Charca de Suarez

 Sunday 24 October

Laguna de las Aneas at Charca de Suarez

Another lovely start to the day so off to the now nearby Charca de Suarez for a few hours. Parking the car outside the reserve, face in towards the hedge, I was pleasantly rewarded with a close view of a male Black Redstart.  Then it was into the reserve and straight to the Laguna del Taraje where all appeared empty at first glance.  Ere long a couple of Moorhen hove into sight followed by a handful of Mallard and a couple of Coot.  A Robin made a brief appearance in the tree in front of the hide and a lone Cormorant flew away overhead.  On down to the hide at the other end of the water, passing a Blackbird on the way, and here were more Mallard and Common Coot along with a single Purple Swamphen, a Gadwall, more Moorhen and a single Collared Dove and calling Cetti’s Warbler. Very little to be seen at the Laguna Del Alamo Blanco other than a couple of Red Avadavat that flew across the back of the water.

Shoveler Anas clypeata with Gadwall Anas strepera and Common Coot Fulica atra

More Blackbirds as I made my way to the main hide overlooking the Laguna de las Aneas where it was obvious that the Common Coot numbers had reduced since Thursday evening.  But a good number of Red-knobbed Coot along with Moorhen and Mallard plus a few Shoveler and Gadwall.  At the back of the water eight Common Pochard and a single Ferruginous Duck plus just the one resting Heron.  In the far trees to the right a trio of Night Heron before the arrival of the first Black-headed Gull and a flashing past Kingfisher.  Only two Little Grebe noted and one distant Purple Swamphen but there were a few feeding House Sparrow.

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata

Entering the northern hide overlooking the Laguna del Trebol I was in time to see the disappearing Grey Wagtail but certainly no shortage of Red-knobbed Coots with at least eleven counted. A male Blackcap was singing as the first White Wagtail arrived along with a Common Sandpiper.  Having seen a number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the walk to the southern hide of the same water, once inside another Grey Wagtail plus Cetti’s Warbler, Robin and female Blackcap.  Lovely to see the arrival of a single Ferruginous Duck which remained for ten minutes or so.

Female Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Making my way the final hid at the Laguna del Lirio I had a Hoopoe fly over and it was here that I recorded my first Chiffchaff of the morning.  With a little time to spare I revisited the Aloma del Blanco and this time another Heron plus a many Common Waxbill.  On the water a half-dozen Teal.  No sooner had I seen these small ducks than a Snipe flew in to join them whilst, overhead, a Marsh Harrier was quartering the site.  And strange to say, friends  John and Jenny Wainwright pointed out the resting Monk Parakeet in a nearby palm tree, the first of this species seen on the reserve.

At least half-dozen Teal Anas crecca on site

Having left sufficient time I made my return journey home via the Camino Patria at the back of the reserve and well-worth it turned out.  A fifteen minutes op produced Tree Sparrow and White Wagtail quickly followed by Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler and Barn Swallow Quartet.  A Stonechat took up post on the wire above whilst in the grassy area both Serin and Goldfinch were observed.  Finally, Spotless Starling at the end of the camino and a resting Kestrel on a pylon a few yards beyond.  I thought that over forty species in well less than three hours a good return for the visit.

Male Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Birds seen:

Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Night Heron, Little Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Common Coot, Red-knobbed Coot, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Barn Swallow, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Red Avadavat, Waxbill, Serin, Goldfinch.

More pictures from the visit:

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

Distant record shot of the Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus


Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information