Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa

Wednesday 11 September

Welcome back the Arboleas Birding Group.  Looks like normal service has been resumed following the summer break and straight on to some cracking birds for the first outing of the new season.  Amazing to think that we now take Cattle, Little and Great Whited Egrets for granted back here in the UK along with Glossy Ibis and Yellow-legged Gulls.  Even Bee-eater and Hooper noted this summer!  Hopefully, some rain coming soon to you as I expect to be visiting El Hondo around 8 October followed by either/both Cabo de Gata and Roquetta de Mar on the following two days as we make our way south to Malaga for the rest of our stay in Spain.  Even Tablas de Daimiel on the return journey to Bilbao for the 24 October ferry to Portsmouth.  Looking forward to reading about more exciting birds in the weeks to come.

Greater Flamingo (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa: Wednesday 11th September

Having dried out from my two weeks dog sitting in East Sussex for my sister, I was glad to be back for the belated start of the autumn birdwatching trips.  As the weather forecast hinted at a chance of rain I decided we'd stay local and head for the Rambla de Almanzora.  Richard came and picked up me and new birder, Seamus, who conveniently lives just round the corner from me.  I drove Richard's very silent hybrid SUV to the rambla joining near the Desert Springs Golf Complex.  This section has the only water.  We were not disappointed.  On the first weir were Mallard and Moorhen.  Insect feeding around the pool were Common Swift, Sand and House Martin and Barn and Red Rumped Swallow.  A Jackdaw flew by.  We carried on checking the pools and puddles.  We added Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff and Green Sandpiper.  Other birds seen were House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Woodpigeon.

Little Grebe (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

 

There is an accessible pool close to the dry ford.  We drove up towards it. It contained 4 Grey Heron, Black-headed Gulls, Mallard, Teal and Little Grebe.  We parked up at the meeting place where we added Collared Dove.  We heard a Blackbird.  We were joined by Trevor.  We headed for the beach where Kevin joined us.  He'd also come down the rambla route and had also seen Snipe, Little Egret, Hoopoe, White Wagtail and Kentish Plover.  With swimmers and numerous motorhomes there we didn't add anything to the list so made for the far side of the estuary.  Here we were pleased to find an Oystercatcher and a pair of Turnstone.  Also seen were Audouin's and Yellow-legged Gulls and Coot.

Purple Swamphen (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

After a reviving coffee at the Tiburon cafe in Villaricos we made our way to the dual carriageway opposite the Consum supermarket behind Vera Playa.  Trevor had said there was little to no water on the land side of the hump.  Sure enough there was only a pool which wrapped round the end of the hump. Glad we stopped to do a scan.  I found a feeding Water Rail out in the open on a mudflat.  It was distant but managed to get a record shot!  A first for Trevor!  Kevin spotted one or maybe two over flying Glossy Ibis.  Moving to the beach side of the hump we added Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and Dunlin. Kevin found another Ruff.  We heard some overflying Bee-eaters.  A Blackbird flew by.

Distant record shot of Water Rail (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We made our way to the elevated viewing platform near the Aquaparc.  Views were better from the bridge.  Some Greater Flamingos were nearby as were a pair of Little Grebe.  Kevin found a Black-necked Grebe.  A handsome Grey Plover in breeding plumage was on a distant mud beach.  Kevin was first to spot the Purple Swamphen in the left hand reeds.  Also seen was a Little Egret.  Our final bird was a fast flying Kingfisher seen by Richard.

Grey Plover (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

What a good start to the season! 41 species seen.  Good weather albeit getting a bit hot by the end!

Good company.

Regards

Dave

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