Sierra de Maria with the Arboleas Birding Group

 Wednesday 26 June

What a cracking way for the Arboleas Birding Group to reach their summer break; great company and great birds.  Roller, Golden Oriole, Nightingale, Red-billed Chough, Little Owl Turtle Dove, Jay and all those little brown jobs!

Sierra de Maria  -  Wednesday 26th June

For our last official trip before our summer break I decided we'd return to our favourite destination, the Sierra de Maria.  Juda came round to mine and we then travelled to the birding list starting point at Velez Blanco.  Birds were few and far between.  In fact we only saw some Woodpigeons before a male Golden Oriole closely followed by his spouse flew across the road in front of us.  In Maria town we added Common Swift, House Sparrow and Collared Dove.  We arrived at the La Piza forest cafe where the others, Kevin, Trevor, Richard and Peter.  I had already arrived.  Richard had logged a Spotless Starling en route.  Trevor had already seen a Jay as a flight of Crossbill flew over. As we settled down to some coffee Juda saw Chaffinch, Crested Tit and a Blackbird.  We also had Great, Long-tailed and Coal Tits visiting the empty feeders.  Richard added a Short-toed Tree-creeper.

Long-tailed Tit (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We then travelled in convoy around the loop.  Personally I only saw a Chaffinch in the forest section. Out on the fields we observed Magpie and Crested Lark.  Stopping at our usual stop just outside the village we added Goldfinch, Linnet, and Barn Swallows.  We carried on along the track with Juda and I in the lead vehicle, followed by Kevin with Trevor in his car and Richard and Peter bringing up the rear. Neither following vehicles were close behind us when Juda spotted a Little Owl in a tree.  I didn't see it till it flew off. 

Roller (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We were thrilled to find a Roller next to the nest box on the side of a farm building.  It was seen to bring food in from the fields.  Further along we saw both Carrion Crow and Red-billed Chough.  Trevor and Kevin added a Black-eared Wheatear.  I also had a Corn Bunting.  The first two cars got to the cliff face.  We four walked to the far side.  We heard Nightingales singing from the shrubs.  I spotted a Black-eared Wheatear on the high rocks opposite the cliff.  A Turtle Dove shot past like an Exocet missile!  Two Jackdaws were seen.  Kevin also saw some more Red-billed Chough. Richard and Peter had arrived by the time we got back to the vehicles.  They had seen a Griffon Vulture. We saw very little till we got to the hamlet.  There I spotted a distant Griffon.  Peter and Richard had seen more en route.  We moved on to the water trough.  Juda and I didn't log on to the 4 Turtle Doves feeding on the ground near the entrance slope.... Kevin was more alert!  We added Rock Sparrow and Greenfinch before we headed back to La Piza for lunch.  There we saw more of the same previously seen birds.

A good day had by all. 32 species seen.  We will be back in September, but there might be the odd personal report as I will no doubt venture out.

Best wishes to Val Penny on her impending knee operation.  And a speedy recovery to Claire who has picked up Covid!

Have a good summer

Regards

Dave

Crested Tit (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Jay (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Roller (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

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Farlington Marshes

 Friday 21 June

A beautiful, warm morning with hardly a breeze as, accompanied by friend Richard Osman, we spent a few hours walking the anti-clockwise path around Farlington Marshes to coincide with an incoming tide.  Almost 40 species recorded and a great mix of small birds at the start, then a stead sighting of water birds followed by some great sightings on the new gravel islands of the Deeps before finally finishing with the arrival of eleven Mediterranean Gulls whilst observing the lagoon in front of the shelter near the end of our walk.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

As soon as we left the car we were recording Blue and Great Tits, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and a resting Kestrel.  Ere many minutes we had also added both Black-headed and Herring Gulls along with Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon with a single Whimbrel feeding on the mud below the seawall.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Continuing on down towards the viewpoint we added many Linnet plus a couple of Whitethroat.  A Cormorant few over us and once at the viewpoint we were able to observe Mallard, many Redshanks, Lapwing, Coot, a couple of Oystercatcher , two Herons and a Little Egret.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Round the first bend to give a better view over the marsh where we soon noted both the many Canada Geese and Shelduck.  A lone Lapwing appeared to be guarding a nesting area.  Further back a couple of Mute Swans and the Buzzard seen fifteen minutes earlier was till resting on he distant fence.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Continuing on we came across more Carrion Crows, Great Crested Grebe and the first of three Magpies.  A large flock of Starling were busy feeding near the cattle and a couple of Moorhen were paddling up the nearby stream. below us the first calls of the local Reed Warblers.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Rounding the bend to head inland we were once again surrounded by Linnets but also a lovely male Reed Bunting and a Sedge Warbler, albeit trying its best not to be photographed!

Find the hiding Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

The Deeps with its newly created gravel islands was a mass of bird activity with the Black-headed Gull breeding area to the right and both Shelduck and Avocets towards the middle and back.  The left-hand (southern) island held a resting Redshank and a pair of Ringed Plovers which appeared to be nesting.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Making our way across the marsh to the final lagoon we disappointed not to record ether Cattle Egret or Skylark but, in addition to the gulls, we did note a single Swift and approaching the reedbed a flurry of Reed Warblers across the top of the reeds.  Once at the seat, time to check out the Mallards, Coots,  , Moorhens and a family of Little Grebe with a foraging Heron in the background.  Then the arrival of the Mediterranean Gulls to complete the birding, apart from the Collared Dove seen as we departed the site on the return journey to Warsash.

Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus with a single Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Whimbrel, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus high water roost

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Icelandic Cruise: Iceland

8 - 10 June 

With our docking at Reykjavik cancelled due to high winds it was straight on to Grundarfjordur where we had a good birding experience followed by beautiful stop at Isafjordur where Eider Ducks were the the most popular species and finally Iceland's second city, Akureyri.

Drake Eider Somateria mollissima

Now we were well ad truly in the land, or should I say sea, of the Arctic Terns and Fulmars, the former of which seemed to be everywhere.  Entering Grundarfjordur we were accompanied by Fulmars, Herring Gulls and Eiders and, once ashore, a small number of Starlings before taking a local shuttle bus up to a waterfall where we four could undertake some birding. No sooner had we left the bus to explore the neighbouring fields than we were surrounded by many breeding Whimbrel and even a quartering Great Skua looking for an easy meal.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Below us, at the bottom of the waterfall, we could see a couple of Oystercatchers and a pair of resting Glaucous Gulls.  A Meadow Pipit came in to drink and wash at the edge of the water and looking at the lake in front of us we could seen a large flock of Tufted Ducks. 

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Making our way down to the water's edge we came across a pair of Harlequin Ducks resting on a small rock just off the beach, a handful of Mallards and then, to our utter delight, we came across a pair of feeding Red-necked Phalaropes.

Harlequin Duck Histrionicus hstrionicus

On our way back up to the top of the waterfall to further explore the neighbouring fields we found the pair of hiding Red-breasted Mergansers that were now out in the open and then a Northern Wheatear. A Redshank accompanied us for a while letting us know in no uncertain terms that we were wandering onto his breeding territory whereupon, having noted the Great Black-backed Gull, we retreated and took a short walk along the road away from the other visitors.

Red-breasted Mergansers Mergus serrator

In addition to the many Whimbrel we then found a quartet of Black-tailed Godwits in stunning plumage and a Snipe put its lovely flight display including the tail vibration. First time either Derek or I had heard this distinctive sound. Then, making our way back to the shuttle bus pickup point, we came across a Ringed Plover at the side of the road where it had obviously made its nest on the nearby shingle.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Back in the village not only a Redwing in a tree but a passing Raven.  Lovely to hear a calling Cuckoo then, back at the port, both Puffin and Black Guillimot on the water along with a couple of Pochard.

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

Isafjordur was certainly noted for its many Arctic Terns and breeding Eider Ducks.  Indeed, we took a fascinating short tour by a local farmer to see the thousands of Eiders that nested on his land giving him a new occupation of collected the used nests to wash, clean and sell, so proving a good income to supplement his earnings.  Leaving the port with its Glaucous Gulls and Black Guillemots, we made our way towards a waterfall noting Whooper Swan, Oystercatcher and fulmar on the way.  Once there and time to walk to the waterfall we found not only a few local Starlings but a Harlequin Duck flying upstream.  

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus

Continuing on our tour we found Redwing, Snipe and Mallard and the next stop at a lake produced Pied Wagtail, Shag, Mallard and a single Wigeon.  A couple of Whimbrel before reaching the farm with very close views of sitting Eiders (within touching distance) and a look at the the drying room for the collected nests before returning to the ship.  More Eiders and then both Black-headed Gulls and a Black-tailed Godwit.  Close by a Golden Plover and then a handful of Greylag Geese before saying goodbye to the Redshank as we made our way back to the town and ship.

Redwing Turdus iliacus

very little birding at Akureyri as we walked to the local botanical garden where we did find Raven, Redwing and Blackbird.  Most of the birds were at the port including Eider Ducks, Arctic Tern, Glaucous Gull, Black-headed Gull and a lovely Red-throated Diver.

Red-throated Diver (Loon) Gavia stellata

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Eider Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Harlequin Duck, Fulmar, Shag,  Oystercatcher,  Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Redshank, Red-necked Phalarope, Great Skua, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Arctic Tern, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Cuckoo, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Blackbird, Redwing, Raven, Starling.

Puffin Fratercula arctica

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus (Male above)

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisea

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago displaying with vibrating tail

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Additional Norway Photographs

 2-4 June

Arctic Terns Sterna paradisea

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus

Eider Duck Somateria mollissima (Female in middle)

Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus

Red-throated Diver with  Eider ducks Somateria mollissima

Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Redshank Tringa totanus

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Great Skua Stercorarius skua

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