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| Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis |
Friday 12 February
As a result of having to present jenny at the local hospital before 7 this morning for a minor operation on her lower arm, I was able to start my Rio Algarrobo walk by 8 o'clock. Light not too good as the sun still below trees and houses giving a gloomy aspect but very early sightings of both Goldfinch and Serin whilst at the start of the walk in the play area. Also present the local Collared Doves and the the screaming Monk Parakeets seemed to time their arrival to coincide with mine.
Entering the more open tree area I soon added a White Wagtail along with Blackbird (I was to see a further thirteen by the time I got back to the start), Greenfinch and Blackcap as well as many more Goldfinches. The large bare tree held ten Wood Pigeon and I watched with a smile on my face as the lone Kestrel flew over in front of me. Then, looking over the wall to the river below I disturbed the Green Sandpiper which fled rapidly upstream with a mass showing of white as is their want, not to be seen again this morning.
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| A few of this morning's 53 Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris |
In the sports ha area I observed my first Black Redstart and a number of House Sparrows followed by a posing male Stonechat. All seemed very quite as I passed under the motorway with just a handful of Spotless Starlings resting on the nearby pylons. However, the usual bare trees at the back of the grassy area next to the Experimental Station entrance held no less then 53 Common Starlings. Very little activity over the hidden reservoir as, presumably, the roosting gulls like to enjoy a bit of a lie-in before heading off to the sea to feed. Maybe no more than two dozen or so Lesser Black-backed and as few as a half-dozen Mediterranean Gulls. The garden are produced a few Chiffchaff and more Serin and still the Blackbirds appeared with regularity.
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| Male Serin Serinus serinus |
Now able to jump the river near the ford but nothing of note to add so started the return walk. A distant Hoopoe was heard and then, passing below the motorway, I noted the large flock of about 60 Spotless Starlings gathering around the pylons downstream. More Stonechats and Black Redstarts and approaching the road ford once again I found a trio of Meadow Pipits in the same area as yesterday. All that now remained was to cross the fast-flowing river at the road ford and confirm that there were four Cattle Egrets at the sewage works to add to the pair I had seen on the wires at the back of the reservoir.
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| Meadow Pipit Bisbita Pratense Anthus pratensis |
Birds seen:
Cattle Egret, Kestrel, Green Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-baked Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Hoopoe, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.
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