ANOTHER GOOD DAY

Mark had arrived from Scotland on Tuesday and he was keen to get birding as soon as he possible could. We were on our way in a good morning light. We stayed local to San Miguel notching up twenty three species before we moved away down the canal road and then heading up towards Embalse de la Pedrera.

Our species around San Miguel included Stone Curlew, Dartford and Sardinian Warblers, but Mark was especially enthusiastic about the clear sighting of a male Green Woodpecker which flew to then perch in an almond tree. I was pleased to see several Robins but even more pleased to see my second House Martin for this year. A Greenshank flew as well.

We moved on to Pedrera seeing a good collection of Yellow Legs with six Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Four Teal swam by which were identified by Mark. The Great White Egret again patrolled the margins. We carried on to an Eagle Owl site and examined that ridge in a good clear light but nothing flew. A few metres on, over an area of water we saw Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins but then we had a superb treat when a female Sparrowhawk came swooping down in attempt to take a Greenfinch in flight. It made several attempts before the escape of the finch. We had terrific views with the hawk flying away over our heads.

We then went to another Eagle owl site. We scanned the ridge but nothing was obvious. A walk among the pines revealed some lovely sights with Long Tailed Tits feeding together with a Goldcrest which took some locating. A decision was made to stay to wait for the birds that Mark had really come to see. We set up the scopes on known perches, listening in the hope that we could hear them calling even against the wind. The light was going fast when Mark again checked a perch and there she was. We watched and then the male arrived landing straight onto her back to mate. Both flew down the ridge with the second one seemingly flushing a large unidentified raptor.

This was a wonderful way to end our day with a total of species seen being forty-five. I expected to see several other species that are common but we will have to wait another time for that.