More from the Axarquia meet at the Guadalhorce

Thursday 18 February

As ever I am most grateful that John Wainwright sends in regular reports of all his visits with Jenny and yesterday was no exception.  All the birds previously mentioned in my report are included but when Chris and I left Jenny and John remained a little longer.  Just goes to show that you should never make a definitive statement such as, "No Chaffinches were seen" by reading the final paragraph of John's report!

Female Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

In the muddy and scrubby areas below us more Blue-headed Wagtails were noted as well as White Wagtails, a Common Sandpiper, Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaffs and Zitting Cisticolas. Across the laguna we saw two Grey Herons, another Common Sandpiper and a Ringed Plover.  A couple of Collared  Doves flew past us as did a Common Snipe and a Spotless Starling.  Lots more hirundines here same as at the Escondida less the Red-rumped Swallow,and as Bob and Chris were about to leave the hide I spotted two Kentish Plovers land on the mud on the far side of the laguna.  After we had packed up to leave the hide and was walking back along the track a female Chaffinch (take note Bob), was seen in the trees to our right.

Blue-headedWagtail Montacilla flava iberiae (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

On our way back into our village, the now almost resident Buzzard and a few Azure-winged Magpies were seen, putting a nice finish to a good days birding. 


All these additional photographs are courtesy of John Wainwright 

Penduline Tits Remiz pendulinus (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

Fourteen of the flight of twenty Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

One of two Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos seen at the Laguna Grande  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

Part of a raft of 49 Common Scoters Melanitta nigra  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

So it looks very much as if we five, as a group, managed to finally find the sixtieth bird for the visit.

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