Cabo de Gata with the Arboleas Birding Group

Thursday 8 May 

The Arboleas Birding Group were back to my favourite site in Almeria, Cabo de Gata, today and picked up some lovely species whilst managing to avoid the expected rain.  I particularly like the way that Bar-tailed Godwits seem to keep popping up both in Spain and the UK.  Yet to see a Spotted Flycatcher back in Britain this year but fingers crossed for next week's meeting with the Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS).  Strange that the Greater Flamingos are so low for Caba de Gata; is the water level well down or some other plausible reason?

Cabo de Gata  -  Thursday 8th May

Been busy with taxiing jobs all week, hence birdwatching moved to Thursday.  I picked up Peter 1 from his Cucador home address.  We headed south on the A7/E15 motorway and came off at the Retamar Sur exit.  We saw no birds till we entered the town, seeing Collared Dove, House Sparrow and Spotless Starling.  We arrived at the first hide.  The water in the salina in front of us was as flat as a tack.  The first thing we noticed was a distinct lack of Greater Flamingos.  There were only 24 in view.  During the day we only saw 95 in total which is hundreds less than normal.  We scanned the view in front of us. We saw Black-winged Stilts and Avocets.  Also there was a Bar-tailed Godwit.  We were joined by Alan, Trevor and Peter 2.  I found some Little Terns on the rocky causeway.  Alan added Gull-billed Terns in the same location.  A flight of Spoonbill with a Little Egret took off over the far side.  A number of Slender-billed Gulls were on the water.  Alan also saw Mallard, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper.  Also seen were Thekla Lark and House Martin.  Alan did mention seeing a small bird, acting like a flycatcher, on a distant shrub.

Little Egret (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

After a very needed cup of coffee we made our way to the second hide beach.  We had success with the seawatch for a change.  I found some Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwaters.  We eventually saw about 10 in all. One got harassed by a Yellow-legged Gull.  We walked towards the hide.  What did I find?  A Spotted Flycatcher (Alan's!) doing its thing on a large shrub.  On the water we found some Shelduck.  I found a Spoonbill and Peter 2 added another in the pool to the right.

Alan's Spotted Flycatcher (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We moved on to the public hide.  Peter 2 found Kentish Plover, Redshank and some "black bellied" Dunlin.  Alan saw a Little Stint.  I added a Yellow Wagtail and our only Barn Swallow of the day.

We made our separate ways Peter 2 added a Kestrel near Pujaire and Peter 1 and I saw some Jackdaws as we used the shortcut.

We ended up with 29 species.  Great days birding in good company.  We missed the forecasted rain which is now falling in Arboleas as I type this.

Gull-billed Terns (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Apologies for the photos. Somehow I had changed the setting!

Our best wishes are sent to Juda and Nigel.

Regards

Dave

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