Huetor Tajar with John & Jenny

Saturday 29 March

Is it me or does everybody happen to go to the same site at the same time?  Yesterday my holidaying neighbours from Holland, Gilbert and Ely Houtekamer, spent the day in the Cacin Valley after their climb up the Sierra Loja with Mick Richardson whilst, at about the same time, it would appear that John and Jenny Wainwright were also in the vicinity at neighbouring Huetor Tajar.  At least they both got in a good day's birding before today's horrible, miserable wet weather.  John's report follows:



Huetor Tajar:  28th March

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava ibereia (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

Quite a warmish day but there is still that chilly wind.  As we passed over the bridge to access the north side of the stream, below us we saw Little Egret, Moorhen,and Green Sandpiper, and in the small bushes here we found Great Tits, House Sparrows, Sardinian Warbler and Goldfinches.
Up to the crossroads and in the old tree we had good views of Greenfinches and in the fields around we saw Crested Larks, White Wagtails and a good number of Cattle Egrets.  Parking at, and overlooking the stream, we found a Green Sandpiper (this was moved on when a motorbike went past), lots of Linnets coming down for baths, on the banks more Crested Larks and Greenfinches, Serins, Blackbirds, House Sparrows and two blue-headed Yellow Wagtails (Iberia).

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

As we were photographing the latter two Little Ringed Plovers flew in and several Barn Swallows flashed past going upstream.  Moving up towards the ford we found a second Green Sandpiper and a Water Pipit - the latter having a passion for having a go at the Barn Swallows when they got close to him - which didn´t give us any chance to photograph it, he finally gave up and disappeared over the far bank and wasn´t seen again.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

At the ford we found White Wagtails and another pair of Little Ringed Plovers - we could still see the first pair on the other bend - the Green Sandpipers flew past us and landed up on a small island upstream.  Also here three Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, a Moorhen and in the surrounding trees were Spotless Starlings, Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons and a Common Magpie.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius  (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

Winds picking up so heading home.

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