DAY TOUR - MARCH 8TH 2011 - TARIFA, LA JANDA & PALMONES

Christine & John joined me for their 3rd day tour and what a wash out it turned out to be. It rained nearly all day and some of it was torrential and very wet! However we managed to see a fair crop of species with some goodies included.

We drove down to the coast from Gaucin and travel along the coast road to Tarifa. We parked near Los lances Beach and walked to the hide which overlooks a couple of pools. It wasn't raining when we started out and we enjoyed watching Little & Cattle Egrets, Skylarks, Crested Larks, Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches. Once at the hide it began to rain and it got pretty bad, birds on the beach struggled with the wind and rain but we did find Audouin's Gull (15), Mediterranean Gull (1 - 1st winter), Sandwich Terns and a nice surprise a Caspian Tern.
Black Kites sitting in the rain

Waders included Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Little Stint and Kentish Plover. We also found a couple of Northern Wheatears, lots of Yellow Wagtails, a Sand Martin and my first Swifts of the season - both Pallid and Common Swifts flew over the hide. John located a nice Water Pipit and took several pictures of it before telling us!! Big mistake, no lollipop for him!

We got soaked! During a brief respite in the downpour we made our way back to car and drove to La Janda.

From the car we saw a good number of wet birds seen from along the central track at La Janda. Lots of Black Kites drifted over, a Short-toed Eagle showed in the distance, we also found about 100 Yellow Wagtails, 50+ White Wagtails, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Marsh harrier and a couple more Water Pipits.

We also saw flock sof Linnets and Golfinches and a Cetti's Warbler out in the open. We found a Reed Bunting and 4 Purple Swamphens in the reeds in the large canal. Then we turned along the Benalup track and found Red-legged Partridge, Lesser Kestrel, Common Pheasant and White Stork.

The rain eventually drove us off and we set off for home. As we passed Palmones the rain had stopped so we pulled into the town and parked at the mouth of the river. It was windy and the tide was very high but we found another Med Gull (1st winter), several Sandwich Terns, a flock of some 50 Sanderling and a lovely 'pink' Slender-billed Gull. That ended our day tour - very wet but all enjoyed the birding when we had the chance.