WHAT A DAY THIS TURNED OUT TO BE BUT WE HAD TO WORK AT IT

On Thursday 3rd December we went to San Felipe Neri for the third time in eight days. We had to check out that mud one more time.  The water to the right of the boardwalk had gone leaving nothing but mud. A Temminck’s Stint was again seen and with four Little Ringed Plovers - Chorlitejo Chicowas one well groomed Ringed Plover - Chorlitejo Grande. 

On the end of the lagoon opposite the car park was dry but further down there was shallow water. 

The usual species were on view including Snipe -  Agachadiza Común . On one occasion everything took to the air including Glossy Ibis - Morito Común when from high up a dark morph Booted Eagle - Águila Calzado came down as in a stoop. We though Peregrine Falcon but no just a Booted!

We searched the skies for the ‘big ‘un’ and found more Marsh Harriers- Águilucho Luganero Occidental and pale morph Booted Eagles. On our way back to the carpark a Little Bittern - Acetorillo Común was flushed by the strimmers. 

On entering the car park we spotted a birder that we knew and he was scanning the fields to the left. Recently he had found two Pintailed Sandgrouse - Ganga Ibérica, a species uncommon here. We will have to pay more attention now.

Santa Águeda provided more work in progress as they were still repairing the viewing platforms and we watched another Temminck's . A flock of Little Stint (Corrilimos) with one Dunlin flew into the shallow scrapes and nothing else exceptional. While watching these, two friendly birders arrived, and we chatted. It is always good to share information and previously they had seen a Hen Harrier - Aguilucho Pálido. Another species that we have yet to see this winter. On FB later these birders had seen two White Storks. 

We quickly moved finding a small group of Chaffinches - Pinzón Vulgar on way. We checked every field as we passed and then we got very lucky four Golden Plover - Chorlito Dorado Europea in wonderful colours fed on worms. They knew how to find them and pull them out of the ground. The photos will prove it. We were delighted to have views so close to these lovely birds without an interruption.

In another field we had both Meadow and Water Pipits feeding with Skylarks - Alondra Común On one occasion a flock of forty Larks flew.

They are still flooding fields and one that stretched into the distance were Meadow and Water Pipits and more than ten Wood Sandpipers -Andarrios Bastardo. We were on our way home when we passed these birds and then Bryan spotted four Common Cranes - Grulla Común flying in the distance. We changed course and soon we were looking at three of these birds. We knew they were around and obviously more than one group.

Add all these sightings together and then add in another six Booted Eagles in the sky at once and more Marsh Harriers then we can say we had a good day. And I have not listed everything. It paid us back by being out there. And now it is getting colder what else can we expect to see. It may too windy next week for easy viewing but who knows what is out there.