Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa

Wednesday 9 April

Sounds like a memorable day for the Arboleas Birding Group but for all the wrong reasons!  Sorry to read that my friend Dave unable to lead the group (can one member constitute a group?) but, no doubt, back to routine come next Wednesday.  Good of Kevin to step in but must have been a little disconcerting to find nobody else about but then saved by Val's appearance. In the end Kevin ended up much like me on most occasions as a single birder, but at least you have no arguments about direction, pace and timings, etc!  On the other hand, my sympathies for missing out on the expected inter-personal connections and general camaraderie.  But, all said, Kevin certainly found some good birds, especially the Wood Sandpiper, Nightingale and Bee-eaters.  And "lots f House Martins" with me still awaiting my first of the year; fingers crossed for tomorrow's visit to the Solent shore at the south of the New Forest opposite the Isle of Wight near Lymington.  Also, many thanks for the report Kevin, much appreciated.

Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa: Wednesday 9th April

When Dave emailed to say that he wouldn’t be able to lead the trip today and asked whether I would step in, I said I would and sent an email which I thought had gone to ‘Reply All’.  Maybe it got lost in the ether, or maybe everyone decided to have a day off.  Well, almost everyone.

I was at ‘The Ford’ early, and there was a distinctly chilly wind.  I recorded Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Magpie, Barn Swallow and Spotless Starling.  Nothing very exciting so far.  I still had time to drive a circuit back up the rambla for a few kilometres and this produced Mallard, Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Moorhen and a very obliging Wood Sandpiper. I then returned to the Ford to await arrivals.

Upstream from the Ford ( PHOTO:Kevin Borman)

I suspected the cold wind was making the LBJs keep their heads down.  It was having a similar effect on the birders too it seemed, as by 09.15 I was still Billy No-Mates.  A few minutes later Val arrived.  I was delighted to have company and was able to lend her a spare fleece as we walked up to the sewage treatment plant.  The bracing wind reminded me of Skegness on a good day.  We heard a scratchy Reed Warbler en route.  On the sewage lagoons we added only Little Grebe but on the way back, in the dense vegetation in the rambla, we heard a Nightingale (Bird of the Day).  Just as we were getting back to our vehicles Val added a Little Egret and a Hoopoe.

By now it was after 10 o’clock and Val had to head off for an appointment, so again I was B N-M.  Our normal beach access was still fenced off due to deep gullying but I sussed an alternative way, more or less to no avail as the sea was crashing over the offshore rocks.  All I added here was a flying Yellow-legged Gull.

I drove across the flats to the Estuary North Side and scrambled up the sandy slope to the overlook. Things began to improve.  I found Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Grey Heron, three Sandwich Terns and four Audouin’s Gulls.  I missed out on a visit to the Tiburon cafe and instead, made myself a hot chocolate in the van once I got to the Estuary South Side, where only Goldfinch was added to the total.

By now the cool wind was dissipating and the heat was increasing.  On to the Dual Carriageway.  It was warm by now and shedding layers.  The list increased with Black-headed Gull, Pochard, Greater Flamingo, Shelduck, Teal, Coot and Zitting Cisticola.  ‘Beyond The Hump’, and by now it was distinctly hot, there were Red-rumped Swallow, Shoveler and swift to boost the total.

At the First Tower I added White-headed Duck and a pair of Red-crested Pochard, then at the Second Tower, just a White Wagtail. I drove on to Millionaire’s Pool (is that its name?).  There was nothing new on the water but I boosted the list with Bee-eater, Blackbird, Kestrel, and lots of House Martins.  39 species if I’ve tallied up correctly.  It would have been nice to have had more company and more pairs of eyes but I enjoyed keeping the flag flying and look forward to seeing Dave back at the helm very soon.  Oh, by the way Val, I forgot to produce the collecting tin, so I have put €1 in on your behalf.

Thank you, Kevin

Project we're supporting ( PHOTO:Kevin Borman)

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