If you don't go out you won't know and we found that these Salinas were as quiet as usual. But they can turn up the occasional interesting bird. So, on Wednesday, 14th October we went out in the early morning sun to San Pedro Del Pinatar. The Nikon Coolpix P900 came with us and was used. It's becoming an invaluable tool.
The Salinas with their great expanses of water could offer a tremendous amount in birding terms, but the numbers are never great. But we looked again, just in case…….
Almost everything in the lagoon by the large car park was distant. However we picked out one Redshank- Archibebe Común, one Greenshank - Archibebe Claro, several Little Ringed Plovers - Chorlitejo Chico and Dunlin - Correlimos Común . Shelduck - Tarro Blanco showed with the the usual Black-Winged Stilts- Cigüeñuela Común present as well. A notable absentee, again were Kentish Plovers - Chirlitejo Patinegro. However, Yellow-legged Gulls - Gaviota Patuamarilla were easy to see but Slender-Billed - Gaviota Picofina were few.
The lagoon opposite this car park is currently being harvested for salt.
We moved on and, frankly, did not see much. One lone Black-necked Grebe- Zampullin Cuellinegro, a couple of Black-tailed Godwits - Aguja Colinegre, a smattering of Avocet and Flamingo, but neither in great numbers.
Two Turnstones - Vuelvepiedras Común were spotted. The canal edges by the small carpark have been strimmed of its reeds. No Kingfisher - Martin Pescador this time, a Sardinian Warbler - Carruca Cabecinegra rattled away and the canal provided the usual Moorhens - Gallineta Común and Coots Focha Común with House Sparrows - Gorrión Común.
We searched the surfaces and skies for any sign of a passing vagrant or anything rare. Maybe next time?
We went into Lagunas del lo Monté just to see what it was like. It should be an important site, but apart from Mallard - Ánade Azulón - the water contained nothing else. Our only piece of joy was a very neat looking Stonechat - Tarabilla - maybe a first year and it was photographed. Michelle also took some Flamingo shots, for a change.
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