Carchuna & Charca de Suarez

Wednesday 14 September 

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata

Met up with friends Steve and Eleana Powel mid-afternoon at Carchuna just east of Motril and relatively quickly located three Shags along with an Iberia Yellow Wagtail, Goldfinches, House Sparrows and many Yellow-legged Gulls trailing a returning fishing boat.  Then it was a relaxing drink before heading west to take an evening visit to the Charca de Suarez on the western side of Motril.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Arriving at the Charca we were received by a couple of Collared Dove then straight round to the Laguna del Taraje where we found many Mallard plus a Purple Swamphen, Common Coot and pairs of both Shoveler and Gadwall.  Just a trio of Moorhen seen from the hide at the opposite end of the water before moving straight on the main hide overlooking the Laguna de las Aneas.  However, Elena stayed on at this hide and was eventually rewarded with a distant sight of a Water Rail.  For Steve and I it was a couple of male Blackbirds quickly followed by a female Pied Flycatcher.

Gadwall Anas strepera

The Laguna de las Aneas held very many Mallard and good numbers of both Gadwall.  Plenty of both Common and Red-knobbed Coots along with a couple of Purple Swamphen.  A handful of Barn Swallows were feeding over the water and, at the far end, a dozed resting Black-headed Gulls.  Just the three Little Grebe but resting at the edges and in the trees a half-dozen Little Egret plus a single Cattle Egret and seven Heron.  The single Glossy Ibis was still present. Having seen a Kingfisher at the first water we now had two more here. Steve managed to get a distant, high sight of a soaring Booted Eagle.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (right) with Gadwall Anas strepera and Common Coot Fulica atra

Moving on to the Laguna del Trebol I recorded a second Pied Flycatcher and at the water itself more Moorhen and many Red-knobbed Coots.  A Purle Swamphen was bust feeding at the back of the water.  Entering the hide at the opposite end of this laguna I was rewarded with a perching Spotted Flycatcher.  Nothing to add other than more Mallards and a couple of Red-knobbed Coots at the Laguna del Lirio so an early departure to allow me to make a visit to the local hospital to seek help for  the plastic end of my hearing aid which had become detached inside the ear canal.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

Birds seen:

Muscovey Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Shag, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Booted Eagle, Water Rail, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Common Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus with Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Little Egrets Egretta garzetta

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