Boatbirder.com: 📖 Closing the Guadalhorce Jigsaw : 28/10/26

My final outing of the trip felt like pure déjà vu—retracing the route Derek, Barbara, and I took on the 15th, but with two missing pieces left in the jigsaw: Penduline Tit and Bluethroat.

We arrived at Zapata just before dawn, settling in along the Río Guadalhorce reedbeds as the sky began to lighten with the full moon setting to the west. Right on cue, the morning rush began. First up were the local Little and Cattle Egrets, passing by in steady waves. The Glossy Ibis followed soon after, always fashionably late to the morning exodus. Scanning through the flurry, we picked out a Great Egret and a few stealthy Black-crowned Night Herons slipping off into the shadows.

The Rio Guadalhorce at Zapata looking west over AP7 motorway.

With the morning roost dispersed, we turned our attention to the reedbeds in search of our target species. Actually seeing a couple of the usually elusive Cetti’s Warblers was a pleasant surprise, though it was still too dark for photos. As we crossed the ford to inspect the storm ditches, we were rewarded with our first target sighting—a Bluethroat popping in and out of the reeds.

Record shot in poor light of the Bluethroat along the storm ditch.

The main reedbeds opposite the airport perimeter were a flurry of activity, filled with Chiffchaff, Serin, House Sparrow, Stonechat, and small groups of Common Waxbill. We even picked up a second calling Bluethroat, though we couldn't connect visually this time.

Common Waxbill showing its intricate feathering.

Then, finally, came our second target species. First we caught the distinct vocal repertoire, characterised by its soft, high-pitched calls, before spotting a pair of Eurasian Penduline Tits. One played ball just long enough for me to lock focus and get the shot—the perfect note before breakfast.