Rob from the USA is staying with us for a couple of nights and joined me on this superb day out. We also collected Caroline & Paul from Estapona, they are from the UK on a two week holiday. The sky was clear dark-blue and the sunrise was very colourful as we set off from Gaucin down the mountain to the coast. After collecting Caroline & Paul we stopped at the beach area near Casares, the light was improving as the sun rose higher, many Gannets fished off-shore as did a few Sandwich Terns. We noted hundreds of gulls following a trawler and we had both Common & Spotless Starlings side by side in the scope. Along the shoreline we found Turnstone, Common Sandpiper a fly-by Grey Wagtail. Further along, the track climbed high and we overlooked a rocky shoreline where several Northern Wheatear sat in the morning sunlight, other sightings included a Whinchat, Serin, a flock of Linnets, Sardinian Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a lovely Common Redstart. Best of all, alone Audouin's Gull
sat on a nearby rock. Not a bad start at all.
At Soto Grande we walked along the boardwalk around the laguna Camelias, our first birds were Crag Martins flying over the water with Barn swallows and House Martins. In and around the pool we saw Coots, Moorhens, Purple Swamphen, Little Egrets and a Kingfisher. A Cetti's Warbler called many times but didn't come out to play! Near the beach we saw lots more Northern Wheatears, Whinchats and a couple of Crested Larks. In the tamerisk bushes we watched a small flock of Goldfinches and Spotted Flycatchers fed from the branches, two more Common Redstarts put in an appearance as did a small flock of Spanish Sparrows. We walked inland form the beach and looked over some farmland where Cattle Egrets sat on sheep and a Zitting Cisticloa put in a very brief appearance.
We ate our lunch at the woodland of San Enrique and waited a while before any birds showed up. Eagles were the birds of the hour as we had great views of both Booted and Short-toed varieties.
Then the flock of Tree Sparrows turned up just before our walk to the river. At the river we saw Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail and lots of jumping fish!
Palmones was our afternoon venue, the tide was low and rising and many birds fed on the mudflats on either side of the river. A great selection of waders were on view as well as Spoonbill, Little Egret, White Stork, Grey Heron, Osprey, Short-toed Eagle, Cormorant and Mallard.
The waders included, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Kentish plover, Little -ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Sanderling and Turnstone. Amongst the 60 Sandwich Terns were Black-headed, Mediterranean, yellow-legged & Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A steady stream of Griffon Vultures drifted overhead and we saw a White Stork soaring on the thermals.
Leaving the coast we drove inland to the pine woods at San Roque, we passed many Storks on their nest and on pylons. At the woods we started well with sightings of Firecrest, Blackcap, Blue & Great Tit & Chaffinch. Further walking produced Short-toed Treecreeper, Jay and a calling
Common Buzzard.
We drove back to Estapona to drop Caroline & Paul off before stopping at Sierra crestellina to watch for raptors. We watched many Griffon Vultures drifting along the ridge before we found our target birds which were perched high up in a tree. we also found a Rock Sparrow, a great little bird to finish off the day. Rob & I then drove back up the hill to Gaucin where we enjoyed a fabulous chicken tajine made by Dawn and served with TLC!
sat on a nearby rock. Not a bad start at all.At Soto Grande we walked along the boardwalk around the laguna Camelias, our first birds were Crag Martins flying over the water with Barn swallows and House Martins. In and around the pool we saw Coots, Moorhens, Purple Swamphen, Little Egrets and a Kingfisher. A Cetti's Warbler called many times but didn't come out to play! Near the beach we saw lots more Northern Wheatears, Whinchats and a couple of Crested Larks. In the tamerisk bushes we watched a small flock of Goldfinches and Spotted Flycatchers fed from the branches, two more Common Redstarts put in an appearance as did a small flock of Spanish Sparrows. We walked inland form the beach and looked over some farmland where Cattle Egrets sat on sheep and a Zitting Cisticloa put in a very brief appearance.
We ate our lunch at the woodland of San Enrique and waited a while before any birds showed up. Eagles were the birds of the hour as we had great views of both Booted and Short-toed varieties.
Then the flock of Tree Sparrows turned up just before our walk to the river. At the river we saw Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail and lots of jumping fish!
Palmones was our afternoon venue, the tide was low and rising and many birds fed on the mudflats on either side of the river. A great selection of waders were on view as well as Spoonbill, Little Egret, White Stork, Grey Heron, Osprey, Short-toed Eagle, Cormorant and Mallard.
The waders included, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Kentish plover, Little -ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Sanderling and Turnstone. Amongst the 60 Sandwich Terns were Black-headed, Mediterranean, yellow-legged & Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A steady stream of Griffon Vultures drifted overhead and we saw a White Stork soaring on the thermals.
Leaving the coast we drove inland to the pine woods at San Roque, we passed many Storks on their nest and on pylons. At the woods we started well with sightings of Firecrest, Blackcap, Blue & Great Tit & Chaffinch. Further walking produced Short-toed Treecreeper, Jay and a calling
Common Buzzard.We drove back to Estapona to drop Caroline & Paul off before stopping at Sierra crestellina to watch for raptors. We watched many Griffon Vultures drifting along the ridge before we found our target birds which were perched high up in a tree. we also found a Rock Sparrow, a great little bird to finish off the day. Rob & I then drove back up the hill to Gaucin where we enjoyed a fabulous chicken tajine made by Dawn and served with TLC!
Wheatears waiting to migrate or just sitting on the fence?
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