Friday, 26 April 2013

Ortolan Bunting at the Guadalhorce, Malaga

Friday 26 April

What a day was had by Ivan and Inger!  With my local birding friends we have commented upon the lack of raptors to be seen at the moment but, at least, Ivan and Inger did manage a Common Kestrel.  Good to see that the Common Scoters are still about and also the Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff.  However, finding the Ortolan Bunting was a real bonus and the star of the day.  Green is going to become the colour of the month as real envy sets in!

Have a safe journey back to Denmark next week and we all look forward to your return next autumn.


Today no mercy to Inger. No siesta on the sofa dreaming of Red-billed Tropicbird.  No, up early morning heading for Guadalhorce, spending all day there.  Probably our last visit this time, as we are going back to Denmark on Tuesday. 

We had an interesting day beginning with 14-15 Common Scoters in the sea, then a Whimbrel, 4 Whiskered Terns and a Corn Bunting near the Sea-watch.  In the old river many waders; among others Curlew Sandpipers, a single Wood Sandpiper and a single Ruff.  Further on to Laguna Casilla, where we had a Purple Heron, 2 Squacco Herons and a Little Bitten.  The day ended with an Ortolan Bunting near the hide at Laguna Grande.  Our first Ortolan Bunting ever in Guadalhorce.

A full list with 58 species are listed below:

Mallard; Gadwall; Pochard; Common Scoter; White-headed Duck; Cormorant; Little Bittern; Squacco Heron; Little Egret; Grey Heron; Purple Heron; Flamingo; Kestrel; Moorhen; Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Little Ringed Plover; Kentish Plover; Sanderling; Dunlin; Curlew Sandpiper; Wood Sandpiper; Common Sandpiper; Redshank; Greenshank; Whimbrel; Ruff; Black-headed Gull; Yellow-legged Gull; Whiskered Tern; Rock Dove; Collared Dove; Turtle Dove; Monk Parakeet; Common Swift; Pallid Swift; Bee-eater; Crested Lark; Sand Martin; Barn Swallow; Red-rumped Swallow; House Martin; Yellow Wagtail; Nightingale; Blackbird; Sardinian Warbler; Zitting Cisticola; Cetti's Warbler; Reed Warbler; Woodchat Shrike; Spotless Starling; House Sparrow; Goldfinch; Greenfinch; Serin; Ortolan Bunting; Corn Bunting.

Hopefully we are back mid September, where we are planning a trip to Tarifa to watch the birds of prey leaving Europe.

Inger and Ivan


Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.

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