It was great in the summer and now a morning to see a few ducks before they go north.
We felt it was safe enough to escape outside and see Bryan and to see what Clot de Galvany could do for us. All masked up and we kept our distance and they kept their distance too. There were not many people around and so we felt comfortable.
We went straight to the large comfortable hide overlooking a broad expanse of water. Bryan had been here a few days ago so we expected to see ducks and we did, but not in the same numbers as before. Using his sharp eyes and most of his patience everything was checked out. With perseverance a discreet Ferruginous Duck- Porrón Pardo popped in an out of the reeds in the far distance. It only provided a quick look each time. The good bit was it was a first for Michelle.
The others on the water were:
Red-crested Pochards - Pato Colorado
Common Pochard - Porrón Europeo
White-headed Ducks- most I've seen on one water - Malvasia Cabeciblanca
Teal - Cerceta Común
Wigeon - Silbón Europeo - four males and three females
Great-Crested Grebes - Somormujo Lavanco pairing up
Black-necked Grebe - Cuellinegro
Little Grebe - Zampullin Común
Michelle saw a male Reed Bunting - Escribano Palustre feeding on the reed heads.
A Grey Wagtail - Lavandera Cascaedña came in and out perched at the end of the hide
Water Rail - Rascón Europea squealed three times within a few yards and remained out of sight
In and over the reeds White Wagtails - Lavandera Blanca and Northern Starlings Estornino Pinto fed. Outdoing the few Crag Martins - Ávion Roquero by a good number.
Green Woodpecker - Pito Real was loud, but not seen and Cetti’s - Ruiseñor Bastardo
Add into the list Sardinian Warblers - Carruca Cabecinegra , Chiffs - Mosquitero Común, one Robin- Petirrojo , and one Black-winged Stilt - Cigüñuela Común.
We scanned the skies and although Barn Swallows - Golondrina Común have been seen we did not even glimpse one.
The good news is that they are working hard to improve the Clot. The scrapes that had become overgrown with Reed have been cleared and channels dug down deep enough to remove the roots. There will be the same depth scrapes but with a much deeper outside channel. We have it on reliable information and this area, which has a controlled water supply, could be very good by late spring.
On the surveying sticks a gorgeous Black Redstart - Colirrojo Tizón posed. They will be gone soon.
A quick stop at The Salt Tower gave us a fishing Slender-billed Gull - Gaviota Picofina, several Yellow Legs - Patiamarilla and a Common Sandpiper - Andarrios Chico
We have had a cold spell and now, some days are colder than others and it appears things are on the move. Normally we could expect to see Great Spotted Cuckoos - Críalo Europeo passing through and, in San Miguel, House Martins - Ávion Común. Not yet though.
Opportunities are restricted although things could change at month end.
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