Saturday 13th August the temperature at El Hondo was a comfortable 18 degrees with a very slight breeze. A Southern Grey Shrike was in the top of a tree next to the barrier It was beautiful and quiet with no more than five birders bothering to come in. It was a morning of sounds with a Golden Oriel calling and a male was seen by another birder who also saw a pale morph Booted Eagle.
The larger water contained birds in the far distance with Curlew Sandpipers and a count of 1310 Avocets. (permission given to quote and so thank you.). I went straight to the larger hide and we had in full view 13 White-headed Ducks that included only one Male. From this same hide a dark morph Booted Eagle flew and perched with his back to us so that we could see all the plumage including the white edge to the tail. It was beautiful.
Down at water level in the far hide I saw three Green Sandpipers and very little else except Swifts, Barn & Red-rumpled Swallows and a few House Martins. Some Whiskered Terns were around. In and around the tree at the beginning of the boardwalk were Reed Warblers and Melodious feeding in the Eucalyptus tree.
Kingfishers were easily seen. The usual Herons and Egrets flew except I did not see one Night Heron this time around. Bee-eaters were burbling and flying over head.
My last viewing was from the first hide on entry where there was a Short-toed Eagle perched, at a distance and seen in a scope. I have not included everything that was there.
I am looking forward to Sepember rain to bring the water closer.
mary@mail.postmanllc.net
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