Rio Velez, Torred del Mar

Wednesday

Blue-headed Wagtail Lavandera Boyera Motacilla flave iberiae

A beautiful, warm and sunny start to the day but somewhat windy as I made my way down to the Rio Velez to the west of Torre del Mar.  Before parking in my usual place just under and beyond the N340 road bridge, I drove down to the chimney factory so that I could take a walk up stream until I was fenced out.  The walk produced a few Pallid Swifts and Barn Swallow plus many Serins and House Sparrows near the works.  As with south of the road bridge, there were numerous Goldfinches on the wing and especially this year's juveniles with their plain faces.  A Reed Warbler was singing on the opposite bank and a brief sight of a Cetti's Warbler followed by a couple of Collared Doves flying across the river.  On the water itself were two pairs of Mallards gently paddling their way upstream.

Female Grey Wagtail Lavandera Cascadena Motacilla cinerea

Re-parking the car having driven under the old, low, bridge I was confronted with very good numbers of Swifts feeding low over the water and meadow; probably an equal proportion of Common and Pallids.  There were also a small number of Barn Swallows and the occasional House Martin.  Four Monk Parakeets were busy feeding in the area and always seemed to be "popping up" whenever I turned the next corner.  Lots of Blackbirds to be seen but not a single gull of any description.

Lots of hungry chicks to be fed by Mrs Blackbird Mirlo Comun Turdus merula

Lovely to find a family of Grey Wagtails and then a single White Wagtail not so far away and, near the mouth of the truncated river, a single Blue-headed Wagtail of the Iberian persuasion.  On the water itself the occasional Moorhen and, naturally, the resident Rock Doves were out in numbers near the bridge itself.  Likewise, there were plenty of feeding House Sparrows and Spotless Starlings but it was also reassuring to see a small flock of Greenfinches.

Little Ringed Plover Chorlitejo Chico Charadrius dubius

Waders were represented in small numbers with a couple of Little Ringed Plovers, half a dozen Ringed Plovers and a couple of Redshank.  Four Black-winged Stilts seem to have taken up residence on the far side of the terminal lagoon.

Well-concealed Nightingale Ruisenor Comun Luscinia megarhynchos

The return walk to the car produced a pair of Sardinian Warblers followed by a calling Cetti's Warbler and then, first the song, followed by the sight of a rather lovely Nightingale to conclude my short visit to this local biding patch.  Both Thekla Larks and a few Linnets on the way home along the mountain track to take the day's tally to 28 species.

Ringed Plover Chorlitejo Grande Charadrius hiaticula

Just a short rest from feeding for this Monk Parakeet Cotorra Argentina Myiopsitta monachus

Birds seen:
Mallard, Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Thekla Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

 

That's the way to enjoy the sun; let it all hang out!

  

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