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.