Navaseca, Daimiel

Tuesday 22 October

Almost 5pm by the time we arrived at the Laguna de Navaseca before checking in at our evening hotel in Daimiel.  But the sun still shining and quite warm with just a gentle breeze.  No sooner had we reached the hide than Jenny was first to spot the distant Marsh Harrier at the far end of the water.  On the water itself mainly full of Mallards but towards the back also a number of both Teal and Shoveler.  Just a quartet of Flamingoe plus the occasional Coot. Off to the left a good-sized resting flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Shoveler Anas clypeata

Moving on down the laguna to the first hide on the main road very little to see as the reeds had grown and so obliterated all signs of the shallows. So, taking the track on the left to follow the southern end of the laguna very difficult to see anything through the vegetation from the first hide other than a resting Cormorant.  A similar scenario at the other hides and viewpoints, although the last viewing point did produce a Little Grebe and a couple of Coot.

One thing that we did note on entering this back path was a ca trio of Magpies, the first of this species seen since arriving in Spain almost three weeks ago. Not only the first sight but just round the corner a little later a flock of eleven and before leaving the sight we had recorded no less than 18 individuals.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Moving onto the farm land to follow the inside track, passing a large flock of Spotless Starlings, we stopped adjacent to the water inlet but, again, much vegetation obliterating the viewing points.  Still some exposed water with limited viewing between the wind-blown reeds but much of the previous shallow water used by breeding birds now covered by same.  However, in the brief moments when a view was possible a distant White Wagtail was seen before the luck of seeing a passing Kingfisher.  On the water a trio of Shoveler and at the far back a trio of Snipe before a Moorhen wandered into sight and also a pair of Black-winged Stilt.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

In front and alongside me a number of both Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warblers were recorded followed by a lovely Zitting Cisticola.  Continuing up the track towards the main road and our exit from the site we also came across a very small charm of Goldfinch and a number of House Sparrows but no Little Owls on this occasion.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Birds seen:

Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

Shoveler Anas clypeata

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