Just received the following report from friend Derek Etherton which just goes to show that a little rain should not be a deterrent and, as a result, he had a great day's birding with Barbara and brother, Terry. Not only did he find a good number of Stone Curlews in both the usual places at Fuente de Piedra but was also able to confirm that the first Cranes have returned for the winter. If, as has been suggested, we are in for a bad winter in most of Europe then we may very well see far more than the usual thousand Cranes at Fuente de Piedra in the coming four months.
Birding Tour from the Rio Grande to Fuente de Piedra and back home
At a loss what to do with my brother on the
last day of his stay with us. It was raining and the planned day walking
Malaga was loosing its appeal, it was obvious a change of tack was
needed.
 |
| Crested Lark Calerida cristata (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
So into the car and
off to firstly the Rio Grande, plenty of water with the past days of
rain [very welcome it is!], Green and Common Sandpipers, White and
Grey Wagtails, Little and 2 Great Egrets to the fore. Mallard, Grey
Heron, Sky Lark, Crested Lark, Moorhen and Cormorant in view feeding in
the fast flowing, muddy water. Eventually we found a close by Snipe,
always a favourite, at first hiding from us but then finding food more
important than us viewing it. Lots and lots of Meadow Pipits around
now and it seems they, the Chiffchaffs and the White Wagtails are here in
force.
 |
| Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
We left after a
pleasant hour to travel through the pouring rain over the mountain top
at Ardales to far sunnier weather and on to Fuente de Piedra. En route
we picked up Stonechat, flocks of Serins, Goldfinches and
Greenfinches and so, so many Hoopoes. A flock of 20+ Stone Curlew were
in the barren fields near the dilapidated house at the northern end but
too far away for pictures. Arriving at the Visitors Centre it was a
real pleasure to find the recent rains had put a wet shine on the
previous dried lake. Not an awful lot but birds were back! 200+
Greater Flamingo, 2 Avocets, Mallard, Shoveler, Black Winged Stilt, a
lone Shelduck and 3 Meadow Pipits, soon to be reduced to 2 as a hungry
female Marsh Harrier collected a take away! The Laguneta, with
corresponding large hide, at least has a little water for the few Mallard, Little Grebe and Coot that were present. Around the main
lake many Black Redstarts had arrived, Blackcaps were in the tamarisk,
Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the available
water. Jackdaws flew over and Sardinian Warblers were plenty.
 |
| Little Egret Egretta garzetta (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
Viewing
down to the dry field toward the Lesser Kestrel nesting tower both
Lapwing and another 20+ Stone Curlew were spied. An Iberian Grey Shrike
took it's usual position on top of a bush and a lone Common Kestrel
flew over. A pair of Ravens were viewed before the first Common Crane
was seen flying towards us. A single Barn Swallow passed low over us and
then we found a Booted Eagle on its usual circular hunting mode.
 |
| Stone Curlews Burhinus oedicnemus over Fuente de Piedra (PHOTO: Derek Etherton) |
It
was a bonus to have a Mongoose (did you know the collective noun is
'mongaggle'?) cross the road just ahead of us and travelling the back
roads a Sparrowhawk was noted and Cetti's Warbler heard.
Well
it kept my difficult-to-entertain brother amused for the day and as a
bonus we ended up with a list of 51 without trying too hard. Back to
normal tomorrow!!!
Great to read about the returning waters at Fuente and the sight of a late Barn Swallow. And it also sounds as if, at last, the door to the main hide overlooking the laguneta has been finally repaired as it was nailed shut when I visited earlier in the month! (Perhaps they I knew I was on my way over!) Great report Derek and much appreciated by us all.
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.
No comments:
Post a Comment