Richard's Pipit in the Donana

Tuesday 20 February

I mad mention in my report for our day in the Donana National Park last Tuesday as we made our way back home.  John and jenny wainwright were travelling ahead of us a hey intended to re-visit the Dehesa de Abajo and stay a further night but the message came through that they had seen, at a distance of about 300 metres, a pair of Richard's Pipits.  Well, good for Jenny as she managed to capture some record shots and I have included four below for your perusal.  Many thanks John and jenny for sharing your sighting.

 Richard's Pipit Bisbita de Richard Anthus richardi

  All above photographs taken by Jenny Wainwright

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Arboleas Birding Group visit to Rambla de Almanzora and Vera Playa

Wednesday 21 February

No sooner back home and wondering how on earth I am going to get all the reports completed, especially with a visit to the King's Walk (Camino del Rey) at El Chorro on Thursday than I receive the following report from Dave re his Arboleas Birding Group visit to the Rambla de Almazora and Vera Player.  And it certainly sounds as if Dave and company had a great day's birding.

Rambla de Almanzora and Vera Playa:Wednesday 21st February

Thought we'd go to our local patch this week.  I was on my own as I headed past Desert Springs Golf Complex entrance and turned left onto the Rambla de Almanzora.  At that end there was no water, not even in front of the man-made weirs.  I did see a Blackbird.  Once I got nearer to the "ford" there were small pools which produced Moorhen and Mallard.  I then spotted a Bluethroat, but the light was all wrong for a good photograph.  There was an Iberian Grey Shrike on the power line and a Stonechat on a shrub.  On the seaward side of the crossover the flooded channel gave me Grey Wagtail, a Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Little Stint.  I was joined by Les at the parking area. He'd seen the same birds, plus a Teal and Serin.  We added Black Redstart and Woodpigeon waiting for the others to arrive.  We were joined by John, Alan, Trevor and Ann.  A more thorough scan of the channel produced a Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Les identified a Temminck's Stint.  A Hoopoe and some Spotless Starlings were also seen. 

 

Would you believe, a Bluethroat Luscinia svecica (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Walking up towards the sewage plant we saw numerous Chiffchaff and heard Cetti's Warbler.  In the large pool Alan found a Common Sandpiper.  A Black Winged Stilt flew in.  Above the hills were some Crag Martins and Alan spotted a Kestrel.

 

As we walked back towards the vehicles an adult Night Heron flew majestically up the rambla giving good views.

 

We checked out the pools on the opposite side, seeing the Bluethroat and Teal again.  A calling bird turned out to be an Iberian Grey Shrike partially hidden by shrubs.

 

Iberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

After a cuppa in Villaricos village, we headed to the beach.  Arriving first, I found the resident Whimbrel on the rocks by the harbour entrance.   Nearby were Cormorant and Yellow-legged Gulls. After some searching we added Gannet and Sandwich Tern feeding out at sea. 

 

We then walked over to the estuary.  There were loads of flighty Black-headed Gulls as well as resting Cormorants and some Coot.  Only saw one Moorhen.  John spotted a Common Pochard and Les did well to spot a Grey Heron, its head only being visible!  Moving further towards the beach, I managed to find an adult Mediterranean Gull in full breeding plumage in the large numbers of Black-headed Gulls.  Alan spotted two Audouin's Gulls on the beach.  John found a distant Cattle Egret.

At the beach things were not good due to walkers and a convoy of 6 quad bikes cutting across near where the small waders feed.  We did see Meadow Pipits in abundance.  Some waders did eventually return.  John found Turnstone and Sanderling.  In fact the waders had congregated on the rocky point. Numerous Dunlin, Little Stint, Ringed Plover and Les finding a Kentish Plover.

 

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Saying our goodbyes to Trevor and Ann, the rest of us headed for the dual carriageway.  Les spotted the first of two female Marsh Harriers.  There were less Shovelers than seen previously, but more Teal.  There were the usual number of Black-winged Stilt, but they were joined by a Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, a pair of Black Tailed Godwit, Redshank and at least two Snipe.  The quartering Marsh Harrier flushed out three Avocet.  Due to the sun's reflection off the water we all missed the ten Greater Flamingo until Les, searching for Little Grebe, found them.  6 Little Grebe were seen as well as two Little Egret. 

 

There's been a lot of pipework going on down the Consum supermarket end.  Looks like it's nearly completed.  The good news is that they appear to be constructing a raised walkway on a solid earth bank which will enable you to see over the reeds!

 

Male Stonechat Saxicola torquatus (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We then drove down to the pool opposite the Millionaires Bar in Vera Playa where earlier in the day John and Alan had seen an immature Common Gull.  Also in the last week Alan has seen a Moustached Warbler.  Unfortunately lots of people around, including kite-surfers had virtually cleared the pool of gulls.  There was no sign of the Moustached Warbler either, possibly due to the gusty wind.  We did see Meadow Pipit and White Wagtail.  As we were about to leave a small flight of Mediterranean Gulls arrived.

 

We ended up with 57 species. Good days birding in good company!

Regards, Dave

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Donana National park

Tuesday 20 February


Our last day and time to go home but not before first visiting the woods and water at La Rocina and then taking the long journey along the tracks to the Juan Valverde Centre on an anti-clockwise route.  Checking out the El Rocio lake first we duly recorded Greylag Goose, Flamingo, Spoonbill, Mallard, Heron and many Glossy Ibis along with Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Teal and Shoveler. In addition we had good numbers of Lapwing along with Avocet and Pintail. A Purple Swamphen put in an appearance and it was then across the sandy track at the top, picking up Greenfinch, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Robin, Blackbird and Meadow Pipit on the way.

Glossy Ibis Morito Comun Plegadis falcinellus at the La Rocina Centre

Once at the various hides we recorded Goldfinch, Serin, Chiffchaff and Great Tit.  A "woodpecker species" was hammering away, probably a Green, and then the sight of many Glossy Ibis.  Early morning Marsh Harriers came over the pool which contained Mallard, Shoveler and Pochard.  Nearby we had Chaffinch, Blue and Penduline Tit along with Stonechat and Tree Sparrow.

Grey Heron Garza Real Ardea cinerea

Touring round the main area of the Donana we were surprised by the lack of birds.  Lovely to find our first Lesser Kestrels of the year and lots of Flamingos, Spoonbills and Glossy Ibis at the far end.  On the outward journey we certainly found good numbers of Corn Buntings  along wth Spanish Sparrow, Linnet and even a Water Pipit.  Plenty of Stonechats and, overhead, Cormorant along with Red Kite, Black Kite, Common Kestrel and Raven.  The pools provided Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover and the return drive also produced a small number of Night Heron along with Little Egret, Grey Heron and Great White Egret.

Common Buzard Busardo Ratonero Buteo buteo

Lovely to find more Ruff, about a score of Black Stork plus Wood Sandpiper and even a Water Pipit along with a very late pair of Moorhen. Then we were back in Isla Mayor and all set for the long journey back home.  A great five days in brilliant weather and a final total of well over 100 species in total.

A few of the score or more newly-arrived Black Storks Ciguena Negra Ciconia nigra

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glosy Ibis, Great White Egret, Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Red Kite, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot,   Black-headed Gull,   Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Wood Sandpiper,Green Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Zitting Cisticola, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Penduline Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Magpie, Raven,  Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Corn Bunting.

Other photos:

Many Night Herons Martinete Comun Nycticorax nycticorax , including immatures, found on the return leg from the Juan Valverde Centre

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Odiel Marshes, Huelva

Monday 19 February


Today was "Odiel Day" with we three pairs doing our own thing as we "bumped into each other" as we worked our way up and down the spit through the Odiel Marshes in addition to exploring the area around the Visitors Centre.  Driving down towards Matalascanas to take the coastal road to Huelva and on to the Visitors Centre we encountered a few early Buzzards, both Azure-winged and (Common) Magpie, numerous breding White Storks and the usual Corn Buntings and Stonechats on fences plus Crested Larks.  Even a Raven flew across to give us an early corvid.

Black-tailed Godwit Aguja Colinegra Limosa limosa

A stop at about KM14 for us to wander up the embankment and make our way through the scribe to the shallow end of the lake enabled us to find Cormorant, Mallard and Coot with the then appearance of a Purple Swamphen and both Little and Great Crested Grebe.  Both Buzzard and Marsh Harrier put in an appearance and off to our right we found an Osprey enjoying its breakfast fish whilst perched on a short pole alongside more resting Cormorants.  Cetti's Warblers were calling and a couple of Barn Swallows flew across the water.

Purple Swamphen Calamon Comun Porphyrio porphyrio

Once at the Odiel, arriving a little later as we discovered to our cost that the old bridge was closed so had to turn round and pick up the road to the new bridge, we started at the fresh water pool between the salt works and Visitors Centre.  Lots of water so, other than Black-winged Stilt and Black-tailed Godwit, no waders about.  Ducks seemed to be mainly Shoveler, Mallard and Gadwall but we also had a couple of Pintail and a few Teal.

Pintail Anade Rabudo Anas acuta

A Purple Swamphen wandered out of the edges to join the Black-necked Grebe, Moorhen and Coots.  Above and on the water we found Black-headed and Yellow-legged Gulls plus a couple of juvenile Flamingo but mainly adult Flamingo on the pools on the opposite side of the road albeit relatively few in number.

Whimbrel Zarapito Trinador Numenius phaleopus on the river beach

So round to the car park to check out the water below which, at just past low tide and lots of glorious mud, provided the expected waders including Avocet, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Grey Plover and the smaller species including Dunlin, Little Stint, Kentish and Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Turnstone.  Lovely to find a Bar-tailed Godwit and over the river a few feeding Sandwich Terns.  Larger birds included Heron, and Little Egret.  Smaller birds in the neighbouring gardens included Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Robin, Black Redstart, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.

Can you identify the smaller waders feeding with the Black-tailed Godwits Aguja Colinegra Limosa limosa?

The drive up and down the spit including stops at the Juan Carlos car park produced many of the above waders and gulls plus more Spoonbill, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Great White Egret, Flamingo, Spoonbill and feeding Sandwich Terns were recorded.  We also managed to add Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Chaffinch and Green Sandpiper as well both Marsh Harrier and Booted Eagle along with Audouin's Gull.

Great White Egret Garceta Grande Egretta alba

Then it was back to base in El Rocio but not before a stop at the Acebuche Centre where, in addition to the score or more Azure-winged Magpie we also had Magpie and Spotless Starlings.  Once again, the final bird proved to be an Iberian Grey Shrike siting on the wires until a late decision to take the track at the top end of the lake produced not only Lapwing, Snipe and lots of Glossy Ibis but also, once again, the "resident" flock of Waxbill.

Azure-winged Magpie Rabilargo Cyanopica cyanus

(Common) Magpie Urraca Pica pica

 
Birds seen:
Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Heron, White Stork, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Iberian Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Magpie, Raven, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Waxbill, Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting.

Other photos:

Sandwich Tern Charran Patinegro Sterna sandvicensis trying to enter the car!

Azure-winged magpies and their feesing habits

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Donana National Park

Sunday 18 February


Having attended the ABS meet at Bonanza yesterday, along with my Australian birding neighbour, Bob Ashford we decided to extend our visit by a couple of nights so that we could visit both the Donana National Park and the Odiel Marshes (Marismas del Odiel).  To make things even better, both Derek and Barbara Etherton and John and Jenny Wainwright also took the same option, well almost.  Indeed, with Jerry and Barbara Laycock also in the area with their caravan it looked very much as if there would be eight of us spending a day n the Donana.  Sunday morning saw four us taking a quick look at the coast between Chipiona and Sanlucar where we picked up passing Barn Swallows, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Turnstone and a distant Gannet before heading off to the Dehesa de Abajo on the northern edge of the National Park.

Glossy Ibis Morito Comun Plegadis falcinellus

Somehow or other, and almost certainly my fault, we managed to lose contact with each other which saw Derek and Jerry's cars take the direct route to the ferry across the Guadalquivir to Coria del Rio and onto their day in the Donana whilst John followed me from Los Palacios along the awful former road through farm and grazing land to the ferry, arriving almost ninety minutes later from when we made our way to the Dehesa de Abajo.  On the other hand, following the stream meant that we got some wonderful bird sightings including Black Stork as well as White Stork, Little and Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill and Heron along with a range of waders including Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandiper and Black-winged Stilt.  We also picked up Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Greenfinch and very many Chiffchaff.  Raptors seen during the morning included both Red and Black Kite, Marsh and Hen Harrier, Buzzard and Kestrel.

Crossing the mighty Rio Guadalquivir to Coria del Rio

Many of these larger birds were also seen on arrival at the Dehesa de Abajo.  On the water itself were numerous Coots and Flamingos along with hundreds of Shoveler.  Cormorants made regular visits to and from the water, which was very high compared with last October's visit, and further searching produced Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard and Pochard along with Little, Great Crested and Black-necked Grebe.  The first pool had also produced a resting flock of over 150 Night Herons and we also managed to add Lapwing and Great White Egret.

A few of the 150+ roosting Night Herons Martinete Comun Nycticorax nycticorax

Smaller birds seen included Bluethroat, Grey Wagtail and many Stonechat.  Not only did we find another Willow Warbler in addition to the many Chiffchaffs, a few Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler but had the great pleasure of also finding a Penduline Tit.  With a passing Raven to add to the resident Jackdaws we then made our way over to El Rocio recording not only more Marsh Harriers but the pair of Black-winged Kites found by John and Jenny.

White Storks Ciguena Blanca Ciconia ciconia defending their nest

A call at the El Rocio lake duly recorded many Flamingo, Coot, Shoveler and Teal but also Spoonbill, Greylag Goose and a number of Snipe.  Naturally, there was also a good stock of Black-winged Stilt.  The short journey across to the La Rocina reserve to visit the woods behind the palace produced a small flock of Waxbill, Stonechat and Black Redstart plus a few Tree Sparrows.

The feeding flock of Common Waxbill Pico de Coral Estrilda astril

The walk round the wood trail produced sightings and calls of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit along with a Nuthatch, Robin and Siskin.  Then, near the end, we heard then saw a brief glimpse of the Green Woodpecker before finding a resting Kingfisher at the side of the pond along with a half-dozen Night Heron and a couple of Glossy Ibis.  Naturally, this area also provided us with Serin and Chaffinch.   The final bird of the day was an Iberian Grey Shrike on the wires as we made our way 
back to the hotel.

Can you find the resting Kingfisher Martin Pescador Alcedo atthis?

Birds seen:
Greyag Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Gannet, Cormorant, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Black-winged Kite, Red Kite, Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Penduline Tit, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreper, Iberian Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Magpie, Jackdaw, Raven, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Waxbill, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet.

The Little Egrets Garceta Comun Egretta garzetta have come into roost but there is astranger in theior midst!

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ABS Field Visit to Bonanza, Cadiz

Saturday 17 February


With John and Jenny Wainwright acting as hosts, Bob Ashford and I joined them for the day to enjoy a fabulous day's birding with about twenty other members at the February field meeting of of the Andalucia Bird Society exploring the area around Bonanza in Cadiz Province.  A beautiful calm and clear day with just a little early morning thin, broken cloud making almost ideal conditions for birding albeit the heat haze for distant views was with us from almost the start.

Night Heron Martinete Comun Nycticorax nycticorax

We somehow missed the first pool ending up at a new site where we found 13 Night Herons and Siskin before moving on to the sand works.  Here we got our first view of all the Black-winged Stilts and Flamingos plus our first Barn Swallow and a small flock of Common Waxbill.  However, when joined by the rest of the group and hearing what was on view we made a quick return to catch up on Little Swift, Greylag Goose, Purple Swamphen and Red-crested Pochard plus the sudden appearance of a pair of Little Bittern.

Greylag Goose Ansar Cumun Anser anser

Wandering the track between the pools provided an assortment of waders including Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Greenshank and Avocet along with such lovely species as Whimbrel, Grey  and Ringed and Kentish Plover.

Bar-tailed Godwit Aguja Colipinta Limosa lapponica

Lovely to see all the raptors including Osprey, Buzzard, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Red Kite and Common Kestrel.  Ducks also included Shelduck, Gadwall, White-headed and hundreds of Shoveler.  Of the larger water birds, in addition to  the many Flamingos there were Black and White Storks, Spoonbill, Cattle, Little and Great White Egret along with Grey Heron plus the ever delightful Little, Back-necked and Great Crested Grebes.

The Black Stork Ciguena Negra Ciconia nigra joined his White Stork Ciguena Blanca Ciconia ciconia cousins

Other lovely sightings included a first Willow Warbler, Northern Wheatear, Dartford and Sardinian Warblers and Zitting Cisticola and then we found a trio of Common Crane.  Gulls included Slender-billed, Yellow-legged, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed along with a Caspian Tern.  Then, of course, there was a Raven and a small party of Spanish Sparrows by way of a change.  Eventually we managed to record over 80 species on the day including a visiting Common Starling.

A late sighting of a Crane Grulla Comun Grus grus family

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Sghelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Osprey, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Booted Eagle, Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Tern, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Little Swift, Crested Lark, Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black redstart, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Magpie, Raven, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Spoarrow, Spanish Sparrow, Waxbill, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet and Corn Bunting.

Other Photos:

Avocet Avoceta Comun Recurvirostra avosetta

Black-tailed Godwit Aguja Colinegra Limosa limosa

Chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon

Greenshank Archibebe Claro Tringa nebularia

Very distant Red-crested Pochard Pato Colaorado Netta rufina

Common Redshank Archibebe Comun Tringa totanus

Slender-billed Gull Gaviota Picofina Larus genei

Common Waxbill Pico de Coral Estrilda astrild

Female White-headed Duck Malvasia Cabeciblanca Oxyura leucocephala

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