Tuesday 31st October was my first available day to get out and about to see birds in Spain for several weeks. I was in Gran Alicant at ‘sun-up’ to meet Bryan and for this morning we reversed our usual route and headed across country towards El Hondo and San Felipe Neri. It proved to be a very good idea. Before we had left the urbanization Black Redstarts (Colirrojo Tizón) were around and in the past few days both Black Wheatears (Collalbra Negra) and Blue Rock Thrushs (Roquero Silitario) had been seen.
Heading towards San Felipe Common Kestrels (Cernicalo Vulgar) perched and flew. We passed a ruined building and on a top corner perched ‘statuesque like’ was a Green Woodpecker (Pito Real). We stopped in the entrance to the North Gate and in the Eucalyptus there were both Blackcaps (Curruca Capirotada) and Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común). In the car park for the Information Centre we had views of Meadow Pipit (Busbita Común) several Linnets (Pardillo Común) and a Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón) perched full on for us and photographed. We then turned our attention to the lagoons with those next to us showing a lot of mud and chopped down vegetation. Purple Swamphens/Gallinules (Calamón Común) were close by and they must have numbered almost ten. Feeding here were more Meadow Pipits, at least one Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino) and Bluethroats (Pechiazul) clear views, but not one wader in sight. Two Crested Larks (Cogujada Comùn) called and flew.
One hundred and fifty Glossy Ibis (Morito Común) over.
On the enclosed pond there were both male and female Red Crested Pochards (Pato Colorado) and even though we did hear a Red Knobbed Coot (Focha Moruna) we did not see one. A Little Bittern (Avetorillo Comùn) called too.
On the boardwalk we could see dead fish floating on the surface and whether this was due to a combination of hot weather, lower water levels or pollution we did not know. Maybe the latter could account for a waderless lagoon. The one bright moment was a solitary Snipe (Agachadiza Común) The next water, after the boardwalk, yielded an abundance of both Moorhen (Gallineta Común)and Coot (Focha Común). In the distance was a raft of Little Grebe (Zampullin Común) and also Marbled Duck/Teal (Cerceta Pardilla) and Shovelers (Cuchara Común). There was nothing else of any note.
The next lagoon was reduced to puddles and was almost birdless except on the far left there were a dozen Lapwing (Avefria Europea)), some Shelduck (Rarro Blanca) and a Grey Heron (Garza Real). I like it much better with water and birds. If only I could control the water levels!
We moved on and at Santa Águeda one Azure Winged Magpie (Urraca de Robo Largo) flew into a tree, perched and flew on. It was our first one at this location and there are photos to prove it! We will bear this one sighting in mind for later in the winter. Here we saw our third Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental) of the morning.
This location too, was dry. It could be very good with rain. Kestrels were seen here too, but the only other raptor was a Marsh Harrier.
Heading towards La Marina we saw Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero) more Marsh Harriers and four pale morph Booted Eagles (Aguililla Calzada). The Black Shouldered Kite remained elusive. In the fields of Lucerne grass there were more White Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca), Meadow Pipits and several Skylarks (Alondra Común) calling and feeding. Then and in the distance nearer to the mountains we saw ten Common Cranes (Grulla Común) wheeling around.
Now it was time to visit El Pinet and there we saw the following birds.
Grey Plover - Chorlito Gris
Greenshank - Archibebe Claro
Redshank X 2 - Archibebe Comün
Ringed Plover - Chorlitejo Grande
Little Stint X 4 - Correlimos Menudo
Kentish Plover - Chorlitejo
We had clear views of all of them and the Grey Plover was a good one to see.
Over a cup of coffee we saw a Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patunegro) fly over, but as yet no sea birds.
The small birds which also included Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real Meridional), Stonechats (Tarabilla Común), Robins (Petirrojo) and Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común) made up for the lack of waders until we reached El Pinet.
I don’t believe in doing a list and some of the common birds I seldom mention, but what birds I have said that we have seen - were certainly seen and some even photographed. For the first time in several years I have included the Spanish names which I should know anyway.
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