Charca de Suarez with Hans Borjesson

31 July 2018

I have just received an email from visiting Swedish birder, Hans Borjesson, and his visit to the Charca de Suarez last Sunday, 29 July.  It would appear that there are still birds about, and good birds too.  Even the 2017/18 wintering White Stork is still with us, so almost a year now.  Hans has already posted photos taken during his visit on the Axarquia Facebook site (Axarquia Birds and Wildlife) but I have taken the liberty of copying some over to this blog.  It might be that Hans might get in another visit this Friday before returning to Sweden and hope to take a trip down "Turtle Dove Alley".  I wonder if the Turtle Doves have started to gather yet, are the Quail still about and what about the local Red Avadavats?

All photographs taken by Hans Borjesson using spotting scope plus either small camera and/or telephone, not sure which of the latter.

Charca de Suarez: Sunday 29 July

On Sunday I went to Motril and was in the park between 09:00-13:00.  A female Kestrel sat at the entrance.  I went two times around the park clockwise.  After just a couple of hundred meters there was a hide on the left side (Laguna del Alamo Blanco) where I spotted the White Stork, Common Waxbill, Grey and one Purple Heron.

White Stork Ciconia ciconia (Hans Borjesson)

Also Turtle Dove, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged stilt and a Kingfisher.  At other hides in the eastern part  of the park I spotted several Red-knobbed Coots (at least 2 pairs with 2 chicks).  Around 15 Cattle Egrets and two Little Egrets.  One female Common Pochard.  Bee-eaters was seen now and then.  Little Grebes, Moorhens all over the place.  Heard a couple of Water Rails.  Found one Little bittern at the last hide (closest to the entrance)*, 5 Green sandpipers and a couple of Common Sandpipers.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (Hans Borjesson)

Several Yellow-legged Gulls were flying over and also one adult  Audouin's Gull and a few Black-headed Gulls.  There were also a lot of the common birds, such as Spotted Flycatcher (everywhere) etc.  I heard two calls of Penduline Tit but I did not manage to see the birds so I’m not 100 % sure about that and I don’t know if they can be seen here?  The habitat looks good to me.

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata (Hans Borjesson)

I also spotted a few turtles of some unknown species.

* Laguna del Taraje

Other photos taken by Hans:

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus (Hans Borjesson)

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Hans Borjesson)

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio (Hans Borjesson)

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur (Hans Borjesson)

Many thanks for the report Hans and, yes, Penduline Tits are found on the reserve and probably breed.  Often seen near or when at the "Little Bittern Hide" (Laguna del Taraje).

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