Cabo de Gata with the Arboleas Birding Group

 Wednesday 1 October

Good to see the Arboleas Birding Group back at Cabo de Gata and great birds seen before the autumn break. Well done, Nigel with his shot of the obliging Chameleon.  There's a good few birds seen today that you wont be seeing back in Blighty.  Once back, I must get in touch and a possible visit to Pagham Harbour comes to mind.

Cabo de Gata  -  Wednesday 1st October

For my final trip before our yearly pre-xmas trip to the UK, I headed to Cabo de Gata being driven by Nigel in his car.  The sun was shining.  Coming off the motorway we added Jackdaw before entering Retamar Sur.  In the outskirts of the town we saw the usual Collared Doves, House Sparrows and Spotless Starlings.  En route to the first hide Nigel spotted a pair of Magpie.  On the power line prior to Pujaire we saw two Kestrels.

Kevin was already in the car park.  He had already noted Greater Flamingo, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Slender-billed Gull, Shoveler, Mallard, Black-winged Stilt, Ringed Plover, Greenshank and Dunlin.

We were joined by Trevor, Barrie and Beryl.  A special welcome to new members James and Wendy. 

I spotted some Barn Swallows and Trevor added a Kentish Plover.  Barrie found some Black-tailed Godwits.  Wendy was first to see the Hoopoe flying over.  Barrie added Redshank and Shelduck.  Kevin found an Eurasian Curlew on the rocky causeway.  Nearby was a resting Black-headed Gull.  I then spotted an approaching raptor which turned out to be a female Marsh Harrier.  James saw two Kingfishers.  Also seen were Thekla Lark and Red-rumped Swallow.

We adjourned for a cuppa at the cafe in Cabo village.  Whilst sitting there I noticed that Swift boxes had been put up on the junior school building.  Well done them!

Swift boxes on top of school building ( with decals underneath!)

(PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We then drove to the beach opposite the second hide.  Nothing out to sea but two Yellow-legged Gulls on the beach.  I stayed there whilst the others went over to the hide.  Saw nothing out to sea but did add Sandwich Tern, a Northern Wheatear and an Iberian Grey Shrike by the time the others returned. James had spotted an Audouin's Gull.  Also seen were Black Redstart, Reed Warbler, Iberian Grey Shrike, Chiffchaff and Stonechat.

Moving to the public hide James was first to see an Avocet.  Nigel spotted the only Cormorant on the causeway.  Barrie found some Black-necked Grebes as did Kevin on the right hand salina.  He also had Lesser Black-bcked Gulls.  A Spotted Redshank was near the right hand island near a Black-tailed Godwit.  Also seen were Greater Flamingos and Dunlin.  Trevor and I began to walk back to the vehicles as I'd dropped my pen.  Had a good view of a Willow Warbler in the enclosure.  The others also saw it.  They also had a great view of a Chameleon.

Chameleon (PHOTO: Nigel)

We drove to the lighthouse.  We were joined by a Guardia Civil Trafico crew taking selfies!  We only saw Yellow-legged Gulls.  As we were leaving Kevin added a Black Wheatear.

A great days birding in good company. 43 species seen!

Sending best wishes to Peter 1. Hope he feels better soon.

( For those of you who got my Total Birds Seen out on trips, you can add Red Kite and Red-backed Shrike. Confirmed by Barrie, Kevin & Trevor)

Will be back in mid November.

Regards

Dave

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