On my way to the overnight stop at Cabo de Gata I called in at the heathland just south of Retamar. No sooner had I taken the narrow road down towards the beach that i had both Iberian Grey Shrike and Magpie on the nearby large bushes. A Kestrel was hovering away to my right and then the first Black Redstart. Taking a side track I found both Stonechat and Crested Larks before coming across a small flock of Greenfinch. Then Spotless Starlings as I made my way to the end of the road to take a loop round the tracks at the bottom.
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| Black Redstart Colirrojo Tizon Phoenicurus ochruros |
Still very windy when I arrived at Cabo de Gata and only Flamingos and Yellow-legged Gulls to be seen from the first hide. A stop at the Public Hide produced more Flamingos and a mixture of Yellow-legged, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls but no terns. A couple of Avocet and a Shelduck before continuing on to the lighthouse, recording both Barn Swallow and Meadow Pipit to check out that area.
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| Flamingo Flamenco Comun Phoenicopterus roseusngo |
More House Sparrow and Collared Dove as I returned to the salinas and took the track along the rear. Here I found at least a dozen Avocet and twice that number of Shelduck. Crag Martins were feeding above the water and then at least thirty Audouin's Gulls seen at rest. A Dartford Warbler up onto the fence near the hide for a few seconds before dropping back into the undergrowth. Only the occasional Cormorant in flight with most hunkered down on the shallow rocks.
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| Male and female Greenfinch verderon Comun Carduelis chlois |
Finally a loop round the rambla having accessed the site from the beach track. On the water Coot, Shoveler, Mallard and White-headed Ducks in addition to a few Coot with White Wagtails on both the track and shore line.
Birds seen:
Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, White-headed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Flamingo, Kestrel, Coot, Avocet, Black-headed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Dartford Warbler, Iberian Grey Shrike, Magpie, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch
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