![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasrauHlNlKnYGFxHIDlRt64-wmiRLcYj8JqPlqz4NbqMMAjPNWE6TSKAILmfSVKQpf3SsKecmxJnbkqD08VfqbhwisegIhcru7a9MfmU3T00vd_d1gOKyuv4IW-5jsJT4xVD1N6RYSccB/w400-h266/Stonechat121966+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Stonechat Saxicola torquatus |
Saturday 19 December
With travel restrictions removed at midnight to enable one to cross provincial borders, where else would I be but at the Charca de Suarez on the western outskirts of Motril to enjoy a morning's birding, my first visit since late October. Dry with a little cloud but very low, bright, sunshine casting shadows and silhouettes which had the potential for taking some of the shine off the morning. A couple of Cattle Egrets and a Collared Dove as I approached "Turtle Dove Alley" then my first Stonechat of the day. No bird life along the now disgraceful concrete link road which has been more and more used for fly-tipping, an absolute disgrace and blot on the landscape, I was near the ruins before I found a good-sized flock of small seed eaters, mainly Common but also Black-rumped Waxbills along with more than a handful of Red Avadavats and maybe a dozen House Sparrows.
Entering the reserve itself a few local Spotless Starlings and the first of three Blackbirds seen during the visit. Straight to the Laguna del Taraje where, in the misty gloom, I found mainly Mallards. A little patience and a single Little Grebe along with a trio of Coot. Even a single Red-knobbed Coot put in an appearance and all around the reeds numerous Chiffchaff.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BN0aR3T0ngMrc8CKWNtSlpNW4QhF1-ummE19w4WrGcTh2IvN9MF1fCLJgyba5dwxXVsp5Mn7HWuCIRIDFyEcXGMcRWUzDQTmlqGgCPzgKj3HiLKmOz3NG0YFkZfLRD1MBj4OaEcMmr5Q/w400-h266/Chiffchaff121919+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita |
Moving on to the Laguna del Alamo Blanco, noting a few more Mallards and another Red-knobbed Coot at the intermediate hide, I found it very full with water and no chance of a wader. The resident White Stork was preening towards the back with more Mallards to the front and a dozen Teal at the rear. To the extreme far right I enjoyed the appearance of a couple of eclipse plumaged Pintail whilst far away in the distance a Buzzard was making lazy circles in the sky. It required a short walk to the left hand edge of the water to fully see the back waterway and there I found my Purple Swamphen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU2JOkliuNYYDE4lkSgjEHIi1UKYax71u8tGqg3bMs9I4V4b6Y9EgiZjRz-Umv7jIxQZttkIRQKncL5JEYxRWUdrUUTo7PgLXnCUdcLS2j6J5g9GiIpc2aueusqmO4hw6yGEbRRBYrBQn/w400-h266/PurpleSwamphen121906+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio |
Approaching the Laguna de las Aneas I enjoyed the sight of my first Kestrel and once ensconced in the hide a good collection of water birds along with a few nearby House Sparrows and a White Wagtail. Mainly Common but also very many Red-knobbed Coots along with Mallards towards the front and Shovelers to the back and right along with a quartet of Gadwall. Two Herons in the reeds at far back on the left and then a trio of Lesser Black-backed Gulls put in a brief appearance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmekE1zDpZkBtjbQd3p_z17gIBQYPWgDYmvzfqFz3VImAikUhBch0BdfNrStjLMTqnAk9TC8MljS89VGSECHabtNWEM6Ca-DXb1HO41OyTy-jQNn_29MzmAoov-cfnnXpBa7cPmAShPz0E/w640-h426/RedKnobbedCoot121914A+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata |
So on to the Laguna del Trebol where I hoped to see a very special warbler. Only two birders present occupying the side seats where they were busy photographing the feeding Bluethroats. Ere long they departed and I had the hide to myself where I spent, perhaps, the next hour happily watching the Bluethroats along with very many Chiffchaff and the female Black Redstart. A Stonechat paid a visit and then an inquisitive Robin and spending most of my time viewing form the northern window I had the low sun behind me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy-ufFF1b7PXxa2kC8_CSihSu89V477PWSH5HSco7WlpV8HFT3gkMw0oR3p8neeaLhYA1AgAjGW2coqMkGqpREBCaMWbkN591-DWZ5c_otXSx6tEq4lJ2CLJb48R09wlrw5nWt3rv48-I/w640-h426/Bluethroat121997+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica |
But more excitement was to follow. Following the flighty Chiffchaffs to a small reeded island not ten metres away I jut happened to be looking at a Chiffchaff low on the right-hand edge when the low sun spectacularly highlighted the white moustache markings of the sought after Moustached Warbler. What a wonderful bird and sighting. (And the bird was also to be seen in the same place by following birders.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKEbp-g7vAu0mYQsM7huea2DVU63aXoWoJiMea8GlnImJNSDlMVeWHVlcscjO5dj4IcxcUej29fprCdPdRlwzUkGkdrax5MA9dXuRO0pwZ2tAzV9E5tD0l6cc-_tC_XIsneLqA1lh6hpv/w640-h426/BlackRedstart121995+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Female Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros |
Meanwhile back to my preferred window I had a couple of White Wagtails foraging below me followed by the arrival on at least three occasions of a Grey Wagtail. And what was that creeping about in the undergrowth? Eventually clear enough to confirm the presence of a Cetti's Warbler.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypme2XrRC8CdXkYp1n1-5L0m8is7iT4pBbVFTGuR2Zw_7PtjcPJa0m0QwilLkkz_54y7j4uwA6QkXbT0rYOtDyAW0gaZMMa64NANXRoQtAzB7GHbIK5iVYloIElMSFJCC0q-PfHcKnET7/w640-h426/CettisWarbler121905+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti |
My final stop for the morning at the Laguna del Lirio produced another pair of Red-knobbed Coots and the same number of Mallard and Moorhen plus so many feeding Chiffchaffs. I found a sleeping Snipe on the left bank and the last bird of the morning was a passing Chaffinch that disappeared into the trees to my right.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJuYvFFy1YRYuNrqimYnh2XUPiWhnaa79nEmgNrwXWl493GyLLy9dGBiiDDJ59ucHl1g77HH_kH2lybp-zj3e8M6nM-tXQM1Dt84tT0c728hmabKDUpb61yS9-FC3moWKZoj2KeeGJYma/w640-h428/Snipe121918+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Snipe Gallinago gallinago |
A wonderful morning and so good to be back at the Charca but for how long will the provincial border remain open?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7-PNOL2ZIgpsQbaydyUdyLzH08wk09IZhuniurYZbk75CwUwUvqfpLOXdiwKku1eeVMsazzIZwnfvTDjwylX8BAWqHVA_gOGAWlenWHNOBkqgp0ZZHMoo5wn0nLe5pfFbp2oerVUvyn4/w640-h426/GreyWagtail121969+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea |
Birds seen:
Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Heron, White Stork, Flamingo, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Common Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Bluethroat, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Common Waxbill, Black-rumped Waxbill, Red Avadavat, Chaffinch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WfUSFeZ16rVbMdbToA_G3WhnIFn3aZocOmjU4ZXqEmQ_F-nBZ3vNgUPilArQryJMKsOQmR9ZRqH9tQMzxTb57a222r4hNkIzqbNamfgd14tcXvJ_lwA-A0ON_idoXODHp7MsPky5GWKh/w400-h266/Robin121994+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Robin Erithacus rubecula |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnXCJdW108scOML3ILEgRPbxrmORgh14kP_LHdZ_dieeIwO0cbwjmg6a1y-OOcHTESkbbijLl9BonSHoU-RPJ7zU6Lm0DiFE88xlBLrUAqyVo3u170i5_5Gh6I9cT3TPWFiAXI3RMIzg8/w400-h266/Bluethroat121955+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfiuYUmc5cBrLN-lbc01k4qB4G7m5-naqkfP7OwwyApBwTec2OKOZnJP_sSs-tbsUBjAgNbHJW0ZUxCFJFAHfgbLdXXF8uOl3K9jh4vK0t344f__qlMxuNyqVjE2FXBobyDvaCv3j5YKI/w400-h266/WhiteWagtail121982+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
White Wagtail Motacilla alba |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x1ZMS-jq6Sbhrln5rhe7I96gTMwMUuDpmui5tfblGLV0pLLw3tUb9kRozakcHP1NTezXATKFQDIL4agmDUZDsqqnQ7IX0vZ3H1R_59mOZ2blbMiOhs659y6lmjYsPYyg1HIHHjJF8H7a/w400-h266/Chiffchaff121926+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlSQYSQNpIpAAqsLHTr3Merv840X7LDQL0DBTuHfXfHlo1w_QypmTU7VQdqJI1uc0GJ_cpWUFrW5aGMYk8SMvjVtd-1NydECbhXqS9F1BmkeZj4CYdQjv2o59oGOgvJR5DYSoqMcX-Soc/w400-h266/Flamingo121915+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Juvenile Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o8nEc245Q7Z-QBTsvM2td8LhLCOAP01BNZdw3wMz5jgzF0IKoPR37Dpwzklvfz8szUrjAykBiY7GcyA-nrm7R8IR1QU_lmODGAuioD3XaEWJl-ibv2F_LX5EVA98psjLQN9hONjYb1oR/w400-h266/Kestrel121912+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ2EHD1QqdIGteO-bK8fiSDFQidQk6zJ7FjeXiW3slVtxHYn4n3C8T_XSEigDJ0zUeZsxIMvE6gYC0uWSVubxvFg2EmS3dxYdI-J7mtt0jOvYayDaI6gAUQ0eph5bRqCiYaIEv6pJDupp/w400-h266/Snipe121917+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVtA0ZeJoKgsomGjd_zx0ETiPSe9ck6sFhjELCyNlcSuE7gl1QNTnoNR2fXv6l3QjkqlXv5GvKQfLdy_VFU06ytvz6PeipRY1NUOinS7gU16djLCz08N12XmykV1Hr0llI1HbMRWrMeiw/w400-h266/Teal121905+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (back) and Teal Anas crecca |
Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information
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