Tuesday 30 August
Continuing the birding week this morning saw me down at the local Rio Velez in Tore del Mar with Bryan Stapley. Being so hot and dry of late and even arriving by 8.45 for an hour or so we did not expect much. In that sense we were not surprised but, on the other hand, we did have some lovely views of the local Spotted Flycatchers and a most gorgeous Melodious Warbler upstream of the road bridge.
The site itself looked pleasantly green on the river bed but the whole area was desperately in need of rain. Overgrown young bamboos did nothing to help the viewing with our fort bird, a solitary Moorhen, almost completely hidden in the vegetation. Nothing much else until we reached the hide near the pumping station and a time spent here produced the Spotted Flycatchers and a good number of feeding House Sparrows, Greenfinches and Serins. A couple of Goldfinches and a Blackbird joined the mixed party and overhead a few Barn Swallows and the occasional House Martin. No shortage, however, of screaming Monk Parakeets.and a good-sized flock of Spotless Starlings had taken up residence and a Cetti's Warbler was heard.
A walk to the beach produced nothing at sea and the lagoon looked desperately stagnant and lacking in oxygen with numerous small fish, all around 15cm long, constantly jumping out of the water. Another Moorhen, a pair of Coots and at least a dozen Mallard plus a single Little Egret with a small number of Yellow-legged and a handful of Black-headed Gulls also to be seen. The walk back to the car added the local Rock Doves and a pair of Collared Doves.
A short detour upstream from the road bridge produced more Spotted Flycatchers along with both Crested and Thekla Larks plus a very presentable Melodious Warbler. Before beating a hasty retreat home before the weather came completely unbearable we managed also to ind a single Cattle Egret. Just the 2s species this morning but what can you expect in these present weather conditions and a site much in need of some loving attention and lots of rain.
Birds seen:
Mallard, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.
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