Sunday January 18th :- This morning I packed a few things and headed north with my good friends Geoff & Julia Regan to Southern Catalonia. The day was gorgeous with warm January sun streaming into the car, and causing the first few Almond Trees to spring into bloom. The route was notable for a few species including our first Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard over the Cullera ricefields, a couple of Booted Eagles nearer Valencia, and loads of Crag Martins along the whole route. After a coffee stop we continued north of Vinaros stopping at the coast just south of San Carles de la Rapita. The sea held the usual Cormorants, Great Crested Grebes, Yellow legged, Black headed & Lesser Black backed Gulls, a lone Audouin's Gull sat on the rocks was a nice find plus a couple of Black necked Grebes with their larger cousins. At the excellent Hotel Rull we checked in, refreshed ourselves before having a spot of lunch in the hotel restaurant. Although we were all fairly keen to get back out and make full use of the lovely weather so before long we were heading to the viewing platform of Riet Vell. The track produced a couple of Common Sandpipers, with plenty of Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits flitting from the reeds and bushes. As we arrived at the platform I looked up and a flock of 200+ Glossy Ibis passed overhead followed quickly by another 50 or so. Luckily they landed in sight so we got the telescope on them and took full advantage of their 'glossy' plumage. We stayed at the platform for some time watching lots of species such as Greater Flamingos, Great White, Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, Coot, Mallard, 100+ Red Crested Pochards, a single Wigeon, Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Common Snipe, Lapwings, 2 Whiskered Terns, White Wagtails, Cetti's Warbler, Penduline Tit and Chaffinches. So we returned to the vehicle and checked a few local paddy fields were we got better views of the Glossy Ibis along with lots of waders such as lots more Common Snipe and Lapwings plus Ruff, Greenshanks, Common & Spotted Redshanks, Wood & Green Sandpipers. Next we drove out to Ruimar and the hide overlooking El Garxel another very large shallow lagoon next to the coast. We stayed here for the rest of the afternoon in the peace and quiet of the very tranquil area in Winter. By far the best bird we found was a single Caspian Tern sat amongst the Black headed Gulls, it's huge 'blood-red' bill being illuminated by the late afternoon sunshine. Here we also managed to see a 'fly through' Merlin, several prehistoric Purple Gallinules, more Greenshanks and Spotted Redshanks, Kingfisher, Great White Egrets, Stonechats, Greenfinches and Goldfinches.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A glorious afternoon on the Ebro Delta
Sunday January 18th :- This morning I packed a few things and headed north with my good friends Geoff & Julia Regan to Southern Catalonia. The day was gorgeous with warm January sun streaming into the car, and causing the first few Almond Trees to spring into bloom. The route was notable for a few species including our first Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard over the Cullera ricefields, a couple of Booted Eagles nearer Valencia, and loads of Crag Martins along the whole route. After a coffee stop we continued north of Vinaros stopping at the coast just south of San Carles de la Rapita. The sea held the usual Cormorants, Great Crested Grebes, Yellow legged, Black headed & Lesser Black backed Gulls, a lone Audouin's Gull sat on the rocks was a nice find plus a couple of Black necked Grebes with their larger cousins. At the excellent Hotel Rull we checked in, refreshed ourselves before having a spot of lunch in the hotel restaurant. Although we were all fairly keen to get back out and make full use of the lovely weather so before long we were heading to the viewing platform of Riet Vell. The track produced a couple of Common Sandpipers, with plenty of Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits flitting from the reeds and bushes. As we arrived at the platform I looked up and a flock of 200+ Glossy Ibis passed overhead followed quickly by another 50 or so. Luckily they landed in sight so we got the telescope on them and took full advantage of their 'glossy' plumage. We stayed at the platform for some time watching lots of species such as Greater Flamingos, Great White, Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, Coot, Mallard, 100+ Red Crested Pochards, a single Wigeon, Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Common Snipe, Lapwings, 2 Whiskered Terns, White Wagtails, Cetti's Warbler, Penduline Tit and Chaffinches. So we returned to the vehicle and checked a few local paddy fields were we got better views of the Glossy Ibis along with lots of waders such as lots more Common Snipe and Lapwings plus Ruff, Greenshanks, Common & Spotted Redshanks, Wood & Green Sandpipers. Next we drove out to Ruimar and the hide overlooking El Garxel another very large shallow lagoon next to the coast. We stayed here for the rest of the afternoon in the peace and quiet of the very tranquil area in Winter. By far the best bird we found was a single Caspian Tern sat amongst the Black headed Gulls, it's huge 'blood-red' bill being illuminated by the late afternoon sunshine. Here we also managed to see a 'fly through' Merlin, several prehistoric Purple Gallinules, more Greenshanks and Spotted Redshanks, Kingfisher, Great White Egrets, Stonechats, Greenfinches and Goldfinches.
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