Cabo de Gata with the Arboleas Birding Group

 Thursday 6 April

Just as we finally, hopefully, get rid of the recent very wet and miserable weather over here in the south of Britain, Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group get to visit one of my very favourite birding sites at Cabo de Gata.  All being well, I might find time to pay a visit when out in Spain during late May.  So, a first Collared Pratincole of the year which, presumably, means that many will soon to be found at Roquetas de Mar.  Also good to see the return of the Flamingos to the salinas and, maybe, a more receptive water level before long.

Cabo de Gata & Rambla Morales: Thursday 6th April

A delay of 24 hours for this weeks trip as I had a doctor's appointment yesterday.  I picked Robbie and Charlotte up from his parents house near to me, then dropped into Los Gallardos to give Juda a lift.  We headed south on the A7/E15 and came off at the Retamar Sur exit and headed to Cabo de Gata. En route we logged White Wagtail, Collared Dove and Spotless Starling. 

Kevin was already at the first hide having spent the night in his campervan nearby.  He'd already seen Greater Flamingo, Yellow-legged Gull, Avocet, Jackdaw, Crested Lark, Shelduck, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Kestrel and  Mallard.  We were joined by Trevor, Peter 2, Albert, Jenni and two "youngsters" (Sorry, didn't get their names).  Peter 2 had seen a Hoopoe.  I did a count of Greater Flamingos.  I saw 150 which is a vast improvement on previous visits.  More were seen from the public hide.  I spotted a distant Cormorant.  Juda was first to see the flight of 30 Glossy Ibis which circled over to another salina.  Kevin pointed out a pair of Raven flying by.  They landed near the desalination pump house much to the annoyance of a pair of Kestrels who might be thinking of nesting near there.  Robbie added a Common Swift.  Also seen were House Martins and Barn Swallows.  We adjourned to the local cafe for coffee.

We moved on to the second hide, only seeing Greater Flamingos and Mallard.  Albert spotted three Grey Herons.

It being Easter week there were numerous people about.  We joined some in the public hide.  We saw Greater Flamingos, Kentish Plovers and Shelduck.  The journey to the church only produced a Crested Lark.  As we drove down the beach straight we saw a small flock of birds.  We stopped where they had landed.  As they flew off I logged on to a Meadow Pipit.  Robbie scored with a Trumpeter Finch and some Greenfinch.

Row of Avocet, Little Egrets & Black-winged Stilts (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We drove along the beachside track towards the Rambla Morales, weaving between cyclists and walkers.  We stopped to look at a Sandwich Tern.  At the estuary Kevin found a Sanderling.  En route to the hump Robbie saw some Goldfinch and heard a Sardinian Warbler.  There was a nice row of hunkering birds on the far reed line.  Avocet, Little Egrets and Black-winged Stilts.  Also seen were Black-headed Gull, Shoveler, White-headed Ducks, a Coot and a pair of Red Crested Pochard.  As I walked back to the vehicles I heard a shout from Robbie who was about 100 metres behind me.  He'd only spotted a pair of Collared Pratincoles on the scrubland.  What a star!  En route back to the motorway we added Iberian Grey Shrike and a Magpie.

Collared Pratincole (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Although the high winds and high water levels were a problem we ended up with 38 species.  Rambla Morales saved the day!  Great company as always.

I'm glad to let you know that Richard Hirons, who'd suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks ago is now recovering back at home.

Regards

Dave

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