Today I set off with Steve and Sue at 7:30am and headed for the coast, it was still dark, very misty and pouring with rain! We collected Roy and Rachel from EStapona and set off for our first birding destination which was the beach area at Casares.
We got soaked, it rained all the time and we didn't see many birds. A quick stop at a Monk Parakeet nessting colony proved better, it has stopped raining and the birds were showing well.
At Torreguadiaro we had light showers during our walk. We did see some good species: Purple Heron (2), Purple Swamphen (4), Little Owl, Kentish Plover, Crested Lark, Cirl Bunting (8), Nighingale and Cetti's Warbler both heard but not seen.
At San Enrique Woods we found Tree Sparrow as soon as we got out of the car, there was also Blackcap, Booted Eagle, Serin, Cattle Egret and Goldfinch. In the wood we had great views of both Short-toed Trecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker along with Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackcap and again we heard Common Nightingale and Cetti's Warbler. Weate our picnic lunch just outside the wood, the weather had improved and warmed up.
A short visit to Pinar del Rey prdouced several Jays, Chaffinch, Bee-eaters over, Griffon vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Black Kite and a singing Bonelli's Warbler.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at Palmones, first we visited the west side of the marsh at the municiple park. At least 8 Woodchat Shrikes were found in the park along with a Hoopoe. On the marsh we saw Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilt, Greenshank, Redshank and Great Cormorant. Our last birding was done from the promenade on the east side of the river. A good selction of waders were present: Ringed, Little Ringed, Grey and Kentish Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Turnstone and Common Sandpiper. A few Sandwich Terns were joined by a Gull-billed Tern on the sand bar.
We dropped Roy and Rachel off near Estapona and made our way back to Gaucin. We stopped at Sierra Crestellina to look for eagles and we were rewarded with greatviews of a apir of Bonelli's Eagles, the male was displaying, a great show. Well pleased with our sightings we set off back to Gaucin for a lovely home cooked dinner.
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