I collected David, Olga & Pam from Malaga airport at 1pm (the last time I went to the airport it was in jubilation as I dropped the mother-in-law off), the weather was fantastic, clear blue sky, very warm and a nice breeze, perfect.
We drove the short distance to Guadalmar where we stopped to assemble scopes and prepare our bins and cameras. Pam walk 20 meters ad found a Hoopoe, great start. We then walked up onto the raised bank on the west side of the Guadalhorce natural park. from our vantage point we sat and ate our picnic lunch whilst logging many species. Monk Parakeets were collecting twigs for their massive nests, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinain Warbler, Serin, Common & Spotless Starlings, Greenfinch, Northern Wheatear & Cormorant were some of the first birds we saw.
As we walked down to the beach we added quite a few species, there were many gulls bathing in the channel, they were mainly Black-headed but also yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed. We also noted two Black Terns that were constantly dipping into the water to bathe. On the shoreline we watched Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Crested Lark and a couple of Yellow Wagtails flew over.
Our walk along the beach to the first hide gave us good views of Northern Gannet, Mediterranean Gull, Marsh Harrier, sparrowhawk and Kestrel. From the hide which overlooked the laguna mejor, we didn't add many new species but what was there was excellent! A Temminck's Stint fed on a small island, lots of Little Grebes loafed around and small flock of Wigeon (my first for the winter) swan in the distance. We had better close views of Marsh Harrier, an Osprey was perched in the middle distance and Kingfishers flew by several times.
From the next hide we found several ducks which included our target species the White-headed Duck, great to have that one on the list. We also saw Shoveler, Teal, Common Pochard and lots more Little Grebes. On the way back to the car we added Spotted Flycatcher, a very distant Booted Eagle and plenty more finches and parakeets.
We drove for an hour and in the mountains, on the way up to Gaucin, we stopped at Sierra Crestellina where we searched for and failed to find Bonelli's Eagle. however we did have great views of 'stag' Spanish Ibex, many Griffon Vultures were drifting about and a good number of Crag Martins fed on the wing near the rock face.
We arrived in Gaucin at 6:30pm with just enough time to wash-up for our chicken roast dinner, lovely jubbly!
We drove the short distance to Guadalmar where we stopped to assemble scopes and prepare our bins and cameras. Pam walk 20 meters ad found a Hoopoe, great start. We then walked up onto the raised bank on the west side of the Guadalhorce natural park. from our vantage point we sat and ate our picnic lunch whilst logging many species. Monk Parakeets were collecting twigs for their massive nests, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinain Warbler, Serin, Common & Spotless Starlings, Greenfinch, Northern Wheatear & Cormorant were some of the first birds we saw.
As we walked down to the beach we added quite a few species, there were many gulls bathing in the channel, they were mainly Black-headed but also yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed. We also noted two Black Terns that were constantly dipping into the water to bathe. On the shoreline we watched Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Crested Lark and a couple of Yellow Wagtails flew over.
Our walk along the beach to the first hide gave us good views of Northern Gannet, Mediterranean Gull, Marsh Harrier, sparrowhawk and Kestrel. From the hide which overlooked the laguna mejor, we didn't add many new species but what was there was excellent! A Temminck's Stint fed on a small island, lots of Little Grebes loafed around and small flock of Wigeon (my first for the winter) swan in the distance. We had better close views of Marsh Harrier, an Osprey was perched in the middle distance and Kingfishers flew by several times.
From the next hide we found several ducks which included our target species the White-headed Duck, great to have that one on the list. We also saw Shoveler, Teal, Common Pochard and lots more Little Grebes. On the way back to the car we added Spotted Flycatcher, a very distant Booted Eagle and plenty more finches and parakeets.
We drove for an hour and in the mountains, on the way up to Gaucin, we stopped at Sierra Crestellina where we searched for and failed to find Bonelli's Eagle. however we did have great views of 'stag' Spanish Ibex, many Griffon Vultures were drifting about and a good number of Crag Martins fed on the wing near the rock face.
We arrived in Gaucin at 6:30pm with just enough time to wash-up for our chicken roast dinner, lovely jubbly!
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