Great Day Out in Alicante

Adult Bonelli's Eagle

Thanks to Ian & Sylvia Wilson, Rob & Kathy Dowsett for joining me in a day's birding around the Alicante Region, culminating in a successful search for Greater Spotted Eagle.

The day started well at Santa Pola Salinas where we found 10+ Spoonbills, Great White Egret, 1000+ Greater Flamingos, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Curlew, Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Slender-billed Gulls and Great Crested Grebes. This was followed by a visit to the coastal salinas of El Pinet where we added a fabulous dark-phase Booted Eagle right overhead, Redshank, 100+ Dunlin and a Gannet over the Med.

After a coffee we continued the short distance to El Hondo another excellent wetland and along the Vistabella Road we initially saw lots of Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzard and a pale-phase Booted Eagle. We walked to a small reedbed hide and found 50+ White-headed Duck, 6 Tufted Duck, Red Crested & Common Pochard, Shelduck, Purple Gallinule, Black-necked & Little Grebes. The walk back to the car was very productive as we got views of a Greater Spotted Eagle - my main target for the day and the tear list. Following this we had a walk into the reeds where we got brilliant views of a Moustached Warbler along with Southern Grey Shrike, Green Sandpiper and Kestrel. It was now getting towards lunchtime but we still had time to check the agricultural fields, which produced the 'hoped for' Common Cranes - brilliant.

Bonelli's Eagle

We drove into the Crevillente Hills to the excellent 'Finca Bonelli's Eagle' owned by my good friends Colin & Jane. This lovely villa sits beneath a fabulous site for Bonelli's Eagles and shortly after arriving I found one on the adjacent rock face. A little later we had two adult birds flying round together, which was stunning. Also during our time here we saw 3 Hoopoes sat in a dead treee, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martins, Sardinian Warblers and a smart Little Owl. The day ended here and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Many thanks to Colin & Jane for their hospitality and sadly they are wanting to sell their wonderful property, in anyone is interested in seeing more of this property please visit this website - HERE