Cabo de Gata with the Arboleas Birding Group

Wednesday 4 June 

The gangs all back together with a good attendance for the Arboleas Birding Group at Cabo de Gata. Again, lots of good bids including the Bee-eater, Iberian Northern Shrike, gannet and those Scopoli's Shearwaters.  made me feel most envious as I had just made a special local trip to record my first Yellow-legged Gull of the year!!!!

Cabo de Gata  -  Wednesday 4th June

Nigel picked me up from home and close neighbours, Seamus, Linda and Lottie, the well behaved dog, followed us down the E15/A7, exiting at the Retamar Sur junction.  As we passed through the town we saw the usual suspects...

Jackdaw, Spotless Starling, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Collared Dove and House Martin.  We parked up at the first hide where Kevin was waiting.  He'd already logged Yellow-legged and Slender-billed Gulls, Woodpigeon, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo, Shelduck, Little Egret, Kentish Plover, Thekla Lark and Mallard.  We were joined by Barrie, Beryl, Alan, Trevor and Peter 2.  Barrie confirmed two terns on the rocky causeway were Littles.  I spotted a Yellow Wagtail flying over. Barrie added Common Swift.  He'd also seen a Kestrel en route.  Trevor found a Bee-eater on the power line behind us and also saw Greenfinch.

We adjourned for coffee in Cabo village before driving to the beach opposite the second hide.  A seawatch commenced.  The sea state was a tad choppy with the wind in our faces.  Barrie spotted some 1st year Gannets.  Then, coming from right to left, I saw some Scopoli's Shearwaters.  They were reasonably close to shore.  The majority of us walked towards the hide.  Barrie and some others stayed a bit longer and saw another 7 shearwaters passing by.  At the hide we added Gull-billed Terns quartering the steppe and Barn Swallows.  Alan found a lurking Iberian Northern Shrike at the top of a shrub. Kevin added a Carrion Crow as we walked back to the vehicle.  We managed to find a distant Scopoli's Shearwater for Nigel as he'd missed the earlier sightings.  Barrie found three Sandwich Terns flying by. En route to the public hide Nigel, myself and Linda saw a pair of Raven on the beach.

The public hide produced an elegant Grey Plover in breeding plumage and a Greenshank seen by Barrie.  Other birds seen were Greater Flamingo, Gull-billed and Little Terns, Kentish Plover, Avocet and Shelduck.

Grey Plover and Greenshank (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We ended up with 33 species.  A great days birding in good company.

Sending our best wishes to Juda who is still in Almeria Hospital.  Hopefully this week she might be transferred back to the Vera residential home.  Kevin informs me that we have collected €143.20 so far this year for the Andalucian Bird Society wetlands appeal.

Regards

Dave

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