Monday 28 December
Not particularly early arriving at the
Rio Velez on the western outskirts of Torre del Mar and parking in my usual place below the road bridge at the start of the track down to the sea. As usual, greeted by both the resident
Rock Doves and
Moorhens along with numerous
Goldfinches and
Chiffchaffs hopping around the larger trees. Then a meet with Nigel Smith, a long-distant member of the
Axarquia Bird Group from Barnsley (and avid Sheffield United supported. Well, someone has to show some pity for the poor old "Blades.") and presently holidaying in Nerja till the end of the week. On his way home having arrived by day break, Nigel had recorded loads of Mediterranean Gull, the departure of the Cattle Egret roost and even seen a Wryneck, Kingfisher and Hoopoe so he was well-pleased. Whilst we had a short chat a flock of about 80
Sky Larks was wheeling above the field being ploughed and more
Chiffchaffs were busy feeding in he track-side hedges and bushes. t the same time there was a constant calling from the local
Cetti's Warblers and the first of a few
Zitting Cisticolas flew over the track.
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| Zitting Cisticola Buitron Cisticola juncidis |
And on the field to my left just the one, solitary
Cattle Egret. Amazing given that there were at least 200 roosting in the nearby reed-beds overnight. Perhaps it brings to mind the alternative saying that it is the late bird that catches the worm! Obviously, this chappy had had a lie-in recovering from a bad hang-over (New Year come early) or a night on the tiles and was the last to get up and get away and, in so doing, discovered the tractor ploughing the nearby field to reveal all sorts of edible goodies!
Departures made I carried on down tot he hide with its now restricted view but at least, unlike my last visit, I could actually see something of the river. All that I saw from the hide were a number of
Serins,
Goldfinches and a
Stonechat. So back to the car with, now, the sun behind me and I managed to find a pair of skulking
Mallards. Then it was back to the hide in the car so that I could walk down to the beach. Fortunately, not too many people about and I was able to pick up a
Heron,
Little Egret and a handful of
Coots. A number of
White Wagtails and
Moorhens were feeding/foraging around the rubbish deposited in the middle of the lagoon with a single
Little Grebe just beyond and on the beach a single
Sanderling and
Kentish Plover. Out at sea, resting on the calm waters, a number of
Mediterranean,
Yellow-legged and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
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| Mediterranean Gull gaviota Cabecinegra Larus melanocephalus |
Making my way back to the hide I then recorded the only
Monk Parakeet of the morning and spent no inconsiderable time scoping the distant feeding
Crag Martins in the hope that I,too, might find the individual Barn Swallow previously seen by Nigel. No such luck. More
Serins,
Goldfinches, a
Robin and
House Sparrow plus very handsome male
Back Redstart. Also, well concealed in the vegetation nearer the river, at least a score or more of
Mallards were taking their rest.
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| Green Sandpiper Andarrios Grande Tringa ochropus |
Rather than drive straight back to Mezquitilla, I diverted under the bridge and lightly upstream to check out the clearer water. Sitting quietly in the car under the trees I was able to watch the flock of bathing
Spotless Starlings and then realised that they had been joined by a couple of their Norther or
Common Starling cousins, obviously down here rather than be anywhere near the storms and tempests of north-west England! Plenty of feeding
White Wagtails near the water and
Chiffchaffs in the trees immediately in front of me. It was whilst watching the latter that I managed to see the
Wryneck but, sadly, it just would not come out from the far side of the leaf-strewn branches. Similarly, whist watching the
Starlings of both varieties I saw the
Green Sandpiper dash upstream and then reappear and wait to be photographed. Also present was a single
Meadow Pipit and a quartet of
Sanderling who had obviously decide that this was to be the stretch of rive on which they would feed until further notice. Another male
Black Redstart before finally heading off home.
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| Two of the quartet of Sanderling Correlimos Tridactilo Calidris canutus at the Rio Velez |
Birds seen:
Mallard, Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Green Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Monk Parakeet, Wryneck, Sky Lark, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Zisticola, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch.
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| A couple of Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris (above) mixing with Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor (below) |
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| Bathing time with a single Common Starling Estornino Pinto Sturnus vulgaris to the left |
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| The ever-present Little Egret Garceta Comun Egretta garzetta |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.
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