Wednesday 17 January
Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group have resumed business for 2024 and what better place to visit than my favourite site in Almeria province than the Cabo de Gata. However, it would appear that the recent wet weather we have been experiencing back in the UK has caught up with Spain so a great pity that birding had to be abandoned. But at least I imagine that the weather there was far warmer than back here! Sorry to read about Val's recent bereavement so my sincere condolences.
Cabo de Gata - Wednesday 17th January
The decision I made to go to Cabo de Gata was based on the weather forecast. It looked better there than going to the Sierra de Maria. The problem appeared to be wind! I picked Peter up from the Overa hotel and headed south down the A7/E15. It was a bit cloudy, but no wind. We came off the motorway and the only bird we saw en route to the first hide was a Magpie.
We were the first to arrive. We scanned the shallow water in front of us. There were a large number of Greater Flamingos and quite a few Black-winged Stilts interspersed with the odd Slender-billed Gulls. I checked the rocky causeway and found two Spoonbill just where the shrubbed causeway started. Peter added an Avocet. There were small rafts of Mallard. To the left in the little bay were two Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Dunlin and a Redshank. I scanned over the savannah to the right and saw Yellow-legged Gulls, some passing Cormorants and some Gannets over the distant sea.
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| Two Spoonbills (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns) |
We were joined by Kevin, Trevor, Val and her cousin, Joe. I found some Spotless Starlings on top of the pumping station and on the power line. A Grey Heron flew over and there was a male Stonechat on the low shrubs to our right. A female Marsh Harrier quartered over the left hand side shrubs and a Kestrel was perched on a pylon. Kevin added an Iberian Grey Shrike, some distant Jackdaws near the Guardia Civil tower and a Shelduck. A Thekla Lark landed on the opposite roadside verge.
As we adjourned to the roundabout cafe for coffee and tostadas it began to spot with rain. As we got fed and watered the heavens opened, the canvas roof not providing great protection. I checked the local weather app on my phone. Rain for another hour, so I decided to abandon play for the day. Typically by the time we had reached the motorway the rain had eased, By Sorbas it was blue skies and sunny, but the wind had picked up. Juda popped into my house on her way back from work in Baza and said it was raining heavily there, so Maria would be covered in snow possibly! We ended up with 22 species. Lovely company. Was great to see Val with us. For those of you not on the local email list, Val's husband, Tony, sadly passed away in the middle of last week. I'm sure you'll all join me in sending Val and the family our sincere condolences.
Regards,
Dave
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