Day One

Friday 2nd February was our first full day. We always ‘go-for-it’ and by 8.30 we had provisioned-up and left Mazagón via A496 towards El Rocio in the north western part of Doñana Parque Natural. On route we stopped In the car park adjacent to a Parador. A Tree Creeper showed in the tree next to us. Walking down to the beach we had good views of many species that included Robin, Stonechat, and Common Chiffchaff. On the beach Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, Sanderling, and a Northern Gannet flew. A Kestrel sunned itself on the cliff. Here we had a total of 18 birds.

The Beach next to The Parador

El Rocío, a city on the edge of a lagoon provides the juxtaposition of white buildings, shops and a well photographed Cathedral and a wetland habitat for waders. The only geese were Greylag. Ducks were not plentiful either but with good views of Teal and Pintail. However on the walkway there were very close species of Bluethroat, Zitting Cisticola, and singing and feeding in the trees were Blackcaps. Spoonbills and Ibis were numerous and Common Snipe, Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails fed in the margins with Lapwings. Shovelers and Black-tailed Godwits were easily seen and in the distance there was a large number of Spoonbills. We left at 3.15pm


El Rocio Church and Lagoon

(On 8th a Lesser Yellowlegs was videoed in El Rocio)

We moved on a tad disappointed with the count, but very pleased with the birds that were clear and close up. We took a circuitous route following the signs towards Jose Valverde Information Centre. It was not a good decision with an excessive amount of driving on un-named, pot-holed and ‘corrugated’ roads. (We now know that we went the long way around). That is not to say we did not see birds because we stopped frequently because of our sharp eyed passengers who seemed to miss nothing. White Storks, flying and on nests were easy to spot. On three separate occasions we had flying Black ones too.

We didn't know it but the best was still to come. We arrived at the Centre just as it closed at 6pm and we took what was another lengthy route. On our left hand side was open farmland, but on the other side it was uncultivated with open areas of grass, scrub and patches of water. As dusk was approaching we had terrific views of hunting Short-Eared Owls. There was at least three and with more birds a little further on, and what a display it was. We watched, using binoculars and scope and the photographer got busy. We were mesmerized by the fly pasts. They are spectacular birds. We also saw Red Deer.

But that was not all, for there was more to come. By a large building (pump house maybe?) we saw clearly a Nigh Heron roost of 19 birds that included adults and juveniles. If that was not enough we had perched, on a post, a Barn Owl. The light was failing fast and a photograph was only just possible.

Although we saw 8 Marsh Harriers in total, about the same number of Common Buzzards and a good number of Kestrels our raptor count did not rise and that was disappointing. We saw one passing hirundine - a Barn Swallow. Our total species count for the day was 72.

It was now dark and the time was 8.30 and since we were again passing El Rocio we decided to eat there. It was a long day, but worth it.