ANOTHER DAY OUT WITH THE COSTA BLANCA BIRD CLUB

Yesterday, Wednesday 18th April we went to the area south of Totana (Murcia), a large flat area with cultivated fields and, fortunately areas that have been left fallow. These lie on the north side of Autovia Totana-Mazarron, the RM3. Here, there is a mixture of vegetation which provides food and shelter for a variety of species. We were lucky to find a Greater Spotted Cuckoo, another, then sat long enough for a scope to be focused on it. As we drove on two of them flew in front of us. Other stars of the day were Spectacled Warblers, Whinchat, both male and female together with as many larks as you would ever want to see. (I will let the experts say which ones). Northern Wheatear and Black Wheat-ear flew around us, as well as Black Bellied Sand Grouse and Stone Curlew. Previously we had seen a yellow wagtail on the edge of a water deposit but our morning was further enhanced with a low flying Golden Eagle-what a treat. We moved on in a northerly direction into Parque Natural de Sierra Espuna where in the pine forest we heard and saw very little but as Mile and Barry were moving on they saw Crossbill. In the area around the restaurant there was very little activity, except for Goldfinch. Mike did see a Sparrow Hawk fly through and as Michelle and I were about to leave he spotted a Firecrest. It does pay not to eat inside and to be patient! We headed for home, leaving the rest of the party in the restaurant but we did see Woodchat Shrike and a white morph Booted Eagle. It was a long day but it is always good to see beautiful things.