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Red-throated Bee-eater

Red-throated Bee-eater
join us for a fantastic tour of The Gambia this November

Thursday, October 25, 2012

OCTOBER 23rd 2012 - COTO DONANA & EXTREMADURA - 9....


EXTREMADURA TO ANDALUCIA – WITH STOPS AT BONANZA SALT PANS – LAGUNA TARELO, TREBUJENA SALT MARSH AND LAGUNA TORREGUADIARO


STAR BIRD  - WHITE WINGED TERN


We set off at 8:30am and drove directly to Seville; many species were noted from the bus but nothing new for the trip list.

After a lunch stop when we ate a lovely tapas sitting in warm sunshine we set off for our first birding stop at Trebujena marsh. We searched open water and enclosed lagunas for the rare Marbled Duck without success. A lot of work had been done recently to strengthen the laguna banks so we assumed the ducks had been disturbed. We did find: Greenshank, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier and lots of Shoveler.

At Laguna Tarelo we were again disappointed with the low number of birds, however we did see several White-headed Ducks, Common Pochard, Black-necked Grebes, Little Grebe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and a couple of Common Waxbills,

Common Waxbill



Most of the Salt Pans were also devoid of birdlife but the main laguna near the pumping station held quite a lot species. We were treated to a fishing exhibition by several Caspian Terns, they were joined by a single Little Tern, a couple of Sandwich Terns and after some debate and later consultation of the photo shown below we had found a White-winged Tern. Great stuff and a very good record.

Juvenile White-winged Tern (formerly White-winged Black Tern)

The water here also held several hundred Greater Flamingos and an amazing count of 22 Great Egrets; I have never seen so many in one place. Black Storks numbered 3 but were still much appreciated. A good selection of waders included 2 new species for our list: Spotted Redshank (14) and Little Stint (2), these were joined by: Sanderling, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper (6), Turnstone, Ruff (1) and more Avocet than you can shake a stick at.

Some of the 22 Great White Egrets seen at Bonanza Salt Pans + 1 Grey Heron




We also enjoyed great views of Slender-billed Gull, Red Kite, Booted Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Marsh Harrier and plenty of common species. The flies eventually drove us off as they constantly pestered us.

Our very last birding was done at the Laguna Torreguadiaro near Soto Grande on the coast; we were just 30 minutes from home now so a quick stop in the late afternoon sun was welcomed by the group. We search the reed beds for a wintering Little Bittern without success but there were plenty of other birds to see in the shape of, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Moorhen, Coot, Kingfisher, Little Egret, barn Swallow and Crag Martin.

Well that concluded our birding tour we had seen 168 species, we had some memorable sightings and happy memories of a fantastic trip to Coto Donana and Extremadura.

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