Donana National park

Tuesday 20 February


Our last day and time to go home but not before first visiting the woods and water at La Rocina and then taking the long journey along the tracks to the Juan Valverde Centre on an anti-clockwise route.  Checking out the El Rocio lake first we duly recorded Greylag Goose, Flamingo, Spoonbill, Mallard, Heron and many Glossy Ibis along with Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Teal and Shoveler. In addition we had good numbers of Lapwing along with Avocet and Pintail. A Purple Swamphen put in an appearance and it was then across the sandy track at the top, picking up Greenfinch, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Robin, Blackbird and Meadow Pipit on the way.

Glossy Ibis Morito Comun Plegadis falcinellus at the La Rocina Centre

Once at the various hides we recorded Goldfinch, Serin, Chiffchaff and Great Tit.  A "woodpecker species" was hammering away, probably a Green, and then the sight of many Glossy Ibis.  Early morning Marsh Harriers came over the pool which contained Mallard, Shoveler and Pochard.  Nearby we had Chaffinch, Blue and Penduline Tit along with Stonechat and Tree Sparrow.

Grey Heron Garza Real Ardea cinerea

Touring round the main area of the Donana we were surprised by the lack of birds.  Lovely to find our first Lesser Kestrels of the year and lots of Flamingos, Spoonbills and Glossy Ibis at the far end.  On the outward journey we certainly found good numbers of Corn Buntings  along wth Spanish Sparrow, Linnet and even a Water Pipit.  Plenty of Stonechats and, overhead, Cormorant along with Red Kite, Black Kite, Common Kestrel and Raven.  The pools provided Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover and the return drive also produced a small number of Night Heron along with Little Egret, Grey Heron and Great White Egret.

Common Buzard Busardo Ratonero Buteo buteo

Lovely to find more Ruff, about a score of Black Stork plus Wood Sandpiper and even a Water Pipit along with a very late pair of Moorhen. Then we were back in Isla Mayor and all set for the long journey back home.  A great five days in brilliant weather and a final total of well over 100 species in total.

A few of the score or more newly-arrived Black Storks Ciguena Negra Ciconia nigra

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Pochard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glosy Ibis, Great White Egret, Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Red Kite, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot,   Black-headed Gull,   Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Wood Sandpiper,Green Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Zitting Cisticola, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Penduline Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Magpie, Raven,  Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Corn Bunting.

Other photos:

Many Night Herons Martinete Comun Nycticorax nycticorax , including immatures, found on the return leg from the Juan Valverde Centre

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs  and additional information