January 2006

1st January:- After recovering sufficiently from last night's celebrations my mum & I went out all afternoon around the local patch. We started at the marina where a mixed group of gulls and terns revealed lots of Black headed Gulls and Sandwich Terns along with a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 6 Audouin's Gulls, and several Yellow legged Gulls. Out to sea a steady passage of Balearic Shearwaters (167 in total) passed south, as well as 11 Razorbills, 5 Gannets, and 23 Cormorants. On the rocks there were 32 Sanderling and a Ring necked Parakeet and several Crag Martins flew over the buildings behind. We then walked north to the dunes area and found a flock of 2 Siskins, 30+ Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches and Serins, also along here there were Southern Grey Shrikes, Black Redstarts, Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaffs and Sardinian Warblers. Finally we left and made the short drive to Pego Marsh and walked the tracks surrounding the paddy fields finding a Common Crane standing head and shoulders above the herons and egrets. The White Stork was still showing well, a female Hen Harrier made a brief appearance, unlike the 10+ Marsh Harriers, Osprey, 2 Common Buzzards, and 2 Booted Eagles, which all gave good good views. In the fields there were well over 200 Lapwings but only a single Snipe, the huge Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, and sparrow flock still held at least 9 Brambling, with a few Bluethroats, Water & Meadow Pipits, Grey & White Wagtails. A single Hawfinch was seen on the northern hillside plus 17 Cirl Buntings, 2 Hoopoes, Crested & Skylarks, Goldfinches, Blackcaps, and Stonechats. Finally as dusk was falling we watched an open area of reed and added a Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Coot, Moorhen, and a single Purple Gallinule. An excellent start to the year.
4th January:- Had to go to Alicante Airport today, which gave me chance to meet up with my friend Malcolm Palmer and do a spot of birdwatching. We met at the ´Clot de Galvany´ where we found a Little Stint & 2 Little Ringed Plovers on the main scrape. At the contacto there were the usual ducks, but not much else, however the return walk to the car produced excellent views of Little Owl, Iberian Green Woodpecker, and Southern Grey Shrike, as well as plenty of warblers, pipits, and finches. We drove along the Santa Pola coastline finding a Whimbrel, along with a few Turnstones, Kentish Plovers, and Audouin's Gulls. We stopped at a saltmarsh on the edge of Santa Pola where a Richard’s Pipit had been found but unfortunately we couldn’t relocate it. Finally we drove to the edge of El Hondo, through the Salinas, which produced the usual Greater Flamingo’s, Avocets, Black winged Stilts, Great Crested Grebes, Slender-billed & Yellow legged Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Shelducks from the car. At El Hondo a lot of raptors were about with several each of Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle and Kestrel, but the pride of place went to a female Merlin and a male Hen Harrier in the agricultural fields. Other birds included Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Green Sandpiper, a House Martin amongst the Crag Martins, Crested & Skylarks. Unfortunately it was time for me to leave but we stopped at the Rio Vinalopo where we found 3 Temminck's Stints, a Kingfisher and a couple of Bluethroats.
7th January:- This afternoon I went down to Oliva Marina for some seawatching that proved to be a good decision. The Balearic Shearwaters were passing in good numbers with 241 passing south in 3 hours, but the highlight was a 1st winter Black throated Diver that also flew south quite close in. Although this is supposed to be the most regular diver sp. in the Western Mediterranean, this is the first time I have seen one here. Other birds seen included at least 5 Razorbills fishing off the seawall (though a good photo was very difficult), 11 Gannets, single Common Scoter (south), 17 Cormorants, 5 Audouin's Gull, with plenty of Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls.
8th January:- Again I went out to Oliva Marina for another bout of seawatching the wind had moved to the north east and was very cold (for here). Over the two hours I recorded some very good species with (at least) 262 Balearic Shearwaters moving south, as well as 24 Gannets, 7 Razorbills (3 sitting on the sea), 7 Cormorants and 15 Sandwich Terns. The biggest difference from the previous day was the gull movement with lots of Black headed & Yellow legged Gulls, with 11 (adult winter) Mediterranean Gulls, single Slender billed & Lesser Black backed Gulls, and 5 Audouin's Gulls. A nice surprise was this (adult winter) Kentish Plover that ran around where i was standing without paying me any attention.
14th January:- Today was the 'Censo de Aves Marinas', a seabird count conducted by several birdwatchers positioned along the Valencian coastline. Myself and (amazingly) 4 Spanish friends gathered at the seawall at Oliva marina from 9am til noon logging all the species seen during this time. The weather was sunny with a light north westerly wind and calm seas, pretty good conditions for seawatching. Although things started quite slow as the morning progressed passage certainly improved, and during the time we logged: Balearic Shearwaters 641 (north) & 128 (south), Mediterranean Shearwaters 3 (north), Shag (1st winter), Cormorant 39, Gannet 4, Razorbill 5 flying, 8 sat on the sea, Shoveler 5, Sandwich Terns, Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls, and 2 Grey Wagtails flying over. On the beach there were 2 Kentish Plovers and 32 Sanderling, but most surprising was a female Merlin being mobbed by a flock of Spotless Starlings over the dunes. An excellent morning with some very good results, although there will have been some duplication in the Balearic Shearwater numbers it is still a significant proportion of the global population.
18th January:- An early start with friends saw us heading to the south of the province to a place called Casas del Senor. Here Spain's 4th Pine Bunting had been identified three days earlier although apparently it had been around since December!!. We arrived and the place seemed quiet apart from loads of Thekla Larks, but soon we had found our first Rock Bunting, with Corn Buntings, House Sparrows, Serins and Chaffinches. Unfortunately there was no sign of the bird (or other buntings) so we decided to investigate further afield finding a female Brambling amongst a large flock of Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Little Owl, and Kestrel. Whilst watching these I scanned back to where we had been originally and picked up a Yellowhammer fly into a tree, which was followed by the bunting. We walked back to the area but it had disappeared again but soon it returned and we got fantastic views of a male Pine Bunting. Over the next ten minutes we watched it until it flew off towards a far hillside, unfortunately it didn't return. However over the next 2 hours we did see a Cirl Bunting, several Yellowhammers and plenty of Rock Buntings all showing very well. After lunch we drove the short distance to the Bonelli's Eagle site outside Crevaillant seeing a pair of Ravens on the way. At the sight we soon had one adult over the ridge along with a Sparrowhawk, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warblers, and Crag Martins. Then just before we left another adult Bonelli's Eagle flew in and perched on a ledge looking great in the afternoon sunlight.
22nd January:- This morning I met a friend of mine Jose, who wanted to show me a nature walk near his home town of Villalonga. We met and continued together up into the hills to an old disused railway track that ran along the River Serpis, and at it's entrance we saw a Carrion Crow, a rare bird in this area. We slowly made our way along the track and back stopping and walking in several places. The birds seen during this time included a flock of 20+ Siskins, with Chaffinches, Greenfinches, & Serins, Grey wagtail, several Common Buzzards, Peregrine, Kestrels, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Great & Crested Tits, Crag Martins, and Black Redstart. This evening I went back out looking and listening for owls in the hills behind Oliva. As dusk fell a Little Owl sat on a telegraph pole, then a Long eared Owl started to call but remained hidden. As night fell I slowly travelled back to Oliva and found another calling Long eared Owl close to the town. Finally as I was entering Oliva a Woodcock flew across the road from the orange groves, a new bird for the recording area, and a great finish.
25th January:- This morning I was on a local half day with John & Marcia Fenwick, were we started at the beach but the sea was quite rough and nothing much was passing apart from a single Razorbill and a few Cormorants. On the shoreline there were 20+ Sanderling and a few Kentish Plover, plus 3 Audouin's Gulls sat amongst the Black headed Gulls. We left and went to Pego Marsh, deciding first to park and watch a quiet pool surrounded by reeds. Chiffchaffs were everywhere along with some Zitting Cisticolas, Moorhens, and a Little Grebe. As we sat I heard Penduline Tits and soon we saw 3 birds feeding off the reed mace, then (our target) a Purple Gallinule appeared from the reeds and started to feed on their roots. Also here we saw 2 Bluethroats, a Water Pipit, and a Grey Wagtail, along the muddy fringes. However the highlight was finding 2 Jack Snipe in the far corner, which we watched for quite a while as they probed in the mud. 100's of Crag Martens fed over the reeds, Marsh Harriers quartered the area, along with a Common Buzzard and a Booted Eagle soaring over the hillside. A short walk along the paddy fields produced the (long staying) White Stork amongst the Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, as well as lots of Lapwings, some Common Teal, Coot, Mallard, Cormorants, more Bluethroats, Crested & Skylarks, Water & Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings, White Wagtails, House & Tree Sparrows, Spotless & European Starlings, Chaffinches & Goldfinches. We leave the marsh and drive inland to the Val de Gallinera in search of it's resident eagles our other target. At the first roadside stop we see, Blackbirds, Song & Mistle Thrushes, Chaffinches, Serins, Goldfinches, a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker and a lovely male Hawfinch sat in a dead tree not 30m from where we are. We continue to wind our way up the valley seeing Black Redstarts all along the route to the next pull-in. An initial scan produced no eagles, however soon after I hear the familiar call of Red billed Chough. We find the birds and they are mobbing an adult Golden Eagle as it makes it's way slowly up the valley. We decide to stay here and eventually find more Choughs flying amongst the crags, and another Golden Eagle sat on a rocky outcrop, which we manage to see well through the telescope. Other birds seen while watching from here included a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, another Green Woodpecker and amongst the finches were several Siskin, completing an excellent morning's birdwatching.
31st January:- The recent rains & snows subsided today and I managed to get out to Pego Marsh for a couple of hours before dusk. The site is looking very good with now most fields flooded and the rest a combination of mud and stubble. I started at the south end where a mini reserve is currently being excavated but apart from a few Crested Larks, Zitting Cisticolas, Little Egrets and Grey Herons there wasn't much. At the north side paddy fields I walked along one of the tracks seeing lots of Marsh Harriers over the reeds, and the muddy edges alive with Chiffchaffs, Bluethroats, Meadow & Water Pipits, Grey & White Wagtails, Stonechats, and Reed Buntings. There were plenty of Lapwings along with 3 Golden Plovers, and in one flooded field there were 8 (returning) Black tailed Godwits, 80+ Audouin's Gulls, Cattle & Little Egrets, Squacco Heron, Lesser Black backed, Yellow Legged & Black headed Gulls. While I was watching these a male Merlin flashed through causing panic, before disappearing low over the next field, where lots of Mallard & Shoveler floated about (strange how they seem to know the hunting has finished). Over the hillside a Booted Eagle and 2 Common Buzzards soared around in with the big numbers of Crag Martins. A Southern Grey Shrike sat and called and a pair of Hoopoes flew up from in front of me, other birds in this area included Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcaps, and a Kestrel. A drive around the south side produced most of the species seen previously but also lots of Skylarks, the White Stork, female Hen Harrier, and 2 early Wood Sandpipers with a few Green Sandpiper and Common Snipe.

February 2006

13th February:- This morning I was out before dawn helping set up the nets for the first ringing session for a few weeks. The water level has been over the track making it impossible to access, but they had now subsided and the conditions were good. Initially we trapped 20+ Reed Buntings, and a plenty of Chiffchaffs, but as it warmed up in the morning sun we added Cetti's & Moustached Warblers, female Penduline Tit, 1st winter female Bluethroat (photo), and a Meadow Pipit. It was a gorgeous morning and other birds seen included several more Penduline Tits, Moustached Warblers (in full song), Water & Meadow Pipits, Purple Gallinule, 2 Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, 10+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Booted Eagles, a Common Buzzard, Common Redshank, Green Sandpipers, Common Snipe, Lapwings, Blackbird, and a Song Thrush.
16th February:- Today was the first of two days with Keith Hudson, Jim Creamer & his son James, and after pick-ups at Javea and Alicante Airport we headed to our first destination the 'Clot de Galvany'. The first half hour was spent looking over an excellent area of scrub and Carob trees enjoying a lot of birds. We saw a Wryneck, Iberian Green Woodpecker, 3 Little Owls, Dartford & Sardinian Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Hoopoe, Southern Grey Shrike, Stonechats, Black Redstarts, Meadow Pipits, Song Thrush & Blackbirds, Robin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, & Serins. Eventually we walked to the Charco de Contacto were we found 2 White headed Ducks, Eurasian Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Coot, 3 (summer plumage) Black necked & Little Grebes, plus 2 Bluethroats, and our first (of 8) Booted Eagles flying over. Finally we walked to the main scrape seeing a lot of the same species plus Kestrel, Crested Larks, 2 Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Shelducks, Black winged Stilts and a House Martin. We left and took the coast road through to Santa Pola adding only Cormorants, Little Egret, Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls. At the salinas there were the usual Greater Flamingos, Great Crested Grebes, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Black tailed Godwits, 2 Ospreys and Marsh Harriers. However a check of the gulls produced 10+ Slender billed & 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 20+ Sandwich & 4 Caspian Terns amongst the usual Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls. It was now lunchtime so we drove up into the hills above Crevillente, on the way seeing Thekla Larks and a Black Wheatear. During lunch we were treated to fantastic views of an adult Bonelli's Eagle as it flew around before landing on a crag. Other birds seen here included another pair of Black Wheatears, Crag Martins, Kestrel, and more Thekla Larks. We left this fabulous area and dropped back towards the coast and the outer edge of El Hondo reserve first stopping along the Vistabella Road where we added a Merlin, Common Buzzard, more Marsh Harriers, 17 Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Skylarks, and plenty of Eurasian Teal, but unfortunately no Marbled Duck. Next was the bridge at Rio Vinalopo were we saw 2 Temminck's Stints, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, and White Wagtails. It was now time to head back to the hills this time above Elche. At the starling roost we were not disappointed with the spectacle of 1000's of Starlings flying in huge waves, and we even had a Sparrowhawk enjoying a feast. As dusk fell we were searching the crags in the canyon before us and with light to spare we found our prize an adult Eagle Owl. Superb views were obtained of this and it's mate as they flew around for a short while before moving out of sight, a brilliant end to a long day.
17th February:- Our second started at Oliva Beach were a pre-breakfast seawatch produced an amazing 104 Razorbills heading north, plus 4 Audouin's Gulls, 20+ Sandwich Terns, Gannets and the first Cory's Shearwater of the year. On the beach were the usual Sanderlings and a couple of Ring necked Parakeets flew around the houses. After a welcome bacon sandwich back at the guesthouse we headed out to Pego Marsh until lunchtime. Here we recorded most of the usual species including Little Grebe, Shovelers, White Stork, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards, Kestrel, Lapwings, a Black tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Hoopoes, Crested Larks, Crag Martins, 10+ Water Pipits, Zitting Cisticolas, Sardinian Warblers, 3 Bluethroats, Black Redstarts, Stonechats, a male Blue Rock Thrush, and 2 Carrion Crows. After lunch we headed inland to the Val de Gallinera where a short stop produced very good views of an adult Golden Eagle, a Sparrowhawk and 50+ Red billed Choughs around the crags. Our final destination was further inland to Alcoy for the Griffon Vulture colony, and was not disappointed with 20+ birds showing very well. We were also lucky enough to see a fly-through Goshawk, as well as a Peregrine, Kestrel, 4 Crossbills, Crested & Coal Tits, Red legged Partridge, Southern Grey Shrike, and lots of Magpies.
18th February:- At lunchtime today I met Jon Starie & David Taylor at Alicante Airport who were here for a short break. We immediately headed for Santa Pola Salinas hopefully to find the first two of several target (T) species they had hoped to see. We were not disappointed as we found 100+ Slender billed Gulls (T) (some displaying), and the 4 Caspian Terns (T) amongst the flock of Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean, Black headed, Lesser Black Backed, & Yellow legged Gulls, plus 2000+ Greater Flamingos, 200+ Black tailed Godwits, 100+ Avocets, Great Crested Grebes, Marsh Harriers and an Osprey. Great start. We then headed for the Crevillente Hills and lunch at the Bonelli's Eagle site, seeing a Booted Eagle, Spotless Starlings, Southern Grey Shrike, and a Swallow en-route. During lunch we were treated to excellent flight views of an adult Bonelli's Eagle (T) and a walk around the area produced 6 Black Wheatears (T), Dartford & Sardinian Warblers, a Firecrest, Blue Rock Thrush, Blackbirds, Goldfinches and Linnets. We left and headed for our last stop in the hills above Elche starting at the huge starling roost where we again saw 100's of birds flying in. A Sparrowhawk made an appearance, as well as lots of Chaffinches, and a Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaffs and a Hoopoe. Just prior to dusk we made the short journey to the Eagle Owl site and waited seeing 2 more Black Wheatears and a Blue Rock Thrush. As dusk fell I picked up the male Eagle Owl (T) flying across the canyon but unfortunately it landed out of sight. It flew again and this time David saw it and watched it land but we couldn't get Jon on to it. Just as we got his telescope in place it again departed and away out of sight in the near darkness, he was gutted. The journey home was quite sombre despite a great afternoon, we would have to try again before they left!.
19th February:- Day two with Jon & David and today we were travelling inland to a steppe area just over the border in Castilla la Mancha. Unfortunately the weather was against us with very high cold winds blowing over the plains but we still managed to see a few species. Outside Bonete we saw Thekla Larks right next to the car as well as our first Carrion Crows, Magpies and a very distant flying sandgrouse. A little further another stop produced a large flock of Corn Buntings with a couple of Rock Sparrows amongst them plus a Southern Grey Shrike and a Kestrel. We reached Corral Rubio seeing much of the same with other species such as Linnets, Spotless Starlings, and a few Goldfinches. Then on the track between Coral Rubio and Petrola we found our first Great Bustards (T) with a flock of 9 birds, over the course of the day we were going to see at least 90 - 100 birds in various places and some very well. We carried on traversing the various tracks adding a couple of Common Buzzards and our first few Calandra Larks, but it was difficult in the conditions. So we decided to go to Petrola Lagoon hide to get out of the wind, unfortunately it blew right into the viewing holes. However we could look out of the side slots and managed to find 2 Common Cranes, 50+ Greater Flamingos, 20+ Shelduck, 20+ Red Crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, 3 Grey Plover, Avocets, Ruff, and a Water Pipit, which was welcome. After lunch and an agreed decision we tried again for the sandgrouse and I returned to one of their favoured spots. As we approached a Black bellied Sandgrouse (T) flew up from the side of the vehicle and flew a short way before dropping back down to feed. We watched this bird for a long time and later a pair flew in and landed in the next field showing superbly. Here also were a big flock of 200+ Calandra Larks, and a Merlin made a low flight across disturbing the Linnets and Corn Buntings. It was now time to leave and as we made our way slowly back to Bonete we added a Mistle Thrush and a few Red legged Partridge.
20th February:- Our third morning started at Oliva Beach with a seawatch which produced a Cory's Shearwater and 17 Balearic Shearwaters moving south. We also saw 30+ Razorbills, Black headed & Yellow legged Gulls, 30+ Sandwich Terns, and 4 Gannets with Sanderlings, a couple of Kentish Plovers on the beach and Ring necked Parakeets sat on a hotel balcony. After breakfast at the guesthouse we headed out to Pego Marsh where we found Little Grebe, Mallard, Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, White Stork, a Peregrine, 2 Booted Eagles, Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, a Water Rail, Lapwings with a single Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpipers, 2 Audouin's Gulls, Kingfisher, Skylarks, several Swallows & House Martins, Crag Martins, Hoopoes, Crested Larks, Water & Meadow Pipits, White & a Grey Wagtail, Zitting Cisticolas, Cetti's & Moustached Warblers, Sardinian Warblers, 4 Bluethroats, Black Redstarts, Stonechats, and lots of finches, starlings and sparrows. The biggest surprise was hearing a very early Savi's Warbler from deep within the reeds, unfortunately the winds were keeping it hidden. Next we headed to the Val de Gallinera where we stopped for a picnic lunch while watching the crags. Conditions weren't ideal but we soon saw our first of many Red billed Choughs, and shortly after that an adult Golden Eagle flew across and landed in full view. Over the next hour we watched as it sat then soared around for a while, then landed again, a magnificent sight. Again our last destination was Alcoy, and again the 30+ Griffon Vultures showed brilliantly allowing for some photography by Jon. As we watched we picked up the slightly smaller Ruppell's Vulture with associating with an adult Griffon, it gave good views allowing the different features to be identified creating a lot of interesting discussion between the three of us. Other birds in the area included 2 Woodlarks, Raven, Crested & Coal Tits, Red legged Partridge, Southern Grey Shrike, and Magpies, and as dusk fell on the way home we found a 3 Little Owls sat on telegraph poles.
21st February:- Today was Jon & David's last day and we drove south to the Clot de Galvany on the outskirts of Santa Pola. This small reserve is always fantastic and today was no exception, with good birds seen from entering the site to leaving. We saw a Wryneck, a pair of Iberian Green Woodpeckers, Dartford & Sardinian Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Hoopoe, Southern Grey Shrike, Crested Larks, Swallows, House & Crag Martins, Stonechats, Black Redstarts, Meadow Pipits, Robin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, & Serins. We continued to the Charco de Contacto were we found it was quiet with 2 Purple Gallinules, a Common Snipe, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Coot, Little Grebe, 2 Carrion Crows, plus a male Bluethroat (without a white spot!). At the main scrape we added 2 Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Crested Larks, Shelducks, Shovelers, and Black winged Stilts. However the shock was finding a Pallid Swift amongst the swallows and martins, quite an early record for Alicante Region. At Santa Pola Salinas we saw much the same species as the previous Saturday including the 4 Caspian Terns, but also Turnstone, some Little Stints, and a Kentish Plover. We then drove the short journey to El Hondo where we saw the affects of a large fire that's recently ravaged some of the scrub and reedbed. Starting at the visitor centre for lunch and where I negotiated a quick visit to the main reserve that afternoon. We were after our final target so drove around the perimeter to the Vistabella Road to a quiet pool, but unfortunately they were not showing. We did however find 6 White headed Ducks, in with the Coot, Eurasian Teal & Common Pochard. We waited seeing Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harriers, Corn & Reed Buntings, then I saw 3 birds flying in low David's final target Marbled Duck. We managed to watch them for several minutes before they decided to fly off again. We left and returned to the Main Centre stopping at the Rio Vinalopo for to very showy Temminck's Stints, allowing for some more photography. At the main reserve we were allowed through the locked gates and travelled down to the bottom viewing platform, where the spectacle was amazing. Wildfowl were everywhere with 100's of Red Crested & Common Pochards, Shoveler, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, and Coot, with lesser numbers of White headed Ducks, Shelduck, Greater Flamingos, Cormorants, Little & Black necked Grebes. Marsh Harriers flew around, 2 Ospreys sat on posts in the water, and a single Purple Gallinule was in the reeds. Unfortunately we had to leave due to our evening meal being booked and as we drove into the hills we saw Black Wheatear, Black Redstarts, and a Rock Bunting. I was taking them to the airport later but first we went to the owl site for a second go for Jon. We arrived and set up our telescopes and waited, I wandered off and returned quickly looked in my 'scope' and there was an adult male Eagle Owl in full view. Over the next 20 minutes we watched it call, fly, sit on various crags around the canyon, before it flew right over our heads and away to the next hillside, what an end to an excellent few days birdwatching. N.B. Accreditation for the photos of the Caspian Terns, Great Bustards, Cattle Egret & Griffon Vulture to Mr. J. Starie, with the Iberian Green Woodpecker & Eagle Owl by me.
25th February - 4th March:- Spent one week leading one of our all-inclusive holidays to Castilla la Mancha & Extremadura. There will be a dedicated trip report that will be posted in the near future and highlighted on the front page. However the tour was very successful with excellent views of most of the speciality species found in these two wonderful regions. The highlights included 3 Spanish Imperial Eagles, 5 Bonelli's Eagles, 2 Black shouldered Kites, Black & Egyptian Vultures, lots of Hen & Marsh Harriers, Lesser Kestrel, Eagle Owl, 100+ Great Bustards, 500+ Little Bustards, 100's of Common Cranes, Spanish Sparrows, Bearded Tits, and a Mute Swan. The picture shows an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle found at the excellent Los Cabaneros reserve. Click here for the full report.

March 2006

7th March:- This afternoon I managed to get out to Pego Marsh for a couple of hours before having to go to work. I started at the paddy fields, which had been drained for planting but still held quite a few birds in certain fields. Large numbers of Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, and Lapwings fed and in one field there were 300+ Black headed & 50+ Audouin's Gulls, 9 Little Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpipers and Common Snipe. An Osprey had returned and sat on it's usual pylon, with a Booted Eagle and 5 or 6 Marsh Harriers over the reeds. At the south end there were now decent numbers of duck with mainly Mallard and Red Crested Pochard, but also a pair of Gadwall. Also here were a few Water Pipits, Reed Buntings, Crested Larks and a Southern Grey Shrike. Finally at the north end i found a few more Little Ringed Plovers, a pair of Penduline Tits, Moustached Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, some Swallows, House Martins, and my first Sand Martin of the year. It was nice to be back.
8th March:- After seeing my first Short toed Eagle of the Spring while taking a guest to Valencia airport i decided I would go back to Pego Marsh since the weather was gorgeous. Saw much the same species as the day before apart from 2 White Storks, 2 (summer plumage) Mediterranean Gulls amongst the masses of Audouin's & Black headed Gulls, a few Common Redshank, 4 or 5 reeling Savi's Warblers, a Purple Gallinule, and my first Swallowtail Butterfly of the marsh.
10th March:- Today I was guiding Gary Nicholson, and his friends Neil & Nigel but as they were staying in Valencia we had decided to do just a couple of sites in that area. After picking them up we first went to Marjel del Moro, a small but excellent reserve just north of the city. As we arrived lots of Crag Martins flew around with small numbers of Swallows and House Martins. At the first small lagoon we amazingly found 4 (collar ringed) Red knobbed Coots together along with a few Mallard. We then checked the sea finding 2 Great Crested Grebes, Audouin's & Black headed Gulls, Sandwich Terns, and a few Kentish Plovers and Sanderling on the beach. We continued on the coastal track to the look-out platform from where we found lots of Shoveler, Teal, Eurasian Coot, Red Crested Pochard, Moorhen, Chiffchaffs and two Marsh Harriers. A couple of Spoonbills flew over the reeds and dropped out of sight and a swift gave brief views amongst the swallows and martins. We returned to the entrance and walked the track in the other direction, seeing a Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaffs, Zitting Cisticolas, Stonechats and Skylarks. At the first watch point I found a Great White Egret flying over, which was then joined by 3 others before joining the Grey Herons. Passage was evident as 2 Alpine Swifts gave good views with 2 or 3 Common Swifts and lots more hirundines. At the next watching platform we found a lot more ducks, with the same as before and also Pintail, Gadwall, Common Pochards, and Little Grebes. We found another Red knobbed Coot and a Cetti's Warbler called but remained hidden in the high winds. We continued walking around the reserve seeing a Kestrel, Little & Cattle Egrets, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Green & Goldfinches before returning to the vehicle. We then drove to the mirador looking over the Albufera d'Valencia a large freshwater lake, where we had our lunch. Although we didn't see any new species we did enjoy watching a Grey Heron catch fish from one of the nets. After lunch we made the short journey to Raco d'Olla another small reserve near the Albufera. It was quiet but we did manage to add 3 or 4 (dark phase) Booted Eagles heading north, Black winged Stilt, Short toed Treecreeper, Serins, Black Redstart, and Chaffinches. Finally we had a quick look at the Sollana Rice Fields but they had been drained for planting, however one small puddle did produce a Little Ringed Plover and a Water Pipit.
11th March:- This afternoon I went out to Pego Marsh to look for migrants and had a very good time. I started at the south end where i found lots of Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, as well as a few Black winged Stilts, Common Redshank, Snipe, Green Sandpipers and a single Lapwing. Along the track there was my first Yellow Wagtail of the year as well as Crested Larks, Reed Buntings, Zitting Cisticolas, and Hoopoes. At the rice fields I parked to check the gulls finding 100+ Audouin's with 200+ Black headed Gulls. Eventually I was able to find 2 adult and 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls, as well as seeing the Osprey, Booted Eagle 2 White Storks (1 on a pylon) and a few Water Pipits. I was then joined by John Robinson and as we talked I looked up and saw another stork flying into the sun, but as it turned I realised it was a Black Stork, a new local bird for me and a lifer for John. We watched as it flew around for about 10 minutes giving excellent views (once mobbed by a Booted Eagle), before disappearing out of sight over the far crags. We waited to see if would return but alas not so we parted company and I went off to check the south side paddy fields. Here my good fortune continued as I found a Great White Egret, many Marsh Harriers, a Bluethroat, Grey Wagtail, Cetti's & Moustached Warblers. Finally as dusk was falling I drove the brick tank track hearing a few Savi's Warblers, and seeing a Purple Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail and several Little Ringed Plovers. An excellent afternoon.
17th March:- Early morning I was ringing on Pego Marsh but we only trapped a few birds, however this did include an adult male Kingfisher and a couple of Cetti's Warblers. While we were there we also saw Reed Buntings, Savi's & Moustached Warblers, Audouin's & Black headed Gulls, Marsh Harriers, Jackdaws and good numbers of Common Swifts, Swallows, House & Sand Martins moving north. Later in the morning I was meeting Russell Irwin to show him around my local patch. We started at the beach were we immediately found a small flock of 30+ Balearic Shearwaters and a Razorbill sat on the water close in-shore, while on the rocks were Audouin's, Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls, Sandwich Terns and Cormorants. Next we returned to Pego Marsh and drove slowly along the southern track to the new lagoons were we found lots of Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, and bizarrely Yellow billed & White Stork. A little further on we saw Red Crested Pochards and Mallards, then at the south marsh there was a single Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Marsh Harriers, Common Redshanks, Wood & Green Sandpipers, Black winged Stilts, Common Snipe, Little Ringed Plovers, European & Spotless Starlings, Crested Larks, White & Yellow Wagtails, Hoopoes, Water & Meadow Pipits. Around the paddy fields it was quite quiet although there were some good flocks of gulls and egrets, a Booted Eagle showed well along with a few Zitting Cisticolas, Goldfinches and Chaffinches. Over the hills were a couple of Common Buzzards, Kestrel, a Pallid Swift amongst it's darker cousins, more Hoopoes, plus Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaffs, and Black Redstarts. Finally we drove along the north marsh hearing plenty of Moustached & Savi's Warblers, with the final treat of finding a Magpie (only my 3rd record) in a tree as we were leaving.
Tuesday 21st :- I met Alan Moorhouse & Frank Mason at Alicante Airport and made the short journey to Santa Pola Salinas where we found Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, 1000+ Greater Flamingos, 30+ Shelduck, Red Crested Pochard, Common Coots, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Common Snipe, Black tailed Godwits, Common Redshanks, Greenshanks, Audouin’s, Mediterranean, Slender billed, Western Yellow legged, Lesser Black backed & Black headed Gulls, Sandwich Terns, 4 Pallid Swifts, Sand Martins, Yellow Wagtails, and Barn Swallows. Next we drove the short journey to El Hondo Reserve where on a small pool we found 7 Marbled Duck, 4 White headed Duck, Common Teal, Red Crested &Common Pochards, Marsh Harriers and House Martins. Finally we headed inland to the Crevillente Hills and a whole new set of species. As we arrived we checked the nest and there was the female Bonelli’s Eagle pulling strips of food and feeding her young. We went for a short walk finding 3 Black Wheatears, 2 male Rock Buntings, a pair of Blue Rock Thrush, Little Owls, Hoopoes, Thekla Larks, Alpine Swifts and Serins. As we retuned for our evening meal the male Bonelli’s Eagle flew into the canyon and displayed around the eyrie. Their short break was off to an excellent start.
Wednesday 22nd :- Before breakfast Alan, Frank and I went to Pego Marsh in search of Savi’s Warblers. Unfortunately the very high winds didn’t seem to bode well; however, on the third attempt we incredibly found a Savi’s Warbler reeling nearly horizontal high-up on the reeds. Other birds seen included Purple Heron, Marsh Harriers, Northern Shovelers, Red Crested Pochards, Common Teal, Black winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Common Swifts, Crag Martins, Hoopoes, Yellow & White Wagtails, Water Pipits, Goldfinches, Spotless Starlings. After breakfast we headed to the Val de Gallinera, were we parked up and one of the first birds I saw was an adult Golden Eagle moving along the ridge. Within minutes it was being mobbed by a pair of Peregrines and several Red billed Choughs, so it soon disappeared and landed out of sight. We hung around seeing Sardinian Warbler, Greenfinches and Kestrels, then over the ridge appeared a very large raptor, a wing tagged Griffon Vulture. As it flew past the eyrie the adult Golden Eagle appeared and mobbed the vulture with several passes. Both birds moved off as did we, higher up to the Alcoy Hills. At the vulture re-introduction site we saw many untagged wild birds as well as (adult & 3rd cy) Bonelli’s Eagles, Osprey, Sparrowhawk, 6 Ravens, Magpies, Crested Tits, Short toed Treecreeper and Black Redstarts. After this we returned to Pego Marsh finding new birds including Little Grebe, 2 male Garganey, Booted Eagle, Common Coot, Spotted & Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Alpine & Pallid Swifts, Red rumped Swallows, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings. Finally we went to Oliva Beach for a little sea watching over the next hour we saw Balearic Shearwaters, Common & Sandwich Terns, 2 Razorbills, Audouins & Yellow legged Gulls, on the beach were several Sanderlings and a Kentish Plover.
Thursday 23rd :- Today we headed south where we started at the Clot de Galvany where we walked along the track to the Charco de Contacto. Here we found Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Little Owl, Sardinian & Willow Warblers, Black Redstart, Booted Eagle, and Meadow Pipits. At the pool we saw White headed Duck, Purple Gallinules, and Little Grebes amongst other things. We followed the track around to the main lake and at one tree we found a roosting Little Owl with a Whitethroat, 2 Sub-alpine & Willow Warblers, several Chiffchaffs, and Blackcaps around it. Also along here we saw Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Crested Larks and 2 Carrion Crows. At the main pool we added 5 Garganey, Shovelers, Common Teal, Black winged Stilts, Water Pipit and another Sub-alpine Warbler. We left and made our way along the coast finding 2 Turnstones, and past the salinas seeing Slender billed Gulls, Black tailed Godwits and Greater Flamingos from the car. At El Hondo we made a few stops around the perimeter before lunch seeing a Lesser Short toed Lark, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagles, Marsh Harriers, Kestrels, Cattle Egrets, Stonechat, Zitting Cisticolas, Yellow Wagtails, Shelducks and Little Grebes. After lunch at the visitor centre we drove north looking for the over-wintering Pine Bunting (seen last week) but to no avail, but we did find Corn Buntings, Thekla Larks and Rock Bunting. After a comfort stop in Elche we headed back into the hills for our last target of the day. A quick search of the area before dusk produced an Iberian Green Woodpecker, Blue Rock Thrush, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Cetti’s & Sardinian Warblers, Sparrowhawk and Jackdaws. As dusk fell the adult Eagle Owl flew out, but unfortunately landed against a dark background, not making it easy to see.
Friday 24th :- Today was my last day with Alan & Frank, and we were also joined by visiting birdwatcher David Barkway. We were going inland to the plains of Castilla la Mancha and their steppe species, but the recent high winds were proving a problem. Around the agricultural fields of Bonete we soon found our first Great Bustards with the males and females in two distinct parties. The males were starting to display and negotiation of the farm tracks enabled us to get good close views from the vehicle. A Red Kite sat in the field and there were also a few Thekla & Calandra Larks, Linnets, Hoopoe and Magpies. We continued towards Petrola seeing Common Buzzards, Lapwings, Woodpigeons, Carrion Crows, Southern Grey Shrike, Corn Buntings, and Red legged Partridges. In Petrola we headed straight for the lagoon and a bit of respite from the strong wind and into it's (interesting) hide. Here we managed to look through the side windows finding a Whiskered Tern, Black necked Grebe, Pintails, Gadwall, Teal, Garganey, Shovelers, Red Crested & Common Pochards, Marsh Harriers, Greater Flamingos, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers, Black tailed Godwits, Common Redshanks, Ruff, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Raven and Crested Larks. After lunch the wind had abated a little so we continued around the agricultural fields finding more Great Bustards, and also 2 Stone Curlews, a female Merlin, Stock Doves, and Meadow Pipits. We left the area and headed back to Oliva were we met up with Brian Rickwood, Tony Polley, & John Herbert who had just arrived for their 'short break'. A little later we all headed out to Pego Marsh and a swallow ringing session. The wind was playing it's part here with very few swallows and martins caught however we did catch a male Bluethroat, Moustached Warbler, Chiffchaffs, and Reed Buntings to the groups delight. Other birds seen included brief views of a Penduline Tits, White Stork, Marsh Harriers, Purple & Grey Herons, Snipe and Common Swifts. A great end to Alan & Frank's trip and a great start to Brian, Tony and John's one.
Saturday 25th :- This was my first full day with Brian, Tony, & John and we headed south to the sites around Alicante. At the Clot de Galvany we followed the usual route to the Charco de Contacto finding a Woodchat Shrike, Wryneck, Booted Eagle, Little Owl, Black Redstart, Sardinian & Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Crested larks, Meadow Pipits, Serins, Greenfinches & Goldfinches. At the hide we saw a pair of Marbled Duck, White headed Duck, Red Crested Pochards, Little Grebes, Moorhens, and Coot, so we walked around the back adding 3 Purple Gallinules, and 2 more White headed Ducks. The walk to the main pool produced a beautiful male Common Redstart, Hoopoes, Southern Grey Shrike, another Woodchat, Song Thrush and Blackbirds. The main pool held plenty of birds with 6 Garganey, Shovelers, Teal, Shelducks, Black winged Stilts, and a Purple Gallinule. Next we drove through to the Santa Pola Salinas were at the first pull-in we watched Slender billed, Mediterranean, Black headed, Yellow legged & Lesser Black backed Gulls, Sandwich Tern, Greater Flamingos and Avocets. I scanned out towards the sea and picked up a bird flying towards us, and as it got closer I realised it was a Short eared Owl, my first for Spain. Other stops along the road produced a Great White Egret, Caspian Tern, Spotted & Common Redshank, Greenshank, Little Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Black tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Great Crested Grebes, and a few Yellow Wagtails. Spirits were high as we drove round to El Hondo for our lunch then looked around it's perimeter finding 5 Montagu's Harriers, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzard, Zitting Cisticola, Cattle & Little Egrets and Common Pochard as well a lot of birds seen previously. We then made our way up into the hills above Crevillente to 'Finca Bonelli's Eagle' where we stayed for the next few hours. The pair of Bonelli's Eagles showed well with the female on the nest and the male flying around the canyon and ended up taking an Alpine Swift which he fed on from an old nest on the rock face. Other birds seen around the finca included Alpine & Common Swifts, Crag Martins, Thekla Larks, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Sparrowhawk, Jackdaws, and Little Owls.
Sunday 26th :- Before breakfast we all headed out to Pego Marsh and a drive along the north track, were we found a few Savi's Warblers reeling and showing very well. Also here were Marsh Harriers, Purple & Grey Herons, Little Ringed Plovers, Yellow Wagtail, Zitting Cisticolas and a few singing Moustached & Cetti's Warblers, which we didn't see. At the south end were a few waders including Ruff, Greenshank, Redshank, Green and Wood Sandpipers also 30+ Audouins Gulls, Little & Cattle Egrets, Shovelers, Red Crested Pochards ,Cormorants, and several Water Pipits. After breakfast we made our way to the Val de Gallinera, parking just outside the village of Alpatro. After a while John found the first of both adult Golden Eagles, which we saw well both flying and sat on rocks, also there was a Sparrowhawk, Kestrels, Red Billed Choughs, Sardinian Warblers, Blackcaps, Robin and a lovely Red Rumped Swallow. We slowly continued inland through the valley to Alcoy and the Griffon Vulture reintroduction programme. We saw plenty of Griffon Vultures, as well as a 'fly-through' Short Toed Eagle, 8 Ravens, several Crested, Great & Coal Tits, 10+ Pallid Swifts, a pair of Black Redstarts, Magpies and a Stonechat. We returned home for a break in the heat of the afternoon then later made our way to Oliva Beach. For an hour we watched from the sea-wall seeing 100+ Balearic Shearwaters close-in, Gannet, Audouin's, 6 (1st winter) Mediterranean & Yellow Legged Gulls, several Sandwich and Common Terns with 50+ Sanderlings flying round the harbour. Finally we went back to Pego Marsh seeing many of the species seen that morning but also Kingfishers, Reed Bunting, & Goldfinches.
Monday 27th :- With an early start we headed inland to the plains of Castilla la Mancha starting from the small town of Bonete. Just outside the village we found a few Calandra & Thekla Larks, Linnets, Green Woodpecker, and incredibly a flock of 20+ Grey Lag Geese heading north. We also saw a couple of sandgrouse fly in to some fields further on so we drove to this area where we walked into an area of sparse scrub. Almost immediately we flushed a male Little Bustard that flew right in front of us, then 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos flew from amongst the Magpies calling. In the distance we found our first Great Bustards in the distance and also 4 Black bellied Sandgrouse flew up from the adjacent field showing well as they cut across our path. We returned to the car very satisfied with our start to the day and continued towards Coral Rubio. The road to Coral Rubio produced more Great Bustards, Carrion Crows, Corn Buntings, Red legged Partridge and Common Buzzard. Due to our success I decided we try a small (under-watched) lagoon at La Higuela and the short journey produced a pair of Marsh Harriers and several Lapwings. At the lagoon we parked and a flock of Shoveler & Common Pochard were on the water, and as I scanned them I picked out something different, a handsome male Ferruginous Duck (a local rarity). Also here were Gadwall, Red Crested Pochards, Teal, Coots, Lapwings, and a few Ruff, going back towards Petrola we stopped enroute finding a pair of Stone Curlews. After lunch in Petrola we visited the lagoon where we added 5 Garganey, Little Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Common Snipe, Spotted & Common Redshanks, a Greenshank, Green Sandpipers, Dunlin, 2 Whiskered & a Gull billed Tern, Greater Flamingos, and Crested Larks. We left Petrola and drove slowly along the tracks back to Coral Rubio finding a handsome male Black eared Wheatear, more displaying Great Bustards, a female Merlin (take a Calandra Lark), 2 more Stone Curlews, Calandra & Skylarks, Southern Grey Shrike, Kestrels and Woodpigeons. We returned to the guesthouse very satisfied with our day and on the roof terrace that evening we added a Peregrine Falcon.
Tuesday 28th :- I was returning Brian, Tony & John to the airport and on the way we called in at Monnegre looking for Trumpeter Finch. We didn't find our target but we did see migrating Osprey and Marsh Harrier, several Black eared Wheatears, Red rumped Swallows, Thekla Larks, Red legged Partridges, Hoopoe, Meadow Pipits and a Long tailed Tit. Thanks to Brian Rickwood for the photos of Common Redstart, Great Bustard & the Ferruginous Duck
Friday 31st :- This evening I was out with ‘newly-arrived’ Graham & Agi Turner, and Mike & Sue Pryor who were here on a 4 day break. A short walk on Pego Marsh produced Savi’s Warbler, Water Rail, Grey & Purple Heron, Little & Cattle Egrets, Common Swifts, Marsh Harriers and a Kingfisher. Then whilst watching the ringers they trapped a few Swallows and a Sand Martin.

April 2006

Saturday 1st :- Today was my first full day with Graham, Agi, Mike and Sue, spending the morning around the local sites looking for birds (although it could be difficult!!). An early sea-watch produced several Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Gannets and Yellow legged Gulls, with Spotless Starlings, Sardinian Warblers and White Wagtails amongst the dunes. Next we went to Pego Marsh starting at the north end seeing Savi’s Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas, Kingfishers, Yellow Wagtails, Marsh Harriers, Purple & Grey Herons, Little Ringed Plover, Whiskered Terns, Green & Wood Sandpipers, and Black Winged Stilts. At the south end we found a male Northern Wheatear, Hoopoes, Wood Sandpipers, Snipe, Mallard, Gadwall, Red Crested Pochard and 4 Garganey. A walk round the hillside produced a singing Nightingale, Blackcaps, Sardinian Warblers, Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. We returned to the guesthouse for lunch before heading inland to the Alcoy Hills. At the vulture re-introduction site we had fantastic views of Griffon Vultures, as well as a Short toed Eagle overhead, Kestrel, Red legged partridges, 2 Woodlarks, Great, Coal & Crested Tits, Common Ravens, and a superb male Black eared Wheatear. (Thanks to Sue Pryor for the photograph)

Sunday 2nd :- Before breakfast a quick check of the orange grove from the roof terrace, Graham & I found a male Sub-alpine Warbler, Sardinian Warblers, Blackcaps, and Blackbirds. Once ready we set off to Castilla la Mancha, and the agricultural fields of Bonete. On the road to Coral Rubio the first stop produced 20+ distant Great Bustards some of which were displaying. Also here were several Northern & a couple of Black eared Wheatears, a Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Red legged Partridges, Calandra & Thekla Larks. A little further we stopped and found 4 Little Bustards including one displaying male. The next stop produced a nice surprise with a Tawny Pipit, with nesting Rock & House Sparrows, Linnets, Corn Buntings, Crested Larks, Raven, Hoopoe and Woodpigeons. The minor road to Petrola produced a few more (closer) Great Bustards, Stock Doves, and Magpies. After lunch we visited Petrola Lagoon where we found Black necked Grebes, Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Greater Flamingos, Shelducks, Gadwall, 2 male Garganey, Shoveler, Common & Red Crested Pochards, Common Teal, Marsh Harriers, Little Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Common Redshanks, Green & Common Sandpipers, Ruff, Whiskered & Gull billed Terns, Crested Larks, Yellow & White Wagtails, 2 Water Pipits and Tree Sparrows. The return to Coral Rubio was quiet seeing a lot of similar species seen previously including more Great Bustards (50+ for the day), Calandra Larks, and a few Lapwings. Just outside Coral Rubio we visited La Higuela lagoon where we found more Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards, Ruff, 2 Greenshanks, Black necked Grebes, & more wildfowl

Monday 3rd :- Day 3 saw us all travelling down to the Alicante region and initially birdwatching around the Santa Pola area. We started at the Clot de Galvany which produced Little Grebes, Eurasian Teal, Shelducks, 10+ Common Pochards, 6 White headed Ducks, Marsh Harrier, 2 Booted Eagles, 4 Purple Gallinules, Moorhens, Coot, Black winged Stilts, Wood Sandpiper, Common Cuckoo, Little Owl, Hoopoes, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Crested Larks, Blackbirds, Great Reed, Willow & Sardinian Warblers, Blackcaps, Southern Grey Shrike, Carrion Crow, Spotless Starlings, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Serins. Next we drove the short distance to the Santa Pola Salinas where during several stops along the road we found 6 (very close) Marbled Ducks, Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Little Egrets, Greater Flamingos, Shelducks, Red Crested Pochards, Avocets, a Greenshank, Audouin's, Yellow legged, Lesser Black backed, Black headed, Slender billed & Mediterranean Gulls, Sandwich & Common Terns, Sand Martins, and Yellow Wagtails. After this we visited a couple of areas on the edge of El Hondo reserve seeing 5 Montagu's Harriers, Marsh Harrier, a few Short toed & Crested Larks, a Stonechat, Zitting Cisticolas and calling Cetti's Warblers. It was now time to head into the hills above Crevillente for our evening meal whilst watching out for the Bonelli's Eagles. We arrived and a quick look at the eyrie revealed the female with it's young, then soon after a Peregrine came into the canyon and the Bonelli's Eagle took to the air and proceeded to chase it off. The male then returned to the canyon and we were treated to some very close views as they soared around their territory and perched on the rock face. During our 2 hours there we also saw 30+ Alpine & Common Swifts, a Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Thekla Larks, Crag Martins, Red rumped & Barn Swallows, 2 male Blue Rock Thrushes, Dartford & Sardinian Warbler, Black Wheatears, Jackdaws, & Raven. As evening was fading we made our way into the hills above Elche for our final target, and we arrived just in time. Within minutes a familiar call heralded the arrival of the male Eagle Owl sat showing very well in it's canyon, and as night fell we were treated to Eagle, Little & Scop's Owls all calling at the same time, a real treat for us.

Tuesday 4th :- This was our final day and we had decided to spend like our first checking out the local sites. A quick visit to the beach produced 50+ Balearic Shearwaters, Gannets, Sandwich Terns, a few Kentish Plovers and Sanderlings. Next we went to Pego Marsh finding 30+ Audouin's Gulls on the paddy fields with Moustached, Savi's, Eurasian Reed & Great Reed Warblers around the ringing area. Other birds seen around here Grey & Purple Herons, Little Egrets, Marsh Harriers, Kingfishers, Common Swifts, Crested Larks. After breakfast we headed up to the Val de Gallinera where we got fantastic views of an adult Golden Eagle both flying around and sat on various crags. This was another new bird for the party and we spent all the afternoon enjoying the experience. We also saw a pair of Bee-eaters, Common Cuckoos, Common Buzzard, Kestrels, Red billed Choughs, Jackdaws, a Nightingale, Red rumped Swallows, Blackcaps, Sardinian Warblers, and heard a Wryneck and Green Woodpecker. Finally we returned for a quick visit to Pego Marsh and incredibly found 2 Great White Egrets sat in the open with Grey Herons, then at the back of the hill we added our final new bird found by Graham, a lovely male Woodchat Shrike. This was an excellent end to a superb few days with many new species seen by the whole group. Thanks to Sue for letting me use her photos of Graham & Agi.
Wednesday 5th :- This morning I made a quick visit to Pego Marsh to meet a visiting birder who wanted information on the area. I found Steve at the paddy fields where one of the Great White Egrets were showing well and drive around the better areas produced 2 Woodchat Shrikes, Hoopoe, Great & Eurasian Reed Warblers, a reeling Savi's Warbler, a lovely Collared Pratincole, lots of Little & Cattle Egrets, Audouin's Gulls, Redshank, Wood & Green Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Black winged Stilts, Whiskered Terns, Garganey, Red Crested Pochards, and Marsh Harriers.

Thursday 6th :- Today Malcolm Palmer & I were leading a Costa Blanca Bird club field trip to the excellent Tabarca Island situated a few kilometres off Cabo de Santa Pola. Due to it's proximity, lack of human interference, and abundance of cover it attracts birds migrating along the coastline sometimes difficult to find elsewhere. Ten of us met at the Santa Pola Quay where a good number of Pallid Swifts flew around with smaller numbers of House Martins. In the harbour Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls were everywhere and a few Common Terns fished in the still waters. The 35 minute journey across was largely uneventful but I managed to find an adult summer Mediterranean Gull loafing on the water. The night before had been bright and clear not ideal conditions for an island trip, but as soon as the boat docked it was clear we were going to be watching more than a few birds as Willow Warblers flitted by the harbour. We walked towards the eastern (uninhabited) end and were not long in finding the first Woodchat Shrikes, Northern & Black eared Wheatears, along with the resident Thekla Larks and breeding Pallid Swifts. We then found our first of 20+ Sub alpine Warblers and I glimpsed a Nightingale as it disappeared into the extensive Prickly Pear bushes. A pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins played just offshore, an excellent find as these are the first cetaceans I have seen in the Med. Just then Malcolm glimpsed the shape of a distant owl that disappeared out of sight, and we unfortunately failed to relocate it right away. However we did then find a Roller – a great surprise, and the disappointment of the owl was eased as we watched it well. We walked on to the end of the island, seeing plenty of Common Redstarts, wheatears and warblers including a Whitethroat, several Shags loafed on the rocks, plus 3 Gannets and a Balearic Shearwater flew past the headland. Then we were again surprised when we found another Nightingale in very unusual habitat of cliff top rocks!, island birding at it's best. Back amongst the vegetation on top of the island, we at last flushed Malcolm's bird, a lovely Short-eared Owl, which flew quietly off, later we saw it being mobbed by Yellow legged Gulls as it flew out to sea and back again. Apart from finding a Whimbrel, Kentish Plovers, Turnstones, Audouin's Gulls, Little Egret and Sandwich Terns around the inhabited end there were few more surprises in store for us, but a good lunch and a stirring boat-trip back under gathering clouds set the seal on an excellent day.

Saturday 8th :- After picking up Des & Maria Greene at the airport for the start of their 'short break'. We returned to the guesthouse for a relax and freshen up with Peregrine, Blackcaps, Sardinian Warbler, House Martins, Swallows, Serins, and Blackbird from the roof terrace. We decided on an evening visit to Pego Marsh, but the high winds were a slight problem since it was keeping a lot of reedbed species low down. However our first stop did produce a Moustached Warbler, as well as Little Egrets, Grey & Purple Herons, Little Ringed Plovers, Coot, Moorhen, and Marsh Harriers. A little further we then found a reeling Savi's Warbler showing well, plus a male Whinchat, Zitting Cisticola, Hoopoe, Sand Martins, and Common Swifts. At the south end we found a Great White Egret, with Little & Cattle Egrets, Cormorants, 30+ Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, 10+ Wood Sandpipers, Redshank, Common Snipe, Black winged Stilts, Mallards, Red Crested Pochards, 4 Garganey, 2 Tree & House Sparrows, Yellow & White Wagtails, Crested Larks, Goldfinches & Spotless Starlings. Finally a walk around the hillside was quiet apart from 2 Red rumped Swallows with their commoner cousins.

Sunday 9th :- This was our first full day out and it was inland around the region of Albacete, finding a Little Owl just outside Oliva. At Bonete our first stop was on the road to Higueruela due to a Merlin flying alongside the car, which dashed off over the vineyards. However as we searched we found a Rock Sparrow & a few Tree Sparrows with plenty of House Sparrows, Thekla Larks, Mistle Thrushes, Red legged Partridges and a fantastic male Montagu's Harrier quartering the area. Another stop a little further produced our first 3 Great Bustards, Stone Curlew, another Monty's, Calandra, Thekla, & Crested Larks, 2 Northern Wheatears, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, and Carrion Crows. Then at the last stop we found a single displaying Little Bustard, 20+ Pin tailed Sandgrouse (10 found feeding on the ground), and 8 (distant) Black bellied Sandgrouse, a great start to the day. We returned to Bonete finding a Woodchat Shrike and Common Buzzard en-route and then continued towards Coral Rubio. We stopped and found a migrating Black Kite, and then a short walk produced more Great Bustards, Northern & Black eared Wheatears, Linnets and larks. We then headed to Petrola for lunch finding another Stone Curlew on the way. After lunch we visited the nearby Petrola Lagoon finding a pair of Marsh Harriers, 50+ Greater Flamingos, Shelducks, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, 3 Garganey, Shovelers, Red Crested & Common Pochards, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Kentish & Little Ringed Plovers, Common Redshanks, Ruff, 10+ Whiskered Terns, Yellow Wagtails (inc. 1 Blue headed), Crested Larks, Tree Sparrows, and Collared Doves. We then returned to the tracks just outside Petrola and a 'kestrel type' made me stop quickly, and as I suspected it was a gorgeous male Lesser Kestrel, my first in this area. As we watched it became apparent that there was in fact 4 Lesser Kestrels all hunting together making a marvellous sight. We followed this track to the end where we had 2 more Black bellied Sandgrouse fly right past us and drop into a nearby field. We drove round to the area only to find them disappearing over the edge of a dip and out of view. We followed the farm roads towards Coral Rubio finding some more Great Bustards quite close to the road and 2 Short toed Larks in a field with Calandra Larks. Our last stop was Higuela Lagoon seeing a lot of the same species seen at Petrola, but we did add Little & Black necked Grebes, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Lapwings and Corn Buntings. A superb day was rounded off with 2 Bee-eaters over the roof terrace whilst enjoying a well-earned beer.

Monday 10th :- My second full day with Des & Maria plus Terry Strong (from Benissa) saw us travelling south to Santa Pola, starting at the 'Clot de Galvany'. At the Charco de Contacto we found 6 White headed Ducks, Purple Gallinules, Common Pochards, Mallards, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebes, an Iberian Green Woodpecker, Pallid & Common Swifts, Blackcaps, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Serins. The walk to the natural lagoon produced a Little Owl, Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Sardinian Warblers, and 2 Red legged Partridges. While at the lagoon we then added a Marsh Harrier, 10+ Shelducks, Eurasian Teal, Little Egrets, a Black tailed Godwit, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Common Redshanks, 4 Ruff, 20+ Common & a Whiskered Tern, and a Great Reed Warbler. Finally as we left we heard a Nightingale singing deep from the undergrowth and impossible to find. At the Salinas de Santa Pola we added quite a few new species including Great Crested Grebes, a Cattle Egret, Cormorants, Grey & Purple Heron, 1000+ Greater Flamingos, 2 Marbled Duck, Red Crested Pochards, several Kentish Plovers, Sanderlings, Yellow legged, Black headed, Slender billed & Mediterranean Gulls, 30+ Little Terns sat with 2 Sandwich & 100+ Common Terns, Sand Martins, and a calling Cuckoo. Next we moved on to the edge of El Hondo reserve starting along the Vistabella road where a small pool produced 5 Marbled & 8 White headed Ducks, another Marsh Harrier, 4 Bee-eaters on wires, plus Yellow & White Wagtails. Around the other side we stopped and scanned the reeds finding 6 Montagu's Harriers, Common Buzzards, 50+ Collared Pratincoles, Common Stonechats, Zitting Cisticolas, Woodpigeons, 2 Southern Grey Shrikes, and Kestrels. Then at the football field we found a pair of Stone Curlews, 10+ Lesser Short toed & Crested Larks, 2 more Montagu's Harriers, Hoopoe, Cattle Egrets and Spotless Starlings. It was now time to drive up into the hills above Crevillente for our evening meal at Finca Bonelli's Eagle, finding the female Bonelli's Eagle tending to her growing eaglet. A short walk produced 2 male Blue Rock Thrushes, Black Wheatear, Thekla Larks, Alpine & Common Swifts, Crag Martins, a Raven, Jackdaws and a Woodchat Shrike. During the meal the male Bonelli's Eagle returned with prey made it suitable and left it in the nest, allowing us to watch the female feeding the young in full view. Our last site was above Elche but unfortunately the Eagle Owls were not showing, we did hear one call as well as a Scop's but failed to locate them.

Tuesday 11th :- The final day of Des & Maria's 'short break' and we were initially back birdwatching locally around Oliva. We started at the beach but there was no real evidence of any passage, possibly due to the high winds, so we quickly continued on to Pego Marsh. Our first stop produced a lot of the usual suspects including Little Grebe, Gadwall, Mallard, Coot, Little Egrets, Grey & Purple Herons, Marsh Harriers, Black winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Kingfisher, and Zitting Cisticolas, plus singing (but not showing) Moustached & Savi's Warblers. A little further on we found a couple of Savi's Warblers reeling from the top of the reeds as well as Hoopoes, Yellow Wagtails, and Eurasian Reed Warblers, but still no moustached (our main target). Although at the third stop we managed to find at least 3 Moustached Warblers singing out in the open allowing for 'scoped' views, and Great Reed Warblers as well. A final visit along the south marsh produced a Great White Egret, several Cattle Egrets, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, Whiskered Terns, a Redshank, a Green & Wood Sandpipers, Garganey, Red Crested Pochards, female Whinchat, Woodchat Shrike, and Crested Larks. After breakfast we then headed inland to Alcoy and the vulture re-introduction site, which as usual yielded excellent views of migrant wild Griffon Vultures. Other birds seen in this area included a Short toed Eagle overhead, Red legged Partridge, Woodpigeons, Bee-eaters, 2 (calling) Green Woodpeckers, Crested Larks, a Woodlark (sat on a wire), male Black eared Wheatear, a pair of Black Redstarts, Coal, Crested, & Great Tits, 6 Common Crossbills, Magpies, and Ravens. We returned to Oliva for lunch (and Des's driving licence) during which we added a pale phase Booted Eagle, which was a nice find. Afterwards we continued on to the Vall de Gallinera and whilst driving I picked up a Golden Eagle over the far hillside. At a suitable stopping point we got out of the car and got very good views of the adult as it drifted along the ridge. Other birds seen in the valley were a Red billed Choughs, Kestrels, Woodchat Shrike, Sardinian Warblers, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, and Crag Martins. We also heard a few Cuckoos, Nightingales and Wrynecks, with the latter slightly disappointing as it was close but we couldn't find it. We left the valley and drove to Denia to pick up Des's hire car (he was heading south for 10 days) and as we did the paperwork I found a couple of Monk Parakeets in the neighbouring palms, their final new bird of the trip.
Friday 14th - Wednesday 19th :- Click Here to see the trip report with Derek Charles who came out for another five days birdwatching in Valencia & Castilla la Mancha. An unbelievable 170+ species were seen or heard during this time making for an excellent short holiday.

Wednesday 19th :- After saying my farewells to Derek Charles I had an hour to wait until my good friends Ken Shaw and Jim Steele arrived at the same airport. They were coming to stay for a couple of days before heading inland to Extremadura for a week, Jim had only been to Menorca & Ibiza before so still needed quite a few birds locally. They arrived and we headed straight round to the Salinas de Santa Pola where we found Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingos, Marbled Duck, Red Crested Pochards, Sanderlings, Avocets, Black winged Stilts, Yellow legged, Black headed, Slender billed & Mediterranean Gulls, Whiskered, Common & Little Terns, Sand Martins, and Marsh Harrier. At Rio Vinalopo the recent rains had made the river swell and we could only find a single Temminck's Stint and a few Bee-eaters. Next we continued around the reserve of El Hondo seeing a pair of Montagu's Harriers, a Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, then on to the football field seeing a few Lesser Short toed & Crested Larks, another male Monty's, and Cattle Egrets. It was now lunchtime and we headed up to Finca Bonelli's Eagle for some excellent soup and sandwiches. As well as this we also had (again) fantastic views of both adult Bonelli's Eagles and their young now stretching it's wings, Jim was blown away as this was his main target of the whole trip. Whilst here we also added 2 Black Wheatears, Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Larks, Woodchat Shrike, Alpine & Common Swifts. Eventually we left and headed south, the boys had been travelling a long time and wanting a siesta before the evening session. After a short (ish) sleep we convened with a beer on the roof terrace seeing both Booted Eagle and Common Buzzard, plus Hoopoe, a fly-by Turtle Dove, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Great Tit, Blackbird and a Kestrel. An short evening visit to Pego Marsh produced Squacco, Purple & Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, Whiskered Terns, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, Savi's, Great Reed & Eurasian Reed Warblers, Red Crested Pochards, Coot and more Marsh Harriers.

Thursday 20th :- Back out this morning (after the night before!) and went to the Marina but the sea was quiet although we did manage our target a couple of Balearic Shearwaters. We then moved on to Pego Marsh where I found Jim 3 Moustached Warblers sat on top of the reeds singing, as well as a Whinchat. The paddy fields now had water in and this also included 50+ Whiskered Terns and 5 Gull billed Terns, with the usual herons & egrets. Elsewhere we saw similar species to the evening previously as well as Little Ringed Plovers, Common Snipe, Hoopoes, Yellow Wagtails, Willow & Sardinian Warblers, a singing Sub alpine Warbler, Nightingales, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. After a hearty breakfast we had a drive up the Val de Gallinera where we had fantastic views of an adult Golden Eagle being mobbed by first Kestrels and then Red billed Choughs. Also up here we saw Woodchat Shrikes, Bee-eaters, and Red rumped Swallows amongst the commoner species, plus a few Spanish Fritillarys, which were my first. It was now mid afternoon so we decided to retire for some refreshments on the guesthouse terrace.

Tuesday 25th :- Went to the beach this evening but apart from a few Gannets, Common Terns, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls it was pretty quiet. On to Pego Marsh were at the south end I found a Spoonbill and Great White Egret along with 2 Gadwall, Red Crested Pochards, Mallards, Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey, Purple & Squacco Herons, Marsh Harriers, Black winged Stilts, Wood & Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Great Reed & Savi's Warblers, Whinchat, Tree Sparrows, Yellow & White Wagtails. On the paddy fields Whiskered Terns were everywhere with an estimated 200+ birds with 2 Gull billed Terns, and a Collared Pratincole amongst them. I then found 5 White Storks feeding in the wet fields as well as a Greenshank, lots more Squacco & Purple Herons, Audouin's & Black headed Gulls.
Saturday 29th April - Saturday 6th May :- This was my second all-inclusive holiday to Castilla la Mancha & Extremadura of the year and yet another great success, with many thanks to Ken Shaw for his superb assistance. During the week we managed to see & hear a phenomenal combined total of 192 species with most party members having a personal tally of 180+. The major bird highlights included White rumped Swift, Little Crake, Rock Thrush, Great & Little Bustard, Black bellied & Pin tailed Sandgrouse, all 5 eagles (in one day), Black shouldered Kite, Honey Buzzard, Citril Finch, and Ortolan Bunting. As well as the birds other wildlife enhanced our trip with Otter, Red Deer, Wild Boar, Iberian Ibex, Red Squirrel, Ocellated Lizard, and Spanish Festoon Butterfly being seen to name just a few. A full trip report will follow in the near future.

May 2006

Saturday 6th May :- While I have been away a bird photographer J. H. Johns has been staying at the guesthouse where I provided maps of locations to find birds in the immediate area. Greeted John this evening upon his return from Pego Marsh where he had seen a Red throated Pipit, a rare bird for this area. Thankfully John had got some very good photos, which will be passed on to the local recorder for this year's report. Unfortunately when John & I, with Mike & Olga ventured out to the marsh it was no-where to be found (but I'm not bitter!!!). It just continues to highlight the potential for this 'under-watched' reserve. (photo © J. H. Johns)
Monday 8th May :- Today John & I met up with Dena Lamb for a few hours birdwatching around Pego Marsh and the Vall de Gallinera. At the marsh we found most of the usual suspects like Little, Grebes, Red Crested Pochards, Coot, Squacco, Purple & Grey Heron, Little & Cattle Egret, Black winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Sardinian, Moustached, Savi's, Eurasian Reed & Great Reed Warblers, Tree Sparrows, Yellow & White Wagtails, Crested Larks, Hoopoes, Woodpigeons, Woodchat Shrikes, Long tailed & Great Tits, Marsh Harrier, Kestrels, a pair of Reed Buntings, Whiskered Terns, Yellow legged & Audouin's Gulls, Pallid, Common & Alpine Swifts. Although the highlight was finding 3 Honey Buzzards moving slowly north along the coast. In the Vall de Gallinera we pulled in and were soon enjoying excellent flight views of the pair of Golden Eagles, as well as Red billed Choughs, Bee-eaters, Red rumped Swallows, Greenfinches and Serins. After a light lunch where we got further views of a Golden Eagle we contiued up the valley stopping at another 'pull-in', which produced Spotted Flycatcher, Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Goldfinches, Crested & Coal Tits but not the hoped for Bonelli's Eagle. Finally we made our way to a small riverine valley at the top of the Gallinera, and here we had good views of 2 pairs of Golden Orioles, plus Wryneck, Rock Sparrows, Cirl Buntings, Green Woodpecker, Blue Rock Thrush, and Crag Martins.
Wednesday 10th May :- Today I was guiding Corinna, Bob, & Geoff who were staying around Gran Alicant on the outskirts of Santa Pola. John had asked if he could come along so we met the others at 9am and headed off with a specific 'targets' list to a nearby dwarf pine plantation. Almost immediately from getting out of the vehicle did I hear our first target and minutes later we were enjoying good views of a Rufous Bushchat. Over the next 30 minutes we logged 6 or 7 singing birds, hopefully a good sign for this scarce breeder. Next we called into the 'Clot de Galvany' and ended up staying there longer than expected due to the excellent birding. First we checked the lagoon finding Little Stints, Kentish & Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Whiskered Terns, Black headed & Yellow legged Gulls, Red Crested & Common Pochards, Shelducks, Coot, Great Reed Warblers, Little Owls, Southern Grey Shrikes, Crested Larks, Turtle Doves, Hoopoes, and Sardinian Warblers. The walk to the 'Charco de Contacto' produced a female Common Redstart, and on the pool there were a pair of (displaying) Marbled Ducks, 6 male & 2 female White headed Ducks, 2 Purple Gallinules, Shoveler, Little Grebes, 2 Carrion Crows and 2 Red rumped Swallows. Our next destination was the vulture re-introduction scheme in the hills above Alcoy, and en-route we had a Common Cuckoo sat on a wire. At the site we found 20+ Griffon Vultures both sat and flying around as well as a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Rock & Cirl Buntings, Thekla Larks, Ravens, Magpies, a male Black Redstart and Black eared Wheatear, Green Woodpecker, Rock Sparrow, 3 Crossbills, Jay, Short toed Treecreeper, Alpine Swift, Great, Coal, & Crested Tits. We then returned to Santa Pola stopping off at the salinas where we added a flyover Great White Egret, Little Egrets, Greater Flamingos, a Turnstone, Great Crested Grebes, Common & Little Terns, Slender billed Gulls, Yellow Wagtails, and 2 more Marbled Ducks. On the edge of El Hondo we found our targets of 3 Rollers and a (2nd summer male) Montagu's Harrier along with Cattle Egrets before driving up to the hills above Crevillente and our evening meal. At 'Finca Bonelli's Eagle' we were treated to the usual fabulous views of both adult Bonelli's Eagles flying around carrying food to the nest for the 'now grown' eaglet. Eventually both adults sat on the cliff-face near each other showing their differences in size and breast plumage. Before leaving we also saw 2 male Blue Rock Thrushes, Bee-eaters, Red legged Partridge, Little Owl Alpine & Common Swifts, Crag Martins, and a heard only Scop's Owl. Finally we left after an excellent meal to our final destination of Elche in the hope of finding our final target species. As dusk was falling we saw 2 Black Wheatears, and heard a Green Woodpecker, but then I picked up an adult Eagle Owl as flew out of it' roost and landed in full view. We watched it for about 10 minutes and while doing so heard Red necked Nightjar calling then the nightjar flew out and showed above the horizon in the falling light. As we left the canyon we saw a second Red necked Nightjar fly up from the road in the vehicles headlights.
Saturday 13th May :- Today I was picking up (first) Adrian & Joan Adams and then Paul Housley from Valencia Airport, for their short break. As there was a 3 hour gap between flights Adrian, Joan & I visited the nearby Marjel del Moro in hope of finding one or two of it's specialities. We walked along the coast and at the first pool we found 3 Crested Coots (1 collar ringed), which showed very well, and while we watched 2 male Little Bitterns flew around and posed on top of the reeds. A Short toed Eagle hunted over the back of the marsh and other birds included Whiskered Terns, Grey & Purple Herons, Little Egrets, Red Crested Pochards & a Eurasian Coot. At the viewing platform we found 2 more Little Bitterns as well as Common & Little Terns, Collared Pratincoles, Yellow legged Gulls, Great Reed Warblers, and a showy Cetti's Warbler. We strolled back aong the beach seeingan Audouin's Gull fly past, took a track heading inland. Here we found the Collared Pratincole colony and we had close views of these gorgeous birds, along with Stonechats, Zitting Cisticolas, Turtle Dove, and Goldfinches, and at the last watchpoint we added 2 male Gadwall and a Common Pochard. We returned to Valencia Airport and collected Paul before returning to the guesthouse to have a rest and freshen up before a quick visit to Pego Marsh in the evening. At the marsh we started in the south east corner were a check over the reeds produced singing Moustached, Savi's, Eurasian Reed & Great Reed Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas, Yellow Wagtails and a 1st year Night Heron. At the open area we found lots of Squacco, Purple & Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, Mallard, Red Crested Pochards, Coot, Whiskered Terns and Black winged Stilts. We moved then to the paddy fields with Adrian seeing a Kingfisher en-route and here we found more of the same plus 2 Little Bitterns, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, Redshank, and a Kestrel. However the highlight was finding a pair of Marbled Duck in one of the flooded fields, hopefully an indication of possible breeding at this site.
Sunday 14th May :- My first full day with Paul, Adrian & Joan, we were also joined by John H. Johns who had not been to this area during his fortnight stay. As usual we drove out to Bonete and started checking the minor roads in the area, with our very first stop producing several target species. We walked a track between the agricultural fields finding our first (of many) Calandra & Crested Larks, then we heard a pair of Stone Curlews but could not locate them. At the end of the track a pair of Little Bustards flew up from right in front of us but unfortunately they dropped out of sight. We slowly walked back and near the car I found a Pin tailed Sandgrouse flying in the distance, which was then joined by 2 Black bellied Sandgrouse. An excellent start to the day. We continued on the road and parked where we thought the sandgrouse had come from, and after a quick search we found 4 more Black bellied Sandgrouse feeding in the field, along with several Mistle Thrushes. Again we moved our position and this time I found a pair of Pin tailed Sandgrouse sitting amongst the vegetation, and a quick manoeuvre of the car gave us again good views of this difficult species. We left this area and moved through to Corral Rubio driving the tracks round to Petrola here we added a single female Great Bustard, followed by 20 male Great Bustards, Short toed & Calandra Larks, Skylarks, Rock & House Sparrows, Common Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Lapwings, Linnets, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Corn Buntings, and an interesting False Smooth Snake sunning itself on a rock. After lunch we visited Chinchilla & Petrola Lagoons seeing at the first a Curlew & 2 Wood Sandpipers, Ruff, Little Stints, Redshank, Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Black winged Stilts, Avocets, Whiskered Terns, Red Crested & Common Pochards, Mallard, Coot, single Pallid & Common Swifts. At Petrola Lagoon we saw many of the same species but also managed to add 2 Black Terns, 10+ Gadwall, Little Ringed Plovers, 20+ Greater Flamingos, Shelducks, Tree Sparrows & a Yellow Wagtail. We finally made our way slowly back to the highway finding a Lesser Kestrel, 2 more Pin tailed Sandgrouse, Red legged Partridges and Northern Wheatear on the way
Monday 15th May :- Our second day and we were heading south to the Alicante region and a long day in the field with many target species to find. Our first stop was on the Santa Pola coastline and the first bird I looked at was a male Rufous Bushchat singing from the top of a tree. We watched it for a few minutes before it dropped out of sight and we continued into the small wood were we good good views of at least 4 more running about on the floor. Also here we saw a few Spotted Flycatchers, Sardinian Warblers, Blackbirds, Great & Long tailed Tits. Next we moved on to the Clot de Galvany where we spent the next 2 hours just walking round watching the varied birdlife. We found Little Grebes, 7 White headed Ducks, single Marbled Duck, male Garganey, Common Pochards, Mallard, Shelducks, Common Sandpiper, Black winged Stilts, Kentish Plovers, 3 Purple Gallinules, Turtle Doves, Pallid & Common Swifts, Hoopoes, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Little Owls, Sand & House Martins, Southern Grey Shrikes, Spotless Starlings, and 3 Carrion Crows. At the 'salinas' we added Great Crested Grebes, Greater Flamingos, Red Crested Pochards, 2 more Marbled Ducks, Purple Heron, Little Egrets, Sanderlings, Little Stints, Western Yellow legged, Black headed, 40+ Slender billed & a (1st summer) Mediterranean Gull, Little, Common & Whiskered Terns, Southern Grey Shrike, White & Yellow Wagtails. We then had lunch on the beach while watching several Sandwich Terns and a couple of Audouin's Gulls flying over the sea. After the break we continued around to the edge of El Hondo reserve making a few stops at known locations, finding a Grey Heron, Cattle Egrets, 4 Montagu's Harriers, Kestrel, a Collared Pratincole, 2 Turtle Doves, 5 Rollers, several Lesser Short toed & Crested Larks, Zitting Cisticolas, Eurasian & Great Reed Warblers, and an elusive calling Cuckoo. It was now time to head inland to the hills above Crevillente and spend a few hours at Finca Bonelli's Eagle*. We arrived to the news of the eaglet had fledged the nest (earliest ever record?) and unfortunately they were no-where to be found. However after a short period Adrian picked up an adult Bonelli's Eagle flying into the canyon carrying food, closely followed by the other. The first had alighted on the cliff and started to prepare the prey, which made the juvenile eagle hop up onto a bush and wait for it's meal. The adult then stood back and the young Bonelli's Eagle jumped down and walked over to the prey and fed upon it, fascinating to watch. We remained here having, as usual, an excellent evening meal seeing other species such as 3 Black Wheatears, 2 Blue Rock Thrushes, several Thekla Larks, Alpine & Common Swifts, 2 Red rumped Swallows Sardinian Warblers, and Bee-eaters. Late evening we left and headed for the hills above Elche and as the dark drew in, again Adrian spotted the large shape of an adult Eagle Owl as it landed in full view on the crags in front of us. It stayed for a couple of minutes giving everyone a chance to see the bird well before it disappeared over the hillside. We drove back north to our final destination just outside Oliva where we found 3 Red necked Nightjars sat on the tracks giving fantastic views.
* Anyone wanting to visit Finca Bonelli's Eagle please contact me and I can arrange a visit for you with Colin & Jane. They offer a superb choice of menu for both lunch and evening meals, and will also meet you in Crevillente and escort you through the mountains.
Tuesday 16th May :- This was my last day with Adrian & Joan Adams, Paul Housley & John Johns, on their short break and we headed into the Vall de Gallinera. At our first stop we stood and watched the surrounding valley and hillside for it's breeding eagles but also other birds. A male Golden Oriole sat out in full view singing and catching insects for most of the time we were there, and was later joined in the same dead tree by a Wryneck and a Woodchat Shrike. Other birds seen included a Jay, Bee-eaters, Red billed Choughs, Turtle Doves, another elusive Cuckoo, Great Tits, Goldfinches, and Serins. Finally as it warmed up 2 adult Golden Eagles flew out from the crags and gave good views before disappearing out of sight. A little further up the valley Joan saw a large raptor go over the car so I managed to stop, we refound the bird and identified it as a Bonelli's Eagle just before it flew over the ridge. We continued for a short way, this time we stood at a bridge hearing & seeing many birds, it was a magical experience. We found a Black eared Wheatear, Rock Sparrows, Grey Wagtail, Wren, 2 Melodious Warblers, Crag Martins, Stonechats, Nightingales, 3 or 4 more Golden Orioles, a Wryneck, Spotted Flycatchers, Corn & Cirl Buntings. We then drove up the valley and out to the hills above Alcoy and walked up the hill to the vulture reintroduction centre. Although there were only a few Griffon Vultures around they gave very good views as they passed by at eye-level. Due to the heat of the day things were quiet but we did manage to see 3 Rock Buntings, Magpies, Crested & Coal Tits, as well as hearing Short toed Treecreeper and a couple of Crossbills.
Wednesday 18th May :- Today I was leading a well represented CBBC field trip around the Val de Gallinera & Pego Marsh. Unfortunately we didn't get away until later than expected but while waited at the 'blue railings' we saw a 7 Greater Flamingos, (flying over the paddy fields), a Kingfisher, Little Egrets, Purple & Grey Heron, Kestrel, Black winged Stilts, Mallard, Moorhens, Whiskered Terns, 2 Red rumped Swallows, Zitting Cisticolas and European Reed Warblers. In Pego we collected our final couple and headed up the valley to the 'pull-in' where the Golden Eagles breed on the far hillside. We stayed here for quite a while seeing Golden Oriole (sat out on a dead tree), Woodchat Shrike, Bee-eaters, Turtle Doves, Sardinian Warbler, Great Tits, Goldfinches, Serins, Alpine & Common Swifts, 10+ Red billed Choughs, and a couple of heard only Wrynecks. Unfortunately though the eagles did put in an appearance, maybe later. We continued further up the valley for a refreshment stop and for several of the party to purchase some local Cherries. While we were sat we saw 1 possibly 2 Honey Buzzards fly along the ridge, but sadly they were both quite distant birds. Due to time contstraints we then had to return to Pego Marsh but we did stop again at the first place. This time we did manage to see an adult Golden Eagle as it flew across the valley and disappeared, as well as a Spotted Flycatcher. At the marsh we went on a short walk before lunch along the paddy fields, which produced the earlier species plus a Gull billed Tern, Squacco Herons, Cattle Egrets, a pair of Ringed Plovers, Red Crested Pochard, several Yellow legged and 2 Audouin's Gulls. After lunch (a 4 course meal with wine for 7 euros) at Casa Clara's we returned for an hour to the marsh and whilst watching the reeds we found Moustached & Great Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting, 2 Little Bitterns, and Night Heron to add to the list. Another excellent outing.
Tuesday 23rd May :- This afternoon I was treated to 9 Honey Buzzards from the roof terrace as well as a couple of Alpine Swifts with the Common Swifts, Turtle Doves, Kestrel, Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Sardinian Warbler and a Cattle Egret. In the evening I went out to Pego Marsh and did a quick tour of the area seeing all the usual species including Moustached, Savi's, Great Reed, & Eurasian Reed Warblers, a male Reed Bunting, Grey, Purple, Squacco & Night Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, Red Crested Pochards, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, Yellow Wagtails, Little Ringed Plovers, Alpine & Common Swifts, and 150+ Whiskered Terns.
Wednesday 24th May :- This morning I was out for a few hours with my friend Terry and as it was good weather we went to the Vall de Gallinera. We pulled into the picnic area and found a Nightingale singing in the open as well as a Wren, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Long tailed Tits, but best of all was 3 Honey Buzzards heading down the valley together. Travelling up the valley we saw Stonechats, Great Tits, Red billed Choughs, Swallows & House Martins, Woodpigeons, House & a Rock Sparrow. At the bridge we parked and immediately heard Golden Orioles, and then we saw 3 birds (2 male, 1 female) fly over the road and land out in the open. We stayed here for over an hour enjoying the many birds including several Melodious & Sardinian Warblers, Rock Sparrows, Woodchat Shrike, Grey Wagtail, a Bee-eater, Crag Martins, Nightingales, Spotted Flycatchers, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Serins, Corn & Cirl Buntings.
Friday 26th May - Saturday 3rd June :- I am away to the Pyrenees & N/E Spain with a small group and will be off-line during this period. Had a very good start to the holiday yesterday (May 26th), after picking the group up we went to the Santa Pola coast and had good views of Rufous Bushchat, with the additional bonus of an Eleonora's Falcon flying right over us. A couple of hours t Pego Marsh in the evening produce Moustached, Savi's, Great Reed & Eurasian Reed Warblers, Little Bitterns, Purple, Squacco & Grey Herons, Audouin's Gull and Tree Sparrows as highlights. Hope the rest of the week goes this well.... Full trip report Click here

June 2006

Monday 5th June :- This morning I was up at first light to go ringing at Pego Marsh, something I have not done for a couple of months and a Red necked Nightjar on the track was a bonus start. It was a good morning with several Moustached Warblers including 2 young birds, 2 Savi's Warblers, Great Reed & Eurasian Reed Warblers and a young Goldfinch. However the highlight was an adult male Little Bittern that hit the net after chasing another male through the reeds. Other birds seen during this hot morning included Whiskered Terns, Little & Cattle Egrets, Purple, Night & Squacco Herons, Black winged Stilts, and Little Ringed Plovers.
Monday 12th June :- Inadvertantly woke up early this morning so before taking the boys to school I had a drive up the Val de Gallinera. In just one hour I recorded several species including 3 male & 2 female Golden Orioles, Melodious & Sardinian Warblers, Rock & House Sparrows, Red billed Chough, Bee-eaters, Red rumped & Barn Swallows, Alpine & Common Swifts, Woodchat Shrike feeding young, Nightingales, Great & Long tailed Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Serins, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Kestrel & heard a Wren.
Wednesday 21st June :- Strange how things work I was invited out for a drink and a chat with a friend of mine in Oliva and decided on a certain town centre bar. As we sat outside my friend noticed something on the overhead telephone wires and it turned out to be a Barn Owl, in broad daylight. It was also my first for my recording area so a quick walk home i returned with my camera and got some record shots of this beautiful bird. Followed by a celebratory drink or two.
Thursday 22nd June :- This morning I was up before first light to go ringing with my colleagues at Pego Marsh. The track in produced a Red necked Nightjar and 16 Night Herons, a great record, and the ringing produced several juvenile Moustached Warblers, a juvenile Stonechat, Great Reed & Eurasian Reed Warblers. A walk around the ringing station I found 3 Little Bitterns, Purple Gallinule, an Audouin's Gull, Squacco, Purple & Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, Black winged Stilts, Whiskered Terns, Red Crested Pochards, Yellow Wagtails, Zitting Cisticolas and Jackdaws.
Friday 23rd June :- This morning I was out with Peter & Marion Davey from Oliva who wanted to see a Golden Eagle. So we headed up to the Val de Gallinera to where I know these birds have an eyrie pulled off the road and looked over far hillside. Luckily I found one adult Golden Eagle sat on top of a crag which we watched for a while before it was joined by the second adult and they both flew around giving fantastic views. We stayed here for a couple of hours watching these magnificent birds on and off plus finding Golden Orioles, Woodchat Shrikes, Bee-eaters, Cirl Bunting, Great & Long tailed Tits, Common & Alpine Swifts, Barn & Red rumped Swallows, Kestrel, House Martins, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Serins, Turtle Dove, Sardinian Warblers, and a heard-only Wryneck. After a coffee we headed back to Oliva Playa were Peter & Marion had found a Kentish Plover nesting on the beach with a clutch of three eggs. They showed me the area of busy beach where it was in full view of all the holiday-makers oblivious of the incubating wader.
Friday 30th June :- This was the start of two very hot days birdwatching around this area. I picked up John & Mary Kormendy (of Austin Texas) from their hotel in Valencia, which is a bit of a nightmare with the Pope arriving soon. Eventually we exit the city and head south stopping off at the Albufera de Valencia where we found Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey & Squacco Herons, Whiskered, Gull-billed & Common Terns, Black headed & Audouin's Gulls. We leave here and go straight to our guesthouse for a siesta until the late afternoon when we head back out to Pego Marsh, but the high winds proved a problem for seeing reedbed passerines. However we did find an unseasonal Osprey, Purple & Grey Herons, Mallard, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Moorhen, Audouin's & Yellow legged Gulls, Hoopoe, Zitting Cisticola, Southern Grey & Woodchat Shrikes. On the way home we checked the local beach and found a pair of Kentish Plovers along the shoreline, another lifer for John & Mary. After the evening meal we headed out again for one of our main targets and eventually found 5 Red necked Nightjars showing extremely well on the tracks.

July 2006

Saturday 1st July :- An early start and we drove south to the Santa Pola area and a quick stop to view some swifts produced several Pallid Swifts a new bird to the couple. Along the coast we quickly located our first target Rufous Bushchat singing from the top of a pine, along with Spotted Flycatcher, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Sardinian Warblers and Greenfinches. Next we made the short journey to the Clot de Galvany finding a Little Owl, Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike and a Sardinian Warbler on the way to the Charco de Contacto, and here we found 3 White headed Ducks, Common Pochards, Mallard, Coot, Moorhens, Little Grebes, Black winged Stilts, Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Reed Warblers, (a heard only) Great Reed Warbler, House Martins and Goldfinches. A walk back to the other lagoon produced several Kentish Plovers, 2 Southern Grey Shrikes, another Little Owl, and 2 Red rumped Swallows. A quick look at the Santa Pola Salinas we found Great Crested Grebes, 2 Night Herons, Collared Pratincoles, 2000+ Greater Flamingos, a single Slender billed & Yellow legged Gulls, Little & Whiskered Terns, Avocets, Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. It was starting to get hot so we made our way round to El Hondo stopping at the Rio Viño Lopo seeing our first Roller, Bee-eaters, Common Sandpiper, Southern Grey Shrike, Zitting Cisticolas and a fly through Sand Martin. Around the ouitskirts of El Hondo we added a couple more Rollers, plus a lovely male Montagu's Harrier, Stone Curlew, Jackdaws and Crested Larks, but not the hoped for Lesser Short toed Larks but it was too hot to birdwatch comfortably. So we decided to go up into the hills for lunch and a rest in the shade at Finca Bonelli's Eagle, with the journey produced a Little Owl, several Woodchat Shrikes and Bee-eaters sat on the telegraph wires & posts. We were greeted with a welcome cool drink by Colin & Jane and the news that the eagles hadn't been seen by other visitors earlier in the week. However after ten minutes I heard a familiar call and an adult & juvenile Bonelli's Eagle flew over the ridge and into the canyon. They both flew around for a while before landing on the crags above us, during the next 3 hours we were treated to excellent views of both adults and their young. We also managed to find a pair of Black Wheatears, a male Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine & Common Swifts, Kestrels, Sardinian Warblers, and unfortunately I only saw a Thekla Lark. After we had all fed, rested and napped we drove back down to El Hondo in the late afternoon sun, and the birds were slightly more active. This time we managed to find several Lesser Short toed Larks with John & Mary eventually getting good views as they fed amongst the short vegetation. We carried on and came across a female & 2 juvenile Montagu's Harriers trying to master landing on fence posts and failing, and a little further a male Montagu's Harrier and 2 Rollers flew across the road. At El Pinet we found plenty of roosting gulls & terns including 6 Mediterranean, 10+ Slender billed & Yellow legged Gulls, 50+ Sandwich, 50+ Common, 30+ Little & 3 Whiskered Terns, plus Avocets, Kentish Plovers, and a Southern Grey Shrike. This was our final destination but on the way home we saw a Carrion Crow fly over the road at Benidorm, an unusual sighting for here.
Saturday 2nd July :- Another early start so us heading inland to the Petrola area but not before finding a Turtle Dove, 4 Little Owls, Serins, Spotless Starlings and Magpies en-route. A Northern Wheatear just outside Bonete made us stop and we also found a male Black eared Wheatear here, then a little further we saw a family party of Red legged Partridge, Crested Larks, and a Hoopoe. A little further on we stopped and found a flock of 9 Stone Curlews, along with Calandra & Crested Larks, then a short walk produced excellent views of 3 Great Bustards, a Southern Grey Shrike and a brief Common Buzzard. At other stops along this road we saw Mistle Thrushes, Linnets, a Rock Sparrow and a very poor flight view of a Black bellied Sandgrouse. The journey through to Coral Rubio was slow and quite un-eventful apart from several Woodchat Shrikes, Magpies and more Red legged Partridges. Along the track from Coral Rubio to Petrola we found some very close Calandra & Short toed Larks Rock & House Sparrows, Stone Curlew and 2 more Great Bustards (found by Mary), but a close view of a feeding Black bellied Sandgrouse (found by John) was a highlight of this part of the day. At Petrola John also found an Iberian Green Woodpecker that we watched for a while in the sparse trees and lunch at the lagoon hide produced 10+ Greater Flamingos, 4 Gull-billed Terns, Mallard, Kentish Plovers, Avocets, Bee-eater and 20+ Lapwings. After lunch we made a quick detour to Chinchilla lagoon, which held lots of Black headed Gulls, Coot, Shelducks and Mallard, Black winged Stilts, Moorhen and a surprise of adult and juvenile Black Terns. Again it was now roasting so we made our way back stopping off at Higuela lagoon which much the same species but another Green Woodpecker and several Rock Sparrows were nice to find. Back at the guesthouse we had an afternoon siesta before heading out again later this time to the Val de Gallinera. We drove to the top of the valley and parked by the road bridge and watched from here. Over the next hour and a half we managed to find Melodious & Sardinian Warblers, Long tailed & Great Tits, Stonechats, Rock Sparrows, Bee-eaters, Crag Martins, Red rumped & Barn Swallows, Common & Alpine Swifts, Woodchat Shrikes, Corn Bunting, Greenfinches, and Goldfinches but unfortunately we only heard Golden Oriole & Cirl Buntings, which was very frustrating. Due to an extremely early flight next day we had to leave but John & Mary were very pleased with their 35 'life-birds' a few more than they had hoped for at this time of year.
Friday 7th July :- This morning I was guiding Geoff & Julia Regan who are stopping at the guesthouse for a couple of nights and wanted to try and see the local eagles. After an early breakfast we drove to the Val de Gallinera seeing a Weasel on the way and our first stop produced a single Crossbill, Red rumped & Barn Swallows, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starlings, Common Swift & Great Tit but no eagles. We continued up the valley to the road bridge where we saw our second target a handsome male Golden Oriole that gave excellent flight views. Also here we found a Wryneck, Rock Sparrows, Cirl & Corn Buntings, Sardinian & Melodious Warblers, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrikes, Long tailed Tits, Grey Wagtail, Blackbirds, Crested Lark, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, and Serins. Next we had a coffee break and then returned to the eagle site and after a few minutes I found one then a second adult Golden Eagle flying below the ridge line. Eventually they appeared above the horizon and gave Julia & Geoff scoped views of these magnificent raptors to their delight. After the eagles had gone out of sight we left and made our way down to Pego Marsh for a short while seeing 2 Gull billed Terns, Little & Cattle Egrets, Squacco, Purple & Grey Herons, Black winged Stilts, Yellow & White Wagtails, Southern Grey Shrike, Great Reed Warbler, Audouin's, Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls, Whiskered Terns, Coot and Mallard. That night after dinner we ventured out to see the Red necked Nightjars and were treated to close views of at least 6 birds in the vehicle's headlights.
Saturday 8th July :- This morning there was a ringing session at Pego Marsh so I invited Geoff & Julia along, which they duly accepted even if it meant a very early rise. The drive to the ringing station produced a Night Heron and Little Ringed Plover from the tracks plus a few egrets. We processed quite a few birds including 5 young Moustached Warblers, which is good news for this seriously declining Locustella. Other birds included several Eurasian Reed Warblers, Great Reed Warblers, & 2 Savi's Warblers, plus while waiting we saw a Water Rail, 8+ Little Bitterns, Audouin's Gull, and Yellow Wagtail.
Wednesday 28th July :- Today I had a half day tour with Simon Bates, which made a very welcome change from looking after the children and working on the house. We met early and went straight to Pego Marsh and the first stop at the south end produced 3 Purple Gallinules, 3 (1st year) Night & Grey Herons, Little & Cattle Egrets, Little Stint, Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, Black winged Stilts, a young Moustached Warbler, Zitting Cisticolas, several Hoopoes, and a Turtle Dove. Next we drove to the ringing station where my friend Fran was processing a few European Reed Warblers and while we were there we also caught a Great Reed Warbler, and saw a Little Bittern, Purple Herons, Whiskered Tern, Yellow & White Wagtails. Interestingly earlier Fran had caught a young Penduline Tit, which is a very early record and may indicate some local breeding. We left here and continued round to the north marsh and at the new lagoons we found 10+ Collared Pratincoles including a pair of adults feeding a very young bird right at the side of the track, and then an Osprey flew over. Further on this track we found a Yellow billed Stork, our first Squacco Heron, Black headed Gulls, Coot, Mallard, Southern Grey & Woodchat Shrikes, Goldfinches, Spotless Starlings & House Sparrows. Time was moving on so we left the marsh and headed up the Val de Gallinera with the first stop producing excellent views of both an adult and 1st year Golden Eagles. Other birds here included Alpine & Common Swift, Red rumped Swallow, Sardinian Warbler, Great & Long tailed Tit, Spotted Flycatcher and a Bee-eater. After a coffee break we continued up the valley and en-route to the road bridge we added a Crested Tit whilst looking for Bonelli's Eagle. At the road bridge we watched for about an hour eventually getting good views of a male Golden Oriole, as well as Rock Sparrows, Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Bee-eaters, Woodchat Shrikes, Red rumped Swallows, Sardinian Warblers, Blackbirds, Goldfinches and Serins.

August 2006

Saturday 5th August :- A one hour look at Oliva Beach from first light produced a Whimbrel in off the sea, 2 Black tailed Godwits, 6 Oystercatchers, 10 Common Sandpipers, lots of Sandwich Terns, Audouin's & Black headed Gulls. On the beach I found my first returning Sanderling along with 10+ Kentish Plovers and a few Ring necked Parakeets in the palm trees.
Sunday 6th August :- Today Mike, Rose, Ryan & Laura Frost arrived for three nights at the guesthouse before continuing north on their road trip north to the Pyrenees. I had agreed to take them on one full day for some of the specialities but as i was not busy we decided on an evening visit to Pego Marsh. We arrived and started at the south end were the adult and juvenile Collared Pratincoles showed extremely well around the new scrapes. Also here we added Little & Cattle Egrets, Grey, Purple & Squacco Herons, Black winged Stilt, Kingfisher and Zitting Cisticola. We carried on along this track finding the wader pools which produced Yellow billed Stork, Common, Green & Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Gull billed Terns, Black headed & Audouin's Gulls, Southern Grey & Woodchat Shrikes. Eventually we left and whilst driving back out a raptor was flying towards us in the car and as it got close we saw a falcon with an 'all over' smokey appearance and very long wings, an adult (dark phase) Eleanora's Falcon. We simply dived out of the car and watched as it flew low and away showing it's very distinctive shape, what a wonderful bird, and my first at Pego Marsh. Without much time left we searched the reeds around the paddy fields seeing Mallards, Little Bittern, Night Herons, Eurasian & Great Reed Warblers, White Wagtails, Common Swifts, and Goldfinches.
Monday 7th August :- Today I was taking the Frost's around the Santa Pola area to try and find a few of their target species. Our first stop was the coastal strip with Pallid & Common Swifts were flying around in small numbers, as well as the resident Carrion Crows. Then I heard the familiar song of Rufous Bushchat, our luck was in and head to try and find it, unfortunately to no avail. I suggested another better area and as soon as we got there another bird sang weakly but this time we did pin it down and over the next 30 minutes good views were obtained by all the family, as well as seeing Spotted Flycatchers, Blackbirds, and Sardinian Warblers. Next was round the corner to the Clot de Galvany were as soon as we entered the reserve we saw Bee-eaters, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Southern Grey Shrike, Turtle Doves, Serins, Red rumped & Barn Swallows. At the 'Charco de Contacto' there was plenty of water and soon found our two main targets 7 Marbled Ducks and 7 (2 male 5 female) White headed Ducks along with Shoveler, Common Pochard, Coots, Purple Gallinules, Squacco Herons, Wood & Curlew Sandpipers, Black necked & Little Grebes, Eurasian & Great Reed Warbler. Although the biggest surprise was a Glossy Ibis that flew through while we were sat in the hide, a good record for here. Back towards the main scrape we added a Little Owl, Crested Larks and more Pallid Swifts, and on the scrape there was another Wood Sandpiper and a Kentish Plover. After a comfort stop we made our way to the 'salinas' were we saw the usual suspects Greater Flamingos, Little Egrets, Slender billed, single Mediterranean, Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls, Whiskered, Little & Sandwich Terns, a Marsh Harrier, Great Crested & Black necked Grebes, Shelducks, Turnstones, Avocets, and a Collared Pratincole. As we drove round the outskirts of El Hondo we found 5 Rollers and a quick stop at Rio Vinalopo had Little Stints, Green & Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers and Cattle Egrets. It was time for lunch and we headed inland to Colin & Jane's finca in the hills above Crevillente and hopefully our main target. At the canyon a search of the crags produced no Bonelli's Eagles but we did see Blue Rock Thrushes and Crag Martins. After a fine lunch and a relax we started to look again in earnest and then Mike said "I have an eagle" and sure enough there was the 1st year Bonelli's Eagle, which was then joined by an adult Bonelli's Eagle. Unfortunately they were only on view a few minutes before disappearing behind the ridge again, but certainly long enough to see the main identification features. We then decided to go for a walk were we quickly found Alpine Swifts, Woodchat Shrikes, Sardinian Warblers and Blue Rock Thrush, but also both our targets of 2 Black Wheatears and Thekla Larks. However as we returned to the finca we saw a bird fly into a Lemon Tree that was difficult to see, eventually I got a good view and it was a gorgeous adult female Western Orphean Warbler, over the next ten minutes we enjoyed excellent views of this large warbler. We said our 'goodbyes' to Colin and Jane and headed home seeing another Black Wheatear on the road down to Crevillente.
Tuesday 8th August :- This morning again an early rise saw myself and the Frost family on Oliva Beach at just after dawn were we found several Audouin's & Black headed Gulls, Sandwich Terns, 3 Sanderlings, 2 Common Sandpipers, and a Kentish Plover but generally quiet. So we moved on to Pego Marsh for our final target, and drove straight round to the reedbed where we post the nets for ringing seeing a couple of Green Sandpipers on the way. In the reeds we added Purple Gallinule, Eurasian Reed Warblers, and surprisingly 3 juvenile Penduline Tits, with Whiskered & Gull billed Terns flying overhead. So I suggested we walk along the river and this produced good views of our target bird Moustached Warbler, as well as Eurasian Reed & Great Reed Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas, Little Bitterns, Squacco & Purple Heron, Little Egrets and a flock of 19 Common Sandpipers flying through. Very satisfied we made our way back to the guesthouse and our breakfast. This afternoon Mike and his family were doing their own thing so I made another quick visit to the wader pools at Pego Marsh finding, 10+Wood Sandpiper, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, Green & Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Little Stints, Greenshank, Ruff, Little Ringed Plovers, Black winged Stilts, 10 Collared Pratincoles, 7 Gull billed Terns, juvenile Audouin's Gull, 50+ Little Egrets, and a Purple Gallinule. Finally tonight I took everyone back out to see the Red necked Nightjars and fantastic views were had of at least ten birds, flying around and sat on the road.
Thursday 10th August :- I was out at first light this morning for a couple hours at Pego Marsh before other work committments. At the south end wader pools I found 10+ Wood, 2 Green, 10+ Common & 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, 4 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 20+ Little Ringed Plovers, 8 Collared Pratincoles, Black winged Stilts, 2 (juvenile) Garganey, 50+ Little Egrets, Purple Gallinule, Night Herons (2 adult, 3 juveniles), Squacco, Purple & Grey Herons, Hoopoes, Crested Larks, Yellow & White Wagtails. I then drove round to the ringing station, today was the first of a two month daily campaign and it started well. For an hour we processed a Kingfisher, Savi's Warbler, 2 Great Reed Warblers, 2 Moustached Warblers, 14 Eurasian Reed Warblers, a Tree Sparrow, and 6 House Sparrows, plus a Little Bittern flying over. This afternoon on the beach with the family there was a large movement of Pallid Swifts heading south, as well as 2 Whimbrel, several Kentish Plovers and Sanderling.
Tuesday 15th August - Wednesday 23rd August :- Had a break from Spain by visiting my old home town of Kinross in Scotland and Bridges of Ross in County Clare, Ireland. Had a decent couple of days around Fife seeing a Ferruginous Duck, Sooty & Manx Shearwaters, Marsh Harriers, Ruff, Green & Common Sandpipers, Black Tailed Godwits, and Greenshanks. In Ireland with good friends Ken Shaw, Alan Lauder, John Nadin & Mark Wilkinson, we spent the first few days mainly sea-watching from the 'Bridges of Ross' and Loop Head, before having a day around Nimmo's Pier Galway, and the Shannon Airport Lagoons. During the five days we saw Balearic, Sooty & Manx Shearwaters, Pomerine, Great & Arctic Skuas, Storm Petrels, Sabine's, Ring billed, Glaucous, & Mediterranean Gulls, Black Tern, Grey Phalarope, Long billed Dowitcher, Pectoral & Curlew Sandpiper, Red billed Chough, Hen Harrier, and some great craic in the Lighthouse Inn. A full report will follow in due course.
Sunday 27th August :- This morning before collecting some of our B & B guests I met up with a friend Jim Creamer and his son James. We started at the Clot de Galvany, which was generally quiet but the Charco de Contacto was still full of water so we found 10 White headed Ducks, Shovelers, Eurasian Teal, Purple Gallinule, as well as Little Owl, Southern Grey Shrikes, Crested Larks, Red rumped Swallow, Bee-eaters, and several Pallid Swifts. Next at the Salinas de Santa Pola we saw 2000+ Greater Flamingos, several Curlew sandpipers, Little Stints, Black tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, Turnstone, Kentish Plovers, Avocets, Slender billed, Black headed & Yellow legged Gulls, Little & Whiskered Terns, and a Collared Pratincole. Finally a quick visit to the Rio Vinalopo produced 3 Temminck's Stints, Green & Common Sandpipers, Squacco Heron, 3 Rollers and a Kestrel. Not bad for under three hours birdwatching. In the evening I had a quick visit to Pego Marsh finding it very dry in most areas although 50+ Purple, 15 Squacco & 9 Night Herons flying around was a great spectacle, a Marsh Harrier was my first for the Autumn, plus Greenshank, Little Ringed Plovers, Common & Green Sandpipers, several Gull billed & Whiskered Terns, Kingfishers, Hoopoe, Yellow & White Wagtails.
Tuesday 29th August :- I was around Alicante again this morning visiting my old friend Malcolm Palmer so we spent a few hours around Santa Pola. At the salinas which saw much the same species as before plus Greenshank, Redshanks, 3 Spoonbills, Black necked & Great Crested Grebes, Marsh Harrier, and more Collared Pratincoles. At the Rio Vinalopo the same three Temminck's Stints were there before working the tracks around El Hondo de Amoras. This little known area has some (difficult to see) pools that held 4 Marbled Ducks, Coot, with an adult and juvenile Night Heron flying over. The agricultural field tracks were full of Bee-eaters making ready to head south and a flock of 12 Hoopoes was a delight to watch as they flew from tree to tree, then a Short toed Eagle crossed our path followed by a (pale phase) Booted Eagle and Common Buzzard.
Thursday 31st August :- This morning I was out for a local half day with Phil & Dace Burman starting at the Marina Beach but it was pretty quiet apart from Yellow legged Gulls, Ringed Plover & several Kentish Plovers. So we left and made the short journey to Pego Marsh were the first stop produced a Peregrine Falcon, Purple & Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Greenshank, Wood, Green & Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers, and a flock of 50+ Woodpigeons. Next we moved to the ringing station on route seeing a fly over Little Bittern, Cattle Egrets, a female Marsh Harrier, Yellow & White Wagtails. At the nets we were fortunate to see processed a Moustached Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, 3 Savi's Warblers, several Reed Warblers and several Greenfinches, with Carlos explaining the aging & sexing process with some of these species. other species seen from here included another 3 Marsh Harriers, Mallard, Squacco & Purple Herons, Greenshank and a Chiffchaff. Finally on the marsh we visited the new lagoons and immediately found 1 adult and 3 juvenile Collared Pratincoles catching flying insects while stood on the ground (very interesting behaviour), plus a Purple Gallinule, Green Sandpiper, and Black headed Gulls. We left Pego Marsh and headed inland to the Val de Gallinera and as we were about to stop Dace spotted an eagle over the far hillside. Sure enough it was a first year Golden Eagle, which was then joined by a second first year bird, so again two young had been raised. These flew around for several minutes before disappearing out of sight. We left here and enjoyed a coffee in the sunshine before moving on to the road bridge further up the valley. We stayed here for about an hour getting excellent views of Bee-eaters, Garden & Sardinian Warblers, Spotted Flycatcher, Rock Sparrows, Serins, Goldfinches and a Great Tit.

September 2006

Sunday 3rd September :- Today I was picking up Colin Lewis & Trish Taylor from Valencia Airport for the beginning of their extended holiday to Valencia & Andalucia. We had agreed to start birding straight away by visiting the nearby Moro Marsh for a couple of hours. At the site we almost immediately located our target species of 2 Red knobbed Coots with their commoner cousins along with 2 Little Bitterns, 2 Purple & Grey Herons, 2 Night Herons, 40+ Greater Flamingos, Common & Red crested Pochards, Marsh Harrier, a distant Booted Eagle, Water Rail, a Gull billed Tern, Kingfishers, Sand Martins, several Turtle Doves and lots of Bee-eaters. We then walked to another part of the reserve where we found 6 Spoonbills, Cattle & Little Egrets, more herons, Shelduck, Common Teal, Shovelers, 10+ Purple Gallinules, 30+ Avocets, Black winged Stilts, Common & Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Wood, Green & Common Sandpipers, Little Stints, Dunlin and Ruff. During lunch we found a few Sandwich Terns, Audouin's & Western Yellow legged Gulls patrolling the beach. Back at the guesthouse Colin & Trish were settled in before relaxing for a few hours during the heat of the day before heading out to Pego Marsh. Although fairly quiet due to the very low water levels we did manage to find 20+ Squacco,10 Night & 40+ Purple Herons flying around in a loose group, plus a small group of Collared Pratincoles, a Little Stint and Little Ringed Plovers.
Monday 4th September :- An early start was required this morning to give us the best chance of seeing one of Colin & Trish's main targets. So we made our way to the ringing station at Pego Marsh where Juanito, Pepe, & Jaime were busy processing the first birds which were mainly European Reed Warblers and Greenfinches. However the next check of the nets held our bird, a young Moustached Warbler, along with 2 Bluethroats, more European Reed, Great Reed & Cetti's Warblers. Eventually we left having also seen 2 Little Bitterns, Grey, Purple, Squacco & Night Herons, Marsh Harriers, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Yellow & White Wagtails, Zitting Cisticola and Jackdaws around this area. We then drove to the allotments behind the hillside and had a walk along the track finding a few Bee-eaters, 10+ Cirl Buntings, Southern Grey Shrike, Turtle Doves, Whinchats, Stonechat, Hoopoes, Sardinian Warblers, Crested Larks and a 'heard only' Tawny Owl. It was now time for breakfast so we returned to the guesthouse seeing an Osprey sat on their usual pylon. After breakfast Colin & I headed out again, leaving Trish to relax with a book, and we drove up to the Val de Gallinera. Unfortunately the Golden Eagles were no-where to be found but we did manage to see Kestrels, Woodpigeons, Bee-eaters, 2 Red rumped & European Swallows, House Martins, Blue Rock Thrush, Crested, Long tailed, & Great Tits, Red billed Choughs, Blackbird, Goldfinches & Serins. Again we returned to Oliva for an afternoon siesta and then all of us went back out to the Denia Headland looking for migrants. Initially we positioned ourselves looking over the sea where we found lots of Pallid Swifts flying below us, and also 2 Black Wheatears and Blue Rock Thrush on the cliff edge. Then a walk around the lighthouse gardens proved fruitful finding several Spotted Flycatchers, Black & Common Redstarts, Sardinian & Willow Warblers, Southern Grey Shrike, with a few Cory's Shearwaters moving south past the headland. However the highlight was an adult Peregrine Falcon that hung in the wind just in front of us before flying strongly out to sea to be joined by a second bird.
Tuesday 5th September :- Today we were heading south to the Alicante Region looking for again one or two target species and starting at the Clot de Galvany we found our first with 6 White headed Ducks on the Charco de Contacto. Also on the reserve we saw Shelducks, Shoveler, Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Black tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, Turtle Doves, 2 Little Owls, an Iberian Green Woodpecker, Crested Larks, Eurasian Reed & Sardinian Warblers, Long tailed & Great Tits, 3 Southern Grey Shrikes, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, & Serins. Next we went to the Santa Pola Salinas stopping at several places along the N332 and finding Great Crested & Black necked Grebes, Purple Heron, an Osprey, Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Black tailed Godwits, Spotted & Common Redshank, Sanderlings, Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, Dunlin, a Mediterranean, Audouin's, Lesser Black backed, Western Yellow legged & Black headed Gulls, Sandwich & Little Terns. A little further we made a quick stop finding 4 (1st winter) Rollers sat on overhead wires and at the Rio Vinalopo there were 5 Temminck's Stints with several Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Squacco Heron and Bee-eaters. Around El Hondo we checked a few pools looking for Marbled Duck but without success but we did see a Little Bittern, Purple Gallinules, more gulls & Crested Larks. It was now time to head inland to Finca Bonelli's Eagle for an excellent evening meal and birdwatching. On the way there we found a couple of Black Wheatears and a Northern Wheatear, plus from the villa there was a Sparrowhawk, Thekla Larks, Sardinian Warblers, 2 male Blue Rock Thrushes, Crag & House Martins, and 30+ Alpine Swifts. We had our meal but the eagles were showing then I spied a big raptor over the ridge and it was a migrating Short toed Eagle. I called this bird and then both adult Bonelli's Eagles came out of no-where and started mobbing the Short toed until it left their territory, they then continued to fly about showing extremely well to us all, a great finale to the day.
Wednesday 6th - 13th September :- During this week I was guiding in Andalucia, staying in the Sierra Nevada, Tarifa, & Cabo de Gata. The raptor migration was (as usual) a fantastic spectacle with 100's of Honey Buzzards daily being a wonderful sight as well as the odd rarity including Ruppell's Vult