Wednesday 28 May
I think my friend, David Elliott-Binns's introduction to the following report is self-explanatory re the make up of birders for Tuesday's visit to my favourite site in Almeria, Cabo de Gata. And what a splendid day it turned out to be as you will see for yourself as your read on.
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| Kentish Plover (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
Cabo de Gata, Rambla Morales & Roquetas Tuesday 27th May
Kevin passed my details to someone who'd contacted him regarding a day's birdwatching at Cabo de Gata. I was very happy to put my hand up to Stefaan & Els from Belgium. I left home in a very good mood as I could hear the call of a Red-necked Nightjar coming from our rambla. I headed south on the A7/E15 and came off at the Retamar Sur exit. I made my way through the suburb seeing the usual suspects...House Sparrow, House Martin, Blackbird and Collared Dove. En route to the Pujaire meeting place I disturbed a breakfasting Magpie picking morsels from a snake roadkill. I arrived at the cafe in plenty of time for a large coffee. Stefaan & Els arrived shortly afterwards and also had a coffee. Our first item on the itinerary was to travel round the rear of the Cabo de Gata bird reserve. Leaving their vehicle there, they joined me in my cleaned out truck. Passing the first hide we saw the bird I'd guaranteed we'd see...Greater Flamingo! That box ticked, I drove the length of the beach front to the far end and joined the rear track. We had good close views of both Kentish and Ringed Plover. Also seen were Yellow-legged Gulls and Avocets. There were numerous gulls sitting on the raised causeways behind the village. These turned out to be Audouin's Gulls. Smaller land birds included Spotless Starlings and Thekla Larks. We spotted a bird on the power line. An Iberian Grey Shrike. At the hide we had reasonably close views of Greater Flamingos and Avocets. Some Shelduck were seen plus a Zitting Cistacola, White Wagtail and Barn Swallow.
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| Flamingo (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
We drove to the first hide. We saw more Greater Flamingos and Avocets. Amongst the latter were some Black-winged Stilts. There was a Little Egret on the rocky causeway. On the water we saw a few Slender-billed Gulls doing their dipping movement. I then spotted movement on the right hand side steppes. We had good views of at least two Stone Curlews.
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| Avocet (PHOTO: Stefaan) |
En route to the second hide a Kestrel landed just to our left. A seawatch didn't produce anything of note. The sea was very calm. The second hide didn't add anything to the list so we made our way to the public hide. On an island to the left were numerous Little Terns. Stefaan found a pair of Redshank to our right. A Gull-billed Tern flew past the front of the hide and dropped onto the causeway. A pair of Ringed Plovers went ballistic, chasing it off.
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| Ringed Plover (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
I now decided we'd go to the lighthouse. Going up the hill after the last village we saw a Black-eared Wheatear on a post. Traffic following me prevented a stop. At the lighthouse we saw Yellow-legged Gulls. As we were observing a small raft of them out to sea we found a Scopoli's Shearwater.
We adjourned to Cabo village for drinks and tostadas! A pair of Jackdaws flew by.
I thought I'd try the route to Rambla Morales . Still work going on, but I took the plunge and gingerly drove along the beach. Got to the parking area safely. At the sea end there were black bellied Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Black-winged Stilts. Gull-billed Terns were patrolling the skies. We walked down to the hump. There were Greater Flamingos in the water with Coot and White-headed Ducks. Avocets were on the sand beaches on the far side. We heard a Reed Warbler calling. We saw a Bee-eater. Els found another one perched. Three Cattle Egrets flew towards the sea end. Two Squacco Herons flew on the far side landing in a shrub. I walked back for the truck. A Goldfinch posed well. I also saw a pair of Common Swifts. When I returned Stefaan was getting some good shots of the still perched Goldfinch. I tried to get out by the campsite but the route was blocked by three very large rocks. By a roundabout route I eventually got to the main road. I dropped Stefaan & Els at their vehicle and they followed me to Roquetas. As we passed through Retamar I saw a Monk Parakeet.
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| Goldfinch (PHOTO: Stefaan) |
It's a long haul to Roquetas but we eventually got to the large lake by the hotels. We immediately heard a Great Reed Warbler shouting its call only metres from us, but never saw it! There was not a lot on the water. I found Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes. Stefaan later got a Little Grebe. Above us there were House Martins, Barn Swallows and a single Red-rumped Swallow. I found a pair of resting Red-crested Pochard to our left. A Squacco Heron flew into the low reeds immediately below us and vanished. We also saw a Common Pochard and a Whiskered Tern. We drove to the entrance to the reserve itself. Disaster! Access to unauthorised vehicles denied with a heavy duty chain to enforce the order. Could possibly due to it being the breeding season and a lot of birds ground nest here. We parked up and walked to what we used to call the Red-knobbed Coot pond. Alas no coots but Stefaan did spot a Marbled Duck before it flew off. There were a few eclipse Mallard and a sleeping Common Pochard in the undergrowth. Els found a Zitting Cistacola as we walked back to the vehicles. Turtles and Terrapins were keeping an eye on us!
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| Little Grebe (PHOTO: Stefaan) |
We ended, I think, with 51 species ( I made a list for each location!) A good day's birdwatching in good company. I hope Stefaan & Els come back next year for some more birdwatching.
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| Great Crested Grebe (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
I hope you will all join me in sending our best wishes to Juda, who is currently in Almeria Hospital.
Regards
Dave
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| Tarrapin (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
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