Pyrenees Adventure: Day 9

 Sunday 4 June

Our final day as we head back home but first a stop at Alcazar de San Juan and its Laguna de la Veguilla. On the way we had recorded Cormorant Black Kite, Marsh harrier and Buzzard but were certainly in for a special treat at this wonderful site. Looking over the water from the first hide we soon had observed many Coot and Black-headed Gulls along with a range of waterfowl including Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard and White-headed Ducks.  Waders included Black-winged Stilt and the heron family were represented by Grey Heron and at least three Purple Herons along with Squacco Heron.  

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus with White-headed Ducks

Purple Swamphens were noted and the nearby warblers included Cetti's, Zitting Cisticola, Reed and Great Reed Warblers. having finally moved to the second hide we could add yet many more Flamingos to those we had already noted along with Red-crested Pochard and both Whiskered and Black Terns.

Black Tern Childonias niger

Above us Bee-eaters. Barn Swallows, House Martins and Common Swifts and a number of quartering Marsh Harriers.  Even a White Stork put in an appearance. Then it was time to visit the third hide which produced a few Marbled Duck and both Bearded and Penduline Tits with the resident small population of Tree Sparrows.

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

With Derek's car carrying on down to Malaga as Ricky and Sonia still had a further drive to their home in La Linea immediately opposite Gibraltar, Mick directed Jerry to a section of fields just the other side of the town to show the latter where he could find many Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and Dotterel during the winter months.  For us it produced more Crested Larks, Linnet and a Woodchat Shrike before we, too, started out on our final journey back to Malaga.

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

What a wonderful adventure with great friend providing excellent company and wonderful birds; memories to last a lifetime.  Thank you all.

Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus

Birds seen:

Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck, Cormorant, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron,  Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, grey Heron, White Stork, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle,  Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover,  Black-headed Gull, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Crested Lark,  Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Iberian Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Nightingale, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Reed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Bearded Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Spotless Starling,  House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, 

Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica with juveniles

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

Black Tern Childonias niger

Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

The quartering Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala

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