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.
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