Whilst I was down at the Guadalhorce in Malaga, Dave and friends were visiting Cabo de Gata, where I shall be with the Andalucia Bird Society for their march field visit in just over a week's time. Reading Dave's report, something to look forward to.
Cabo de Gata & Rambla Morales
Wednesday 8th March 2017
Well,
here in the east of Andalusia, Spain, spring appears to have sprung.
Last week Gilly and I were in Villaricos village having a coffee
whilst above us two newly arrived Barn Swallows were preening
themselves.
 |
| Newly-arrive Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica |
Today
Gilly was having a girlie day with her visiting sister, so I took the
opportunity to have a days birding with the group. I met up with John at
Los Gallardos and he kindly chauffeured me down to Pujaire where we
met up with Kevin, Val, Les and Alan for a coffee before making our
way to the first hide where we were joined by Jacky. We'd already logged a
few Barn Swallow and here there were some more, but not in great
numbers. There were also numerous Crag Martin and one or two House and
Sand Martin. A Thekla Lark showed well on the stone wall. The water
level was still high in the salina in front of us. There were the usual
Greater Flamingo, together with Avocet and Slender-billed Gulls. A
single Little Egret was to our left. I spotted a distant Great White
Egret flying away and disappearing into an unseen pool. Les spotted a
quarrel between a White and Grey Wagtail. Other smaller birds included
Stonechats (we only saw females today?), Greenfinch and Iberian
Shrikes. On the wader side we had a good number of species but not in
amounts. There were Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Kentish Plover, Grey
Plover, Greenshank, Black Winged Stilt, Spotted and Common Redshank.
Also seen was a Cormorant, Mallard and some Shelduck. Kevin found a
Spoonbill.
We
drove round to the second hide. There was nothing on the beach and very
little on the reasonably flat sea. From the hide we added Yellow Legged
Gull. Above the savannah we saw a Kestrel. Les spotted a Raven flying in
and landing where it was joined by a second one. The previously spotted
Spoonbill was on the water's edge in front of us but only showed
fleetingly between the shrubs. Managed to get a record shot, hampered by
heat haze!
 |
| Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia |
Les
spotted a well hidden Stone Curlew, but was trumped by Kevin who found
one then two examples in full view. Les countered by finding a Skylark. A
Sandwich Tern was also seen.
We
made our way to the Public hide. As we walked towards the hide itself I
heard the distinctive sound of a Corn Bunting. A scan of the tops of
the shrubs found the culprit quite easily. Along the rocky causeway were
numerous Lesser Black-backed Gulls together with about a dozen more
Sandwich Terns. On the water there were some Black-necked Grebe plus a
raft of distant unidentified wildfowl. There were about 25 Spoonbill on
one of the dividing causeways.
We
adjourned to the beach-side cafe in Cabo village. A flock of Sanderling
flew fast and low along the shoreline, landing close to us but out of
view. As we were "refreshing" a puppy was yapping from next doors flat
roof. It occasionally showed its head above the parapet. It was 4 metres
above the pavement. All of a sudden there was a thump as it fell. We
thought it at least it had broken a leg or two as it slumped there
motionless and squealing. Val got the owner out of his house and
showed him the result. At which point the puppy got up and walked off,
its only "injury" was that it pee'd itself. Think I'd have done a No.2 !
As we were about to leave an adult and juvenile Gannet showed
themselves out to sea.
We
said our goodbyes to Jacky before we traveled the beach-side track to
Rambla Morales. If you remember the last time we were here it was very
disappointing. Not a lot had changed! One Moorhen plus an arriving male
Mallard. At the estuary there were some small waders, probably Dunlin,
Kentish and possibly Ringed Plover, but heat haze and distance was a
problem plus the fact John had found a pod of Dolphin off the coast. We
guessed there must have been about 20 of them. Also out to sea was a
group of distant fast flying birds which kept landing and disappearing.
We returned to the vehicles which gave us better but not good views. We
eventually ID them as Shoveler. None of us can remember ever seeing
Shoveler on the sea!
Up
to that point we'd seen 46 species. We added Jackdaws going through the
greenhouse diversion. As a bonus, on the way home, about 10km south of
Los Gallardos, we saw a Golden Eagle flying low above the motorway.
A great day out with good birding and company.
Regards, Dave
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.
No comments:
Post a Comment