On the evening of January 7th I drove down to my friends Rob & Kathy Dowsett's home in Murcia, seeing a Stone Curlew fly across the road. We had a plan to do a full day's birdwatching in Alicante Province which proved most fruitful.
So as we set off the next morning I needed 20 new species to achieve my target of getting to 100 birds for the year. We started at the pine forest of Maigmo where an initail slow start resulted in adding Common Crossbill, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Red-legged Partridge and Short-toed Treecreeper. This was then followed by visit to the mountain village of Monnegre for Black Wheatear, but sadly not but we did see a cracking male Dartford Warbler and Thekla Lark.
Things were generally quite so we decided to head for the coast and the ever reliable Santa Pola Salinas. On the way we did stop off at the lagoon adjacent to the Museo de Sal, which added Black-necked Grebe and Water Rail to the list before arriving at the salinas. We started to find some new waders with Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover and Curlew. Kathy then did incredibly well finding a Purple Gallinule in the far reeds - species no. 195
It was now lunch time so we headed for the beach on this lovely warm day and sat watching the sea in the sunshine. There wasn't much happening but persistance paid as I found 3 female/1st winter Common Scoter loafing on the water - brilliant.
El Hondo natural reserve now beckoned so we first visited the Vista Bella Road and the first new bird here was a Green Sandpiper, followed by a Booted Eagle high over the reserve - 199!!! We then walked down to the hide and as we entered the first birds I saw was a flock of 21 White-headed Duck, my 100th bird of the year and also quite appropriate. However it didn't stop there as we continued to add wildfowl such as Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Common Pochard and a female Tufted Duck. In the reeds there was a Moustached Warbler singing and a Zitting Cisticola bounced around above. As we left the hide and made our way back to the car a couple of Penduline Tits called from the phragmites bed.
It was now getting towards late afternoon but we still had time for a quick detour to the visitor centre, which produced the biggest surprise of the day. We only had time to check the little pool behind the centre but what a decision by Rob as we found a pair of Red-knobbed Coots amongst their commoner cousins - only the second time ever I've seen this species here - brilliant.
Our final destination was our friends Jane and Colin at Finca Bonelli's Eagle for their eagles and a warm beverage after a long day. The sun was low in the sky when we got there and sadly there was no sign of the eagles. However they are very reliable and 20 minutes later a gorgeous pair of adult Bonelli's Eagles flew over the ridge and into the canyon, where they nest and roost. It was a brilliant end to the day watching them fly round and eventually land on the crag opposite where we were. However we had one last species of the day as it got dusk a pair of Eagle Owls started singing to each other - a great end to a fabulous day.
Thank you very much Rob & Kathy for all your sponsorship, help and driving - it's very appreciated and see you next month in India!
No comments:
Post a Comment