ANDALUCIA. -7-DAY TOUR. - APRIL 7TH - DAY 6

ENCINAS BORRACHES TRACK - SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES - LAGUNA DULCE - LAGUNA FUENTE DE PIEDRA

It was another brilliant day with wall to wall sunshine and a lovely cooling breeze. At Encinas
Borraches we walked the main track for about 50 metres - all we wanted to do was to get better views of the Iberian Grey Shrike, which we promptly did. We also had sightings of several other bonus species. We had already seen Rock Bunting and Rock Sparrow along the way during the 20 minute drive but in perfect light we added;

Blue rock Thrush
Black Wheatear
Red-billed Chough
Little Owl
Black-eared Wheatear
Crested Lark
Corn Bunting

At Sierra de las Nieves natural Park we stopped at 3 of my favourite places, the first was near the entrance in the open woodland. It was quite quiet but we found a Common Nightingale in full song, our first Bonelli's Warbler,  Eurasian Jay, Mistle Thrush, Cirl Bunting and many common species.

at Sierra de las Nieves

Next we drove to an open rocky valley with a covering of gorse where we spent some time looking for and eventually finding Dartford Warbler, we had good views of a displaying male, We also found several more Black Wheatears, Black Redstart, Serin, Cirl Bunting, Linnets and more Chough. Both Booted and Short-toed Eagles drifted over whilst we were there.

Pied Avocet

Lastly we stopped at the edge of a pine forest where a stream runs down from the hills, it is such a beautiful place. We got glimpses of Coal Tit and we heard Fiercest and Crested Tit but failed to find Common Crossbill. A Sparrowhawk displayed over the trees and we saw both eagles again.

After a coffee stop where we watched many Griffon Vultures then we drove to Laguna Dulce Making one stop to view a Bonelli's Eagle's nest-site and to our great delight both adult birds were present and gave great views in superb light.

Fuente de Piedra

At Laguna Dulce we ate our picnic lunch whilst watching a plethora of water birds, some of the more unusual sightings were; Tufted Duck, Gull-billed Tern (50+), Whiskered Tern (11), Eurasian Coot (about 1000), we also saw both Marsh and Montagu's Harriers. There we many Common and Red-crested Pochard, A few White-headed Ducks and many common species such as Mallard, Gadwall, Little and Great-crested Grebe (many were performing their elaborate courtship-display).

Greater Flamingos

It was Laguna Fuente de Piedra that stole the show, it was absolutely covered in Greater Flamingos, every inch seemed to have a pair, there mush have been 15000 birds! Incredible! we drove round to the visitor's centre where several lagoons held a multitude of birds, the whole area was awash with bird life and the noise was lovely to hear. A great selection of waders was headed by the numerous Pied Avocet and the very noisy Black-winged Stilt. But we also found good numbers of Little Stints and colourful Curlew Sandpipers. Wood Sandpipers were dotted about in the reeds as was Common Snipe, Redshank, Greenshanks and a couple of Spotted Redshank just coming into summer plumage.
A sizeable flock of Ruff fed with the smaller waders like Ringed and Little Ringed Plover and we found our only Green Sandpiper but a few dozen Yellow Wagtails showing characteristics of 3 races, falva, flavissimo and Iberia nice they were joined by a few Meadow Pipits.

the shallow pools at Fuente de Piedra

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A walk to the viewing hide produced great views of Gull-billed Terns perched on the banks and we added Common Shelduck to the list. The Greater Flamingos looked fantastic in the afternoon light, what a show. We finished with Kentish Plover and lots of Northern Shovelled.

Spotted Redshank

The journey home was uneventful except a false alarm - I thought I saw couple of Little Bustard in a field - when we stopped to scope them they turned into Rabbits! I must be tired, time for dinner I think!