Wednesday 31st October started chilly, full sun, but winds of over 40km. We had a storm overnight and we guessed that some of the tracks would be muddy.
We were after a target bird and we visited the SEO site for Dupont’s Lark which is reported to be a resident. We gave this area a good once over with absolutely no sightings at all. The location is on Page 267 and is located off the Retamar Road leading from San José. An easy area to search.
We used Garcia and Paterson Where to Watch Birds in Southern and Western Spain for most of our information. All the facts are easy enough to plan with although not all the information is current. After the past two days and our real lack of success we decided to go further south beyond Almeria. The target area was the Salinas, Punta Entinas and Roquettas de Mar and also Salinas de Carrillo. Stating the obvious Spain is a very large country and the areas that we were searching in are expansive and extensive. We worked hard and checked out everywhere that we could.
We expected to see Ducks, but apart from Mallard and Shelduck that was it. The wind was fierce and most birds were tucked out of the wind. On one of the disused Salinas there was a large number of Gulls, probably exceeding 400, where the greater proportion were Lesser Black Backed Gulls with some Audouin’s, only a few Yellow Legged and and one Med. Gull positively Id’d. Close by were Little Stint, Sanderling, and three Spotted Redshank. Also bobbing on the water were Great Crested Grebes and a juvenile swam close by fighting against the waves being driven by the wind. We saw nothing exceptional and driving through we dodged the water filled holes and had a slow, but circuitous journey. It is a massive area and many things are distant. But who knows what will pop up.
We returned to San José calling again at the Salinas on the coast road to the Light House. The hides along this road are useable and offer closer views than the hide on the other road. The hides are basic with no screens to prevent the wind blowing through. Here we saw two Ravens on the beach side. Our target again was the lighthouse area where we searched diligently for Trumpeter Finches. And again no result. We searched Salinas again and our first good bird of the afternoon was a Grey Plover. Later we had a Black Kite flying over. Our photographer, Bryan, only took one bird shot! That probably sums up our assessment of a birding trip. I am told that the total species seen only stands at 71. But, what the hell, we got away from the normal routine and we did see birds and somewhere different.
There is some fantastic scenery around here, but that is when you ignore all the acres/hectares of plastic. Everything growing is under it. It is ugly. The upside is that is saves energy, grows crops as cheaply as possible, but what does to do the soil and the natural world. Chemicals must have to be used and what does that do to the taste of what they grow. And what about all that bloody plastic!
Make no mistake this a tourist area and the prices do reflect that. It is more expensive than San Miguel de Salinas! However, out of season the accommodation is very reasonably priced and where we stayed was very good.
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