Friday 3 April
"The threatened cloud hath passed away, sing la de da, sing la de day!" Awoke this morning after all the recent rain to a perfect, cloudless blue sky and full sun beating down; not a breeze in the air and, as I set off along the beach paseo to complete the weeks's shopping at the local supermarket, the sea as calm as a mill pond. No Mediterranean Gulls on the beach this morning, just a quartet or so of
Feral Pigeons plus a handful of local
House Sparrows.
 |
| Snow-capped Maroma seen from the footbridge |
Once up on the footbridge, having remembered to bring the binoculars with me me this morning, I could see just a single
Lesser Black-backed Gull on the shore whilst a pair of rapidly, moving around
Ringed Plovers which eventually settled on the shingle bank of the river below me, accompanied by a single
White Wagtail. A single
Cormorant flew away westwards towards Caleta harbour. Looking upstream, the clear sky had revealed the snow-covered summit of Maroma, highest mountain in Malaga province, and below a number of feeding
Monk Parakeets. A couple of
Spotless Starlings were also collecting nest-building materials and even a pair of
Blackbirds seen.
 |
| Monk Parakeets Cotorra Argentina Myiopsitta manachus |
Carrying on along the paseo many more active
Monk Parakeets and then a couple of
Collared Doves taking a rest on the path itself. On the water's edge a mixed flock of thirty, manly,
Audouin's along with a handful of
Mediterranean Gulls, a couple of the latter wearing a full black hood. All then relatively quiet until the far end of Algarrobo Costa when I spotted the resting quartet if
Yellow-legged Gulls. I finished my walk by passing the harbour at Caleta where there was virtually nothing to be seen and no more than a dozen gulls on the beach, the main resident flock, presumably, have gone off to feed.
 |
| Mediterranean Gulls Gaviota Cabecinegra Larus melanocephalus |
Once shopping completed it was back along the main road to Algarrobo Costa, a quick nip into the local Lidl's, then back along the paseo to home. However, whilst approaching the supermarket I did have sight of both
Barn Swallow an another couple of
White Wagtails. Both
Monk Parakeets and
Blackbirds still feeding on the waste ground below the footbridge and still just the lone
Lesser Black-backed Gull at the water's edge. But by now a slight, cool breeze had developed and creating more than a few ripples on the sea. Isn't it lovey to get out, get some fresh air and stretch the legs. I suppose you could say it is one positive to not having any home delivery service in the area!
Birds seen:
Cormorant, Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Audouin's Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Barn Swallow, White Wagtail, Blackbird, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow.
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
No comments:
Post a Comment