A classic day out in the 'wilds' of Donana, we started with a misty morning followed by a clear period then it clouded over for the rest of the day. Our temperature gauge read 17C but it felt more like 10C!
We drove off in the dark and after stopping to look for Owls (without success) we arrived in the Coredor de Verde at 8:30am. Our target bird was the Black-winged Kite, so we searched an open woodland where it seemed that every bird in the area was singing at the same time. We saw many finches, Corn Bunting, Common Nightingale, Woodchat Shrike, Bee-eater, Zitting Costicola and Common Buzzard. We also heard Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Cuckoo and Cetti's Warbler. It took a while but we finally found the Kite, it was distant but then we relocated it much closer, in fact two showed really well in the scope.
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| Black Kite - taken at Dehesa Abajo |
We took a quick look at the Laguna Quema where not a lot was happening, only Common Coot and Mallard feared on the water. We ate our picnic breakfast whilst there and a couple of the group had fantastic views of a Common Nightingale on a fence post singing, how cool was that.
Next we continued our journey along the Coredor de Verde and onto the rice fields near the large reservoir called Dehesa de Abajo. Many species were on the lake and a good number of Night Herons were roosting along its edge. A Purple Heron was nice to see too. Ducks seen included: Common and Red-crested Pochard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler as well as Spoonbills, Flamingos, egrets and herons. Our walk along the shore adjacent to the road culminated in sightings of Great Reed Warbler and no less than 5 Red-knobbed Coots. Three of these sported 'white-collars' indicating that they were of a captive breeding stock but two were not.
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| one of the tagged Red-knobbed Coots |
After driving along passed a number of smaller pools we stopped for coffee and drove into the Coto Donana proper. Miles of open scrub and some cultivated fields were crisps-crossed by deep channels holding varying amounts of water and birds. We stopped to watch a party of Glossy Ibis and got great views of a Short-toed Lark having a dust bath.
A little later we watched Common Kestrel and two Short-toed Eagles as they flew around a line of pylons. Yellow Wagtails perched along the fences with many Crested Larks and Corn Bunting. A lovely Montagu's Harrier showed well for us. More Short-toed Larks appeared before we stopped to watch a colony of Lesser Kestrel. Twenty birds kept us enthralled as they fed over a field and often perched on nearby wires.
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| Purple Swamphen |
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| the group looking from the Jose Valerie Centre |
Our visit to the Valverde centre was brief but enjoyable, the huge nesting site of herons, ibis and egrets was in full swing, a great spectacle.
lastly we stopped on the way out of the marshes to scan the skies for Imperial Eagle without success, however, we did see many birds and added Common Redstart to our list.
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| Great Reed Warbler |
We then drove back to El Rocio arriving at 6pm giving us enough time to get ready for another lovely dinner, the sun was now shining and we warmed up as drank a nice cool beer.
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