Charca de Suarez

Sunday 4 June

Overslept; so much for arriving at the Charca de Suarez well before the 9 o'clock opening time!  In the end I arrived at 10 and left just after 11.30.  Whilst it was very quiet, I did manage to get a couple of special treats, especially on my final visit to the new hide overlooking the Laguna del Alamo Banco.  I actually started at this laguna having been greeted by a number of calling Turtle Doves and immediately found a lone Snipe feeding at the rear of the shallow water.  A Collared Dove was calling behind me and both Barn Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the water.  At that moment a quartet of Red Avadavats skimmed over the reeds and down out of sight.

Turtle Dove Tortola Europea Streptopelia turtur

Moving on to the main hide overlooking the Laguna de las Aneas I recorded both Blackbird and cetti's warbler and, on arriving, found mainly a small number of mallard along with Coots and the odd Little Grebe.  Moorhens put in an appearance and, in addition to the above hirrundines, a few Common Swifts came down to take on water.

Little Grebe Zampullin Cumun Tachybaptus ruficollis

The Laguna del Trebol produced a few more Common Coots and then a couple of "natural" Red-knobbed Coots without any collar markings.  Walking between the two hides overlooking this water I found Nightingales and eventually managed to see as well as hear the local Turtle Doves.  In addition, I then added both House Sparrows and my first sight of a Spotted Flycatcher.  Another Turtle Dove as I approached the second hide along with a couple of Goldfinch.

Spotted Flycatcher Papamoscas Gris Muscicapa striata

Nothing to report from either the Del Lirio or Del Trebol lagunas so back to my starting point at the Laguna del Alamo Blanco.  The Snipe had gone and been replaced by a pair of Back-winged Stilts and also a pair of Little Ringed Plovers.  Pride of place, however, must go to the pair of Common Waxbill that came to feed immediately in front of the hide and less than three metres away.  Wow, what colours!

Close quarters with the delightful Common Waxbill Pico de Coral Estrida astrid

Returning via "Turtle Dove Alley" I was greeted by a Turtle Dove and a few House Sparrows.  No Little Owl at the ruin but a pair of Red-rumped Swallows joined both the Barn Swallows and House Martins and, on the roof of the ruin itself, a Tree Sparrow.  Not fifty metres away I passed a small sparrow flock which included Spanish Sparrows at the far end of the concrete track a trio of baby Moorhen looked over by both Collared Doves and Spotless Starlings.

Black-winged Stilt Ciguenuela Comun Himantopus hinmantopus

Birds seen:
Mallard, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Turtle Dove, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Common Waxbill, Red Avadavat, Goldfinch.

 More photos from this morning:

 

Red-knobbed Coot Focha Moruna Fulca cristata

Female Mallard Anade Azulon Anas platyrhynchos

Little Ringed Plover Chorlitejo Chico Charadrius dubius

Too hot for the local Terrapins Mauremys leprosa

 

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