Birding in Spain

Sunday 15 December to Mid-December

Part of the flock of 900 Cranes Grus grus at Laguna Dulce

Just back from a week in Spain staying with our dear friends Derek and Barbara Etherton in Alhaurin de la Torre on the outskirts of Malaga. Time for a relaxing week culminating with meeting birding friends Bryan and Paula Stapley from Darlington, who returned to the UK approximately eighteen months before us, so that we could enjoy a day in the city and visit the lights in the early evening.  And this all came about as it was easier, quicker and cheaper to all travel to Malaga rather than take train, coach or car to the other end of the country!

So very limited birding but we did get to see regular Black Redstarts and Sardinian Warblers in Derek's garden and, of course, the area seemed to have been overtaken by the local Collared Doves. In the city itself, always the noisy Monk Parakeets but on the first Sunday, 15 December, jenny and I drove over to Fuente de Piedra and made return stops at both Laguna Dulce and the Rio Grande just above the confluence with the Rio Guadalhorce.  Approaching Fuente de Piedra we had the pleasure if seeing an Iberian Grey Shrike along with both Sardinian Warbler and Kestrel followed by a passing Raven.

Once on site we took the back track behind the railway station and found  number of House Sparrows along with Collared Dove and very many Rock Doves and a few Spotless Starlings.  A couple of White Wagtails on the wires and then, approaching the small copse on the left, first a couple of Blackcap and a Chaffinch in tree on the right followed by a Mistle Thrush that took off to the above trees. making our way back to the main car park we also recorded a Stonechat.

The walk around the lower area to the mirador produced a Robin and then a few Jackdaws on the Visitors Centre before our first lake at the main salina; lots of water but no depth with the large flock of Black-headed Gulls and a smaller number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls standing in same with just their feet covered.  From the mirador a lone Chiffchaff was foraging in the trees below and out on the sand a small number of Shelduck and a few Lapwing. A couple of Herons on the edge of the salina and off to our right a party of 52 feeding Cranes.

A further 100 Cranes Grus grus

Moving on round the back to the Laguneta another good number of Black-headed along with a handful of Lesser Back-backed Gulls. Mainly Shovelers on the water along with a handful of both Common Pochard and White-headed Ducks plus both Coot and Moorhen.  Only the one Black-necked Grebe but we did see a couple of Little Grebe. A couple of Cormorant flew across the water and on the open ground below the hide a pair of Black Redstarts.

Immature Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Making our way round the laguna to take the back road to Campillos we came across both a Buzzard and another Kestrel. But once on site and in the new hide (at first) very disappointing as the water had gone save or a small stretch at the back which held about thirty resting Flamingo.  However, resting on the dry laguna itself no less then at least 900 Cranes.  What a lovely sight. Time for a shot ride round the back of the site where we found at least another hundred Cranes so taking the total to over a thousand, and small group of Woodpigeons.  The short diversion to take a look at the neighbouring Laguna Redonda produced a handful of Mallard along with Coot and both Greenfinch and Goldfinch.  Very little to be seen at the Rio Grande albeit it was a surprise to find a resting Snipe at the water's edge but no egrets of aby variety.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

 A few House Sparrows near the farm. but, at the last moment as we neared Alhaurin, a Little Egret flew upstream as we crossed a small, almost dry river, so bring our total species for the day to a round forty.

Not many Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus at Laguna Dulce

Whilst at Penarrubia it was also lovely to see the flowering Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium) in mid-December whereas, previously, up at Zafarraya it was always late December to early January before the flowers appeared in any numbers.  However, not a bird to be seen!

Birds seen:

Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Flamingo, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Crane, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Monk Parakeet, White Wagtail, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Iberian Grey Shrike, Jackdaw, Raven, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Common Crane Grus grus

White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala

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