☀️28C Wednesday 18th May 2022 ~ An early morning visit to Guadalhorce, details of which can be found HERE or by clicking the Spain πͺπΈ tab at the top of my blog.
Having only spent a few hours at the Laguna Grande when I first arrived back in Spain this was going to be a full circuit of the reserve, arriving just before sunrise. With temperatures now on the rise (28C today), I suspect most of my birding from this point on is likely to be early morning or late evening.
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| A very smart-looking Spotted Flycatcher |
After parking at the church at Guadalmar, I always check the ditches, reeds and tamarisk along the roadside as I walk down to the reserve. At one point while standing on a raised area photographing an obliging
Sardinian Warbler I was suddenly joined by a
Spotted Flycatcher, which flew down to greet me. I wasn’t sure if he was looking too happy with my presence or not so considering I may well be close to his nest after a few quick snaps I bid a hasty retreat, what a great start to my visit!
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| Sardinian Warbler ~ Normally a real skulker but not on this occasion. |
Walking across the access bridge to the site the
House Martins, which nest underneath, were already busy feeding over the river and a
Cetti's Warbler called from the reeds below. Looking across towards the road bridge the resident
Rock Doves were also just starting their day. Two
Glossy Ibis then passed over, dropping down onto the reserve and the usual hoards of
Monk Parakeets were already marauding noisy beasts! Less noisy was a
Hoopoe just prior to reaching my first stop of the day, the Laguna de la Casilla.
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| Hoopeo |
This is an open hide and below a couple of
Black-winged Stilts were feeding in the shallows. To the rear two
Cattle Egret flew overhead and a few
Yellow-legged Gulls but nothing further to report at this stage. Next off to the 'Wader Hide' which is often more productive and here I found what I imagined were the two
Glossy Ibis that flew over me at the bridge. It's worth spending a little time here and by the time I moved on, I'd noted
Ringed Plover,
Dunlin,
Avocet,
Shelduck,
Greater Flamingo, (17)
Black-winged Stilt and
Little Egret.
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| One of two Glossy Ibis from the 'Wader Hide' |
By the time I reached the del Rio Viejo the sun was well up but in a favourable position and although the water level was still high there was plenty of scrape along the shoreline to check. The first species of note was a
Curlew Sandpiper, my first for the year and he was quickly followed by a near summer plumage
Grey Plover,
Redshank,
Black-tailed Godwit,
Little-ringed Plover,
Ringed Plover and three
Dunlin. |
| Grey Plover on the Rio Viejo |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
A stop at the de Aves Marinas viewpoint, which overlooks the sea is always difficult with the low sun at this time of day so I soon moved on to my walk along the beach. I chose to stay close to the perimeter fence as this is a great place to view the nesting Kentish Plover and by the time I re-entered the reserve I had plenty of images. The sea was particularly quiet with little passing through and a bit late for the usual scurrying Sanderling.
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| Kentish Plover viewed from the perimeter fence. |
Now mid-morning and the heat rising my final stop was the Laguna Grande, best viewed in the late afternoons, once again the sun playing its role. But despite this and the water still staying at a high level, it was a productive stop. The Island was once more full of roosting Sandwich Terns, a single Whiskered Tern nestled in. A lone Spoonbill was at the far side and Greater Flamingos, Avocet and Black-winged Stilt were feeding. Also noted while here are many Common Swifts overhead and small numbers of Red-rumped Swallow and Barn Swallow too. At one point a Bee-eater flew low for water and also noteworthy Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spotless Starling, White-headed Duck and before I left both Audouin's and Slender-billed Gull ended an excellent visit.
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| Audoin's Gull over the Laguna Grande |
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| Slender-billed Gull just prior to leaving |
More Images of the Visit...
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Grey Plover |
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| Slender-billed Gull |
