Windy Algarrobo

 Sunday 31 January

The month id certainly going out with a blow.  Away much earlier for my return walk up the Rio Algarrobo but my word there was a strong wind blowing.  The sun was still relatively low in the sky so much colder than I had anticipated and began to wonder whether or not I was wearing sufficient clothing.  But with strong winds comes a lack of birds as they all hunkered down for some shelter.  The start of the walk found both a Collared Dove and male Blackbird on the ground in front of me and a pair of Monk Parakeets passed over to find a prospective feeding tree; indeed the only parakeets I was to see during the whole walk.

Just the minutest fraction of the departing gulls from the hidden reservoir

Leaving the activity area to the more open trees I noticed a distant handful of Spotless Starlings to the left along with a nearby couple of White Wagtails and a lone House Sparrow.  All then very quiet until I was the other side of the motorway where I duly found a quartet of Common Starlings in the usual tree at the back of the grassy area to the right of the Experimental Station entrance along with a few more White Wagtails. 

Below me near the river the first Black Redstart of the morning, the first of the majority of females to be seen, whilst above the hidden reservoir it would seem to be a massed exodus of gulls to pastures new.  Watching the birds depart I estimated that a fifth were Lesser Black-backed with about equal numbers of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls.  Still a lovely sight even if the wind was still blowing.

Mediterranean Gull Gaviota Cabecinegra Larus melanocephalus

Still basically very quiet bird wise but then another couple of Black Redstarts and more White Wagtails near the river.  Nothing in the grassed area at the end of the hidden reservoir but, approaching the river itself, a Green Sandpiper upped and away in its usual display flight complete with all-white back end and a pair of Hoopoes decided they were safer on the other side of the water.  Just in time, I caught the sight of the departing Serin and then watched a large charm, probably in excess of two dozen, Goldfinches come down to the river to drink and bathe.

Two of the nine Cattle Egrets Garcilla Bueyera Bubulcus ibis

Then, making my way back home, a Feral Pigeon was still sat on the fence near the motorway underpass and completely oblivious to the stealthy cat licking its lips in anticipation of a potential meal.  A pause  once beyond the motorway gave me chance to check the lower branches of the bushes on the far side of the river where I eventually found my Chiffchaff for the morning.  Finally, once at the local sewage works there were no less than nine Cattle Egrets in residence, sufficient to be alarmed by my presence on the other side of the fence and trees to take to the air in a mass of swirling white feathers but quickly resettled and with a couple more exposed and giving me that photographic opportunity.  Then it was on back to the starting point recording more Black Redstarts, White Wagtails and Spotless Starlings.

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Green Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch.

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Back to Algarrobo Costa and the River Walk

 Thursday 28 January

Following yesterday's very disappointing visit to the Rio Velez, and that's without even considering the birds on show, it was a delight to enjoy a walk up the Rio Algarrobo this morning and in beautiful weather which, although it also brought out the walkers, did not interfere with my birding experience.  Indeed, even with just a sleeveless birding coat on I was over-dressed to cope with the increased temperature!

No sooner at the start of the walk and a Black Redstart and the first of many Chiffchaffs to be seen.  Collared Doves were calling and showing and as soon as I reached the more open trees a single Goldfinch and scores of screaming Monk Parakeets.  At least forty Spotless Starlings feeding on the ground but disturbed by the approach of a trio of walkers before I could check for any Common Starlings in their midst.

Lovebirds? No just a pair of Monk Parakeets Cotorra Argentina Mylopsitta monachus

A couple of Blackbirds departed the area as I continued on up the track and checking a large Eucalyptus tree in the barbeque are I found a single Wood Pigeon high up in the branches.  To my left as I looked over the wall to the narrow, flowing stream a Green Sandpiper suddenly took off and I was to find the bird once more as I approached the motorway underpass.  Also present a number of House Sparrows and then a single Cattle Egret on the river side of the sewage work's boundary fence.  The return journey was also to find two more egrets inside the sewage works. Meanwhile, the nearby wire held a single Common Starling as well as a few more Collared Doves.

Cattle Egret Garcilla Bueyera Bubulcus ibis

As I approached the motorway underpass I notice the large "brown blob" in a bare tree of the far side of the river and as I watched the Kestrel took off and flew over the motorway itself.  Once beyond the motorway a stop at the grassy field adjacent to the Experimental Station entrance produced a couple of White Wagtails and, in the bare trees at the back, a few more Spotless Starlings and a calling Hoopoe.

Spotless Starling Estornino Negro Sturnus unicolor

Making my way on down towards the ford more Chiffchaffs in the vegetation on the bank of the hidden reservoir and, on the opposite side of the river, a pair of Stonechat and another pair of Blackbirds.  Closer study of the movement low in a bush also revealed a male Sardinian Warbler.  Above me the reservoir birds were starting to make a move with mainly Lesser Black-backed but also Black-headed Gulls.

And so on back towards home with many more Chiffchaffs plus a second Sardinian Warbler but, surprise surprise, crossing the lower weir back to the main track, not just a couple of House Sparrows drinking from the stream but also a male Crossbill.  Great way to end the walk.

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Kestrel, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch, Crossbill.

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Rio Velez, Torre del Mar

 Wednesday 27 January

Velez Malaga for a medical appointment at 10.30 so upon completion off down to the Rio Velez on the western outskirts of Torre del Mar where I parked up just below the final road bridge.  Beautiful warm, sunny morning with the temperature in the low twenties and hardly a breath of wind in the almost perfect blue sky.  Perfect - or so you would think.  However, this much improved weather not only brought out the walkers, with and without dogs, but also scores of labourers in the fields to my left as they undertook planting and to my right a trio of farmers were busy cutting down the bamboos to take away the resulting poles for crop support.  What a mess.  Having prepared their cut bamboos for later collection, all the strimmings and unwanted bamboos were simply dumped in the river bed and come the next heavy rain will be washed out to sea and then back up onto the beaches for the local council to clear up the mess.  It's surely not rocket science to monitor the collection of the bamboo and either insist that the harvesters clear away and/or remove their cast-offs or simply charge a fee.  After all, somebody has to clear up the mess.  Enough said.

Of course the down side is that there were virtually no birds to be seen.  Greeted by both a Blackbird and White Wagtail as I parked the car and quickly followed by an overflying pair of Collared Doves and a trio of the resident Rock Doves, I set off towards the shore.  However, within fifty metres I realised there was little point with so much human activity so returned to the car and drove down to the pump house.  From the rapidly deteriorating hide I picked up a Hoopoe on top of the nearby electricity pylon along with a couple of Spotless Starlings.  A single Goldfinch on the fence but little else.

Hoopoe Abubilla Upupa epos

A walk down to the beach found a few anglers fishing from the shore and a dozen Black-headed Gulls resting on the water a little further along.  From the river lagoon I was able to look upstream and recorded over a dozen Cormorant resting in the bare trees and, on the water, first a Moorhen and then a pair of Purple Swamphen.  A little further on both a Coot and trio of Mallard.

Purple Swampen Calamon Comun Porphyrio porphyrio

Just as I was about to depart a single Mediterranean Gull flew in and settled on the water.  Leaving the beach with a couple of calling Cetti's Warblers I made my way back to the pump house where I recorded a single Serin and couple of House Sparrows and then on back to the car noting a few more Goldfinches on the fence.  

Mediterranean Gull Gaviota Cabecinegra Larus melanocephalus

Under the bridges and up to the arable field a little further upstream where I met even more workers in the fields and a mass of parked cars.  Very little to add until I reached the muck heap where I recorded a trio of Crested Larks and half-dozen feeding Chiffchaffs.  Making my way back to the main road I then added, in addition to more White Wagtails, a departing single Cattle Egret and the only Black Redstart of the morning.

Rather than turn east and head home I continued on so that I could take an anti-clockwise tour of the growing fields on the western side of the river.  Very little to add other than more Crested Larks and White Wagtails until almost the full circle when I stopped to see maybe forty House Sparrows and a dozen plus Serin making use of the puddles on the pat to my right for a really good bathe before flying backwards and forwards between water and fence, but not totally ignoring the surrounding feeding opportunities.  And so ended the short morning with the last new species of the day being  male Stonechat just before reaching the main road.  As I waited for an opportunity to join the traffic I could not but help notice the additional Collared Doves and Spotless Starlings around the area.

Serin Verdecillo Serinus serinus

Birds seen:

Mallard, Cattle Egret, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch.

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Strange Occurrences

Meadow Pipit Bisbita Pratense Anthus pratensis

Sunday 24 January

Off for my usual walk up the river Algarrobo this morning and ended with an unexpected double occurrence.  Still a little on the windy side but full sun and as I started up the riverside track I could not but notice the faint rainbow in the sky to my left despite it being almost cloudless.  No rain overnight or early morning and no sign of any dark clouds anywhere around, so why the rainbow?

Just for a change my first bird this morning was a male Blackbird before a couple of Collared Doves and a handful of Monk Parakeets.  Then it was out of the recreation area and the first of the small trees in the more open area held a male Black Redstart.  More Collared Doves but of the two birds atop the old bare tree the lower bird was a Wood Pigeon.  Also, whilst looking up, very many wandering Lesser Black-backed Gulls which continued to be present all morning so, presumably, taking shelter from the sea which had already encouraged the arrival of the early surfers.  Meanwhile, the wires to the left of the tree held a trio of Starlings, two Spotless and one Common.  Not so unusual at the time but more to follow as will be seen.

Spotless Sturnus unicolor and Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris (right)

All then relatively quiet until I reached the sports hall with the road ford to my left when I came across the first White Wagtail of the morning.  The grassy bank on the far side of the river, which still had a steady stream of water flowing downstream, a trio of small horses were tethered to take advantage of the easy grazing and a solitary Cattle Egret simply standing to attention, neither feeding nor following the horses.  Indeed, the bird was still posed in the same position when I returned maybe forty minutes later.  The trees on my side of the river alongside the path as well as the later bushes close to the water held a number of feeding Chiffchaffs and then I was under the motorway and approaching the Experimental Station.

Cattle Egret Garcilla Bueyera Bubulcus ibis

Just a pair of White Wagtails on the neighbouring grassed are but above the hidden reservoir scores of circling and departing gulls, this time mainly Black-headed rather than Lesser Black-backed but as I watched also a good number of Mediterranean Gulls.  Perhaps the weather is calming down at last the birds are making their way back to the sea for a little fishing.  In addition to the gulls, at least a score of Crag Martins feeding over the water.

Down to the ford before starting the return journey and nothing seen in the usually productive garden at the end. A Blackbird flew across the water from the far side and revealed more Chiffchaffs along with the only Hoopoe of the morning.  Next up was the first of two Stonechat to be seen and a passing Kestrel.  Back at the grassy field next to the entrance to the Experimental Station and a check of the trees at the back not only produced yet more Collared Doves but a further eight Starlings and this time it was to be five Common and just the three Spotless.  Could it be, with so few starlings on show that the wintering Common were going to outnumber the resident Spotless Starlings by 6 to 4 individuals?  Now that is going to be somewhat of a strange occurrence.

Common Starling Estornino Pinto Sturnus vulgaris

Back looking at the grassy edges to the river opposite the football field and the Cattle Egret was still at rest but also recorded were a handful of Meadow Pipit and, at last, the first House Sparrows of the day along with more Black Redstarts.  Lovely to suddenly record a male Blackcap and then on round to the sewage works where a further three Cattle Egrets were in residence.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis: first you bathe and then you preen

And so back the house with the final species being a half-dozen Goldfinch as I approached the now closed barbeque area.  But just as I was thinking that the underdog Common Starlings had won the battle, on the very last overhead wire of the walk eight more starlings and this time it was six Spotless to the two Common Starlings so letting the resident species creep home for the day’s win with a final 10-8 victory!

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Kestrel, Mediterranean Gull, Back-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

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Algarrobo Costa

 Friday 22 January

Beautiful sunny morning and warmer than of late but a very strong wind blowing down off the mountains and quite cold if exposed the main force.  Perhaps, therefore, not surprising that only the one Black Redstart and a couple of Collared Doves seen by the time I reached the motorway underpass.   Once beyond the motorway, the grassy field to the right of the entrance to the Experimental Station held a couple of White Wagtails along with a quartet of Meadow Pipits and at least a dozen Serin.

Three of a dozen Serins Serinus serinus

Carrying on down to the ford I noticed a few Chiffchaffs feeding in the bushes on the bank of the hidden pool whilst above a number of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls passed over along with the feeding Crag Martins.  Returning from the ford a Blackbird dashed over the river and across the track in front of me and a few more Serins noticed at the lower level.

Back under the motorway and not only a handful of House Sparrows, a few more Meadow Pipits and also a pair of Linnets which were busy preening themselves having just had a bath in the clean, flowing waters of the river.  Crossing the road ford I noticed the fifteen Spotless Starlings on the wires above and once at the local sewage works noted that, today, there was only a single Cattle Egret present.  All very quiet compared with recent days.

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Collared Dove, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Linnet.

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Rio Velez, Torre del Mar

Female Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

 Thursday 21 January

In Torre del Mar for an early afternoon hospital appointment and upon departure took a slight detour on the way home to walk the Rio Velez track to the beach from the old N340 road bridge.  Greeted by a large flock of Serin along with a few Goldfinch and once approaching the bridge in my walk downstream a Black Redstart.  A small number of Rock Doves in their usual resting place under the bridge and then the first of the wandering Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  As I walked on down a Heron took off to fly downstream and the fence to my left produced Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Stonechat and more Goldfinches.  

Greenfinch Verderon Comun Carduelis chloris

The first Kestrel was seen overhead and reaching the beach I had a few Chiffchaffs foraging in the nearby bushes.  Lots of Lesser Black-backed resting out on the sea along with a few wandering Black-headed Gulls.  On the lagoon created at the mouth of the river a lovely surprise to see a single Purple Swamphen and then a couple of Moorhen along with a quartet of Coot.  Four Mallards were also noted towards the back and the bare trees held upwards of forty Cormorant.  Before starting the return walk I also managed to find a pair of Crested Lark and at least five White Wagtails in the beach area as well as a score or more Mediterranean Gulls.

Just a few of the resting Cormorants Cormoran Grande Phalacrocorax carbo

Nearing my car  two sightings of a couple Collared Doves and then on further upstream to check out the growing fields where I found a second Kestrel followed by a Hoopoe and just a single Spotless Starling along with more House Sparrows and Chiffchaffs feeding on the muck heap.

Common Kestrel Cernicalo Vulgar Falco tinnunculus

Using the coastal road to drive back to Mezquitilla I stopped for a brief moment to note the hundreds of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach at Caleta harbour plus four Cormorants.  Monk Parakeets in the neighbouring trees and more of the same plus House Sparrows and Rock Doves in the marina.  Here also a large number of Black-headed Gulls.

Black-headed Gull Gaviota Reidora Larius ridibundus

Birds seen:

Mallard, Cormorant, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crag Martin, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Purple Swamphen Calamon Comun Porphyrio porphyrio

Immature Great Black-backed Gull Gavion Atlantico Larus marinus

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Algarrobo Costa

Female Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

 Tuesday 19 January

It would seem that my winter walks up and back along the Rio Algarrobo, with the usual diversion on the return leg to take me past the local sewage works, will always produced about eighteen species chosen from a total of less than twenty-five. Today's nineteen species included Common Starling and Goldfinch but neither Blackcap nor Grey Wagtail.

Not so many starlings today and the Chiffchaffs were recorded right at the very end.  On the other hand, an early Cattle Egret during the outer walk but only a single at the actual sewage works where I would normally expect at least four individuals.  Similarly, White Wagtail numbers seem to be reducing whereas Blackbirds are on the increase.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Serin Serinus serinus

Hoopoe Upupa epops with Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis behind

Hoopoe on the move

Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris

Common S.vulgais Spotless Starlings Sturnus unicolor

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Back to the Rio Algarrobo

Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor

 Sunday 17 January

Municipality lockdown commenced once again today, so birding for the next fortnight or more looks like being confined to the either the local river or the beach paseo.  This morning in lovely sunny weather, not a cloud in the sky nor even a breeze after the strong winds of these past days as I set off  for my usual walk upriver, under the motorway and on to the ford before returning via a detour to take a look in at the local sewage works.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

All very quiet through the activity area but once into the more open trees a large flock of 25 Monk Parakeets along with 30+ Spotless Starlings.  The usual few Collared Doves but many, many more to be seen during the walk.  A pair of male Blackbirds were foraging  at the edge of the grass and, seeing the shape in the tree, I looked up to find a lovely Greenfinch.

Some of the resident Monk Parakeets Myiopsitta monachus

Walking towards the sports hall I eventually found my first Black Redstarts along with a handful of House Sparrows as a trio of Wood Pigeon flew overhead.  More House Sparrows, Collared Doves and Spotless Starlings as I passed under the motorway and on to the Experimental Station entrance.  A couple of White Wagtails on the lower grassy area and then the sight of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls that make use of the hidden pool along with the feeding Crag Martins.  A couple of Stonechat were recorded along with more Black Redstarts and White Wagtails and at the far end of the fence a half-dozen Meadow Pipits feeding on the ground followed by a lovely male Serin on the fence itself.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibus at the sewage works

Now just about able to cross the ford without worrying about only trainers on my feet but nothing extra to add.  Working my way back I had a male Blackcap in a riverside bush and then a Hoopoe in the tall, bare tree opposite the Experimental Station entrance.  The first of the Chiffchaffs put in an appearance and then it was on back down to take the concrete ford across the main river and on to the sewage works where I found four Cattle Egrets in residence.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba

Returning across the river at the lower weir my attention was drawn to the Grey Wagtail feeding at the edge slightly upstream of the weir and, at the same time, a second Hoopoe put in an appearance as it flew down river.  A good start to my river walks with 19 species recorded.

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Crag Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch.

Female Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

One of a handful of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis

Male Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

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Caleta Harbour

 Friday 15 January

Immature Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Following my morning at the Guadalhorce in Malaga, Mick Richardson and I made our back to Velez -Malaga and met again n the car park opposite the Caleta harbour entrance.  We had been informed that a couple of Common and an immature Great Black-backed Gull had been seen there theses past two days so thought we would try our luck to see if we could find them.

Once checking the beach area we could see hundreds of resting bird, mainly Lesser Black-backed but also Yellow-legged Gulls.  A Couple of Sanderling were working the water's edge and a two Cormorants were seen on the water.  No sign of the targeted gulls so off up to the marina where the Common Gulls had been seen yesterday.  Monk Parakeets flew around us along with a couple of the resident Rock Doves on the roof tops plus a wandering White Wagtail on the road.

Record shots of Common Gull Larus canus

No matter how much we searched the four marina bays, water and yacht riggings, we could not find a Common Gull; no shortage of either Black-headed or Mediterranean Gull but no Common.  Back to the beach area at the harbour entrance, on the way noting the resting gulls and Little Egrets on the outer harbour wall,  where we now found two Spanish birders, one of whom I knew.  With a smile on their faces, they pointed out the Great Black-backed Gull right in front of us, albeit slightly masked by surrounding gulls and apparently ready for its daily siesta.  I think we imagined an older bird rather than the brown immature individual and it took a little time to convince ourselves that this actually was a Great Black-backed.  But, there again, no disputing the extra size and that thick, sturdy neck.

Pushing our luck we then enquired whether or not they had come across the two Common Gulls whereupon they simple pointed to the far end of the beach and then took us down to see and photograph the one second-year individual that was resting near a rock.  Lots of time spent trying to get a half-decent photograph through the fence so we walked the few yards to the lighthouse path but having reached there the bird seemed to have simply disappeared.  Perhaps it had returned to the shelter of the marina whilst our backs were turned for a few minutes.  But, nevertheless, we had seen both our target birds.  Mick then departed for Motril and I made my way home recording both Blackbird and Spotless Starlings.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Note the bulk and thick neck

Birds seen:

Cormorant, Little Egret, Sanderling, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Blackbird, Monk Parakeet, White Wagtail, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow. 

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