Sunday 26 January
A very enjoyable morning's birding at the
Charca de Suarez, Motril in the welcome company of my birding friend, George Lamb from nearby La Heradura. Following the recent days of storm and tempest it was lovely to be in very welcome cal,, blue skies and sunny weather, even if at first a little on the cool side. well past mid-morning when the light breeze arrived but in the sunshine lovely and war. Even better, upon arrival and entering "Turtle Dove Alley" I was greeted by expected
Collared Doves and
House Sparrows but within ten metres the track off to the right was flooded and being utilised by a dozen
Mallard and a single
Green Sandpiper. Moving on to the far end I found my first flock of
Common Waxbill and take a right turn, rather than left, I fund another good-sized flock along with a quartet of
Red Avadavats.
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Common Waxbill Pico de Coral Estrilda astrid |
Time to turn round and make my way t the entrance to the reserve recording the first trio of a half-dozen
Blackbirds that there to be seen during the morning, a few
White Wagtails and the first
Black Redstart. More
Collared Doves in the trees an then on to the
Laguna del Taraje which as very full following the recent trains. Indeed, all the water levels were very high and yet, perhaps surprisingly, the paths themselves not as muddy as might have been expected. A number of
Mallard along with
Shoveler and a quartet of
Red-knobbed Coots plus some very quarrelsome
Moorhen.
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Chiffchaff Mosquitero Comun Phylloscopus collybita |
Arriving at the
Laguna Del Alamo Blanco the lone
White Stork was once more in situ along with a resting
Heron perches atop the bare stick. In the background a number of
Mallard plus a handful of
Shoveler and a pair of
Gadwall. Two pairs of
Teal drifted into sight and then a single
Purple Swamphen put in an appearance. The first
Chiffchaff were recorded and a
Cetti's Warbler was singing away behind us.
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Purple Swamphen Calemon Porphyrio porphyrio |
Waling to the large hide overlooking the
Laguna de las Aneas we stopped to both admire and photograph the feeding
Common Waxbills and, at the same time, also found both
Great Tit and
Blackcap. Once in the hide we counted seven
Cormorant but only the single
Little Grebe. Loads of
Common Coots and more
Mallards and
Shovelers. Another
Heron was found away to our left and just the single
Yellow-legged Gull on the water. Above the ware a score of more feeding
Crag Martins and then a close
White Wagtail as well as more
Red-knobbed Coots. Away to the back we found a female
Marsh Harrier drifting left and to the far right at the back of the water about eight
Common Pochard.
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Cormorant Cormorant Grande Phalacrocorax carbo with resting friends -you identity all three! |
Moving on to the northern hide overlooking the
Laguna del Trebol we were not to be disappointed by finding the resident
Bluethroat along with a
Grey Wagtail and a dozen or more
Chiffchaffs. Not so much the
Robin that came to feed in the same area but the sudden appearance of a male
Kestrel suddenly dropping down to take a
Chiffchaff as his luncheon - but, on this occasion, without success.
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Bluethroat Ruisenor Pechiazul Luscinia svecica |
Nothing else to add until we reached the last hide overlooking the
Laguna del Lirio where we found just the one
Ferruginous Duck along with a pair of
Mallard and a quartet of
Red-knobbed Coots along with a
Serin at the far end of the water.
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Ferruginous Duck Porran Pardo Aythya nyroca |
leaving the site for a quick coffee we could but not notice the large, circling flock of mainly
Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A most enjoyable morning and many thanks to George for his welcome company. Safe journey back to Blighty a the week-end and look forward to your return in March.
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Grey Wagtail Lavandera Cascadena Motacilla cinerea |
Birds seen:
Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, White Stork, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Green Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Crag Martin, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Common Waxbill, Red Avadavat, Serin.
More Photos:
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Crag Martin Avion Roquero Ptyonoprogne rupestris |
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Robin Petirrojo Europeo Erithacus rubecula |
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The dancing Purple Swamphen Calemon Porphyrio porphyrio |
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Our resident White Stork Ciguena Blanca Ciconia ciconia |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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