Thursday 4 June 2020

Rio Velez, Torre del Mar

Thursday 4 June

garage this morning to have a new set of four tyres on the car so left early which gave me just under the hour at the local Rio Velez in Torre del Mar.  All very quiet there and despite the sun the strong breeze kept the birds well hidden. Initially, Lots of House Martins and a few Collared and Rock Doves and as I set off down the track the first of a quartet of Blackbirds plus a landing Grey Heron beyond the reeds.
Meadow of Rio Velez from hide
A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the track and a few Barn Swallows joined the House Martins.  Approaching the now damaged hide with the protective fence just about dismantled, I had both Cetti's and Reed Warblers to my right.  A number of Spotless Starlings were moving around and a few House Sparrows below the hide.  The distant Common Swifts came closer and walking back through the meadow I came across both Zitting Cisticolas and  Crested Larks.
Common Swifts Apus apus above the meadow

Walking back to the car I added both Goldfinch and Monk Parakeet before taking the short drive to the growing fields upstream from the bridge.  As soon as I arrived a departing Hoopoes and a pair of Crested Larks on the muck heap.  As I turned to take the journey back and on to the garage, a pair of Barn Swallows were collecting mud from a small puddle and were joined by a couple of Red-rumped Swallows.  My final bird of the morning was a single Woodchat Shrike poised on top of a fence pole studying the ground below in search of its next meal.

Crested Lark Cogujada Comun Galerida cristata feeding at the "muck heap"

Birds seen:
Heron, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Common Swift, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Reed Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

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