More Rio Algarrobo

 Thursday 11 February

His morning I drove to the mid-way point of the Rio Algarrobo walk then, having checked the immediate area, walked downstream before returning to the car and continuing on upstream.  Once finally back at the car I then moved downstream to take a closer look around the open trees near the start of the walk.

Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and House Sparrows were the first sightings and walking to the road ford I came across a quartet of Meadow Pipit feeding in the grass below me.  The first Blackbird of the morning was seen on the far side of the river and quickly followed by a female Black Redstart and a fly-past of five Monk Parakeets.

Record shot of Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Walking back to the motorway underpass a single female Chaffinch in one of the open trees next to the path and then a couple of White Wagtails.  On the distant pylons a handful of Spotless Starlings and then a small charm of Goldfinch flitting around the immediate area.  A few Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over and on stump besides the river below the car a posing female Stonechat.

Female Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Once on the other side of the motorway the grassy area adjacent to the entrance to the Experimental Station produced ten Common Starlings and a nearby bush towards the river held four Blackcaps. Very little else to be seen apart from a few more House Sparrows and the occasional departing Lesser Black-backed and Mediterranean Gulls along with a pair of White Wagtails.  At the garden at the far end four Cattle Egret foraging in the grass.

On towards the next ford through the river, but still too deep to cross, and a small bush and grassy area slightly upstream produced more Meadow Pipit and the first Serins of the morning.  Time to make my way back to the car and noted both a male Stonechat and a coupe of Rock Doves.  The initial drive took me over the river to the sewage works where another Cattle Egret was found before finally stopping to check out the open trees.  Lots of Spotless Starlings to be seen  plus a few more Serin and Goldfinch and a pair of Greenfinch.  And, of course, there were more Collared Doves and Monk Parakeets!

Birds seen:

Cattle Egret, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Blackcap, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

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