Las Norias with the Arboleas Birding Group

Wednesday 21 October. 

Interesting; I certainly remember visit to Las Norias and all the disgusting plastic and, often, general waste.   Sounds like no hirundines still hanging around for the Arboleas Birding Group but are the cattle Egrets still gathering, along with Night and Squacco Herons, up at the top next the road with Purple Swamphens on the small end pool?  Also used to be plenty of Slender-billed Gulls along with Flamingos on the left as you entered the road leading up to the lighthouse.

Cañada de Las Norias and Punta Entinas-Sabinar: Wednesday 21 October

Peter Sloan and Peter Williams met me in the car park at Venta del Pobre at 08.15.  Peter S kindly

offered to drive, so the three of us headed west together along the A7.  We logged Spotless

Starling and Yellow-legged Gull en route, before stopping for coffee at the Repsol gasolinera

where we used to gather in the old days, at salida 809 (formerly 420).  Then on by the traditional

route to the Las Norias lakes among the plasticos.  The surroundings were as depressing as we

remembered, plastic everywhere, but the birds were there: Great-crested Grebe (lots), Chiffchaff,

Coot, Red-crested Pochard, Cormorant, Cetti’s Warbler, Grey Heron, Shoveler, Moorhen, Little

Grebe, Mallard, White Wagtail, Robin, Jackdaw, Collared Dove and Magpie.

After a distinctly chilly start to the day, it was now warming up as we drove south to the

small parking area by the track that leads to the lighthouse at Punta del Sabinar.  The track is

closed to vehicles but easily walkable, initially through very tall reeds before the view opens out.

There was some heat haze but Peter S found a Marsh Harrier in flight to the left then instantly

spun round and found a Purple Swamphen in the vegetation fringing a pool to the right.  How did

he do that?  We added Kentish Plover, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Whinchat (after discussion),

Black-necked Grebe and Blackbird . One or two very distant waders remained unidentified.  The

long walk to the lighthouse through scrub and dunes produced only Sardinian Warbler and

Stonechat.  Back by the car, a few House Sparrows showed up.

Purple Swamphen (PHOTO: Bob Wright)

As we motored on eastwards we passed an Iberian Grey Shrike on the roadside wires.  Last

stop was the large lagoon opposite the westernmost buildings of Roquetas de Mar, let’s call it

Laguna Serena.  Tall fringing vegetation left only a very short stretch were it was possible to see the

water but it was worth the effort, with White-headed Duck, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull

and a huge number of Pochard all present.  We finished with 34 species at the end of a thoroughly

enjoyable outing in good company.

Kevin

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.