13 November 2025
With Dave yet to return from his family visit back in the UK (I can vouch he is doing very well and lovely to meet up again after so many years) this week's Arboleas Birding Group visit once again led by Kevin and to talk of so many Whinchat, as if they were as common as Stonechats, makes one most envious! And still Iberian Grey Shrike and Subalpine warbler so lots for me to look forward to when, unless some major upset occurs, I return to Spain for art least a fortnight in late February.
Cabo de Gata: 12 November
As I drove from La Fabriquilla, where I had stayed overnight, to our usual meeting point, I logged
Spotless Starling, Crested Lark, Yellow-legged Gull and Jackdaw. At the Lay-by, while waiting for
the others, I saw some of the usual suspects: Greater Flamingo, Little Egret, Avocet, Black-winged
Stilt and Ringed Plover.
Nigel arrived, and it was lovely to see Albert and Jenny from the Netherlands again. Trevor
took the short cut and consequently arrived late. He is still working towards his Navigation Badge.
There didn’t seem to ‘be much about’ but gradually a few species emerged. Albert found Glossy
Ibis and Mallard on the causeway, Jenny heard a Redshank which was later seen, Nigel spotted a
Dunlin and I found an Iberian Grey Shrike by scanning the posts on the steppe which they tend to
frequent. A Collared Dove flew past and Albert found a Stonechat.
Our usual cafe, El Rubio, was closed so we went to the place in the square which was very
busy with customers including a dozen Policia Nacional. They seemed to be getting preferential
treatment but it was difficult to tell as we were almost fainting due to the lack of coffee by the
time we got served. Thanks to those who were at María last week and didn’t then make their
usual voluntary contribution for putting double into the tin this week. Meanwhile, we managed to
add House Sparrow while we were at the cafe, Trevor spotting one which had a white wing
feather, on the lookout for crumbs.
We drove on to the Second Hide. Albert soon found a Greenfinch. I was first to the hide
and locked on to a group of about eight partly-hidden Spoonbills (see Nigel’s photo of them). After
a long search I found a Grey Heron. Nigel had a Sardinian Warbler. We also logged Whinchat,
Chiffchaff, Slender-billed Gull, Cormorant and a sizeable flotilla of Black-necked Grebes. I also had
good views of what I thought was a Subalpine Warbler but as I’m not a good enough birder to be
sure I haven’t put it in bold type or added it to the total.
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| Spoonbills (PHOTO: Nigel White) |
At the Original Hide we arrived just after a mini-coachload of other visitors so, to give them
time in the hide, our initial search was through the hole in the fence to the right. This produced
Shelduck, Shoveler, Lesser Black-backed Gull and, after some discussion, Curlew Sandpiper and
Little Stint. Nigel added Kentish Plover. We had previously seen Whinchats and Stonechats but we
got more excellent views of both from this hide. Further careful scanning of the causeway in the
right-hand lagoon produced a single Sandwich Tern.
By this time it was hot and the longish walk in to Rambla Morales was not an enticing
prospect, so we said our goodbyes and scattered to the four winds. I went back to Cabo de Gata
village and had a bracing swim. I mention this only because as I finally drove out past the Lay-by
hide again a little while later, there was a fine Kestrel perched on the wires and, just a little further
on, a couple of White Wagtails.
Not an outstanding day in terms of what we saw, 35 species, but a thoroughly enjoyable
morning in excellent company. I think Dave is due back in a few days and will send out final details
for next Wednesday when he will be back in charge. I believe it will be Villaricos, meeting above
the ford at 09.15 as usual.
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