Tuesday 6 May 2014

Donana Day 5 with the Wainwrights


The final report from John and yet another great birding day.  No doubt, there will be yet more birds on the long journey back fro El Rocio to Salar.  I wonder where Jonh and Jenny will call into on the return journey?
Collared Pratincole (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

Doñana Day Five 5th May

Another scorcher at the coast, and no shade to speak of.

Not a lot of movement as we headed for Mazagon and breakfast, then on to km13 on the N442. Looking out from the brick hide the first bird spotted was a Little Bittern hugging the reed bed across the lake, a couple of quick photos - nothing came of them - and it was gone. Also here we saw Purple Swamphen, Common and Azure-winged Magpies, Nightingales, Southern Grey Shrike, Whiskered Tern, Red-crested and Common Pochard, Gadwalls, Coots and Moorhens. In the treetops we found two Purple Herons which upon the coming of a third made them all leave the trees and squabble in the air. A few hirundines with House Martins being in the majority, with Barn and Red-rumped Swallows and a few Common Swifts. Zitting Cisticolas, Sardinian and Cetti´s Warblers were also present as well as a few Goldfinches.

Onward to the Odiel.

Audouin's Gulls (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

At the first stop - being the riverside restaurant - we found Blue-headed Yellow Wagtails, Turnstones, Dunlin, Whiskered Tern, Kentish and Ringed Plovers, and in the pond by the gate we saw Red-crested and Common Pochard, Mallard, Coots and a Gadwall, whilst the bushes and reeds held Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Melodious and Sardinian Warblers. As we stopped to come out the gate a male Hen Harrier flew across our front and then across the salt workings.

The centre was closed, but we did see on the mud-flats Grey Plover, Dunlin, Redshanks, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.

Dunlin (PHOTO: John Wainwright)


Along the rest of the spit we saw Spoonbills, Greater Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts, Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, Little Terns, Whimbrel, Curlews, Ruff, Redshanks, Dunlin, Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, Ringed and Kentish Plovers.

Grey Plover   (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

 Instead of going straight on to the lighthouse we turned left - its a no through road - but here we found Collared Pratincoles and Kentish Plovers nesting, good numbers of Northern Wheatears, Melodious Warblers, Common Chiffchaffs, a single Meadow Pipit, Thekla Larks, Spotted Flycatchers, Common Magpies and in the channel Little Terns were feeding.

Little Tern  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)


Retracing our steps we found on one of the "beaches" , nine Audouin´s Gulls, Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Herring Gulls and just past the foghorns, a male Golden Oriole crossed the road and along with two other males and one female they landed in a fir tree about a hundred metres away.

Golden Oriole  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

Little Egrets and Spoonbills were in good numbers in the marshes here and a good finish was two Turtle Doves .

Kentish Plover on nest  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

We called in at El Rocio marismas and managed to locate the Spanish Imperial Eagle, also about were Common Sandpipers, Ringed Plovers, a Pintail, Mallard, Greylags, Greater Flamingos, Little Egret and Cattle Egrets, Black-winged Stilts and Whiskered Terns, while above circled the inimitable Black Kites and White Storks.

Spot the Spanish Imperial Eagle?   (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

So to end with a total of 131 for the whole period. Just a gentle drive back home to contend with tomorrow(Tuesday).


Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information. 

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