Monday 25 May
Warm and sunny again but slightly cooler then the week-end along with a very light breeze. Time to pay a visit to
Fuente de Piedra, even though warned that most may be closed to the public and then take the farm track across to the back of
Laguna Dulce. Despite the car park being closed at Fuente I was able to observe the flooded entry field and then walk around most of the site albeit very frustrating to find that all paths leading to the hides were closed off. But first a quick note to record the
Raven that crossed the front of the car as I neared the to of the A45 leading towards Antequera.
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| Greater Flamingo Flamenco Comun Phoenicopterus roseus with Avocet Avoceta Comun Recurvirostra avosetta |
On the shallow flooded field to the left of the entry road a number of
Flamingos,
Black-winged Stilts and
Avocets along with a score or more
Coot. The odd
Lapwing,
Redshank and
Moorhen plus the feeding
Barn Swallows and occasional
House Martin plus a quartet of
Slender-billed Gulls.
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| Avocet Avoceta Comun Recurvirostra avosetta |
Approaching the board walk from the rear more
Flamingos and
Avocets and the first of the feeding
Gull-billed Terns. A single
Blue-headed Wagtail put in an appearance and, as I was walked along the edge of the meadow towards the main mirador, both
Reed Warblers and
Nightingales were calling. Once at the mirador the resident
Jackdaws put in an appearance and out on the main salina a selection of birds. Just a few
Black-headed Gulls but hundreds of
Flamingos to my left and the opposite side a score or more resting
Gull-billed Terns and a single
Marsh Harrier. Checking once again the
Flamingos to my left I was delighted to find a single
Lesser Flamingo showing well.
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| Distant record shot of Lesser Flamenco Flamenco Enano Phoeniconaias minor (far right0 |
Making my way back to the car I noticed a few lapwing at the flooded field before setting of on an ant-clockwise circuit of the water. However, on reaching the distant farm I turned right and took the old farm track towards the back of Laguna Dulce. This was to prove a successful drive as in addition to a number of
Blue-headed Wagtails I also found a single
Grey Wagtail along with a number of
Crested Larks and
Corn Buntings. A lone
Little Owl was resting near the first farm ruin and shortly after a
Wood Lark was identified near the edge of the track.
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| Iberian Yellow Wagtail Lavandera Boyera Iberica Motacilla flava iberiae |
Once at the back of
Laguna Dulce I stopped to observe the large number of
Coots along with a few
Red-crested Pochards about was more excited to discover a couple of
Glossy Ibis near some water-bound trees. More
Gull-billed Terns were feeding over the grass edges and so to the far end where I came across more
Barn Swallows. Making my way towards the end of the track I stopped to admire the male
Montagu's Harrier that swooped over the car and away. Goodbye to the local
House Sparrows and off to the lay-bye and enter the hide overlooking the water.
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| Glossy Ibis Morito Comun Plegadis falcinellus in the shade of the trees |
To my left another couple of
Glossy Ibis and a little further away a resting small mixed flock of
Common and
Red-crested Pochards. A pair of
Mallard paddled away and out on the main water more
Common Pochard a pair of male
White-headed Ducks. No end of
Little Grebes, they must have had a fabulous breeding season, along with a quartet of
Great Crested Grebes. Much searching in the distant water also produces a small number of
Black-necked Grebes. Still plenty of
Coots and a small number of
Moorhen as the
Gull-billed Terns fed over the water and then the finding of a couple of
Whiskered Terns to add to the morning's list. Both
Blackbird and
Hoopoe were found below me to my left and then more
Reed Warblers and both
Goldfinch and
Serin. Perhaps my final bird was not the couple of
Lapwing but a very noisy
Cetti's Warbler.
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| Glossy Ibis Morito Comun Plegadis falcinellus |
A slight diversion on the way home took me to the village of
Mollina where I found
Blackbird,
Hoopoes,
Barn Swallows and
Collared Dove but not the hoped for Rufous Bush Robin.
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| Red-crested Pochard pato Colorado Netta rufina |
Birds seen:
Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Great Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Lapwing, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Wood Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Jackdaw, Raven, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting.
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| Greater Flamingo Flamenco Comun Phoenicopterus roseus |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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