Shetland to Spain: 17/10/26
Shetland last week to southern Spain, this spontaneous autumn getaway is no hardship when it means housesitting my friend's villa in the hills of Mijas for a couple of weeks, with birding always part of the experience.
It all started Thursday morning, just before dawn. With sunrise coming late at this time of year, around 08:30, I met up with friends Derek and Barbara Etherton for a 07:45 start at Zapata. (
Pre-dawn at Zapata always feels full of promise. Even though most of the summer visitors—including the local Red-necked Nightjars—have already headed across the Straits to Africa, there is never a dull moment.
As we pulled up close to the riverbank, a Black-crowned Night Heron stood completely unperturbed in our car headlights. Then, as the first light broke, the place came to life with droves of Cattle Egrets and Glossy Ibis streaming out of their nearby roosts. Looking up into the pale morning sky, we were treated to passing views of an Osprey, a Booted Eagle, and a high-flying Great Egret. Along the river, both Green and Common Sandpipers were seen, and at one point a Kingfisher flashed through, looking stunning in early morning sun.
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| One of the eight Yellow Wagtails at Zapata, |
While driving the tracks before heading for breakfast, we came across a small fall of Yellow Wagtails, with at least eight in various plumages. A full species list can be found on my
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| A new place for me at Aljaima and a very productive one! |
After breakfast, we made a brief detour to Aljaima along the Río Guadalhorce—a spot I hadn’t visited before. We spent a short but productive half-hour scanning around the weir, which proved to be surprisingly bird-rich for such a quick stop.
The highlight of the visit was a group of four Black Storks feeding near the watercourse. Having not recorded Black Storks in this area for a few years, coming across four together was a nice local patch surprise and made the stop thoroughly worthwhile.
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| Cattle Egret. |
In total, we logged 25 species during our half-hour by the river. The water margins and surrounding vegetation produced a fine mix of waders and wetland birds, including Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, and brief flashes of Kingfisher. A vocal Cetti's Warbler called from the dense cover, while Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron and Little Egret completed a nice heron family line-up. A full species list for the visit can be found on my
Our final stop of the day was along the Rio Grande, where we spent a few rewarding hours birding along the gentle flow of the river, which, unlike previous years, still holds water! The water’s edge proved lively right away—Little Ringed Plovers were still actively feeding on the shingle, and it was a real treat to spot a small group of Glossy Ibis probing the shallows with their distinct, decurved bills.
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| Little-ringed Plover still lingering. |
The surrounding riverside woodlands were equally rewarding with passerines. Exploring the trees and undergrowth turned up a mix of species, including Blackcap, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spotted Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff, and Serin. Adding to the excitement was another noticeable fall of migrants, highlighted by a flock of at least forty White Wagtails flitting dynamically around the river banks.
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| White Wagtail. |
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| Glossy Ibis on the Rio Grande. |
Without a doubt, the defining highlight of our time here was witnessing visible migration in action overhead. Looking up, we counted at least 47 Griffon Vultures catching the thermals at various altitudes, all purposefully streaming south toward the coast—a thrilling and unforgettable spectacle to cap off a fantastic day in the field. A full species list for the visit can be found on my
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| One of the many Griffon Vultures - this one at a lower altitude. |
