Cabo de Gata with the Arboleas BirdingGroup

 Wednesday 3 December

It sounds as if it is not just the UK getting a dose of the storms and tempests!  And I certainly trust all will be sorted before mid-February when I drive over for around three weeks!  Meantime, Dave and his Arboleas Birding Group were "enjoying" a visit to my favourite Almeria birding site, Cabo de Gata (be there on Saturday 20th February). Amazing to think that other than the Flamingos and Black-winged Stilts, I've seen all the other named species over here in Blighty; even had a dozen Grey Plovers on the Hamble river last Sunday morning along with over 300 Dunlin plus both Redshank and Greenshank.

Cabo de Gata  -  Wednesday 3rd December

Nigel kindly picked me up and he drove down towards Cabo de Gata.  As we approached the exit off the A7/E15 motorway there was a huge murmuration of presumably Northern Starlings as I've never seen Spotless Starlings participate in that activity.  As we passed through Retamar Sur we saw Yellow -legged Gulls and Collared Doves.  The gulls had been blown in by the storm-like winds.  We added a Magpie before we reached the first hide where Kevin was hunkered down inside with his scope.  Apart from the Greater Flamingos he'd also seen Spotless Starlings, Avocets, Little Egrets, Black-winged Stilts and Mallard ducks.  We were joined by Trevor.  Some Dunlin were feeding in the shelter of the left hand pools.  Kevin added a Redshank and Ringed and Kentish Plovers.  Nearly suffering from hyperthermia we adjourned for a hot coffee.

We decided we'd miss out the second hide, pass Go, not collect €200 and go straight to the public hide. A Meadow Pipit was by the approach track.  From the hide we saw numerous Sanderling and Dunlin. There was a group of sheltering Lesser Black-backed and Black Headed Gulls to our right giving me my one and only chance for a decent photograph!  Kevin did well to find a single Black-necked Grebe, some sleeping Spoonbill in the distance and a Grey Plover.  Nigel spotted a Cormorant.  I heard, then had a fleeting glimpse of a Sardinian Warbler.  We decided enough was enough and headed home, Kevin adding Cattle Egret and House Sparrow to the list.

Black-headed Gull surrounded by Lesser Back-backed Gulls (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We ended up with 25 species.  To be honest I really enjoyed being out with mates on a bracing day. 

Sending best wishes to both Peters and to Bob Wright.

Regards

Dave

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