Charca de Suarez

Saturday 29 February

Bluethroat Ruisenor Pechiazul Luscinia svecica

Glorious weather and a joy to spend a couple of hours at the Charca de Suarez, Motril with friend Dave Elliott-Binns who had travelled down from Arboleas in Almeria province via Cabo de Gata yesterday.  Approaching the reserve via "Turtle Dove Alley" I managed to record Collared Dove, Spotless Starling, Serin, Zitting Cistcola, Spanish and House Sparrow, Robin, Black Redstart and Stonechat before meeting up at the gate with Dave, who had also seen a Black-headed Gull.

Red-knobbed Coot Focha Moruna Fulica cristata with male Mallard Anade Azulon Anas platyrhynchos

Once inside the gates we headed straight for the bamboo hide overlooking the Laguna del Taraje where we found Shoveler, Mallard, Moorhen and both Common and Red-knobbed Coots.  A very friendly Robin kept us company along with Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and  a few very vocal Cetti's Warblers.  A Great Tit joined in before we moved on to the photographers' hide overlooking the Laguna del Alamo Blanco seeing our third Blackbird of the morning.

Female Shoveler Cucharda Comun Anas clypeata

Our resident White Stork seems to have found a new resting place and on the water a half-dozen Teal along with a few Mallard.  Two Herons were recorded and a Marsh Harrier quartered the back of the water over the vegetation.  Always amusing to see a Purple Swamphen in flight and we were not to be disappointed whist at this site.

White Stork Ciguena Blanca Ciconia ciconia

On the way to the main hide overlooking the Laguna de las Aneas we stopped to admire the soaring Booted Eagle and once at the water noted the large number of Common Coots along with a few of their Red-knobbed cousins.  A few Gadwall, Mallard and Shoveler but also three Ferruginous Ducks at the back of the water.  Also on the far side a single White Wagtail whilst to our left we found a male Grey Wagtail.  Two resting Herons and a lone Little Egret but just the one Little Grebe on this occasion.  A couple of Cetti's Warblers pout in an appearance along with a single Yellow-legged Gull - albeit their were more above us making their usual "racket!"

Teal Cerceta Comun Anas crecca (female above)

The little spinney just beyond produced Chaffinch, Serin and Goldfinch before reaching the Laguna del Trebol where we found more Red-knobbed Coots and a couple of Little Grebe. Both Black Redstart and Chiffchaff were recorded and even the "regular" Bluethroat paid a short visit to have its photograph take. 

Bluethroat Ruisenor Pechiazul Luscinia svecica

Viewed from the opposite side of the water we had both Collared Doves and a second Purple Swamphen.  WE also managed to find a rather large Cameleon walking the track to this far hide.  With nothing extra to record at the Laguna del Lirio we made our way to say farewell to each other; Dave back to Arboleas, a 250km journey, and me to prepare for a fortnight back in flooded Britain!

Chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon

Birds seen:
Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Ferruginous Duck, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, White Stork, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Spotless Staring, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch.

More Photos:

Early morning Chiffchaff Mosquitero Comun Phylloscopus collybita

Robin Petirrojo Europeo Erithacus rubecula

Immature Grey Heron Garza Real Ardea cinerea

Dave gets to see his Bluethroat!

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