El Fondo, Elche

 Sunday 1 March

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

Leaving Malaga to join my son at his home in Lliria, some 24 km north-west of Valencia, I arrived at my overnight stop in Crevillent at 16.45 with still some bright sunshine so went straight to the nearby El Fondo Reserve.  Always a delightful reserve to visit with, as I was soon to confirm, its three "specials" on the shallow pools and with good visibility.

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata

Approaching the car park I noted the feeding Cattle Egret on a field to my right and then, once in the car park, a number of White Wagtail.  A large flock of Glossy Ibis took off from the water in front of me and soon I was out of the car and looking at the same pool from inside the reserve proper.  Lots of Shoveler along with a number of Teal plus a few more Glossy Ibis and juvenile Flamingo.

Shoveler Anas cypeata

Moving across to the picnic area and the screen overlooking the small lake behind the Visitors Centre I saw many Moorhen and a Marbled Duck sitting atop a nest box.  Mallards to the right and a couple of sleeping Teal.

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

Time to take the boardwalk across the water where I found more Flamingos and many Red-knobbed as well as Common Coots. No shortage of Black-winged Stilts along with all the Chiffchaff feeding in the exposed reeds. Towards the end of the walk I came across a single Glossy Ibis before finding a couple of Purple Swamphen to complete the hoped for trio of sightings.

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio

More Common and Red-knobbed Coots at the far end along with a single Little Grebe.  A Reed Bunting was also seen in this area.  Moving on to the first hide I found a pair of Common Pochard along with a single White-headed Duck.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Moving across the the second hide overlooking the main laguna, lots of Flamingos plus more Black-winged Stilts and a small number of resting Shelduck on the distant banks.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Making my way back to the car park I also added Blackbird, House Sparrow and Jackdaw and checking the field just beyond the car park now saw that the Cattle Egrets had been joined by scores of Glossy Ibis and a small number of Little Egrets.  Finally, sitting atop a pylon a Collared Dove and a handful of Serin in the grasses below so giving a final total of 27 species in just the one hour before setting off my nearby overnight hostal.

Mainly Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Flamingo, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Common  Coot, Red-knobbed Coot,  Black-winged Stilt,  Collared Dove, White Wagtail, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Serin, Reed Bunting.

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata

Commopn Pochard Aythya ferina

Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Departure of the Glossy Ibis P.falcinellus, Cattle Bubulcus ibis and Little Egrets Egretta garzetta

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