ANDALUCIA - 7 DAY TOUR - DAY 1 - 7TH MAY 2012

MALAGA AIRPORT  -  DESEMBOCADURA DEL RIO GUADALHORCE - SIERRA CRESTELLINA - GAUCIN

Weather: a beautiful sunny day, top temperature 25C, very light SW wind.

We had a marvellous start to our 7 day tour in Southern Spain. I collected the group of 6 at Malaga Airport at lunchtime and before we knew it we were birding at the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve. Our first 30 minutes was spent eating a picnic lunch on the west embankment where we saw plenty of species. Waders included Kentish and Ringed Plovers, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone. A Kingfisher flew up the river, Spotless Starlings sang from nearby rooftops, several Crested Larks flitted around and a couple of Sardinian Warblers did what they do best - hid in the tamarisk scrub. Oh I forgot to mention the noisy passage of sevarl flocks of Monk Parakeets.

Our walk to the Laguna Grande was also full of great sightings, more Kentish Plovers, a Hoopoe, Zitting Cisticola, Reed Warbler and lots of Barn Swallows. At the raised hide we were pleasantly surprised by the presence of a good selection of gulls, a pair of lovely Slender-billed Gulls were joined by Audouin's, Black-headed, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls. Wow, that was good.

In the water it got even better with White-headed Duck, Black-necked Grebes (in summer plum.), Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Egret, Common Pochard, Gadwall and lots of Little Grebes. More waders included Red Knot (also in summer plum), Little Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilts and Dunlin looking very smart.

At the smaller laguna we found Purple Swamphen, Redshank and we had several views of Black-headed Weaver (escaped birds now breeding here). On the return route to the minibus we added Red-rumped Swallows, these little beauties were collecting mud from the side of a puddle (from the recent rains), they allowed close approached and were much appreciated by the group. A couple of Collared Pratincoles hunted insects high above us, a second Hoopoe flew over and a Bee-eater was located from its call.We had logged nearly 60 species and we left well satisfied with our first outing.

After an hours drive we stopped at Sierra Crestellina, near Casares, where we focused our attention on the Bonelli's Eagle nest. The chick was visible, and now well grown, a parent bird arrived to feed it, it was another great species for our list. Also in good supply were Griffon Vulture, Woodchat Shrike, Corn Bunting, Thekla Lark, Stonechat and a single Melodious Warbler. We also had sightings of Red-billed Chough, Crag Martin, Egyptian Vulture (a pair that I think is breeding there) , Common Kestrel, Booted Eagle and a perched Short-toed Eagle.

We arrived at Gaucin at 6:30pm and settled into our rooms before enjoying the bird-log and a delicious home cooked meal made by wifey Dawn, ta darling!!!