![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRZ4mM3hqpw-29p-A38uGownRbcT4HPBxU3sfOWtPR7TxnkXnHa6QuQNj17TEb-5ElhF9Rs_7NxnmVfLso_CPM5eEJFTiHzDBq8PO14bggoYMYLYSXxpfabKqfbyUyS3ONlD5fzUyo6Lw/s320/LittleOwl0417139.jpg) |
Little Owl Athene noctua |
Sunday 17 April
The sun was shining so I took myself off to the
Charca de Suarez in Motril and, upon arriving, discovered that there was not only a strong breeze to accompany the mixture of sun and broken cloud but it was some sort of open day for members to purchase and have trees planted in remembrance of their new-born children, As a result there was to be no access to the new lake, the L
aguna del Alamo Blanco, home to Water Rails, Crakes and all other sorts of goodies. Result? I only stayed for the first session then returned home via a stop in Turtle Dove Alley where I picked up a resting
Little Owl on top of the chimney that remained on the ruin along with
Greenfinch,
Crested Lark,
Kestrel and
Spotless Starlings.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitugWG00cC1xw3Elu49yCUSt1SlQyStjochE_-dSVHvLLlxAj_CirTwnSJCrbCSood6JsiWUMbI3kZSwVnQp2Ht5XMoBk-4HODrK0kHkTVoW56ND1AICQsd6Vdzr4_p3i_9J_KJtOFTh1I/s640/CommonSandpiper0417110.jpg) |
Common Sandpiper Andarrios Chico Actitis hypoleucos |
At the Charca I headed for the
Laguna del Taraje where I hope to find a Little Bittern but such luck. I simple managed
Coot,
Mallard,
Little Grebe and
Moorhen and a
Blackbird flew across the water as I was about to leave. On the other hand, sitting alone with a
Nightingale singing away immediately next to me was most relaxing. Walking to the main hide overlooking the
Laguna de las Aneas I heard my first
Turtle Doves of the year and then saw the first resting on a factory roof.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BgRSaYYkgNlNNytFAP3XaudLxi2hspjt0VdD8KtM06rAsHsilWlT935JGUwFGPhWNFy8XYXC_p5NNPbnxx4l5TU8ZTlIBMpdL_jX2_X_HfYwtaDqEwuWKFhpqF0aFEbkMIXNJMqgs0Zl/s640/LittleGrebe0417127.jpg) |
Little Grebe Zampullin Comun Tachybaptus ruficollis |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2NP9T98u_N5D5CU9nY7yEYon3U9hyg8IR_K4Yl_uqVrrtBxQZ1uCZY3sBHXMci0xCU76RnbmhBkLYLYgmsw1cd7EUcIh3UvLoo1lmzqTrN5cFU4oS6X9N-vQ869ZgId5ur8nFu-o8gnu/s640/Mallard0417120.jpg) |
Adult male Mallards Anade Azulon Anas platyrhynchos moving into eclipse plumage |
The large water itself had a healthy population of
Common Coots with a couple of
Red-knobbed Coots at the rear. For a change, lots of
Grey Herons resting along with about a dozen
Little Egrets. Closer inspection found a trio of
Night Herons. Meanwhile, numerous
Mallards paddled the water along with a single
Common Pochard and the occasional
Little Grebe. A pair of
Common Sandpipers and a single juvenile
Cormorant was a welcome change and above the water we had feeding
Barn Swallows and
House Martins.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHTgchPM5Kde0GMSbhOO0yQYIDa-euu4H7Q2yHIhJsH7FkxfbE_UrBnuwPLiHc8zeVDdDXR9JF9eurVZKu23UkpfotZg0pYZHYgb_JjSuUi0V9jOR5telZjAHbLOH7p7MJk9QptTxFUUj/s640/Heron041735.jpg) |
Young Grey Heron Garza Real Ardea cinerea |
A quick walk round to the
Laguna del Trebol produced the usual
Common and
Red-knobbed Coots along with a single
Yellow-legged Gull but pride of place went to the foraging
Sedge Warbler immediately opposite the hide. Naturally, a couple of
Cetti's Warblers were utilising their loud calls.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfM5DU9JTI1YtSY2GryUsQKO_BkrL0-8CTjX0NjGLG6quM1qte4EiEBUAs1A3uNsh8HYiXZgPoOTJsF7bQ9oRZ8DYtSxh1gEC9bTRcufUCC5VjZjKuExA5gbCPN71tTUbnJcZ98qZ6d6M/s640/NightHeron0417156.jpg) |
Very distant Night Heron Martinete Comun Nycticorax nycticorax |
Ans so, after a very brief stop at the
Laguna del Lirio whilst waiting for Manu to unlock the gate where the resident pair of
Red-knobbed Coots were seen with the remaining three of their original five chicks, I set off for the neighbouring Turtle Dove Alley as previously described.
Birds seen:
Mallard, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Night Heron, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Spotless Starling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KvM1WOgk-ML7AJy-1mFJcQX05SKvWLOCl0h4R_jWQZ12e4FDGozqmF5tSehfRm2OdHwc7-r7_6s1fYRbXDqsIWtLiKOsRhV9keFEugNw4lUGN0-sXYumRKz5PjXjGKffeToBJu0w3aBU/s640/LittleOwl0417142.jpg) |
Still be watched by the Little Owl Mochuelo Comun Athene noctua |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.
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