After yesterday's rain we hoped that we could find some different birds. We knew that Clot would offer the same as before, but now that the temperatures had decreased we wanted something else. On Monday, the last day of August, I met Bryan at 7.15 in a cool nineteen degrees. We had decided to stay local and this time to go around the wrong way! So we headed for El Hondo with an express intention to go to the furthest water and to see whatever there was. Would you believe the road in has been relaid. All lovely and black. It started well with two Little Ringed Plovers -Chorlitejo Chico on the edge of the carpark and then with Bryan feeding a Muscovy Duck Welsh cakes. It sure as hell was not getting my share! We have never done this way around before because of the position of the sun. We headed for the water only to be repelled by mosquitoes. We quit immediately. It has been a good summer for the lack of these biters but not today. We had hoped for a Crake but they will have to wait.
Santa ÁGUEDA was our next stop. There was hardly any water in the big pool, but the shallow one had benefited from the storm. We've always been lucky here. Again Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers - Andarriós Bastardo Grande & Chico were present. Black Winged Stilts - Cigüeñuela Común too. The elevated hide on the corner of this scrape has been closed off as it needs repair. It's needed it for a couple of years and I don't suppose it will get repaired. This site lacks both care and attention. Still well worth a visit though.
At several locations Zitting Cisticolas - Buitrón perched in obvious obliging view and were photographed. They are lovely little birds and may have been youngsters.
Small groups of Jackdaws - Grajilla and Spotless Starlings - Estornino Negro flew around.
Cattle Egrets - Garcilla Bueyera were everywhere. There were no other Herons or Egrets around. On a fence a Black Eared Wheatear - Collalba Rubia sat. On a wire eight Bee eaters - Abejaruca Común were lined up; probably our last sighting of them this year. We worked hard looking and then we saw a Roller (Carraca). There was more than one but not easy to spot. Many are on the move.
Our next and last stop was El Pinet where we did not have great expectations. However one distant Greenshank - Archibebe Claro, and a Sandwich Tern - Charrán Patinegro with food in its beak. Terns were low in number but we did see Little Tern - Charrancito Común. Slender-billed Gulls - Gaviota Picofina were plentiful.
Then two birds that helped make our morning. One Dunlin - Correlimos Común cheered us up as proof of the changing season and there must be more waders coming our way. We had seen the odd Collared Pratincole - Canastera Común. Then a juvenile sat in the car park and we moved the car to within 6-8 metres of it. Bryan photographed it, of course.
The morning was more noted for the absences as we only saw one distant Raptor, and one Marsh Harrier - Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental, several Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar and many Hirundines feeding over the vegetation and no doubt passing through to Africa. The fact is simple we were out there to see what we could and we did that. Not a great morning, but we always see some good birds. There is nothing better than being out and about.
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