Sounds like a great, well-attended birding day from dave and his Arboleas Birding Group and a few species included that I am yet to see including Collared Pratincole, Black-eared Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whiskered tern. Just wondering whether or not it's worth taking a trip up to Las Norias and Roquetas de Mar or sick with the Charc de Suarez on Sunday morning.
Rio Almanzora & Vera Playa - Wednesday 3rd April
After
the recent rains, I was interested to see what effect they had had on
the Rambla de Almanzora. I joined it near to the Desert Springs golfing
complex and drove on top of the embankment towards Villaricos. There
appeared to be no damage. There were the occasional pools which
contained Mallard, Black-winged Stilts and Moorhen. I also saw Magpie,
Blackbird, House Sparrow and Thekla Lark. As I reached the ford, I saw
John's car parked by the road bridge. I joined him for a chat. He'd
seen Red-rumped Swallow and Wood Pigeon. A small flock of Serin was in
the reeds. We made our way back to the ford to await the other group
members to arrive. There were 14 of us in all. Albert reminded me it was
three years since we'd last birded together....he has a better memory
than me! As we prepared to set off a Red-billed Chough flew over. We
began to walk towards the sewage works. Over the far side there were
more Black-winged Stilt and Little Ringed Plovers. A Green Sandpiper and a Redshank took to the air. Paul spotted a Willow Warbler and
heard a Sardinian. On the large pool John was first to spot the Common
Pochard. Paul then found a female Teal. A large terrapin was
sunbathing. We walked back to the vehicles where we were met by Les.
He'd seen Water Pipit, Kestrel and Goldfinch. A Grey Heron was seen by
some on the way to the village where we had a coffee.
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| Terrapin (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
Before
heading for the beach, some of us checked over the promenade wall. We
found a Cormorant, Sanderling and Sandwich Tern. House Martins were
also logged. We had a snorkeler round the rocks, but still manged to see
some Turnstone.
At the estuary we saw Coot, Mallard and Moorhen. Val
spotted a Chiffchaff. We walked to the beach where Cormorants and
Black-winged Stilts were resting, as were Audouin's and Black-headed
Gulls. There was a Sandwich Tern. It was joined by two Gull-billed
Terns. John found a pair of distant Kentish Plovers. Alec found a Grey
Heron. On the rocky outcrop Les listed Kentish Plover, Dunlin and
Sanderling. Val the did very well to spot not one, but two Black-eared
Wheatears on the pebbly beach.
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| Turnstone Arenaria interpres (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
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| Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
We
drove along to the dual carriageway opposite the Consum supermarket
behind Vera Playa. Paul spotted the first of three Shelduck. There were
huge numbers of vociferous Black-winged Stilt. I found a Little Grebe.
John added a Little Stint and Shoveler and Les, some Ringed Plover.
Reyna spotted the first of two Booted Eagles. Les then found our first
Collared Pratincole of the year flying over the water and reeds. Moving further down I spotted a single Whiskered Tern. A Kestrel flew
by. Also seen were White-headed Duck a couple of Greater Flamingo. Les
then found a Black Wheatear on the hillside behind us.
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| Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
We
made our way to the raised concrete platform opposite the AquaParc.
More White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Coot and Moorhen. After I'd
left, John had a Zitting Cisticola. He went to the laguna near the
Millionaire's Bar and completed the list with a Mediterranean Gull and
a Crag Martin.
51 species in all. Some first for the year, so a good days birding in great company!
Regards,
Dave
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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