COVID FREE MORNING FOR TWO BIRDERS

WE HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE INFECTED ON VEGA BAJA BUT WE BELIEVE WE HAD A COVID FREE MORNING.

The heat is certainly on, here in the Costas. We’ve done birding the easy way at Clot, gone up Monnegre both early and late and this morning we stayed local and were out just after 7am. It was a cool 24 degrees or so.

Our first stop, as usual, was just down the hill from the Santa Pola junction. Sandwich Terns (Charrán Patinegro) called and flew as we walked in. There were Gulls as usual including Slender Bill (Gaviota Picofino), Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora), and Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra). Two Great Reed Warblers (Carricero Tordal) rasped away and there was nothing unusual to see on the lagoons. We are always in the look-out for that ‘special one’. Again I had a good view of an adult Purple Heron (Garza Imperial). However, our bird of the morning had to be a perched Osprey (Águila Pescadora) distant, but identifiable.

The Salt Tower pull-in and the other area by the stones provided nothing of note except that two Collared Pratincoles (Canastera Común) were in a dry area opposite. On our return along N332 several were seen as we passed by.

El Pinet was incredibly humid and we saw (one was photographed) Black Tailed Godwits (Aguja Colinegra) and two in breeding plumage. In the distance Common Terns (Charrán Común) flew. Earlier we saw several Little Terns (Charrancito Común) and inland, Gull-billed Terns (Pagaza Piconegra), were seen.

We checked every waterway that we could to see if any Kingfishers (Martin Pescador) were around. Records seem to indicate they are not around this area during the summer, but we did see them on Friday. We will look again.

We searched for a Roller (Carraca) and found one. We have seen them in double figures before, but like Woodchat Shrikes (Alcaudón Común) they seem not to be in any great numbers. Bee-eaters (Abejaruco Común) too.

We had good sightings of many species and I have not noted all of them, and our bird-of-the-day was a flying and perched, Black Crowned Night Heron (Martinete Común) and it stayed for the photographer too.

We always pay some attention to smaller birds - Serin (Verdecillo) and Greenfinches (Verderón Común) were the most obvious. And the skies were devoid of any raptors.

Butterflies were scarce too, but we did see several Plain Tigers.

It is very hot and dry out there with no flooding of fields. However we did see a grove of Palm Trees standing in water, but with no birds. We won't be checking this local area again until at least the end of September and our next trips will be Maigmo and Monnegre again.

THE PUPPET-PLAYER by Angelina Weld Grimké

Sometimes a few short lines makes me stop and ponder. Wee what you think?


THE PUPPET-PLAYER

Angelina Weld Grimké

Sometimes it seems as though some puppet-player,
   A clenched claw cupping a craggy chin
Sits just beyond the border of our seeing,
   Twitching the strings with slow, sardonic grin.

Monnegre Again with Photos

A view from the mountains to The Med.

Black-eared Wheatear

Juvenile Turtle Dove

No Bins Bird Club!

Red Necked Nightjar.

Alicante Wetlands at Clot de Galvany

It was the water wonder land of the Alicante Wetlands at Clot de Galvany that we visited again on Friday 24th July. I don't think that we have ever done so much birding in the heat, but we have made our times either very early or late in the day. It has paid off.

The smaller hide which now views water - sometimes known as the ‘dry hide’! - was relatively quiet on the water. Whiskered Terns (Fumadel  Cariblanco) of entertained us wherever we sat. Wood Pigeons (Paloma Totcaz) flew over and so did many Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Reidora). Great-Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco) too, feeding young. A Zitting Cisticola (Buitrón) called and perched in the top of a tree, but as this hide is not that comfortable we moved on to the larger hide. A common bird now for us are Glossy Ibis and, this morning, a flock flew over.

This large area of water with surrounding reed beds provides some great habitats. Purple Herons (Garaza Imperiel)  numbered at least five and I managed to get the bins up on one flying.  Squacco (Garcilla Cangrejera) and Black-crowned Night Herons (Martinete Común) were easily seen perched and flying. There was a high number of both Little (Garceta Común) and Cattle Egrets ((Garcilla Bueyera), but we did not see a Grey or a Large White. A Great Reed Warbler (Carricero Tordal) called and perched in full view. Then, surprisingly, we had a rapid flypast of two Kingfishers (Martin Pescador) and a return flight too. Bryan had been hearing their calls and did not expect to see any this time of year. Two Common Sandpipers (Anderrios Chico) flew several times. Two Reed Warblers (Carricero Comuún) came close in to feed amongst the vegetation. A very good close up view. A Little Bittern (Avetorillo Común) excelled itself by feeding within a few feet of the hide. What an excellent close up view.

At the old hide we watched another Common Sandpiper feeding around a log with a Marbled Duck next to it. We watched juvenile Whiskered Terns (Fumarel Cariblanco) being fed by adults. All clear views and calls. Four young White-headed Ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanca) were in the distance. Then, eagle-eyed Bryan, saw a Kingfisher perched in the reeds. As I missed the other two I watched this one through the bins. A year tick for me. Reed Warblers again and then Bryan heard Long-tailed Tits (Mito) calling and they flew in to see us! Good views again. A well spent few hours and we were on our way home by 10.30am. That's the way to do it! And I came away with a home-baked ‘lemon drizzle’ cake . What a morning!

Photos to follow from my last two blogs.

MONNEGRE AGAIN FOR NIGHT BIRDS

Wednesday 22nd July saw us head to the mountains again. I like it up there. Normally we are in situe by 7am but on this day it was 7pm. Our objectives being to check out Monnegre in the early evening, past nightfall and into the early part of the night.

We again wanted to check on Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero) and eventually we had sightings and photographs. While waiting, a female Black-eared Wheatear (Collalba Rubio), flew in. It was in moult and so it was not that smart. We were fortunate enough to have excellent viewings of a juvenile Turtle Dove (Tortola Europea) and that's my best look at this species. It was very obliging! House Sparrows (Gorrión Común) were always around and so were several Red-legged Partridges. (Perdiz Roja)

Another objective was to see and photograph both species of Nightjars ( Chotocabras Gris  o Cuellirojo) We had seen them in the early morning and so we expected to see them there again. On our return they did not oblige. However up above the village of Montnegre we waited at a good viewing spot and eventually we heard a Rednecked Nightjar call. At this location we had great views, the moon gave us a sliver of itself and three different bats flew. One very large which could have been - Brown Eared - and this could be a study for another time.

This location also provided a brief viewing of an Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real).

One more reason for taking a nocturnal visit was to see and hopefully hear Owls. We remarked that we had not seen Little Owls (Mochuelo Europeo) on this mountain and that still stands. There was not even a call. So why not or have they been predated or shot to extinction? So for Owls, it was a blank.

On the way down we travelled slowly and managed three very good sightings of European Nightjars that were sitting on the road. Another one flew across our vision. They are beautiful. We also noticed many nightflying insects and moths providing an abundance of food for these birds. The photographs will show whether we have a sighting of a Rednecked one or were they all going to be Common. One thing is certain in my mind it should be worth another visit or two.

Our list for this trip stands at 18 species. It was worth it and we will do it again.

Photos from Monegre

This is one of the last places that we stopped and enjoyed views of Alpine Swifts.  An incredible view.

Alpine Swift, photo by Bryan Thomas

Earlier in the day, Michelle photographed the river valley and also our first butterfly of the day, a Tree Grayling (Neohipparchia Statilinus)

The other butterfly Michelle photographed was a Striped Grayling (Pseudotergemia Fidia) see below.  This butterfly is found on hot rocky slopes uptown 2200m.

Comments regarding identification of the above butterflies is welcome.  Source of identification; Collins Butterfly Guide of Britain and Europe.

Here are some photographs of the Juvenile Bee-Eaters.

For all the other photos of the day, taken by Bryan Thomas please follow the link to his blog:  http://birdingcostablanca.blogspot.com

SUMMER BIRDING ON MONTNEGRE

SPECTACULAR BIRDS AT MONTNEGRE, ALICANTE
I hate a cliché but it was the very early birders who got an immediate ‘two-for-one-reward’ for being on the way to Montnegre before the light had developed. On this mountain road we almost ran over a Nightjar and another one flew with it and away. Red-necked Nightjars (Chotacabras Cuellittojo) were heard calling just off the road. We moved on slowly, and there in full and uninterrupted view, a sitting Nightjar. The photographer was able to confirm it was a European one (Chotacabras Gris). A great start and two good species very early on.

We decided to take the Montnegre road so that we could again check on Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero). We have our usual stopping places, so we sat and waited. We did hear Trumpeters to start with but not one to view. All the hirundines were there - including Crag Martins (Avión Roquero) - and around the car we saw a Dartford Warbler (Curruca Rabilargo) with Goldfinches (Jilguero) and Serían (Verdecillo) flying. We waited and watched House Sparrows (Gorrión Común), a female Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra) perched in full view and a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris) flitted around. Two Black Wheatears (Collalba Negra) flew into a bush and within minutes another perched on a wire. One surprise bird was a female Black Redstart (Collirojo Tizón) which is a winter bird for us, but that sighting may indicate they breed in this habitat. A young Southern Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Real) was noisy and we saw just one Woodchat (Alcaudón Común) There were absentees and this included Collar Doves (Tórtola Turca) that are normally plentiful here. In the distance Vultures flew and probably were all Griffins (Buitre Leonardo)?

We had intended to visit Maigmo as well this morning but with the non-sighting of the Trumpeters we drove higher with the intention of making another attempt to see them later in the morning on the way down. It was another splendid decision.

Bee-eaters (Abejaruca Común) are wonderful birds to see and hear and we found a colony of them, perched, posing for the photographers, flying and hawking. Both adults and juveniles were around which proves that this a nesting sight. All beautiful to see.

We travelled a little higher. A helicopter flew. Bryan put his bins on it and then saw an Alpine Swift (Vencejo Real).
We watched the sky and confirmed what we saw and continued to watch them fly. At least two in the sky at the same time. A spot to remember in the future and to celebrate as it was Michelle's first sighting ever. It was a year tick for both Bryan and myself. We all had great views of this not-often-seen species.

Going back to a Trumpeter Finch site we nailed it with some very quick sightings of them and the photographers got very busy. Exactly at that moment a Short-toed Eagle (Culebrera Europea) flew up from the valley and around giving us great views. I love them and our first Eagle of the year!

That just proves it, what a decision we made earlier, to check on those Finches one more time.

We always search for butterflies and this morning we did view Graylings. According to the guide (and photos may prove definitive) but we may have seen both Tree and Striped Graylings. They are a study in their own right! And we follow this up with photos and another blog post.

In choosing my bird of the day I would have to go for the Eagle as it was such a clear and close view. Michelle's would have to be the Alpine Swifts. It was so bloody good to be out there again, in good company and of course the birds. Add to that the various habitats, splendid views and scenery.

THE RATLINE BY PHILLIPE SANDS

Book Review

Title. THE RATLINE

Author. Phillipe Sands

Publisher. W & N - Weidenfeld & Nicolson
(Orion Publishing Group)

The Ratline is from the author of East West Street that I devoured a few years ago. Blackwells alerted me to this publication and since I prefer to support smaller suppliers rather than the gigantic global organizations I ordered it from them . So now I have it, signed as well, to go with the collection, now that I have read it, from cover to cover.

It is brilliant. It may have taken eight years in the making but what a fantastic read. I enjoyed every page. The front cover very boldly tells the prospective reader what it is about:

LOVE, LIES and
JUSTICE on
the TRAIL of a
NAZI FUGITIVE

These few words sum up the essence of this book, and it is beautifully told, incredibly well written and presented. Even though, it may suggest otherwise, it is a love story. of sorts, I could argue. It is ‘the family story’, of the man Otto Wächter, his wife Charlotte, their six children and their descendants. Horst Wächter, a son is integral to how it all unfolds over time coupled with serious research. I will say that the sins of Otto did have a considerable effect upon his descendants and the telling of that made it more of an incredible and compelling read. Yes, there was still love there, some disbelief and even disgust.

The man, Otto Wâchter, a powerful figure in the Nazi regime was undoubtedly ‘a War Criminal’ and responsible for mass slaughter and reprisal ‘executions’. A man to be despised.

It ends with his death and the probable cause of it. The final chapters intrigued me greatly and although we had details it left me wondering how much more there is to be told, to know and how much of the intrigue is still out there.

It evokes more thought about how people behaved, what The Vatican did or didn't do and the deadly tussle between the Third Reich and the Soviets. Of course there is always more and The Perfect Spy by John Le Carré could add to the more. I intend to read it next, just to add to my knowledge of that post war period.

On the back cover a quote from John Le Carré ‘Hypnotic, shocking and unputdownable’.

DIABOLICAL

Sometimes a piece of writing hits the spot!
Not a resent one, but so relevant today.

Their colour is a diabolic die.”
—Phillis Wheatley
What they say they are
And what they actually do
Is what Phillis overhears.
It’s like she isn’t there.
It’s like she’s a ghost, at arm’s length, hearing
The living curse out the dead—
Which, she’s been lead to believe
No decent person does in a church.

How they say they love her
And how they look at her
Is what Phillis observes;
Like she’s the hole in the pocket
After the money rolls out.

God loves everybody—even the sinner,
(they say)
Even a mangy hound can rely
On a scrap of meat, scraped off the plate
(they say).

What they testify
And what they whisper in earshot
Is as dark as her skin, whistled from opposite sides
Of a mouth.

Is she the bible’s fine print?

BEARDED VULTURE IN ENGLAND

Posted on Raptor Persecution UK a young Bearded Vulture has been photographed on a notorious Peak District grouse moor. It is only the second recorded sighting of that species in England and because it is flying free over an area where shooting of birds of prey takes place its safety cannot be guaranteed; it is in danger even from poisoned carcasses.

NB Bearded Vulture - Gypaetus Barbatus - Quebrantahuesos - Lāmmerfier it is also called.

The grouse moors in UK are controlled by landowners where Red Grouse are bred or introduced to be shot. These birds are Red Grouse - Lagopus Lagopus Scotica. These areas are of a major concern to conservationists and environmentalists.

BOOK REVIEW - WORST CASE SCENARION BY HELEN FITZGERALD

Book Review

Title Worst Case Scenario

Author. Helen Fitzgerald

Publisher Orenda Books

Quote from the book

“To criminal-justice social workers who do the hardest job and have the best chat”

The author must have been on drugs to write this. Legal ones maybe and I make no excuse for offering up the idea that Helen Fitzgerald had to be hallucinating too.

I like different and this is the third one on the bounce that is extra odd. I was warned, “you won't like it as it's about a menopausal probation officer!’ Hell, I thought, bloody hell the advice could be correct. I dipped in and out of this supposed horror story while I tried to keep my sanity by reading another book alternately with this one. as well. I struggled to get to Page 40 and for some inexplicable reason I read a few pages more. Then I wanted to know how mad, bad Mary really wanted to be. Or was the story being ‘over-egged’ and the humour was beginning to attack me as well as her unfortunate family and ‘clients’. Or, maybe, it's a brilliant book.

Be warned it is explicit and more than suggests what such a woman could do on her own!

I read on and having got to two thirds I wondered how much more I could take! It all moves at a furious pace and one is never left to dwell on what has just happened. I kept my laughter and disgust at a minimum as I felt I had to control my thoughts in beginning continually confronted by a sweaty and very ill-at-ease professional person! Anyway, I did get to the end and I am still reflecting on the ending. Was it all real, imagined or did I get it all wrong.

Accolades are plastered all over the cover, back and front and, at a glance, you can read them easily.

Worst Case Scenario survived the Theakestons Old Peculier Crime Award long list and was catapulted into the final six. It’s a crazy read and it has a great chance of winning or will convention rule?

John Edwards 13th July 2020

YECLA GONE CORN CRAZY

You can find all the photos of the days birding on Bryan´s Blog http://birdingcostablanca.blogspot.com

Let us start with the bad.  

This is how your cabbages are irrigated!  Non degradable agricultural waste and I am concerned about what happens to it.

This is harvesting in action and the nine Lesser Kestrels were feeding on the insects that were stirred up.  We could not see whether they were feeding in the air or on the ground behind the machine.

A Male Lesser Kestrel in flight.  Note the diagnostic tale feather and the pale claws.

What a beautiful bird at his nesting site.

ESTEPAS DE YECLA

ESTEPAS DE YECLA

After the comfortable birding of Alicante’s wetland wonderland at Clot we decided to ‘do the miles’ and go inland. It's not difficult, but it requires time and effort. We gave it both and we enjoyed it. We knew we would need a siesta. Our usual turn off-point on A 31 for Claudette is easy to follow, but the topography of the area has been transformed. Mountains of earth have been moved and sit in large embankments with new roads already open. It's a massive job and the same applies to Caudette road with more work going on there and who is footing the bill?

Estepas de Yecla we knew was going to get very hot and so we made an exceptionally early start and arrived there before 7am and before the sun cracked the top of the ridge. It was our earliest breakfast on ‘the job’ too as we ate banana cake and zipped our tea in a freezing 17C! By then our birding had already started. A Stone Curlew flew over and another one was spotted in a field.

Our first stop immediately yielded two Ravens with a third flying away.  Three Mistle Thrushes were on display near a line of pines. Wood Pigeons seemed to be everywhere. We heard a Common Buzzard and also Great Spotted Cuckoos were heard as well. Then two flew and eventually the cameraman got his shot. Magpies were also evident here.This has always been a good spot for us to stop and see birds. An Iberian Green Woodpecker called and we later saw two more in different locations. Goldfinches and Linnet were easily heard and seen. Somewhere a Greenfinch ‘trilled’. We viewed only one Bee-eater all day!

We moved on seeing a plethora of rabbits, domestic and feral pigeons with some Collared Doves.

Soon we were amongst fields of cabbages and this seems to be the normal crop at the Caudette end of the valley. The edges of the fields were covered in dry vegetation but signs of life were minimal.

We looked at an old Bee-eater nesting area and that was devoid of life with not even a Rock Sparrow present. However there was a large pile of plastic tubing that had been used for irrigation and was now dumped. I will investigate the chances of it being recycled.

CORN CRAZY

On previous occasions the rocky fields near the buildings were just that rocky fields. On this visit we could see that it had been planted with corn which had now been harvested. We wondered at the value and cost of sowing marginal land with crops. Further on even more corn and it was clear to us that the birds that we can see here are elsewhere as the habitat has changed. We did not see a single Wheatear, but had terrific views of Little Owls. A Buzzard flew across.

We expected to see numerous larks but we had to make do with a few Crested, the odd Calandra but we did have some good sightings of Short Toed. We will have to wait until the summer is over for viewing all the Larks that are normally here. Later a Golden Oriel called distantly and was our first for this year together with GS Cuckoos. On one occasion we could hear Pin-tailed Sandgrouse calling from three different points but not one did we see. We know they are there and it could have been possible to hear Quail, but we didn't.

Traveling slowly on through this valley we saw very little and so we carried on to the other end where we have previously viewed Golden Eagles but not today. In fact our peace was broken by lorries delivering animal manure. It looks as though another stony field will be planted but that is much better than tons of artificial fertiliser!

On the return we included a loop that brought us back and around the farm buildings that is a well known nesting site for Lesser Kestrels. We saw and heard Combine Harvesters at work and then we saw, and counted, at least nine Kestrels flying above a machine. The photograph will prove that they were Lesser and their feeding habits indicate the same. We saw them too, flying to and from, the farm buildings and suspected they were feeding young.

We did not have a great list from today, but the GS Cuckoos and the number of flying and feeding Lesser Kestrels made up for any disappointment. Habitats do change and we will have to work with that and see how it all pans out for the birds as we approach autumn. The grain eaters should be well fed and that could bode well for sandgrouse. 

Absentees includes Chough (perhaps in the mountains), jackdaws and crows, wheatears were totally absent and only one Woodchat Shrike, and that is unusual for they are normally easily seen. Eagles were absent too, but we did have one un-identified distant raptor. Nevertheless it was good to get out, feel the space and see birds.

Photos From Fridays Trip.

Little Bittern in Flight

Little Bittern Perched, the first photograph shows the bird with a reddish/orange bill.

This photos, taken by Michelle shows a Little Bittern with a yellow bill.

Black Necked Grebe (From Bryan´s Library)

Marbled Duck and Marbled Duck Chicks

CLOT DE GALVANEY - UPDATED

Summer is definitely here in ‘The Costas’ and it is hot. You have the choice of getting out there and to see what's in view . The birds are about from before the sun breaks the horizon and that is the best time. It's cooler and they all need to feed. So on Friday 3rd July we visited Gran Alicant’s wildlife-wetland jewel.

We have been visiting Clot De Galvany for years and it has got much better for the birds and for us. It's almost cheating to go only this far and disappear off home before eleven.

Park the car and walk in. Make a choice as to which hide. We chose the new one with an expanse of open water in front of it. It's user friendly and the design was right for the scope and a bench clamp. (Unlike the other hides here). On the way a distant Turtle Dove was seen and a Woodchat Shrike.

It's a Heron haven and apart from a Great White we had them all. A Purple flew in the distance and a Grey flew only once. We focused initially on Black-crowned Night Herons with two adults and four perched juveniles. There must be others around too and shows they breed here. We even had a fly-past of six of them!

Two separate flocks of Wood Pigeons flew over the ridge and inland, presumably to feed in the fields.

Little Bitterns flew and fished in view and Squacco Herons were obvious too. We had some great views when they flew across our vision. Out on the water were at least six individual Great-Crested Grebes mostly with young. White-headed Ducks, with young, and Marbled Ducks too. Pochards were seen also a Shoveler. If we got bored with all of these then we were entertained by calling, diving and fishing Whiskered Terns.

We moved on to an older hide which was not that user friendly, but we were still entertained with water birds, Zitting Cisticolas, a Reed Warbler and the raucous Great Reed Warblers seemed to be everywhere. To the right of the hide a Little Bittern fed two young. Swimming towards the hide was an adult Great-Crested Grebe, diving and feeding young. The photographer may reveal what the food source was.

Moving on, again, we sat in the hide overlooking the much frequented pond and counted ten Marbled Ducks including three young. We had some clear close up views. Here a Turtled Dove called and we located it for a good sighting. The water level, alarmingly, has dropped since last week. Will it hold out?

Bryan located a Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage which was a good spot! Eagle eyes and an attention to detail as always.

This location also looks good for when we get the return migration and for wintering birds.

Next week - sod the heat - we intend to go to Estapas de Yecla and maybe see an Eagle or two.

NOTHING IMPORTANT HAPPENED TODAY BY WILL CARVER

Book Review

Title. Nothing Important Happened Today

Author. Will Carver

Publisher. Orenda Books 

Odd. Unusual. Very different to anything I have read before, but I like different. Written in third person collective and in first person.

Interested? The front cover is difficult to describe and unusual too. But that is what this book is about. The cover almost shouts out “ Nine suicides. One Cult. No leader.” Well that's a good start and gives something for the potential reader to ponder on.

It's wasn't an easy read and I dipped in and out of it as I read another crime novel. The short chapters meant switching from one scenario and person to the next. Carver’s characters gripped and absorbed me although on many occasions I wondered where the object of this book was taking me.

Chapter one tells you enough to make you read on or put it back on the shelf. I kept at it and I am pleased that I did. It unravels slowly, deliberately so, and concisely. There are lies and in the end the whole identity of the book is concluded. I loved it all and the ending too.

Not a normal read. Different. If you have a tendency to consider joining a cult or to obliterate the masses then this could be considered a ‘hand-book’ or a ‘turn-off’ to contemplate the end.

ALICANTE'S WILDLIFE WETLAND JEWEL - CLOT DE GALVANY

Summer is definitely here in ‘The Costas’ and it is hot. You have the choice of getting out there and to see what's in view . The birds are about from before the sun breaks the horizon and that is the best time. It's cooler and they all need to feed. So on Friday 3rd July we visited Gran Alicant’s wildlife-wetland jewel. 

We have been visiting Clot De Galvany for years and it has got much better for the birds and for us.  It's almost cheating to go only this far and disappear off home before eleven. 

Park the car and walk in. Make a choice as to which hide. We chose the new one with an expanse of open water in front of it. It's user friendly and the design was right for the scope and a bench clamp. (Unlike the other hides here). On the way a distant Turtle Dove was seen.

It's a Heron haven and apart from a Large White we had them all. A Purple flew in the distance and a Grey flew only once. We focused initially on Black-crowned Night Herons with two adults and four perched juveniles. There must be others around too and shows they breed here. We even had a fly-past of six of them! 

Little Bitterns flew and fished in view and Squacco Herons were obvious too. We had some great views when they flew across our vision. Out on the water were at least six individual Great-Crested Grebes mostly with young. White-headed Ducks, with young, and Marbled Ducks too. Pochards were seen also a Shoveler. If we got bored with all of these then we were entertained by calling, diving and fishing Whiskered Terns.

We moved on to an older hide which was not that user friendly, but we were still entertained with water birds, Zitting Cisticolas, a Reed Warbler and the raucous Great Reed Warblers seemed to be everywhere. To the right of the hide a Little Bittern fed two young. Swimming towards the hide was an adult Great-Crested Grebe, diving and feeding young. The photographer may reveal what the food source was.

Moving on, again, we sat in the hide overlooking the much frequented pond and counted ten Marbled Ducks including three young. We had some clear close up views. Here a Turtled Dove called and we located it for a good sighting. The water level, alarmingly, has dropped since last week. Will it hold out?

This location looks good for when we get the return migration and for wintering birds.

Next week - sod the heat - we intend to go to Estapas de Yecla and maybe see an Eagle or two.