Birthday Birding

 Thursday 17 October

Rio Grande below the last over bridge

With the recent rains now passed and a pleasant, warm day what way to better spend your birthday than make a mid-afternoon trip up to the relatively nearby Rio Grande, with water flowing, along with or dear friends Derek and Barbara Etherton and Jenny. No sooner arrived than greeted by Blackbirds, both Grey and White Wagtails along with feeding tits, mainly Long-tailed but also both Blue and Great Tits as we made our way through the trees to the confluence of the rivers Grande and Guadalhorce. Fast running water now over last week's dry river bed but no birds in sight.  Making our way back from the trees to the river itself a pair of Raven and then, perched on a small rock immediately below us a posing Common Sandpiper.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Once under the main road bridge and looking at the wide, flooded river, first a Cattle Egret then quickly followed by both a Greenshank and Green Sandpiper.  A distant Heron with a pair of nearby Lapwing were next on the sightings and then, before crossing through the ford, many more Cattle Egrets and a continuous sighting of more White and a few Grey Wagtails along with a distant Meadow Pipit.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

At this point our first hearing and sighting of both Crested Lark and Sardinian Warbler before a wander further up river beyond the main water supply pipe to Malaga to find a couple of score of resting Mallards.  Having noted a handful of Blackbird the sudden appearance of a female Pied Flycatcher in front of us was a very welcome surprise.  On our return walk back to the car a Jay along with Woodpigeons made an appearance. Then a Kestrel sitting atop a pylon plus a pair of distant raptors that were possibly Booted Eagles.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

The return drive along the track passed the farm then produced a range of small birds plus more Woodpigeon and and a number of Collared Doves at the farm.  A pair of Goldfinches were drinking form a roadside puddle and soon more House Sparrows and a quartet of Greenfinch. Only three Starlings on the pylon top but one was a Common rather than the expected Spotless Starling.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

A second Kestrel the both Sardinian Warbler and a trio of Stonechats to our right as we reached the main road. Now well after 5.30 so we made pour way straight to the mouth of the Guadalhorce in Malaga at the mirador in Guadalmar to check out the sea birds and, hopefully, find one of the recently visiting Lesser Crested Terns that had been seen the past few days. 

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Arriving at 6.05 we were greeted by both Monk Parakeet and Spotless Starlings and once at the mirador Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over head.  A very large resting flock of gulls on the sea towards the port, mainly Black-headed Gulls but, no doubt, had we taken the scope we would have also found a number of Mediterranean Gulls.  off-shore towards the two platforms many fishing Gannets; always a lovely sight to behold.  In addition to the many adults, also a number of brown juveniles accompanied by the foraging gulls.  A number of Sandwich Terns were also seen along with a Cormorant and both Gannet and Sandwich Tern made the occasional sortie towards the shore so giving a closer view.

Gannet Morus bassanus

A Sanderling flew in from the sea and the a pair of Oystercatchers made a return flight on front of us.  Even more surprising was to see a Black-winged Stilt fly in from the sea and come to rest on the busy beach before moving on.  Over thirty minutes gone and no sight of our target bird, nor presumably by the other eight birders below us awaiting a sighting, and Barbara started out on the short walk back to the car.  Within two minutes, right above us, the Lesser Crested Tern arrived showing very well with its yellow beak, forked tail and looking very white to bring huge smiles to both the faces of both Derek and I.  Derek manged to grab Barbara's attention and bring her back but the bird was already moving away right and out to sea before she arrived and I though to lift the camera, so engrossed were we in watching the tern.  But, nevertheless, a great birthday present!

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

So, back to the car and noting another Sanderling in the river and a nearby Sardinian Warbler.  A couple of Collared Doves on the wires as we set off back to Alhauring de la Torre having recorded over 40 species during the afternoon including that magnificent Lesser Crested Tern.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Birds seen:

Mallard, Gannet, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Black-winged Stilt, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Sanderling, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Crested Lark, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Stonechat, Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Jay, Raven, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Raven Corvus coras

Great Tit Parus major

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Distant record shot of Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

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