Rio Guadalfeo, Velez de Benaudalla

Thursday 5 May

At last the sun has reappeared and we have lost the cloudy, very wet weather. Down to the northern end of the village to drive the track from the main road alongside the western side of the Rio Guadalfeo to the end, about 400 metres beyond the water control at the southern exit from Velez de Benaudalla.  As soon as I started I had numerous calling Chaffinches along with White Wagtail, Blackbird and Collared Dove.  Stopping at the picnic area no Dipper but both Hoopoe and the first of five Golden Orioles. No shortage of House Sparrows plus a smattering of Spotless Starlings and the occasional Great Tit.  However, bird of the site and morning was the Short-toed Treecreeper that appeared immediately on front of me.

Male Blackbird Turdus merula

Continuing on down the track a few Cetti’s Warblers and at the turn back to the main road a small flock of Serin and another White Wagtail alongside the many House Sparrows.  Approaching the water control works a Little Ringed Plover was patiently waiting for me to pass and I suspect is actually nesting on the gravelled area, presumably a former car park.  A Common Sandpiper flew away in front of me as I climbed the steps to check out the holding ponds and, once on top, recorded a second Common Sandpiper along with a male Mallard and pair of Coot.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

A first of two Grey Wagtails was seen on the far side with the second on the track itself on my return journey. A number of Reed Warblers were singing/calling from the reed bed and having reached the end of the track and turned to return the same way, I found a couple of Goldfinch at the turn to the main road.  Back on to the picnic area where I was able to find my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year at this site plus a singing Nightingale.  Then it was back to the apartment in the village where, as when I set off, the House Martins seemed to be extremely active.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 

 Birds seen:

Mallard, Coot, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Hoopoe, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spotted Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch.

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