Las Norias & Roquetas de Mar: Thursday 17th May

When I checked the weather forecast for the Almeria area today, it stated sunny with clouds! It may have been at 20.000ft, but on the ground we were constantly harassed by showers, sometimes heavy! Here is my soggy report:-

 

I picked up Paul & Reyna from Arboleas and drove down to the Repsol Services at junction 420, just beyond the Roquetas de Mar turn-off. It had started to shower as we approached Almeria. We met up with John, Les & Barrie. After a cup of coffee we made our separate ways to the Las Norias lake. From the first causeway we saw a good selection of hirundines, but in small numbers. Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Red Rumped Swallow & House Martin. On the choppy water, as there was a bit of wind with the precipitation, we managed to see Great Crested Grebe and Red Crested Pochard, some with ducklings. A Turtle Dove perched briefly on the power line. A Gull Billed Tern flew over. We didn't linger as we were getting slightly drenched.

 

At the next stop, after clambering over the dumped rubbish, we found some Gadwall, Coot & Moorhen plus Blackbird, White Wagtail & Greenfinch.

 

On the smaller pool at the opposite end to the plastic recycling plant, Les spotted an adult Night Heron & a Kestrel. Moving along the road to the little bridge, John saw a Ringed Plover, Avocet, Black Winged Stilt & a Grey Heron.

 

It was decided a coffee in a dry cafe should be next on the agenda, so we stopped in San Augustin village on our way to the Roquetas salinas lake area. Suitably refreshed, but still damp, we convoyed along the tarmacked track towards the lighthouse. The causeway was littered with resting Black Winged Stilts. Greater Flamingos were feeding oblivious to the heavy downpour. A Whiskered Tern was seen. We heard a Great Reed Warbler as we used our vehicles as hides. Mosquitoes invaded through the open windows...oh joy! Paul spotted a Glossy Ibis and I found some Little Grebe. A Purple Swamphen showed briefly. Also seen were Redshank, Gull Billed & Little Tern. 

 

Moving to the next causeway, we were treated to only a slight shower, but mud underfoot, but there were Kentish Plover & Black Winged Stilt on it. A Yellow Wagtail appeared. A Common Pochard flew over & I found some White Headed Duck. A Little Egret was seen. As we headed back to the vehicles we saw Zitting Cisticola and a pair of Sardinian Warblers.

 

We drove to the small pool near the hotels. A male Common Pochard was guarding the feeding area with some Mallard. We then drove up the main track. Collared Pratincoles were lining the edges of the track, reluctant to take to the wing. Posed well. but didn't look happy at all. There must've been at least 25 of them. Despite the rain we had had a reasonable day with over 40 species. 

Regards, Dave

Mummy Red Crested Pochard & duckling​

Male Common Pochard

​One unhappy Collared Pratincole

​And another one!​

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Aroleas Birding Group - 25 April

Cabo de Gata & Rambla de Morales: Wednesday 25th April

The plan was to go to Sierra Maria this week with some of the group, but the weather forecast was for rain so I cancelled it. As Gilly's sister was with us and they were having a girlie day sewing & crafting, I decided to try my luck down at Cabo de Gata. My theory was that any bird migrating from Algeria to Spain will fly into the rain and land at the first available bit of land, e.g. Cabo de Gata. I left home in the pouring rain and travelled the 115 kilometres in a pseudo car-wash, nicely removing the bucket load of Saharan sand which had been deposited on my truck on Monday evening. As I passed Pujaire I saw the first bird for the list, a Cattle Egret. I made my way to the far end of the reserve to check out the rear track. Luckily the rain was coming from the east, hitting the passenger side of my vehicle, so I could open my driver door window without getting soaked. The first birds I saw there were a Kentish Plover, some Ringed Plovers & a Little Stint. Further along I came across some Shelduck, Slender Billed & Mediterranean Gulls, Avocet, Curlew Sandpipers & a Greenshank. A Corn Bunting posed well. Nearing the hedge by the cultivated area, I spotted a male Marsh Harrier. I was hoping for some resting migrants in the hedge and I wasn't disappointed. A Willow Warbler, a female Pied Flycatcher & a Woodchat Shrike. I have to say the track was a tad puddle strewn and muddy, but I managed to get through.

 

I headed to the second hide because it had now stopped raining. From the beach I saw a group of Gull Billed Tern passing along the shore line whist some Little Tern were feeding beyond the breakers. There was an Iberian Grey Shrike in the bushes. From the hide I saw a Black Winged Stilt. A Turtle Dove flew across the steppes, closely followed by a male Golden Oriole! My first of the year and my first ever at Cabo de Gata. A Raven perched on a road sign near the beach & a Kestrel flew by. Numerous Common Swifts were chasing invisible prey.

 

I then headed to the lighthouse. The light was on so I assume some maintenance was going on. I only saw a Sardinian Warbler as headed up to the Vela Blanca. Once at the top I walked a short way down the track. I saw a pair of Black Wheatear. Driving back towards the lighthouse I spotted some birds to my right. Trumpeter Finches. I stopped the truck and watched them. There were about eight of them. One male in full breeding plumage landed not 6 foot from the truck to drink from a water-filled pothole in the road. Of course my window was shut. I managed to open it, but as I picked up the camera, he flew off.  Heading back along the beach I saw a group of Audouin's Gull.

 

I then travelled along the beach-side track towards the Rambla Morales. The estuary end had Dunlin & Sanderling plus a solitary Cormorant. There were huge numbers of Common & Pallid Swifts swirling around together with House & Sand Martins and Barn & Red Rumped Swallows. A Purple Heron took off from the reeds and was struggling against the now gusty wind. On the water I found a pair of Shoveller, 26 White Headed Ducks and a single Garganey. 

 

I heard Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola & Stone Curlew. I ended the list with Mallard, Blackbird & Jackdaw.

 

To earn brownie points, I  stopped of at the pasteleria and got the girls some danish pastries. As I was leaving the heavens opened! Wow! 53 species and some very nice migrants! Regards, Dave

Woodchat Shrike

​Ringed Slender Billed Gull

​Mediterranean Gulls

​Greenshank

​Corn Bunting

​Male Black Wheatear

​Female Black Wheatear or juvenile?

​Someone left the light on!​

Trumpeter Finch

​Ringed Audouin's Gull

​White Headed Duck

​Garganey

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Arboleas Birding Group - 2 May

Sierra de Maria   -   Wednesday 2nd May 2018

After last evenings rain...and snow in the Sierra de Maria, this morning the sun was out, but with a chilly wind. I picked up two new members, Paul & Reyna, from outside Corivan in Arboleas and made our way to Maria town. On the way we saw an Iberian Green Woodpecker and a Woodchat Shrike. We watched the House Martins beginning to nest under the garage canopy as we swigged coffee in the cafe. We were joined by Adrian, Steve, John & Les and then made our way to the chapel area. As Paul has an injured leg and is on crutches I drove to the fuente as the others walked over from the car park. Les had seen a Rock Bunting as well as Chaffinch. I spotted some distant Griffon Vultures around and to the east of the telephone masts. Great Tits were in the taller trees. I drove Paul up to the Botanical Gardens whilst the others walked. They had good views of a pair of Booted Eagle, which Paul & I saw from a distance. Les spotted a Mistle Thrush. We heard a  European Cuckoo. Leaving Les, Adrian & Paul in the garden the rest of us did the lower walk. We saw Blue & Coal Tit and young Crossbill with their father. Les & co had also seen Crested & Long Tailed Tit. On the journey down the group had good views of a pair of Stonechat, the male in particular showed well. I spotted a Subalpine Warbler beneath it in the shrub.

Moving on to the farm buildings, we saw Hoopoe, Rock Sparrow and both Barn & Red Rumped Swallows. Also seen were Serin, Greenfinch & Goldfinch. Next we stopped at the farm water trough where we saw more Rock Sparrow, Crested Lark, Linnet and a pair of Turtle Dove. I spotted a Northern Wheatear on the ridge. A Red Billed Chough showed briefly atop one of the barns.

I then lead the convoy along the plain. We saw more Northern Wheatear & a Hoopoe. Les, John & Mary spotted a Calandra Lark. At the hamlet we counted only three Lesser Kestrels. Heading back I spotted the Calandra Lark singing from a rock perch. A lifer for Paul.

As we ate our lunch at La Piza forest cafe, we watched Crested, Long Tailed, Blue, Great & Coal Tits feeding on the nuts. Chaffinch & Crossbill were seen as was a Jay & a Short Toed Treecreeper. It was also nice to see Sue Ruder there. Long time no see! We ended up with 37 species. Lovely weather & company! Regards, Dave

Dave

Male Stonechat

​Long Tailed Tit

​Crested Tit​

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Back in Spain - at last! Arboleas Birding Group 28 April

Monday 21 May

Now back from our month circumnavigatigthe globe with stops in Japan and Canada and, of course, the North Pacific cruise from Yokohama to Vancouver via Alaska.  Wonderful holiday and, no doubt, more later.  But first all those reports received but not published yet so apologies to the Arboleas Birding Group and John.  So here goes and, again, apologies that they are all coming at once.

El Fondo, near Elche   -   Saturday 28th April 20

Gilly & I left home at 05.00hrs to the sound of a Scops Owl calling from our rambla. We met up with Les & John at the Overa hotel, John being volunteered to drive to the El Fondo bird reserve near Elche. After a reviving cup of coffee at the Cox service station we headed for the football pitch area as we were a bit early to enter the reserve via the north gate. On the way an European Cuckoo flew over, the only one seen but we heard at least two more during the day. We doused ourselves in mosquito spray as it became obvious they were a problem here. Gilly got suitably dressed! We saw Jackdaw, Grey Heron, Common Swifts & Kestrel, but around us we heard Zitting Cisticola, Black Winged Stilt & Cetti's Warbler. We arrived at the north gate in plenty of time to spot a few birds before entry. We heard both Nightingale & Green Woodpecker. We saw Cattle Egret, Blackcap, Yellow Legged & Black Headed Gulls and Mallard. A flight of 5 Turtle Doves flew over. Some birders in front of us spotted a warbler in a tree in front of them. We saw it as well. They identified it as a Wood Warbler. Ana, the Park Ranger of the day let us in. On the way down to the far elevated viewing platform we saw Crag Martin, Avocet & Shelduck flying over. Once up on the platform a scan of the water to the front revealed Common Pochard, White Headed Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Greater Flamingo. Over the water Whiskered & Little Tern flew over with Barn & Red Rumped Swallow. Little Bitterns regularly flew between reed banks, some showing well. John spotted a Red Crested Pochard. A distant Marsh Harrier was being harassed by Whiskered Terns. Great Reed Warblers were very vocal from reed tops. We decided to walk back up the track to the next hide. 

A bird which John & I could only identify as a wheatear species flew up and luckily perched on a tree behind us. 

A Northern Wheatear. From the hide we saw a distant raft of Black Necked Grebe and a Moorhen. Walking further along I spotted a Purple Swamphen. A couple of Squacco Heron were seen. From the hide we added Shoveler & Goldfinch. We headed back to the exit gate, seeing a flight of 16 Glossy Ibis fly by.

En route to the information centre John spotted a pair of Iberian Grey Shrike. Again there was a cacophony of Great Reed Warbler sounds as we walked to the enclosed pool by the centre. Red Knobbed Coot were there with a chick. There were 5 Marbled Duck, all tagged from, presumably, last years release. Les & Gilly saw a White Wagtail & a pair of over-flying Collared Pratincole. Leaving Gilly there with her bad back, the three of us walked along the raised wooden path. We spotted a small number of Purple Swamphen and a Little Grebe. The first hide on the left didn't 

" disturb the scorer ", but the next hide was much better. We saw resting Collared Pratincoles, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper. We heard Bee Eaters flying over. A juvenile Whiskered Tern caused some identity confusion! A pair of Marsh Harrier flew over. I rang Gilly to say we were heading back. She said she had a flycatcher hanging around the centre. Retracing our steps along the wooden path, stopping only for some posing Whiskered Terns, we were soon at the centre. Once a group of vociferous Spanish non-birders had left the area, the flycatcher showed itself. A female Pied Flycatcher. Walking back to the car we saw another Squacco Heron.

We expected more today, but we still had 62 species. The onslaught of mosquitoes didn't materialise. After lunch we stopped off at our friends house to check out their resident Long Eared Owls. We saw daddy owl & two fledged chicks.

Photographer Gilly unless stated.

Regards, Dave

Regards, Dave

Gilly in anti mosquito garb!  (Dave)

​Turtle Dove

​Male Little Bittern

​Gecko in one of the hides​

Marbled Duck (Dave)

​Purple Swamphen (Dave)

​Mr & Mrs Common Pochard (Dave)​

Whiskered Tern (Dave)

​Pied Flycatcher (Dave)

​Squacco Heron (Dave)

​Daddy Long Eared Owl (Dave)

​Baby Long Eared Owl (Dave) 

Just hoping that these pictures come out using "copy and paste" as I was unable to save as jpegs!!!! 

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Las Norias and Roquetas with the Arboleas Birding Group

Thursday 19 April

Back to normal with the weekly report from David re his exploits with the Arboleas Birding Group.  Lots of great birds seen on Wednesday so I am also looking forward to finding my first Collared Pratincole and Turtle Dove.  Something  very much to look forward to when I return from travel to the northern Pacific.

Las Norias and Roquetas   -   Wednesday 18th April 2018

Los tres amigos, Les, John and myself headed south along the E15/A7 towards Las Norias, stopping off at junction 420 for a coffee at the Repsol Service Station before making our way via the back roads to the lake.  On the first causeway there was nothing nearby as digger work was going on in the pump house yard, but further away we saw Great Crested Grebe, Red-crested Pochard and Black-headed Gull.  Les spotted an adult Night Heron flying over. Shortly after another flight of half a dozen followed.  Also seen were Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Mallard and Yellow-legged Gull. We could hear a Great Reed Warbler singing away to our right. I wandered in that direction.  A convenient break in the reeds, presumably made by an illegal angler, brought me down to the water edge.  A scan of the reeds opposite revealed the bird perched on top.   We then saw two heron flying away low over the water. Our first Purple Herons of the year. John found a Common Pochard on the lake the other side. Les the saw another first... a Turtle Dove on the power line.

Moving round to the second stop. It was occupied by a flock of sheep, so we moved on to the second causeway, stopping first at the end away from the plastic recycling factory.  First on the list were some noisy Black-winged Stilt.  John spotted a Gadwall and Les added a Little Ringed Plover and a Black Tern.  I found a resting Shoveler before we moved round to the main causeway road.  We heard a Reed Warbler. We then spotted some resting Whiskered and Gull-billed Terns on a little spit.  A Redshank was also seen.  At the little bridge a single Black-tailed Godwit was seen.  It was displaying the leg tag TJ5.  I'll let you know later if I get a hit!  Les added Avocet and Jackdaw before we returned to the usual 2nd stop where the sheep had now gone.  I spotted two Yellow Wagtails and Les, a Green Sandpiper.

Leg-tagged Black Tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

 En route to Roquetas we saw a Squacco Heron flying over some reeds and a power line full of Cattle Egret plus a single Little Egret.

At the San Augstin end of the Roquetas pools we first saw some Greater Flamingos.  John the spotted a Glossy Ibis.  Over the far reed line were 5 White Headed Duck and a Black-necked Grebe.  John had a brief glimpse of a male Garganey.  We were looking for it when a company of Spanish Legion from the Viator camp walked past putting everything into the air.  Another birder thought he saw a Marbled Duck.  Moving along to the next causeway we saw Sandwich Tern and Black-headed Gulls at rest.  Kentish Plovers and Black-winged Stilts were there as well.  John found a Shelduck and then Les found some Spoonbill.  An Audouin's Gull was seen before John discovered a Mediterranean Gull.  The next causeway revealed that the number of Spoonbills was 18.  Some waders flew in near us; 3 Curlew Sandpiper.  A distant Marsh Harrier was seen before I heard, then saw, a high flying Collared Pratincole.  

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola with colour rings​ (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

We decided to check out the scrub area beyond the small pool and sure enough there were a small number of resting Collared Pratincoles there.  I see now from my photographs that the pratincole which posed so nicely on the track was colour ringed as well!  We also checked out the other pools.  A Glossy Ibis was by the "Red-knobbed Coot" pool.  Also seen were some Ruff and Redshank.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

 All in all a very good day.  Migration seems to have started now in our area after a late start.  57 species seen.  Good weather and company...and only a few mosquito bites!

Regards, Dave

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Ruff Philomachus pugnax (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Redshank Tringa totanus (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information

Sierra de Maria with the Arboleas Birding Group

Thursday 19 April

I was thinking that this was going to be David's weekly report from his Arboleas Birding Group but it would appear that there was a change of date last week!  Nevertheless, always welcome and sure that our readers will enjoy his latest message from up east of the region.  Now read on as, once again, some lovely photos from David.

Sierra de Maria   -   Friday 13th April

Apologies in the delay in posting this report, but my computer died.  Thankfully it has now been brought back from the brink into circulation again!  I made a personal visit to the Sierra de Maria.  My first stop was to the La Piza forest cafe for a coffee, which I drank watching Coal and Great Tits using the bird feeders.  Chaffinches were sweeping up any morsels dropping from above.  A Mistle Thrush was also seen.

Female Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

I then made my way to the farm buildings where my arrival disturbed a Hoopoe.  A Common Buzzard flew off from a nearby tree.  Walking round the building I also saw House and Rock Sparrow and some Serin.

Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

I drove down to the water trough area where I used the truck as a hide.  There was the usual Crested Larks and Spotless Starlings.  I then saw a Iberian Green Woodpecker flying onto a tree some 75 metres away.  With a little help from the call on my phone, it flew to a tree only 25 metres away and posed beautifully for a photograph.

Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

I then drove onto the plain.  A Short-toed Lark was sat nicely on a roadside perch as was a Calandra Lark.  I added a Sky Lark before arriving at the hamlet.  Again using my truck as a hide I got to within a reasonable distance of the Lesser Kestrels resting on the barn roof.  On the way back I saw Griffon Vulture and Booted Eagle.

Mr & Mrs Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

I then made my way to the Botanical Gardens.  I saw Blue Tit, Stonechat and Rock Bunting on the walk from the chapel to the Information Centre. Round the gardens I also had Crested Tit and Short-toed Treecreeper.  I heard a Raven.

Returning to the La Piza forest cafe for lunch I added a Jay.  On the return journey my list was completed by a Woodpigeon and some Red-billed Chough.

Hoopoe Upupa epops (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Only 29 species.  Surprisingly no Crossbills seen, but I had a very enjoyable outing!

Regards, Dave

Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra (PHOTO: David Elliott-Binns)

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information

Sierra Loja

Wednesday 18 April

Ten of us present at Sierra Loja for the April meting of the Axarquia Bird Group travelling from as far afield as Competa to the east and Marbella to the west.  Good to see Eric and Pat Lyon again and a welcome to new particpants Lindsay and  Elizabeth Ferguson along with Peter Ashley.  Also present Barbara and Derek Ethertona and Barbara and Jerry Laycock.  So, come 9.40, we were on our way up the mountain with two target birds in mind, the summering Rock Thrush and the local breeding pairs of Spectacled Warbler.

No sooner had we left the car park than we stopped to observe a mixed group of Goldfinches and Cirl Buntings.  A first stop at the lower picnic area produced Greenfinch and Serin plus  the first Black Wheatear of the morning.  Naturally we had seen the local Collared Doves and, once among the trees, not only Chaffinch and Blackbird but numerous Mistle Thrushes and Azure-winged Magpies.  Then, of course, there were all those Wood Pigeons moving about.

Mistle Thrush Zorzal Charlo Turdus viscivorus

By the time we were ready to walk up the track to the old quarry to check out the Eagle Owl's nesting site, we had also added Barn Swallows and the first Stonechat.  No sign of the Eagle Owl but a good number of Choughs moving about the cliff face along wiyh the occasional Rock Bunting. No sooner had the Sardinian Warbler disappeared from view than I had a Black Redstart move up into a small oak tree which, in turn, revealed what I think most of us agreed was a Common Chiffchaff.  Not so much the Red-legged Partridges nor the few Jackdaws but the surprisingly clear sight of a Spectacled Warbler that took us by surprise, the first time that I have seen these lovely little warblers away from their traditional breeding site.

Just a fleeting fraction of a second to grab a record shot of the Spectacled Warbler Curruca Tomillera Sylvia conspicicillata

Having seen a Raven pass overhead, on up the track and nearing the end of the tree line we stopped to see a hawk above the tree tops.  Far too big and the jizz was all wrong for a Sparrowhawk so, yes, you guessed correcltly, for most their first Goshawk of the year.  Also in the air near this fabulous raptor a number of Common Swifts.  Meanwhile, continuing on up the mountain we regularly encountered both Crested Lark and Rock Bunting, having said good-bye to the Azure-winged Magpies, then the first Thekla Lark and Rock Sparrows of the morning.

A little magic moment followed with not ony a resting Little Owl but high above Derek had picked out a drifting Griffon Vulture and, looking above the bird, we then found a Golden Eagle.  Only when we relised that Derek and I were actually looking in different directions that we realised we had not one but two individuals.  And in the same area we heard and then saw two of the breeding Spectacled Warblers.

Little Owl Mochuelo Comun Athene noctua

Now we were very much in "Wheatear Country" as we passed the electricity station and, sure enough, had good views of both Northern and Black-eared Wheatear.  Ere long we had reached the Charca del Negra pools and what pools they were, I have neer seen then so full and the main pool must surely have been somewhere about five metres deep as the water almost reached the top of the support wll.  But still the pool had visits from both Rock Sparrows and Black Redstart.

Now that we had driven to the top track we were all intent on finding the illusive Rock Thrush.  Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Spotless Starling, Kestrel and Woodchat Shrike but where was the target bird?  Eventually, at the far end of the track, Derek, yet again, saw the slight movement on the summit, cars stopped and much work with bins and scopes finally found our bird, the first, and only, Rock Thrush of the day.   Whilst awaiting a decision on whether or not to visit the water deposit at the bottom of the hill (we decided to give it a miss this time), we were able to watch the antics of a pair of Litle Owl on the cliff face in front of us.

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris seen in the trees almost at the bottom of the mountain

At this point we decided to call it a day and made our way either down the mountain or, as in the case of Lindsay and Elizabeth, continue on along the track in the hope that they found, if not Zafarraya, at least signs of civilisation!  But no, hardly had we started our way back when Derek and others, having heard the bird calling in a nearny tree, had wonderful vews of a Western Orphean Warbler.  Not so much achieving our two target birds but certainly another three as a bonus in the shape of the Orphean and the earlier Goshawk and Golden Eagle.

Birds seen:
Red-legged Partridge, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Goshawk, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Common Swift, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Bue Rock Thrush, Blackbrd, Mistle Thrush, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Chough, Jackdaw, Raven, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting.

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information