Cabo de Gata

Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus

Saturday 21 February

At last, back in Andalucia on my drive south to Malaga Province.  But fist a morning stop at Cabo de Gata in Almeria where I met p with my friend Dave Elliott-Binns and my hosts for the next four days, Steve and Elena Powel who had driven up from Frigiliana to meet up with us.  Clear blue skies and very warm sunshine as the temperature rose well into the twenties centigrade and time to explore the Salinas.

Approaching the first hide at the entrance to the village House Sparrows, Collared Doves and Spotless Starlings on the wires then, from the hide, a small number of Flamingos on the water accompanied by the occasional Lesser Black-backed and Slender-billed Gulls.  Below us in the vegetation and nearby pools Thekla Lark and Stonechat with a quartet of Mallard and couple of Black-winged Stilts on the water.

Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus

Time to move on round to the second hide where we had a clearer view of the many Flamingos on the water.  Also present a Crested Lark and Sardinian Warbler.  First a Jackdaw flew over the hide then we saw a departing Curlew heading towards the village.

Moving on to the Public Hide I noted the resting flock of mainly Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls before the nearer individual Black-tailed Godwit and a single Redshank.  Further out on the main eater to our left just a single Avocet and more Shelducks. A handful of resting Cormorants, with the occasional departure, were also recorded. Then what a surprise as we left the hide with first the appearance of a Dartford Warbler on the fence in front of us quickly followed by a trio of Trumpeter Finches.

Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus

At this point Dave had to make his departure back up to Arboleas and the three of us took the road over the hill to the lighthouse.  However, a slight diversion just past the salt storage took us near to the end salina where, amongst the resting gulls, we also found at least twenty Audouin’s Gulls.

Once at the coast a walk around the immediate area produced first a Black Wheatear quickly followed by Stonechats, White Wagtail and a Skylark.  Even a kestrel on the wires as we made our way out of the village and back towards our final destination in Frigiliana.  A most enjoyable visit in great company and some excellent sightings.

Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Cormorant, Flamingo, Kestrel, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Skylark, White Wagtail, Black Wheatear, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Jackdaw, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Trumpeter Finch.

Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus

Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus

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