Arroyo Marin with John and Jenny

Horrible wet day here with light rain following heavy overnight rain, low cloud and generally depressing.  Only in the late afternoon did the sun put in an appearance; presumably to dry everything up in readiness for my birding trip up to Zafarraya in the morning.  On the other hand, John and Jenny Wainwright stuck with it and made a detour over tot he Arroyo Marin to find some new birds for both the month and year.  So, well done them and here is John's report.


Arroyo Marin:  5th April 2013

Overcast and very wet at times. 
We were over in Trabuco, so we ventured over to the Marin at Archidonna. The rain had steadied to a drizzle and we never came off the main track as the fields and groves below were saturated and full of mud.

Our first views were of two Red-legged Partridges and several Chaffinches. A Wryneck called from my left but we never got to see it.  We drove down to the first concrete ford - here the mud and silt was across the road - but we did get Wren, Blackcap, Rock Bunting and Cirl Bunting here. 

Grey Wagtail Lavandera Cascadena Motacilla cinerea (PHOTO: Jenny Wainwright)

Then further down at the ruin on the bad corner Jenny found our first Nightingale of the year.  Also here we saw Grey Wagtail, Crossbills, Serins, Great Tits and a Blue Tit.  At the next ford the road has been washed away, so we retraced our steps to our usual picnic area - this is generally a
very good place for Hawfinches and we were not disappointed as we located three birds. Then a Nightingale started singing here, but this time we never found it.  A few Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves with a mixing of Azure-winged Magpies and our first Common Cuckoo was heard.
 

Hawfinch Picogordo Coccothraustes coccothraustes (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

With the heavens opening and the sky a menacing black we headed back for Salar, en route seeing Spotless Starlings, a Southern Grey Shrike, a Corn Bunting and several Barn Swallows.

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