Sunday 13 December
A lovely calm, clear and sunny start as I set out for my usual walk up the Rio Algarrobo at 9.30 and once at the start of the walk a couple of White Wagtails on the ground among the trees and a mixed flock of Starlings on the wire to the left, at least 8 being Common rather than Spotless Starlings.
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| Common Starlings Estornino Pinto Sturnus vulgaris |
No sooner out of the initial wooded enclosure and onto the open trees than no less than about thirty feeding Monk Parakeets in the trees but goodness knows what they were eating. Plenty of calling Collared Doves as well as many on view as I continued walking upstream. On the ground a couple of Black Redstart and a small number of foraging Chiffchaffs. No sooner had I spotted the single male Blackbird at the base of a tree than another couple flew off towards the river.
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| I count at least 11 Monk Parakeets Cotorro Argentina Myiopsitta monachus |
The large, bare tree held not only held more Common Starlings but also a trio of Wood Pigeon. Now that there had been overnight rain up in the mountains a small trickle was flowing in these lower reaches and, looking over the bank, the first Meadow Pipit of the morning was recorded.
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| Wood Pigeon Paloma Torcaz Columba palumbus |
Once along side the Sports Hall I could see more activity on the grassy banks of the river which resulted in a small flock of Linnet plus both Goldfinch and many Serin. A trio of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over then I was in among the resident House Sparrows. Approaching the motorway underpass I noticed a few of the House Sparrows drinking from the stream and then the arrival of a male Blackcap. Even better, once underneath the motorway I looked at the couple of Spotless Starlings perched on top of the bridge support and noticed the odd-one out, a male Blue Rock Thrush. What a lovely surprise.
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| Stonechat Tarabilla Comun Saxicola torquatus |
The hedges and wires next to the hidden reservoir produced a small number of Stonechats plus more Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Chiffchaffs and White Wagtails but no Crag Martins on this occasion. A handful of Rock Doves on the wires above the water and then a Cattle Egret flew over and away for the reservoir. However, taking the usual detour past the sewage form the "usual" three Cattle Egrets were present and resting on their previous perches.
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| Starlings and Hoopoe in the old Eucalyptus Tree |
A relatively quiet walk back to the start picking up the occasional Black Redstart, a few Monk Parakeets and another Hoopoe calling from the top of the large, almost bare Eucalyptus tree.
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| Hoopoe Abubilla Upupa epos |
Birds seen:
Cattle Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blue Rock Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch, Linnet.
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| Monk Parakeet Cotorro Argentina Myiopsitta monachus |
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