In the hope that we might see Garganey on the small lake at Clot de Gaveney we checked it out and saw both Red Crested and Common Pochards, two White Headed Ducks in their summer plumage and a Little Grebe. The sky was full of Barn Swallows and Pallid Swifts were feeding low as we had a brief spell of rain. It is so good to see them back here.
Where the reeds on the scrapes had been cut earlier they have now grown and vision is restricted. The other water has algae bloom and there was not that much to see. We didn't stay long and headed for the lagoons opposite the turning into Las Brisas. It was disappointing and so our next stop was the Salt Tower and again there was nothing of note except that there were our birds of the evening; three male Garganey in the shallow lagoon across the road. They were so easily seen and beautiful to watch. Photographed of course.
We went into the next pull-off and our luck held for on the water opposite was about sixty waders of which most were Curlew Sandpipers with some Dunlin mixed in. That was good for comparison of the two species. One Redshank was there too.
EL Pinet was our next stop and Slender Bills were evident with both Yellow Legged and Black Headed Gulls in attendance. Common Terns were everywhere, but we did not see one Little Tern. Then we had our first sighting of flying Collard Pratincoles for this year.
We took our usual route using the country roads towards El Hondo and with the intention of seeing what raptors would be flying as the sun was going down. On the way we had two great views of flying and stationary Great Spotted Cuckoos. Interestingly they flew from the edge of the roadside and one even landed on the road behind us. Palm Farm Road was quiet and we now headed towards Catral and with the light fading and in a small field there was one hundred Glossy Ibis feeding with Cattle Egrets.
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