Cabo de Gata

 Wednesday 4 December

As promised a few minutes  ago, this morning's report from Dave and is Arboleas Birding Group comes hot on the heals of last week's account so time to enjoy both rather than sitting out of the sun as I prepare to leave the warm weather behind and head back to a dull and damp UK!  Ans whilst at my favourite Almeria site, Cabo de Gata, you managed to find some Trumpeter Finches but, presumably, no Dotterel hanging around and waiting to be seen by the group.  Meanwhile, seems a shame not to show a photo of the Trumpeter Finch so have added a couple I took at Cabo de Gata a few years ago.

Cabo de Gata  -  Wednesday 4th December 2024

Paul, Pat and myself drove down towards Cabo de Gata being followed by my near neighbours, Seamu, Linda and their well behaved dog, Lottie.  The first birds we saw were Collared Doves, Spotless Starlings and House Sparrows in Retamar.  Paul added a Magpie and Seamus and Linda a White Wagtail before we got to the 1st hide where Alan and Trevor were already on the birds.  Alan had seen a pair of Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit, an Iberian Grey Shrike and a Stonechat.  I quickly found Greater Flamingos and a feeding raft of Slender-billed Gulls.  There was a Little Egret and a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls on the causeway together with some Black-winged Stilts.  Kevin arrived and pointed out some distant Spoonbill.  A Black Redstart was on the power line behind us.  Also there, spotted by Trevor, was a Kestrel.  A flight of about 7 small waders flew in.  After much discussion, Alan and I went for Curlew Sandpipers, a rare winter sighting!  We did have a Dunlin nearby to make the comparison.  Kevin heard a Blackbird.  He'd also seen a Jackdaw by the Guardia Civil tower.

After a cup of coffee in Cabo village we headed for the 2nd hide.  Due to my bad back and hips I stayed by the vehicles and did a sea and savannah watch.  Out to sea, quite close in, a pair of adult Gannet flew by.  On the savannah I had Stonechats, a Kestrel and a Chiffchaff.  The others didn't fair very well.  They had closer views of the Spoonbill.  Also seen were Iberian Grey Shrike and Stonechats.

Driving on towards the public hide, a Cormorant flew over.  Just by the track to the hide I spotted a pair of Trumpeter Finch on the wooden fence.  Coming to an abrupt halt, most saw them before they flew off.  We walked to the hide.  Kevin had seen some Greenfinch earlier.  From the hide we spotted Shelduck, Shoveler and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  Also seen were Avocet, Redshank (Kevin) and Black-headed Gulls.  Kevin also found a line of Black-necked Grebes he'd seen earlier.  Alan added a Kentish Plover and a Little Stint.  We departed via the church track seeing a Goldfinch, some Greenfinches and Thekla Larks.

Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus (PHOTO: Bob Wright)

We made our way towards Rambla Morales.  The beachside track was blocked by civil works.  There was a diversion via the sand beach.  We were not going to risk getting bogged down so that was the end of our birding day.

We ended up with 38 species.  Sorry, still no photos.  Great days birding in good company.  Weather was sunny with a few clouds. A  bit windy.  Sending best wishes to Val & Peter 2 who both had sick notes today!

Regards

Dave

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Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa

Wednesday 4 December 

Apologies to Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group but I have been visiting Madeira and he Canaries since 23 November and very restricted access to the Internet.  Now at our final port of call, Lisbon before completing our voyage in Portsmouth this Saturday.  Means the first report, without photos but some great sightings, is a full week behind schedule but will be quickly followed by this morning's visit to Cabo de Gata,

Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa: Wednesday 27th November

Gilly and I are finally back from the land of Red Kites, Common Buzzards and one Merlin, all seen from the car touring around England!

I picked Juda up from the garage in La Alfoquia and headed to the Rambla de Almanzora, joining it just past the Desert Springs golf complex.  I didn't know what state it would be in after the recent downpours but to be honest it looked as it did before.  In the first pool by the concrete weir there were Mallard, Moorhens, a Teal and a Little Grebe.  We saw the first of about 100 Chiffchaffs for the day!  As we moved further towards the sea we added Stonechat and Goldfinch.  The scattered pools gave us views of more Mallards, Teal, Black-winged Stilt, Snipe, and Little Ringed Plover.   Also seen were Magpie, White Wagtail and Northern Starling.  As we approached the ford, there was a Green Sandpiper at the base of the concrete embankment.  The ford had no water in it.  A building was being built just past it in the rambla.  A pump house?  What's going to happen to it when the rambla is in full flow? Ummmm?

We met Richard, Peter and Alan in the parking area.  Alan had already seen Black Redstart and a Common Sandpiper.  We were joined by Trevor and his friend, Paul.  We heard, then saw a pair of Red-billed Chough flying along the hillside behind us.  We drove partly up the rambla towards the little shallow lake.  Alan was first to spot Crag Martins flying around.  He also added a Ringed Plover.  I had a Snipe.  A Black-winged Stilt flew in as did a Black-headed Gull.  We heard a Cetti's Warbler.

We moved to the beach.  There was a Sanderling on the rocks as were some Cormorants.  Sadly no Shag which the group had seen whilst I was away.  We then drove round to the estuary.  The sun was against us so the views were not that good.  A Grey Heron arrived.  There was a group of about 15 Cormorants at the beach end.  Alan found some Sandwich Terns.  I'm positive I saw a female Blue Rock Thrush fly over.  Later in the day Jacky came here and added Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail.

After a refreshing cup of coffee in Villaricos we headed for the dual carriageway opposite the Consum supermarket behind Vera Playa.  The water level was only slightly up, but it covered some of the mud flats.  Alan was first to pick out one of the Shovelers.  I found some Shelducks.  We were joined by Jacky.  A Little Egret was seen.  We moved beyond the mound.  Alan did well to find a lovely male Marsh Harrier high up to our right.  He then found a Cattle Egret on the distant sand spit and some Mediterranean Gulls amongst the numerous Black-headed cousins.

We moved around to the viewing platform opposite the Aguaparc.  There were some Greater Flamingos there together with Black-headed Gulls with a couple of Mediterraneans.  Alan added a Black-necked Grebe.  Also seen were Little Grebe, Woodpigeon and Yellow-legged Gull.  Jacky added a Barn Swallow flying with the Crag Martins after we all had left.

41 species seen.  Not bad!  A good days birding with good friends.  Good to be back!

Sorry no photos.  Technical issues.  I only took a couple, both of Coot. Whilst away, our Windows 7 computer was upgraded to Windows 10 (thank you, Richard).  Apparently it doesn't yet like my camera downloads.  By trail and error I will try to sort it out by next week!

Regards,

Dave

Just a thought Dave and sorry to bring you some bad news.  Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 in 2025 so you have to upgrade, once again, to Windows 11.  And it could be worse as, when you do the check, you may well get a message that you are unable to upgrade the existing system!!  I'm going to have to consider replacing both desktop and laptop.  (Cries quietly into pillow!)

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.