Saturday 20 December
The Arboleas Birding Group might be taking a Christmas break but you can't keep a good birder down as member and friend Kevin Borman set out on his "last Gap (of 2024) Birding adventure! he may have taken a reverse wander on the Villaricos visit but he manage some great sightings, especially the White-headed Ducks. Now then Kevin, time to put the bins away, enjoy the fat bird on the dinner table and dream of all those exciting new birds that you'll be seeing in 2025. A peaceful Christmas and a very happy, healthy and bird-exciting New year to all members of the Arboleas Birding Group.
Last gasp (of 2024) birding: Wednesday 18 December
I stayed over in the campervan in Mojácar last night after an open-mic music session and had to pick up some new glasses in Huércal-Overa today, so I hatched a cunning plan for this morning: a final bird outing of 2024, doing the Villaricos itinerary but more or less in reverse.
First stop was the Rio Aguas bridge between Mojácar and Garrucha. The morning was still pretty cool at this stage. Some of the usual suspects were logged: Mallard, Shoveler, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Coot, Moorhen, Yellow-legged Gull and House Sparrow. Next Millionaire’s Pool, or whatever it’s called. Pochard, Black-headed Gull, Med Gull and, a pleasant surprise, a single Sanderling.
On to Salar de los Canos, aka Consum Lagoons. I drove round into the big car parking area and visited the ‘Aquavera Tower’, though stayed at ground level due to vegetation obscuring views from the tower itself. Where is Les with his loppers when you need him? Lots of activity in the immediate foreground, with a good number of Chiffchaffs making foraging flights and Little Grebes very close. At the base of the reeds to the left, a rather shy Purple Swamphen. Out on the water, a lot of White-headed Ducks with even more Shoveler and a couple of Greater Flamingos and a Shelduck. Robin, White Wagtail and Serin joined the chorus.
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| Little Grebe (PHOTO: Kevin Borman) |
The Dual Carriageway was a major disappointment. At first sight the wetland was literally empty. Gradually, I found a few Teal and a roost of about twenty distant Cormorants looking very ethereal in the sun-haze. Goldfinch and Stonechat but not a single wader. Next stop was the ‘Other Tower’, namely the one nearest to the dual carriageway. Jackdaws flew over, and there were lots of Shelduck but the main entertainment was a Cormorant with a huge fish, at least fifteen inches long (38 cms for our Spanish viewers). It finally managed to manoeuvre it into position and gulped it down but its neck was twitching and writhing until I finally gave up watching. So not a single wader at Salar de los Canos. Strange and worrying!
Estuary, usual stop on the south bank: nothing new. Still no waders to be seen. We seem to be seeing much less on the estuary than we used to, or am I just imagining better birding times? Next, to the Ford. On arrival I saw vans and building materials down in the rambla, and the sound of heavy machinery, so I didn’t hold out much hope. Two Blackbirds immediately flew over and then, bird of the day, I had a superb view of a lovely female Blackcap. I walked up to the Sewage Works in the desperate hope of waders and found a single Black-winged Stilt. Finally, the Beach. Nada! So only two waders all morning. In addition, seen en route were Spotless Starling, Magpie and Collared Dove, so just a modest total of 32 species or thereabouts, but with encouragingly good numbers of some birds – Shelduck, Shoveler, White-headed Duck, for example.
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| White-headed Ducks (PHOTO: Kevin Borman) |
I put my Euro in the fund-raising pot and raised my virtual glass to Dave and his understudy Alan for co-ordinating this year’s outings, and to all those – you know who you are - who have provided good company and humour and helped me improve my birding skills over the past twelve months. Best wishes to one and all for the Solstice, Christmas and the New Year. Un saludo, maybe even un abrazo,
Kevin
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