Looks like Dave and his friends also had a good morning's birding yesterday. Whereas we were leased with our Spotted Crake I notice that the Arboleas Birding Group had lots of swifts to our none! And we are yet to see the first Common all seen to date being Pallid Swifts. Thanks to Gilly for providing the excellent photographs; probably means that Dave is now looking for a new job!
Wednesday 14th March: Cabo de Gata and Rambla Morales
Firstly,
sorry for the delay, but my computer needed a new hard drive! Spring is
on the way so Cabo de Gata was the best option to see what migrant
birds had arrived thus far. Gilly and I picked up Richard and made our
way down the E15/A7. There were patches of sea mist as we approached
Pujaire, but we still managed to spot some Common Swift. We were joined
by Alan, Les, John and Val at the cafe before making our way to the
first hide. I immediately saw the rear red end of a Bluethroat
disappearing into the shrubs, never to be seen again! We had good views
of at least 3 Iberian Grey Shrike. The water level was high so we saw
mostly the larger waders, Avocet, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit and
Black Winged Stilt. I spotted a Grey Plover and Les found some Kentish
Plover nearby. Wildfowl included Shelduck and Mallard. A Thekla Lark
showed well on the wall. Gilly found a Yellow Wagtail. A Zitting
Cisticola showed well on a power line. Also seen were Little Ringed
Plover and Slender Billed Gull.
 |
| Iberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis (PHOTO: Gilly Elliott-Binns) |
We
moved round to the beach opposite the second hide. Numerous Sandwich
Terns were fishing close to shore. As we walked towards the hide a
solitary Red-rumped Swallow was spotted by Alan. Gilly counted 363
Greater Flamingo. Also seen were Chiffchaff, Cormorant and Lesser
Black-backed Gull. Checking out to sea an adult Gannet was seen. Alan
then spotted some dark birds fishing close to shore. Shearwaters. We
raced back to the beach to identify them as Mediterranean
Shearwaters....at least 6 in total.
 |
| Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus (PHOTO: Gilly Elliott-Binns) * Presumed Balearic Shearwater |
We
then headed to the public hide. There were numerous Lesser-black Backed
Gulls on the causeway together with a good number of Sandwich Terns
plus, Black-headed, Mediterranean, Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls.
Small birds included Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Black Redstart and
Greenfinch. Dunlin were noted and I found some Black-necked Grebes.
Richard, who'd stayed by the vehicles, believed he saw some Tree
Sparrows.
We then
made our way to the Rambla Morales. On the way along the
beach-side track there was an obliging Lesser Short-toed Lark. Alan also
spotted some Skylark. There was a large flock of mixed swifts and
hirundines over the reeds. These included Crag and House Martin, Barn
Swallow and we believe both Common and Pallid Swifts. Also seen were
Mallard, Coot, Grey Heron, White Headed Duck and Shoveler.
 |
| Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (PHOTO: Gilly Elliott-Binns) |
We
made our way back to the Cabo cafe. Those that braved the cool wind
were rewarded with a sighting of a Marsh Harrier coming in off the sea (from Roquetas way, not Algeria!) and more Mediterranean Shearwaters!
We ended up with 52 species, but weather was a bit chilly and the wind was northerly.
Thank you to Gilly for the photos.
Regards, Dave
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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