Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa

 Wednesday 8 January  

If an Arboleas Birding Group report arrives then it must be the new year and the lads and lasses are out once again with Dave.  Happy New Year to you all and trust you get to see some fabulous birds in the coming twelve months. Yes, you may mock the UK weather with the promise that, for some in the north of England, they are about to be in receipt of -20C temperatures later today!  Here in Warsash on the south coast it is bitterly cold and the promised rain has set in until early evening but tomorrow should be a bright, dry and sunny day, albeit just below freezing, so out to Titchfield Canal and Haven for me in the morning.  Despite your bright sunshine, or because of, some great birds seen though I did smile at the House Sparrow record as I am yet to see one this year!  How times change. But despite the weather (see my own blog report for today) I did manage to get out for an hour at lunch time before the freezing rain and strong winds arrived and drew me home.  Only 24 species for me with mainly waders and the birds of the morning no doubt the very close Spotted Redshank and a a first Curlew Sandpiper for the year and area.

Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa:  Wednesday 8th January

Happy New Year to you all.  Today was chilly but dry and sunny. (Sorry, you UK folks!)

I picked up Juda from La Alfoquia.  We headed towards the upper end of the Rambla de Almanzora. Joining near the Desert Springs golf complex, the first bird we saw was a male Sardinian Warbler flying across our path.  At the first weir was a pair of Teal and a Common Sandpiper.  Further along we had numerous Black-winged Stilts, some Mallard and Snipe and a Redshank.

Richard & Peter 1 were waiting at the carpark above the ford.  As I caught up with the paperwork we added Woodpigeon and Collared Doves.  We were joined by Peter 2, Michael, Karen, Trevor and Kevin. We all headed for the beach apart from Kevin who was going to check out the sewage works.  As we arrived there we disturbed a flock of House Sparrows.  On the harbour rocks I found a few Cormorants, a Kentish Plover and some scurrying Turnstones.  Richard spotted an immature gull on the rocks.  Not that I'm too hot on young gulls, but I was pretty sure it was a first winter Audouin's Gull.

We moved to the estuary.  Richard, Peter 1 and Juda went to the far side because the embankment climb would be too much for them.  We were joined by Kevin, who'd seen Kestrel, Little Grebe, Chiffchaff and Magpie at the sewage works.

The estuary produced Little Egret, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull and Coot.  There were lots of Cormorants, but unfortunately no sign of the Spoonbill that Kevin had seen earlier.  Peter 1 on the far side added a Common Pochard.

After a coffee in Villaricos village we made our way to the dual carriageway behind Vera Playa.  Val was there to meet us.  There were numerous Shoveler with a few Shelduck, Teal and Mallard.  Peter 2 was the first to see the numerous Crag Martins flying above the waters.  There were a couple of Greater Flamingos and lots of flitting Chiffchaffs with the odd Stonechat (Peter 2) and a White Wagtail (Kevin). Kevin also added a Blackbird.  We moved round to the elevated platform where we added White-headed Ducks.  There were 26 individuals.

We ended up with 33 species.  It was great to be out birdwatching with good mates again.

Regards

Dave

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