenfinches were recorded along with a male
Blackcap immediately in front of the hide and then a single, swimming
Avocet.
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| White-headed Duck Malvasia Cabeciblanca Oxyura leucopephala pair |
Time for Andy and gay to depart so I walked back to the car with them, recording
House Martins on the way, to exchange the camera for my scope in readiness to return to the eastern arm and the wader pools.
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| Spoonbill Espatula Comun Platalea leucorodia with Grey Herons Garza Real Ardea cinerea |
Returning, I had the usual
Rock Doves under the bridge and a very close
Zitting Cisticola just after crossing the footbridge. Approaching the
Laguna Casillas and its hide a quartet of squawking
Monk Parakeets dashed over whilst a handful of
Linnets were feeding in a bush opposite the hide itself. From the hide it was, again, very obvious that the
White-headed Ducks had returned with a vengeance but there were also a couple of
Pochards and
Mallard. A pair of
Gadwall and it was time to move on to the Wader Pool.
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| Black-winged Stilts Ciguenuela Comun Himantopus himantopus |
Approaching the
Wader Pool I came across my Danish friend Claus Pedersen who was busy trying to locate Bluehroats between the two pools but did join me at the hide from where we could see a single
Avocet and fifty-five
Black-winged Stilts. Having already had at least thirty on the Laginua Grande and a further seventy-five were to be counted on the Rio Viejo, it was most apparent that a serious movement of these birds was currently underway. The, from south to north, the appearance of four
Purple Herons heading inland up river. At this point Eric and Pat Lyon suddenly appeared in front of us and they, too, were on airport duty but having just deposited their passenger. Again, more news of what might be seen if we ventured forth to the beach.
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| Purple Heron Garza Imperial Ardea purpurea |
A couple of
Crested Larks were seen to the left and, apart from all the
Black-winged Stilts, there was also another
Avocet (the third), a pair of
Redshank and a single
Ruff to be seen on the
Rio Viejo. Behind these birds we also found two pairs of
Teal.
At the
Sea Watch we picked up a good-sized mixed flock of
Gulls, mainly
Yellow-legged but also a number of
Lesser Black-backed Gulls. To the right a small group of
Mediterranean Gulls were also identified with a couple if full black headgear. There must have been at least thirty
Common Scoters split into two distinct rafts and then a very hungry/greedy
Great Skua arrived and put the whole flock into the sky whilst it selected its
victim and harried it all around the bay in front of us until it gave up
whatever ii had caught for lunch. From the Sea Watch we also saw the
Blue Rock Thrush that Claus had discovered last week, and on the same post near the river. It certainly sounds like a lost soul to me!
A very timid male Blackcap Curruca Capirotada Sylvia atricapilla
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| Black-necked Grebes Zampullin Cuellinegro Podiceps nigricollis |
Returning to the previous hides I added a swimming
Purple Swamphen at the first and by now the air was alive with feeding
Barn Swallows and
House Martins as the skies cleared the temperature rose and rose to give a very warm session. Nearing the footbridge a couple of
White Wagtails were on the footpath and then, at the car, the first
Kestrel of the day along with a number of
House Sparrows.
Birds seen:
Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Common Scoter, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Ruff, Redshank, Great Skua, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, White Wagtail, Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Zitting Cisticola, Blackcap, Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet.
A record shot of the newly-arrived Northern Wheatear Collalba Gris Oenanthe oenanthe
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