Bermejales with John and Jenny Wainwright

It would appear that I am not the only one otherwise sidetracked form Birding judging by the report i have just received form John and jenny Wainwright's last birding trip, yesterday, to the Bermejales reservoir and area.  I can only presume that the exterior painting and chimney works are now complete and the couple have been given permission to take a day off!!  Once this report is published then I will be able to start on the next blog.


Bermejales: Tuesday 29th July

Quite hot (40C), but with breezes off of the embalse.  En route seeing Collared Doves, Spotless Starlings, House Sparrows, Magpies, Blackbirds and a few Crested Larks.

Blue Tit Herrerillo Comun Parus caeruleus (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

After tapas at La Crux by the embalse, we found a suitable parking spot in the cool of the pines.  A lot of people here today mainly a scout troop, canoeing and a party learning to ride, but in the main peace and quiet reigned.  I left Jenny in the shade and I went on my constitutional, across the road and into the pine copse.  Lots of Goldfinches and Serins and lots of noise from the Wood Pigeons as they clattered out of the trees at my approach - its a job trying to walk quietly on the ultra dry pine needles and leaves.  Common Magpies and a few Azure-winged Magpies about in the open areas, while on the power lines I counted three Bee-eaters and soaring above them two Bonelli´s Eagles.

Around me the "peeping" of a family of Coal Tits was heard, along with a single Blue Tit and another hundred metres on a Crested Tit was noted and a Kestrel was heard but not sighted.  On my way back to the car, I found a couple of very young scorpions (Buthus occitanicus) - no more than 15mm long, then stood and watched a Melodious Warbler feeding.

Sitting back under the pines we watched a White Wagtail feeding along the water´s edge and the air was filled with the calls of House Martins and Barn Swallows and then a lone Common Swift came into view - I thought all these birds had left the area, as they have been missing from Salar since last Wednesday 23rd July.  A Little Ringed Plover flashed past, probably having being disturbed by some bathers further along the waters edge and two Crossbills passed overhead.   We left the embalse, but not before seeing a Yellow-legged Gull sat atop the dam tower.

Young Scorpion Buthus occitanicus (PHOTO: John Wainwright)

We then took the "rough road" that runs parallel to the Cacin Gorge, here we saw Crag Martins, another Common Swift, Barn Swallows and House Martins, a couple of Sardinian Warblers and several Stonechats along with Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Crested Larks and Wood Pigeons.

We stopped for a while at the Cacin dam lake, where the water level had left some mud exposed.  Mostly Mallard and Common Coots which were put up by a Booted Eagle circling over the lake, and in the branches of the dead trees - over the other side of the lake - we found some more Bee-eaters, White Wagtails and a Magpie.  Lots more hirundines here among them more Common Swifts and a very small swift (possibly Pallid) but not good enough sighting to verify that.  As we neared the slip road off to Salar, a Common Buzzard was seen.

Not a big count, but an enjoyable day by the water.

Sound like a very pleasant morning to me John.

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