DAY TOUR - JUNE 4TH 2012

RIO GUALHORCE NATURE RESERVE AND THE MONTES DE MALAGA NATURAL PARK

I collected Stu and his father, Ian, from their holiday complex in Benalmadena at 8:30am
the weather was fine, a clear sky with a light breeze, it did get very hot during the mid-afternoon.

At 9am we arrived at the mouth of the western arm of the Rio de Gualhorce where we immediately found a small flock of Audouin's Gulls. These superb gulls were joined by a couple of Mediterranesn Gulls and we also found Crested Lark, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Greenfinch and Serin.

 We walked along ther beach and took the beach path onto the reserve where we found a Woodchat Shrike sitting on the fence, also a couple of Zitting Cisticola were 'zitting' about. As we approched the hide that overlooks the laguna Grande we saw several Black-winged Stilts. On the laguna there were numerous birds: Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, White-headed Duck, Mallard, Little Egret, Spoonbill.
and some more Audouin's Gulls. A few waders included: Little-ringed Plover and Kentish Plover.

From the hide at the smaller laguna we found more White-headed Ducks, Common Pochard and we saw a Black-headed Weaver (introduced species now breeding here). A small flock of Monk Parakeets flew by (are we in a bird safari park one might ask?), we also saw Sardinian Warbler, Stonechat and Bee-eaters. We continued around the reserve but we didn't add many species, just Gadwall and Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Black-headed Gull.

For the afternoon we drove up into the mountains above Malaga to look for some woodland species. It was very hot now so the shelter of the trees was welcomed. Many butterflies were also on the wing, we saw Cleopatra, Scare Swallowtail, Cardinal Frittillary, Spanish Marbled White, Small Skipper, Ilex Hairstreak and the huge Two-tailed Pasha.

Birds were heard more than seen but we managed good views of: Eurasian Nuthatch, Blackcap, Iberian Chiffchaff, Bonelli's Warbler, Common Crossbill, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodlark, Rock Bunting,  Jay, Great Tit, Serin, Robin and lots of Chaffinches. In the sky the raptor sightings were disappointing, we only saw; Common Buzzard and Booted Eagle.

We returned to the coast via Malaga, the guys were well satisfied with their findings and went off to meet the rest of the family by the pool, how nice!
i