Yecla

On Friday 7th October Bryan Thomas and myself were in Esteppes de Yecla before the sun had broken through and it was a cool 12 degrees. We had decided again, to check the area out, and not plan another visit until early spring.

We saved a considerable amount of time by avoiding Yecla and took turnoff 171B (A31) signposted Caudette. This took us into the area via the spot where we normally exit from. We were treated to flocks of Goldfinches and then we a watched a mixed flock of about 50 Choughs with a good number of both Spotless Starlings and Jackdaws all feeding together in a field of stubble.

Here we also saw only one Common Kestrel, some Crested Larks and very little else. A few Northern Wheatears did show well, at least three perched Southern Grey Shrikes.



We moved on into the steppes really searching for Sandgrouse and hopefully Bustards. We did have some good views of larks and it was some time before we saw a flock of about two hundred Calandra Larks feeding and then flying. Theklas did not show and neither did we see any Short-toed. We had a terrific view of a Little Owl and eventually we saw four Black-bellied Sandgrouse fly to be followed by another six feeding and flying.

We checked out the Lesser Kestrel site and saw not one of that species.

I have not recorded all that we saw, but overall birds were thin on the ground.

All photographs copyright Bryan Thomas 2016