Rio Velez, Torre del Mar

Monday 13 June

Mouth of the Rio Velez with many Mallard Anas playrhynchos and a pair of Purple Swamphen 

Nearing the end of my present stay in Spain so an early morning visit to the Rio Velez in Torre del Mar for an hour at 9 to say a fond farewell and at least there was still water in the newly-created lagoon.  Lovely dry and sunny weather and able to see a good selection of birds for driving back to Motril to sort out bits and pieces before closing up.  

Good to see lots of activity with many Barn Swallows and a couple of juvenile Goldfinch before the appearance of both Spotless Starlings and House Martins.   A Blackbird flew across the track and Nightingales were calling from the dry river bed below as a Spotted Flycatcher watched me from its perch on the nearby fence.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

Moving slowly down the track I noticed the many House Sparrows and found a male Kestrel "hiding" at the top of a pylon.  A male Chaffinch was resting within a metre and then it was tm e to stop and checkout the first sight of water in what was left of the rapidly receding river. A trio of Black-winged Stilts, a single Mallard and a Little Ringed Plover.

You can hide but we can still find the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

On down to the hide and much quieter than my last visit.  No shortage of Barn Swallows, House Martins and Pallid Swifts overhead and drinking the water on the wing.  To my right another Little Ringed Plover and a couple of Black-winged Stilts working the far bank.  To my far left a resting mixed flock of mainly Audouin's and a few Yellow-legged Gulls.  Nearby, both Moorhen and a couple of Purple Swamphen.  A trio of Monk Parakeets flew over and then the appearance of a small number if Common Swifts.

Audouin's Gulls Larus audouinii

The walk along the beach to check the lagoon at the end of the river produced another three Purple Swamphen and fifty Mallards including two clutches of 10 and 8 ducklings.  Starting my walk back  m along the far bank I observed a couple of Crested Lark and the first of the Reed Warblers, another Nightingale plus a good number of Collared Doves along the way.  A handful of Goldfinches and then both Wood Pigeon and Rock Doves before reaching the car and departure.

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio with Mallard (front)

Female Mallard Anus platyrhynchos with Purple Swamphen to right

Birds seen:  

Mallard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Audouin's Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Nightingale, Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, 

Distant Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

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