CBBC Bird Race Day
We were delighted to find that day we had agreed for our bird race was forecast to be fine and dry. Although we had visited several sites in the area with the Costa Blanca Bird Club we live some distance away and were therefore relying on Jules’ local knowledge to help us out.
We started out at first light, glad that this early in the year it did not mean getting up at a ridiculous hour. Leaving the B&B in Oliva we could already hear a variety of bird calls, including Great Tit, but nothing to keep us from heading off towards the beach recording our first sighting, a Blackbird, on the way. The beach proved to be disappointingly quiet but we did add Yellow-legged & Black-headed Gull to the list. We then wandered round an area being developed, hearing birds all around but seeing little. Perseverance resulted in House Sparrow (but not the elusive Tree Sparrow) and Feral Pigeon WOW! Things were moving slowly at this point but a decision to return to the beach gave us Spotless Starling calling from the top of a crane followed by Balearic Shearwater, Northern Gannet and a solitary Sanderling. Trying for the Tree Sparrow again we saw a flock of Chaffinches and two Mallards fly over and then a Chiffchaff, Robin, Black Redstart, Serin, Sardinian Warbler, Collared Dove and a Stonechat. European Starlings were now much in evidence. Our third visit to the beach at 8.20am proved very productive with Kentish Plover, Sandwich Tern and a White Wagtail feeding at an inlet. These held our attention long enough that Jules spotted a spectacular Great Skua winging its way across the water before we moved off, and driving back through Oliva we added Cormorant to the list.
Pego Marsh was our next destination and as we entered we were lucky to see a perched Common Buzzard close by. Plenty to see here including flocks of Crag Martins with a few Swallows and House Martins mixed among them. Moustached Warblers called from several spots, Robert and Jules saw managed to see one whilst I was always looking the wrong way! We saw a Grey Wagtail and heard Cetti’s Warbler. There were flying views of a Green Sandpiper with Robert and Jules both seeing a Moorhen (would I?). As we headed for another area of Pego Marsh we saw a Hoopoe fly across and then found Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe and Grey Heron. Then we spotted Marsh Harrier closely followed by Booted Eagle. As we were returning to the road I noticed a Squacco Heron obligingly searching for food in a ditch at the side of the track. There were numerous Reed Buntings and Jules made us aware of the call of the Penduline Tit which we were then fortunate to have good views of – this was a lifer for us! Continuing on we saw a Meadow Pipit, Jackdaw and a Great Tit and a small number of feeding Goldfinches followed by Bluethroat and Water Pipit. Alerted by its call we found a Zitting Cisticola and then scanned a field full of Audouin’s Gulls which also contained a Lesser Black-Backed Gull and further along we identified Lapwing and a flock of Cattle Egrets.
We were a bit peckish by now and headed for Vall de Gallinera where we ate a picnic lunch as we watched a pair of Golden Eagles circling over the peaks. What more could you want? On the road through Vall de Gallinera we stopped at a roadside café in the hope of seeing Chough. We were out of luck for these but a pair of Blackcaps flitted around and we added Kestrel and Southern Grey Shrike to the list before driving to Alcoy. Jules spotted a Sparrowhawk as we drove along and even Robert managed to see it, as well as a Magpie, even whilst concentrating on the road. On reaching Alcoy we parked in a garage where we had good views of a number of Griffon Vultures.
Time was getting short and having made a wrong turn it was decided to abandon a trip to the forest and try for the Trumpeter Finch at Monnegre instead. The target species in this area must have been having a siesta but we did see Dartford Warbler, Linnet, Thekla Lark, Mistle Thrush and Little Owl. We had planned to go to the Clot de Galvany but as the gates to the hides were closed and the area was heaving with people we continued on to Santa Pola picking up a Carrion Crow on the way. The beach was our first stop and Jules immediately saw a Whimbrel, followed by a Turnstone before heading to the Santa Pola Salinas. Close to the Saltworks Nature Reserve we found plenty of waders and identified Redshank, Little Stint, Dunlin with Mediterranean & Slender-billed Gulls. We parked near the old tower and watched Greater Flamingo, Shelduck, a feeding Osprey and Avocet, being lucky to see a single Spoonbill fly over. We moved further on and found Black-winged Stilts, Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank and two Stone Curlews in flight. It was 4.15pm and we decided we were running too late to visit Crevillente in the hope of Bonelli’s Eagle so it was El Honda next.
The Spotted Eagle was not to be found but we watched Booted Eagle and Buzzard before seeing Little Grebe. Driving on we saw a Pheasant and a had a great view of a Hen Harrier as it flew along side the car. We drove up to the gate opposite the visitor’s centre and walked far enough along to see the water. The sun was somewhat low but we observed Teal, Shoveler, Pochard and Red-Crested Pochard, Common Sandpiper and huge numbers of Coot. Robert finally saw a Greenfinch, having missed several earlier, and I added Moorhen to the list of birds we had all seen. What a relief! Walking back to the car we watched a flock of Lesser Short-Toed & Crested Lark on the adjacent fields. It was time to set off for the hills around Elche for a final effort to reach one hundred. We parked at the best spot for seeing the Eagle Owl and watched and waited as the light and our hopes began to fade. We managed to see Red-legged Partridge which we had heard previously and a Black Wheatear perched on the wires above the hill. We scoured the hill in vain and with a sense of anti- climax walked back to the car. Jules, determined not to give up until the last, turned for a final check, discovering the Eagle Owl perched high up on the fence at the top of the hill. It was the end of a very enjoyable if tiring day. The final tally of 98 was only two short of our target – Robert will just have to drive faster next time!
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