Saturday 24 August
At last, back in the birding saddle with a visit to the
Guadalhorce in Malaga for the monthly field visit of the Andalucia Bird Society and
over 60 species recorded including
Thekla Lark and
Stonechat on the way down the mountain and a welcome home by this week's small resident flock of
Bee-eaters. a clear,dry and sunny morning but, pleasingly, not quite as hot as the previous few days.
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| Kingfisher Alcedo atthis |
Eventually, seventeen of us set off from the rear of the primary school to cross the footbridge into the reserve where we met up with member Eric Lyon. Having reached the
Sea Watch, the majority reversed their steps and then took in the
Laguna Escondida on its way to the main hide at the
Laguna Grande. Meanwhile, those few that took the beach walk ended up at either/both of the above where we were able to compare notes on what had been seen during the morning. As might be expected, each group managed to identify a few different birds not seen by the other but, I think, most if not all of the group, would have recorded a minimum fifty species. Indeed, some had arrived even earlier than the posted start time and Luis was able to record over a dozen
Glossy Ibis heading up river from the reserve.
Starting out there were a good number of swifts to be seen feeding overhead, mainly
Common but also a number of
Pallid Swifts. Likewise, plenty of
Barn Swallows about plus a handful of
Red-rumped Swallows and a few
House Martins. Naturally, we were greeted by a raucous flock of
Monk Parakeets. From the footbridge we were able to see
Coots and
Moorhens plus the off
Little Egret along with the resident flock of
Rock Doves and a scattering of
Spotless Starlings. Up river to the right of the first bridge a
Kingfisher rested for very many minutes showing off his salmon-coloured breast. From here and regularly throughout the morning we had views of
Zitting Cisticolas and even produced a couple of
Sardinian Warblers.
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| Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos |
The first hide overlooking the
Laguna Casillas produced a few
Coots and
Little Grebe plus a
White-headed Duck and single male
Common Pochard. However, pride of lace must have gone to the
Little Bittern that kept us entertained from the top of the opposite reed bed. The first
Little Egret was seen and more were to follow during the course of the morning. Around us we had a movement of
Serins,
Goldfinches and
House Sparrows plus a single
Greenfinch. From the neighbouring hide overlooking the
Wader Pool the first sight of waders. A few
Black-winged Stilts and about twenty
Little Ringed Plovers along with a
Kentish Plover. A pair of
Green Sandpipers were feeding to the left whilst a
Common Sandpiper did likewise from the centre island. Then, there in the old tree at the front of the nearest island, another
Kingfisher to entertain us as he fished away to his heart's content.
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| Fishing lessons about to commence from this Kingfisher Alcedo atthis |
The expose old river, Rio Viejo, certainly contained a mass of gulls. To the right mainly
Yellow-legged with a sprinkling of
Lesser Black-backed but the, towards the centre on the far side the
Audouin's Gulls. Meanwhile, on the near shore, the smaller gulls made up mainly of
Mediterranean but a few
Black-headed Gulls. Also, to the right , another
Kentish Plover and a couple of
Little Ringed Plovers but also a single
Little Stint and a pair of
Dunlin. About a dozen
Black-winged Stilts worked the area and a couple of
Turnstone were identified working the nearside edge of the water. Walking towards the old river from the Wader Pool we had a single
Sedge Warbler resting on the side of the track which gave a good view to many whilst, in the vegetation below, the first
Cetti's Warblers of the morning were heard.
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| Record shot of well-camouflaged Snipe Gallinago gallinago |
Very little to be seen at sea or on the beach so the group split to make their separate ways to the remaining two lagunas. Those travelling via the beach managed to record both
Nightingale and
Olivacious Warbler and at the
Laguna Grande found a juvenile
Redshank. Meanwhile, the other group had a surprise visit from a close
Booted Eagle at the
Laguna Casillas and a few
Grey Herons had arrived at the
Wader Pool. Also at the latter, the visiting
Snipe reappeared and remained well-concealed but, in the end, all were able to find the bird. Finally, leaving the pool, a large flock of Barn Swallows were taking a well-earned rest in the shade.
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| Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis with Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Audouin's Gulls Larus fuscus, Larus michahellis & Larus audouinii |
The small
Lagua Escondida duly provided a handful of
White-headed Ducks along with a pair of
Gadwall and
Shoveler plus a family of maturing
Mallards.
Little Grebes were busy diving and there were also a few
Coots present. So on to the main hide at the
Laguna Grande. Lots of gulls present representing all five species previously seen. A couple of
Sandwich Terns passed through but then three
Little Terns arrived and remained long enough for all to watch their fishing expertise. Closer study revealed that a single juvenile
Greater Flamingo was feeding amongst the gulls and then a couple of juvenile
Cattle Egrets arrived on the scene immediately in front of the hide. Members of the first group to arrive were able to report the presence of a
Grey Wagtail in front of the hide and then a small flock of
Blue-headed Wagtails (Yellow Wagtails of the Iberian sub-race) flew in from behind the hide. Meanwhile, at the back of the water, five
Avocet drifted from left to right followed by three
Black-necked Grebes moving in the opposite direction. To add variety, the single
Grey Plover, still mainly in summer plumage, remained long enough on the far bank for most of the second group to get a quick view before the bird moved away.
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| Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus over the Laguna Casillas |
Two more birds remained. Having seen only the one raptor all morning a lone
Kestrel appeared in the distance behind the hide and settle in the top of a Eucalyptus tree and, on leaving the hide to make our way back to the cars, a lone
Purple Heron flew over us towards the
Laguna Grande.
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| Resting flock of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica but can you find the Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica? |
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| Audouin's Gulls Larus audouinii |
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| Record shot of Little Tern Sterna albifrons over Laguna Grande |
Birds seen:
Gadwall, Mallar, Shoveler, Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Flamingo,Booted Eagle,Kestrel,Moorhen,Coot,Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey Plover, Little Stint, Dunlin, Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue-headed Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch
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