Las Campinuelas, Algarrobo

 Wednesday 4 May

Car serviced by midday and the rain appearing to ease back so decided I would return home via the Camino de Algarrobo which takes me through a former enjoyed birding site, Las Campinuelas.  But would the Bee-eaters be using this site once again?  They certainly would!  Arriving at the western end near Velez Malaga i stopped to admire a Kestrel on top of a pylon and looking quite forlorn following all the heavy rain.  Looking around me I also found many Collared Doves and Wood Pigeons and a Hoopoe was calling nearby.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster

As I eased down the hill I started to hear the calling Bee-eaters and then found my first well-concealed in a leafy tree.  But once one found scores were to follow either flying around the area or resting on the nearby wires.  Below them a couple of Crested Lark and then a single Blackbird. A single Goldfinch was also on the wires and as I drove along the gravel track next to the dry river bed a number of Barn Swallows were busy hunting their late lunch.  Turning up from the river bed to take the road on towards Algarrobo and the motorway home I immediately came across a handful of House Sparrows and a single Spotted Flycatcher on the top of the low fence.  On the opposite side of the road a Serin then followed by a half-zen Spotless Starlings.  Amazing to think that a short deviation last less than twenty minutes in poor weather produced two new species for the year.

Birds seen:

Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch.

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